My Home Was Burglarized

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It was only one person that called the OP irresponsible. On the 'net, anybody with a modem can say anything at all, which is both good and bad.
 
Arkansas Paul
People turning the victim into the bad guy isn't something I expected to see here.
Someone kicks in a man's locked door and steals his things, and it's his fault. Wow! Really?
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It's like the woman who gets raped and is accused of wearing too short of a skirt. There are a few on this board that are extremely self-righteous and if you believe what they post, you would think they would be a candidate for canonizing. It is unfortunate and sad.

Going back to the OP... He needs to get a monitored alarm system. Heck, well worth the $20 a month.
 
Onward Allusion said:
He needs to get a monitored alarm system. Heck, well worth the $20 a month.
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What alarm company only charges $20 a month? I'm curious because I've been looking around, and it seems $35 (phone line) and $45 (cell) per month is the going rate around here.
 
This happened in Missouri. State laws allow face to face sales and handguns no longer have to be registered with the county sheriff as they used to. We have a great resource in our area, www.midwestguntrader.com, that started out as a local classified website but has since expanded. But they have a section of the website for listing stolen firearms. I've listed my gun there and a lot of people have viewed my ad since I posted it earlier this week. And I'm friends with a lot of people on that website and the forum associated there and my gun is uncommon enough that there's a good chance someone will notice it if it ends up at a gun shop or the perp sells it privately and then the 2nd or 3rd or 4th owner decides to list it on that website. So I'm not holding out a ton of hope, but it's nice to think that could happen and I could get it back one of these days.
 
Olympus said:
When we concede that our own locked houses aren't "secure" then the RKBA and 2nd Amendment supporters have already lost the battle.

My personal opinion is that is very dangerous idea to have and let spread, especially among 2nd Amendment supporters.
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I agree with this, so long as children aren't around (which you already covered but it's worth repeating that you need extra measures inside the house with kids around).
 
I was off on the price... ADT/Brinks - $29.95/mo - 2 motion, 1 door, 1 keypad, battery backup, & noise maker. Install is $99. Keep in mind, that's just the basics. Homeowner's insurance will give you a discount of about 10 to 15% on your policy. One can go crazy and spend well over a couple thousand.

http://www.thehighroad.org/member.php?u=136002
2WheelsGood

Quote:
Originally Posted by Onward Allusion
He needs to get a monitored alarm system. Heck, well worth the $20 a month.

What alarm company only charges $20 a month? I'm curious because I've been looking around, and it seems $35 (phone line) and $45 (cell) per month is the going rate around here.
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Even the basic package would have been good in this situation. If the front door was the only one they broke into, they would have had 30 seconds, (or whatever the entry delay time is) and then it would have went off.
 
if someone wants your stuff it's really hard to keep them from it..... couple years ago my nephew had his gun safe dragged out of the WALL of his house..... some one he knew or met or something backed something up to the house a pickup truck we assume put a chain around the safe and yanked the thing THROUGH the wall........... safe ... guns... anything else that was in there was gone and he had a huge hole in the wall......................
 
surf ebay and craigslist and local thrift shops for the purse. best chance of locating the thief. surf gun shows for the handgun.
 
I'm sorry about your loss. :( Generally they do not like to go through the front door if it can't be done quickly so it looks unusual. It sounds like the burglar could have been tipped off somehow about your 66.

A monitored alarm definitely would help, but the response might not be fast in your jurisdiction - false alarms and all that. Years ago my work place which was monitored was burglarized; they were in-then-out in a few minutes with assorted computers/laptops. The police arrive 15-20 minutes later apparently. Nevertheless, alarms do deter burglars; it sets a clock on how long they can stick around.

Response in many places is much faster if someone actually witnesses the crime in progress; my neighbors recently reported see suspicious activity at a local church and within minutes the police netted several would-be burglars. Nosy neighbors and an effective watch program really help.

I would reinforce the door hardware, especially jambs and hinges. Also go over your house to look for other vulnerable points like weak window hardware.

However, if someone wants to get in your house, they will. The key is to make them work for it as long and noisy as possible.
 
Random thoughts...

One thing to consider were the UPS packages if they were left on the porch. Signs that scream "I'm not home" are packages and mail that are uncollected.

If I'm going to be gone, I have someone collect the newspapers. Timers on the TV's to turn them on during the day. I leave them on ESPN since those guys all have big mouths and it's loud.

I have ADT. For $1 a day, it's well worth it.

Gun safe for good jewelry and cash plus guns.

I got an awakening a few years ago. One of the family friends works at the local court house. She said that, for whatever reason, they were talking about guns at work. She was telling her co-workers about my stuff...:cuss:
I don't blame her. I blame myself. Note to self...keep mouth shut.

There was a string of burglaries in this area a few years ago. Same type of thing. Upscale areas, quick hits. Finally caught the guys after over 50 hits. Their MO was to spend less than five minutes in each place. Even if you have an alarm, it's gonna take the cops more than five minutes to get there. They always took smaller stuff that was easy to hide.
 
It's like the woman who gets raped and is accused of wearing too short of a skirt. There are a few on this board that are extremely self-righteous and if you believe what they post, you would think they would be a candidate for canonizing. It is unfortunate and sad.

What a ridiculous statement. There was nothing in my previous post that said he "deserved" to have his gun stolen. But leaving it unsecured, out in the open while he was out of town was very irresponsible and if I knew him, I would certainly say this in person.

My house was broken into years ago and several items were stolen, except for my guns which were locked in a safe. None of us live in Mayberry. Secure your arms and the neighborhood knucklehead won't be running around with them, as one certainly is in this case.

You don't like my opinion? Then don't post.
 
But leaving it unsecured, out in the open while he was out of town was very irresponsible and if I knew him, I would certainly say this in person.
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As I said, it's disheartening to see that some people don't think a locked house is considered secure.

Wait until someone steals your identity, your checkbook, billfold, or your wife's purse and goes on a nice little spending spree. I'll be happy to tell you that you're irresponsible.

Some people can't see the forest for trees...:banghead:
 
To the op, sorry your home was violated, but I'm glad no one was hurt.

Now to enter in the controversy. ;)

I'm a retired security pro; owned a access controls business for years. I've seen a lot of breakins both sophisticated and brutally simple.

My guns are always as safe as I can make them. There may not be any legal or moral liability for me leaving my guns out in a locked house, but God gave me a brain. My safe is hidden, bolted to concrete, and my sd gun is with me at all times. I have hidden a gun at times in my house for easy accessibility, but it was hidden well. A gun is not hidden if it's in a drawer or under a mattress, because these are first places a smash and grab robber looks.

For folks that haven't experienced a break in, it's easy to to think it will never happen. I can tell you from experience that it sucks and being prepared doesn't have to be expensive. Just like self defense, it's state of mind.

One of my primary reasons I'm this cautious is that I don't want someone hurt by my guns in the wrong hands; and I certainly don't want to come home and see the barrel of my own gun pointed at me. This happens more than many gun owners like to admit.

And analogy of the car is faulty. Even though cars kill far more people in this country than guns, they are not designed to kill, and aren't under scrutiny by people wanting to take them away.

And yes, I hide my car key too since it has become popular for thieves to load their loot up in the family wagon and steal it too. I hate thieves and want to make it as hard for them as I can.

Az
 
What about the thousands of people who use ARs, shotguns, or other rifles as their chosen home defense weapon? My guess is that those people keep their long gun within quick grasp from their bed, like I do. Is that just as "reckless" and "irresponsible"? Are people supposed to keep their Mossberg 500s and Remington 870s in their nightstand?

Will I start putting my nighstand gun in a safe before leaving for extend periods of time now. Yes, I think I will. But it has nothing to do with being considered "reckless" and "irresponsible" if I don't. It's because I want to keep my gun collection in tact. Say what you will, but I will always have my nightstand gun within quick reach when I'm in bed, with the only exception being if we ever decide to have children or if children ever come into our home.
 
I started leaving what few guns I have in a buddies safe at his gun store, which are still 100% insured and in a better safe than I have at the house for my marble collection. I cant start to say how it feels to be stolen from, and if you have not been stolen from, and made a snide comment, I kind of hope you get stolen from. Not really, but its a sickening feeling. I guarantee a few people here that have either read or posted on this, have something unlocked under the bed. I hope you get your pistol back, and anything else you have missing. I have started really being careful what I say, and I'm glad I started keeping my collection in a really secure place off my home. I do keep one on my person or night stand for the thumb dick who challenges my freedom and security.
 
Sorry about the loss I do though agree when you leave town or are going to be gone for a few days you should lock the guns up. I'd lock up the jewelry to, prob stick it in the gun safe. Window and door locks only keep the honest people out, if a thief wants in bad enough he'll get in with very little trouble doing it in most cases.
 
Story on another website found his rifle on gunbroker a while back. Worth the look every once in a while.
 
Olympus said:
What about the thousands of people who use ARs, shotguns, or other rifles as their chosen home defense weapon? My guess is that those people keep their long gun within quick grasp from their bed, like I do. Is that just as "reckless" and "irresponsible"? Are people supposed to keep their Mossberg 500s and Remington 870s in their nightstand?

Will I start putting my nighstand gun in a safe before leaving for extend periods of time now. Yes, I think I will. But it has nothing to do with being considered "reckless" and "irresponsible" if I don't. It's because I want to keep my gun collection in tact. Say what you will, but I will always have my nightstand gun within quick reach when I'm in bed, with the only exception being if we ever decide to have children or if children ever come into our home.
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There are ways to deal with this. Like I said, think like a thief. A smash and grab will check the nightstand, under the bed, (typically flip the mattress) and in the closet.

Don't put them there.

When you leave the house, lock them up. Even if it's a simple cable lock to an eye bolt, it will deter many common thieves. There are some very nice wall brackets with Simplex combination locks that are very secure yet allow access quickly. I built a small hidden space in a bookcase, and store my hd shotgun in there, locked to the wall with something like this:

2dm9vsp.jpg


It's a combination lock that can be opened in seconds. I still wouldn't leave it somewhere easy to find though.

These aren't expensive, I got mine on sale for $60.

Az
 
Azb said:
To the op, sorry your home was violated, but I'm glad no one was hurt.

Now to enter in the controversy. ;)

I'm a retired security pro; owned a access controls business for years. I've seen a lot of breakins both sophisticated and brutally simple.

My guns are always as safe as I can make them. There may not be any legal or moral liability for me leaving my guns out in a locked house, but God gave me a brain. My safe is hidden, bolted to concrete, and my sd gun is with me at all times. I have hidden a gun at times in my house for easy accessibility, but it was hidden well. A gun is not hidden if it's in a drawer or under a mattress, because these are first places a smash and grab robber looks.

For folks that haven't experienced a break in, it's easy to to think it will never happen. I can tell you from experience that it sucks and being prepared doesn't have to be expensive. Just like self defense, it's state of mind.

One of my primary reasons I'm this cautious is that I don't want someone hurt by my guns in the wrong hands; and I certainly don't want to come home and see the barrel of my own gun pointed at me. This happens more than many gun owners like to admit.

And analogy of the car is faulty. Even though cars kill far more people in this country than guns, they are not designed to kill, and aren't under scrutiny by people wanting to take them away.

And yes, I hide my car key too since it has become popular for thieves to load their loot up in the family wagon and steal it too. I hate thieves and want to make it as hard for them as I can.

Az
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Very well said.
 
You don't like my opinion? Then don't post.
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This is a discussion forum. If someone doesn't like your opinion, the entire point of the forum is to voice that, as long as it's done with respect, and I haven't seen any that's not been respctful. You don't like it when someone disagrees with you, maybe you shouldn't post.
 
Redneck2 wrote: I got an awakening a few years ago. One of the family friends works at the local court house. She said that, for whatever reason, they were talking about guns at work. She was telling her co-workers about my stuff...
I don't blame her. I blame myself. Note to self...keep mouth shut.
Click to expand...

I had a co-worker who, shall we say, is extremely talkative. Anyways, he was regaling about his family friend who enjoys hunting. In great detail without any inquiry from those present, his friend has exactly 33 firearms, including some really nice expensive ones.

Safe to say it's best to keep your mouth closed. :uhoh:
 
i had adt and didnt care for them... better off with a local , long time, and established company that has an interest in maintaining (the local) happy customers.. who can actually show up at their offices if unhappy with services...

adt's contract is lousy, their gear isnt particulary great IMO....
 
Corporal K

It's like the woman who gets raped and is accused of wearing too short of a skirt. There are a few on this board that are extremely self-righteous and if you believe what they post, you would think they would be a candidate for canonizing. It is unfortunate and sad.

What a ridiculous statement. There was nothing in my previous post that said he "deserved" to have his gun stolen. But leaving it unsecured, out in the open while he was out of town was very irresponsible and if I knew him, I would certainly say this in person.

My house was broken into years ago and several items were stolen, except for my guns which were locked in a safe. None of us live in Mayberry. Secure your arms and the neighborhood knucklehead won't be running around with them, as one certainly is in this case.

You don't like my opinion? Then don't post.
Click to expand...
Actually, my post wasn't directed at anyone in particular, and it wasn't directed at you. I'm sorry if it struck a nerve.

In any event, I lock up my guns as well but I would never judge someone for not locking them up in their house if there aren't any kids around and they don't live in a bad area. How many people (NOT in these types of forums) would even think twice about being burglarized if they never had it happen to them, especially if they lived in a decent area overall? I think the majority would not. Even in these types forums, there are still those who believe that answering your door armed is "paranoid"

If the OP was going on a trip, then yes, it probably should have been locked up...BUT doo-doo happens. Sometimes it's from the stress of packing, running around, or it just plain slips a person's mind. I think the OP came away from this with a few lessons learned.

#1 - lock/hide your guns if possible, especially when going away overnight or longer.
#2 - never tell anyone your going out of town
#3 - use a PO Box or UPS Store box for his business
#4 - get a monitored alarm system

There are probably other ones, but learning this crap is just a part of life. I learn from it and I try not to judge too harshly, lest I get the same treatment when I stumble.

BTW, I gotta post cause I'm off work for the holidays. ;)

Merry Christmas!
 
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