Eric F,
You have been cased, and you can expect another visit from criminals.
When you are hit, you will be targeted again, after the insurance money, and items are replaced.
Here is how it plays; especially with the current times.
Times are hard, scrap metal prices are up. Are there any folks coming to town offering to buy scrap silver or gold? If so, expect a rise in break ins.
The mdse is sold before it is stolen.
First group does a grab and run, taking small items and casing the place. They report to a higher up, what you have, and they used to take calendars, and day planners, now they take pictures with cell phones. So they now have work schedules, dental appointments, doctor appointments, going out to eat with spouse, others...etc.
The higher up has buyers for Guns, Silverware, Jewelry, TV/Entertainment, Computers...etc.
Next time some better thieves will enter and take what is on the list, already sold.
These criminals know how long it takes for insurance to replace items. So they wait, and come back to get the new replacements.
They will find items such as spare keys, alarm codes, of family, and use those against family.
They have addresses and phone numbers, and now with Internet, it even easier to locate such folks.
It is not difficult to call and see if someone is home or other pre casing steps.
Now is the time to contact your insurance agent, especially if a close friend, and one you trust. Find out from the local Ins Adjuster what is going down and how the Methods are employed. (MO).
Software, not hardware is critical now.
Before now, you and the wife should of had a practiced plan. Now is the time to get a practiced plan.
Include code words, and pass words.
Use them.
For starters, do not advertise anything! No gun magazines, no Jlry left out, no silverware on display, ...anything that advertises anything about what you have, what you do, or where you go and when.
You mentioned being a Fireman. Get fellow FD persons to assist in keeping tabs on your place.
In like turn, you keep tabs on theirs.
If it were me, I would remove guns, jlry, silverware, valuables from the house, and put in another location, and keep my mouth shut.
Keep just what you need, still I would put nothing in that safe.
I would also move ammo, and spare firearm equipment.
IN any profession, there are bad representatives, be they , EMTs, Insurance Agents, Police, Fire Dept, ...any Profession.
My suggestion is to not stir up trouble with Police yourself, instead let your insurance agent, adjuster, and either ins lawyer, or a trusted lawyer friend be aware of, and deal with your being upset.
The game is dicey, because if for instance there is bunch in town casing places and taking items, the police may be busy.
These criminals make note of response times, and may have bigger targets.
They will target businesses, and homes and distract Police by tossing a rock through a window for instance on one side of town, while they take down the business or house on another side of town.
Criminals already know response times...all these small random "incidents" were actually part of a bigger plan.
Oldest trick in the book.
Make sure no spare keys are missing to vehicles, as they will take your vehicle for a bigger hit.
Oh and for goodness sakes, please do not advertise any gun ranges, or times you will be shooting.
This is too easy to get both your car and guns.
They know the types of locks you have, and most likely have a master key.
This is not safe for the wife when you are working and she is home alone sleeping.
Yes you have a right to be upset.
Now I suggest setting this being upset aside, and not let it be a distraction.
Let the ins/adjuster/lawyer handle it.
Heck, part of this may have been a distraction, who knows?
You tick off the cops, and they might just have another call, or be short of units to respond as quickly as should.
Be like a Duck-
Cool, calm , collect atop water, and paddling like hell underwater.
