Professional Burglars

[bikerdoc]

Couple of points to reinforce what has been said above:
A hardened layered home defense is a must
The car in the driveway thing works. We are fortunate to have a third car.
I am the noisy neighbor. Being retired I am rarely out of the house more the 5 hours.
The local PD dispatchers know I am a retired LEO and my calls have credibility.
Never heard the flag thing was deterrent but I have one.
I have been told, by the mailman and the UPS guy, the inside Shepard and the outside Rottweiler, have a rep of being unfriendly.
Repairmen- On the few occasions I can't fix it myself, repairmen are vetted by getting their name and a cell phone picture.
Supposed religious people, salesmen, and people asking for people get the same treatment.
An untouched subject is;
What is your neighborhood rep? How do the local kids or punks perceive you? Are you perceived to be more trouble than it is worth? Sometime being known as the cranky, ill tempered, old man is not a bad thing. Other side of that coin is know your neighbors. Reach out. Couple of summers ago I am in the driveway when an older woman walked by. It was hot, Southern hot. Chit chat revealed her A/C unit had quit. She had grandson that was a troubled youth, on the wrong path, living with her.
I told her I had an old extra window unit she could have. Just send the the grandson over to lift it into the truck and I would drive it over and he could put it in.
Annoyed that he had to do work he had an attitude. We talked and I roughly told him he had two choices, end up dead or in jail or start building a real life. His choice, I didn't really care but if he wanted help come see me. Couple months latter I took him to the recruiter and he now is crewman on an AWACS and is doing well.

 

[JERRY]

how does ripping the alarm panel off the wall stop the trouble signal and cancel the alarm signal already sent without the proper code?

 

[45_auto]

Wondering how it would play out if a suspicious character knocked on the door and asked for a made up name of someone that doesn't live there, and you answer "Why yes, so and so is home. Who are you and why are you here to see him?"

Shouldn't be much to wonder about. He would probably tell you his name and why he was there to see him.

For example, "My name is Bob Jones and I'm here to see him about the car he has advertised on Craig's List".

 

[scaatylobo]

@bikerdoc

I can see we agree totally on this subject.

Only part of this thread I question is where it is stated they "disabled alarm" ?.

My alarm system has battery AND phone backup so you cannot disable it from outside the house,and even then it will auto dial a threat to property.

Look at your house [ or have a pro/cop do it ] from the eye of a perspective burglar,then fix it.

 

[huntsman]

even then it will auto dial a threat to property.

In the story I cited they used a cheap cell phone to block the outgoing call, the Leo's didn't want to be specific on all the details and I heard the story 3rd hand but an expensive alarm system was rendered moot.

 

[Rail Driver]

In the story I cited they used a cheap cell phone to block the outgoing call, the Leo's didn't want to be specific on all the details and I heard the story 3rd hand but an expensive alarm system was rendered moot.

The crooks would have had to know the number to the land line attached to the alarm system. A higher quality alarm system installed by a reputable company, for someone that can afford it would generally have a dedicated land line with an unlisted number. It's recommended by most alarm companies that systems utilizing a phone backup that the number be unlisted as incoming calls at the time of an alarm will prevent the system from dialing out.

Either the crooks knew the individual they hit in that story, or they worked for/had an informant in the alarm company. (Or they cut the phone lines before assaulting the house)

 

[Certaindeaf]

A ways back there was a rash of burglaries down around Beverly Hills or something. Real swank high profile homes. These homes would be most assured to have alarm systems. The "burglar(s)" would throw a cinderblock or somesuch through the glass of the biggest floor level window or sliding glass door. No alarm sent because they use switch sensors.
Of course a motion detector would get them but these were off in these/this case because of the dog/s/pets. It is theorized that the perp somehow knew these particular houses had pets and the motion detectors would be off.
easy pickins

 

[Owen Sparks]

All things being equal, if you had a "Protected by XYZ Alarm System" sign displayed out front, how would the potential burglars know if you really had an expensive alarm system or just the sign? Wouldn't they just move on to a house without an alarm sign?

 

[beatledog7]

^^ This. As a first line of defense, the signs can be very effective. But then again, just as the presence of signs doesn't mean there IS a system in place, the absence of signs doesn't mean there ISN"T.

 

[xXxplosive]

This has been taking place in my neighborhood....local police said this could get worse before it get's better....also read where they said that this gang may have spotters on the streets watching people and their homes and relaying back via cell phone to the B&E guys......this is crazy.....our GS has been working overtime.....day and night....patroling the house at every noise he hears.

 

[xXxplosive]

http://bridgewater.patch.com/articles/burglary-gang-carefully-selects-homes-prosecutor-says


Today's Up-date....in my town.

 

[GCBurner]

High-end professional burglars don't pick places at random, they hit places where they know in advance there is a big score, often from pictures of art or jewelry in newspapers, magazines, or Internet sites. If there is something there that is worth the trouble, dogs, safes and alarm systems won't stop them, they will just work around them. Even being at home is not a deterrent, my aunt and uncle (a well-known coin dealer and collector) were robbed via a home invasion in Palm Beach, so they could be forced to open their safe to steal a large amount of gold and silver coins.

 

[MyGreenGuns]

A couple years ago I had someone knock on the door asking about the mustang by the garage. I was not home, and a family member told them it was not for sale. She didnt get his name or even a description (she said he had a white truck). About a week later I woke to find my car laying flat on the ground with no wheels/tires. I've felt sketchy about anyone on my property since.

I had a guy knock on my door about this time last year. He asked for "Chris". There is noone by that name here, and never has been.

"Who are you?" I asked
"I'm a friend of his, I'm just looking for him.
"What is your name?" I barked
"Is he here?"

I was really worried I was being tested. So I lied:

"Chris ****ed up big time and isnt welcome here anymore! If YOU are associated with him YOU are not welcome here anymore! (I pulled back my shirt and put my hand on my pistol, my other hand fished my phone out of my pocket and I started snapping pictures of him)

He turned his face away and started saying, "I was just looking for him, dont freak out!"

"Get the **** off my property!"

I stepped toward him. He retreated quickly down the driveway. I followed, snapping pictures, hand still on the gun, in my bare feet. I stood at the end of the driveway and watched him speed-walk away.

It could have been harmless. He could have genuinely been looking for his friend. But in my mind, I prevented a future break in. I'm sure he went and told his fellow hoodlums that some crazy ***hole with a gun just chased him out of there. I can live with that.

*-*-*-*

When I hear gravel crunching in the driveway I get my shotgun and come around from the back side of the house. I have accepted packages from UPS and FEDEX with a shotgun in hand. The UPS lady always honks several times as she comes in the driveway, she doesnt want to surprise me.

The most recent one was this past spring at 3am. Gravel crunching. Grabbed the shotgun and made my way around to see what was going on. A blue minivan was in the driveway, there were two shadowy occupants. I got a bit closer, still in the shadows and looked inside. A heavyset lady was messing with her GPS and a teenage boy was looking around, obviously bored. He saw me and his eyes got BIG! He started tapping his mom (?) on the shoulder and pointing toward me. The van sped off quickly.

I've never pointed my weapon at a person so far. I hope I never have to. I just dont want to be a victim.

 

[RTR_RTR]

http://bridgewater.patch.com/article...rosecutor-says


Today's Up-date....in my town.

Rental porsche? Just making the assumption that it was a Cayenne, they're looking at a few hundred $ for a day. They have to be cutting pretty slim margins with heists at $3k value. I can't imagine a fence is giving them anywhere near even half value

 

[bikerdoc]

Great thread.
Beatledog7 got it right about the sign. In addition I would add a no trespassing sign, and a beware of dog sign.

Good job MyGreenGuns great response to the door knocker, just beware in some jurisdictions "hand on the gun" could be brandishing. Not saying it is, just check your state case law.
Going out the back door is also iffy, better to have a motion activated light.
Another tip you gave is many overlook the value of the the noisy gravel driveway. Wife has been bugging me to put in a cement one for years. No way, it alerts the the outside dog who, alerts the inside dog, who.... well you get the idea.

 

[beatledog7]

What I taught my daughter is to simply not answer the door; don't even go look trough the peephole unless you're expecting someone.

Also, at night leave lights on when you're not home. Again, this makes the house seem occupied. Timers are a cheap insurance policy in that they remember the lights for you and make a burglar think twice.

It's cool weather time, and that encourages people to open windows. Fine, but close and lock them when you leave. Mesh screens are easy to breach or remove.

Layered defense is the key. I like what bikerdoc said about having a gravel driveway and a dog. If you live where you can make that choice, gravel is the way to go. Big, round, river pebbles are even better than limestone. I don't think it matters what kind of dog as long as it barks.

 

[huntsman]

how about repeat B&E, wife talked to a friend about folks in a rural area that is experiencing a great deal of wealth because of Nat Gas. It seems the BG breaks in steals the new TY puter and other electronics then they come back in a week to steal the replacements, some farmhouses have been hit three times in a month.

 

[al123]

IMO, the best things for unknown door knockers is simply don't answer it. I have a sign "No Solicitors" which really isn't a deterrent, but it tells would-be-predators why no one is responding.

Pismopal wrote: <snip> Don't rely on neighbors..they mean well but generally won't see **** and if they do see they aren't sure what they are seeing and they won't know what to do. <snip>

It's reasonable that one cannot rely on neighbors, after all it's not their property. However, nosy neighbors really do help, if organized. Over the years, burglars that were caught in my local area were all instigated by a nosy neighbor. It's the X-factor. All my neighbors, including me, take license plates #s, write descriptions of unknown people, cars, service vans, bicycles or anything out of the ordinary. Neighborhood watch signs are prominently displayed. Of course people actually have to do the watching to have any chance of being effective.

In some ways these swanky high end estates that have privacy walls/fences or are spread out from other are more vulnerable than your average suburban neighborhood because of the lack of nosy neighbors.

Nevertheless, the layered defense mentioned before is best: Dogs, hardened entryways and windows, alarms etc. Having your home look/sound occupied at all times regardless if someone is there IMO is also a deterrent. One may not have it all, but the more the better.

 

[xXxplosive]

My front door has a sign that says German Shepard On Duty with a picture of fierce dog.....if you don't believe it, just try and turn the door knob.....the pic will come to life right before your eyes....he's 4 yrs. old and 100lbs. of teeth.
I never answer the door for anyone unless I'm expecting you....and I don't expect many.

 

[lemaymiami]

Read all of the posts here again and had a few thoughts.... Since I'm a retired cop and there's always the possibility that someone with a grudge and a weapon might one day show up at my door.... answering the door is an interesting proposition. Still, I do answer that door and probably always will. I consider every encounter at my door to be the full range of possibilites from good to really, really bad.... First off, I'm not a fool and do keep the means of self-defense close at hand (and that doesn't necessarily mean a firearm....). Next, I'm absolutely mentally prepared to go to war if that's required but I never appear defensive, aggressive, or anything other than confident to strangers. It's the old game of street life where appearances are everything and animals (yep, human animals) look for the sllightest sign of weakness before making the decision to attack or withdraw....

I'm no hero, and I can be defeated by anyone with enough skill and nerve - but that's just not the way things go in most bad encounters... Yes, I'll beat a hasty retreat if it's necessary - but I will not remain hiding behind a locked door in my own house, period. That was also my philosophy on the street - I never wanted to be caught sitting in a vehicle, I always preferred being on my feet ready to react to whatever might come.

One other point. I would never, never consider approaching any stranger "weapon in hand" unless I had good reason to believe they were armed. Weapon concealed, or weapon at close hand but never openly displayed unless the situation absolutely required it. Always keep a potential opponent guessing... stay confident and in control - that's one of the hard lessons life on the street taught me, and I was paying attention...

 

[xXxplosive]

No one hiding behind a locked door in my house......just don't want to be bothered by unannounced visitors unless I'm expecting you.....and I'm not expecting anyone if you don't call first.........Trouble Doesn't Make An Appointment.

 

[HorseSoldier]

fallout mike,I would like to see a link where 50% of home breakins are commited by friends or wayward relatives.

I don't know on the statistic, but a good number of the burglary cases I responded to or was somehow tangentially involved with as a patrol officer involved relatives with addictions or friends of teenage children who either had prior access to the residence or at least had heard their friend bragging about cash, highly portable valuables, or prescription drugs being present. A lot of times with the addict relatives, there were multiple unreported thefts and burglaries before mom/dad/grandma/whoever finally contacted police, so depending on what the 50% stat is actually measuring, frequent-flyer relatives may be skewing the stats.

 

[Nine Lives]

Lemaymiami I'd be keen to hear some more of those stories, you sound like you have seen some interesting things related to this topic.

 

[Jeff White]

I don't know on the statistic, but a good number of the burglary cases I responded to or was somehow tangentially involved with as a patrol officer involved relatives with addictions or friends of teenage children who either had prior access to the residence or at least had heard their friend bragging about cash, highly portable valuables, or prescription drugs being present.

My experience is the same. I think for most of them it's not the same as stealing from a stranger. I don't know why they think that is the case but they do. Most of them have cleaned out relatives and friends to point they are no longer welcome around them before they move on to stealing from strangers.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Perhaps it's akin to murder. They say most all folk are murdered by people they know.