Robbed--What Now?

[Suuri Suomi]

This is one reason I tell no one, repeat NO ONE, that I am a firearms owner. My equipment is locked down in a part of the house that most people coming here don't even visualize existing. And it sure doesn't look like A Gun Safe. "Hiding in plain sight" is a good way to put it.

This is why I don't have an NRA sticker on my car, nor ever, for example, wear RKBA shirts or whatever (even though I dearly want a t-shirt that says "Ask me about my assault rifle"). All my liberal/lefty/eco-schwag would leave onlookers expecting rainbows and tie-dye. I can count on one hand the number of friends who have any idea I own or carry, and they were carefully chosen.

Guns are not magic talismans against evil. Anyone can experience this sort of violation. All we RKBA folks can do is hope to be armed against and prepared for direct aggression should it come our way. For all you know, CC, they were preparing this theft for months, even years. Waiting for their chance. You think there was an "inside job" component. I sense that must be true, from how this happened. There is nothing like that specific violation to lead a person into the worst mazes of self-questioning, doubt, and unsureness. What have I said in the past? To whom? Who can I trust?

You could try upping your security ante as per the above and other measures. I'd add a surveillance camera system, which can be hooked up on your own or a basher PC that you can hide in a closet. That way you can monitor different parts of your home 24/7 and view activity from the hours you're gone. It's unlikely though that this would let you identify, say, a drive-by casing. But it could help identify thieves. This is why I put my money into high tech (surveillance, alarms, burglarbombs) rather than heavy low tech. If you got the safe home in one piece, someone can get it out in one piece.

 

[jakemccoy]

This is one reason I tell no one, repeat NO ONE, that I am a firearms owner.

You go to the range in a disguise, or you have a private soundproof range?

Keeping a secret about gun ownership is not possible for me and most people. Anyway, I enjoy talking about my guns with anybody who's cool with the topic of guns.

 

[IMFoghorn]

I'm sorry to hear that this has happened to you. There has been lots of good advice given here. I lean towards the concealment ideas myself.

I move very heavy things for a living including safes on occasion. Two men can move a 500# box without too much difficulity and very little equiptment. If they were willing to break down your door and didn't care how much damage was done, I see very little that would stop them. Bolting it down is advisable but it just would slow down the process of removing the safe. A heavier safe, welding in place, bolted to the floor and to the wall, or located in a place where you have to go up or down several steps are all things that will help. Located somewhere nobody knows about is the best in my opinion.

Doug

 

[Deltaboy1984]

We'll be praying of you, that is so sad that you lost your guns.

 

[MDW GUNS]

First of all, I have more bad news for you: Most insurance only cover firearms up to a total of $2,000.

Then you want to inventory really precise what was stolen. I am sure there is more then you noticed so far.
Make a list and report it to the police.
I guess you did file a claim with your insurance?
Give yourself time to settle your claim. Insurances love to settle fast, because you miss plenty!
Do you rent or own the place you live in?

 

[ccsniper]

I know how you feel, been robbed once outa three break ins (my dad probably scared them off the first and second times as he drove up). just a thought, I cant remember the numbers but a large percent of home theft is done by family or neighbors who know too much about your valuable's. The person that used to live next to us was later discovered to be the one who broke into our house. but we didnt get anything back, all he got was a computer and dvd's. my guns were pretty secure.

 

[neverjeg]

Buy a big heavy safe and fill it with cement. Hide you guns in a closet behind it. Next time they take your safe - just smile.

 

[wvshooter]

The number one way to avoid loss of firearms is to not let anyone know you have them. Of course they have to be hidden if someone does happen to break in. The hiding place should be fireproof. The number one way to keep jewelery safe is to keep it in a safe deposit box at the bank. As has been said, it's almost always someone who knows what you have and knows that you're gone.

 

[DHJenkins]

I'm in the same camp as most people here. Pretty much anything "nice" I have gets the 'prisoner' treatment. Coming or going, it gets loaded or unloaded into my truck inside the garage with the door closed. When I got my flatscreen, I had a tarp over it in the truck bed; instead of just tossing the box next to the trash can, I cut it up and put it in a yard bag.

I would strongly suggest an alarm system. Even a slow response time is better than no response time at all. I'm sure it took more than a couple of minutes to move that 500 lb safe. Of course, it would have taken much, much longer if it were secured to your foundation with 5/8" expansion anchors.

 

[NC-Mike]

First of all, I have more bad news for you: Most insurance only cover firearms up to a total of $2,000.

In NC, Farm Bureau covers 10,000 in firearms and related accessories.

Any additional coverage needed can be obtained through NRA Arms-Care at decent rates.

 

[jerkface11]

If you don't bolt it down you're just boxing your guns up for them.

 

[akodo]

My condolences

member "a1abdj" is quite knowledgable about safes, PM him for assistance

 

[daskro]

First of all, I have more bad news for you: Most insurance only cover firearms up to a total of $2,000.

This is important. If you have homeowners/renters insurance you need to make sure what they do and dont cover and if the coverage would not meet the value of your stolen firearms then you need to purchase additional coverage.

Personally I bought additional cover when the value of the firearms got to 5 figures. Also gave them serials.

 

[Shung]

sometimes, it makes me think about booby trapping my safe...

Damn low life pieces of ****...

I hope your insurance will allow you to buy your guns again.

 

[MDW GUNS]

Insurance is different from state to state and from insurance to insurance.
I don't understand why this is. IMHO it's a ripoff.
Why can't insurance be the same in all 50 states starting with health insurance??

 

[jaholder1971]

Quote:
The don't have insurance for that.
http://www.petinsurancereview.com/dog.asp

For everything else, there's MasterCard.

Tell that to your kids when they're burying their beloved pet.

 

[FROGO207]

A scavenger hunt with many pieces and several safes filled with bricks. What fun!! Don't forget the silent security alarm.

 

[Gunnerpalace]

Some people are REALLY overconfident on how effective a dog is when you are not at home.

 

[Paul82]

Sorry to hear this. When I leave for a few days I lock my guns (gun locks) + lock them up in the safe.

 

[MDW GUNS]

Some people are REALLY overconfident on how effective a dog is when you are not at home.

A dog reduces a break in by more then 50% at least.
That is any dog, as long it makes noise.
If you have a Rottweiler or one of the other "bad dogs" this will go down to 99.9% no break in!
Most criminals don't bother with that risk, it's easier to break in somewhere else.
So a dog is not a bad thing, but yes, it has it's own problems, starting with that your home owners insurance will not insure you!
Isn't that strange!

 

[tdowell]

Alarm system.

Big dogs.

Get to know your neighbors better if possible so you can look out for each other, unless you suspect they had something to do with the theft.

I install alarm systems as a benefit to my customers, it’s not my primary business but it did give me a great resource for extra income and access to cheap parts. Here’s what I did, I installed my gun safe in a large walk-in closet (Utility room will work), I then installed a separate alarm in the closet with a PIR (Passive infrared- motion sensor) a door switch, and a keypad just outside the door. If anyone breaks through the wall, or opens the door, the alarm goes off immediately no waiting 30 seconds. Wrong code 3 times in 5 minutes, the alarm goes off immediately, there’s even a big sign on the door warning them. The system is battery backed up and has a wireless adaptor so there is no phone line to cut. Couple this with the alarm in my house, and the cops will be here LONG before they can move the safe (bolted down) out of the house. Nothing will stop them, just need to slow them down long enough to notify law enforcement. Total cost for all the hardware for both systems is about $400, monitoring is $20 a month. Well worth the investment. I know a lot of alarm companies ripping people for $30 or even $40 a month, If you want to do this, drop me a line and I’ll try and see if I can get you on my service for that price, or call a LOCAL alarm co (Not a national chain) and they should be able to help you out. Hope this helps.

 

[Isher]

Hmmm.......

I don't advertise, and I spread 'em out.

Now, I'm fairly handy in the carpenter/cabinetmaker trade,

So I created concealed cubbies throughout the house and separate

Garage and shop. Ammunition lives with each weapon, except for

The main stash which is in its own cubbie.

And by concealed, I mean concealed.

Average smash and grab jerk would have to dismantle the house.

The only hint I will give you is the magnetic "kid proof"

Euro cabinet door hardware.

Even that is too much, but just hearing about a rip like this

Makes my blood boil.


isher

 

[Oro]

Why can't insurance be the same in all 50 states starting with health insurance??

Slight drift here but worth mentioning:

Simply, because of government interference. Each state has an insurance commissioner and regulatory department. Every year (in most states), they justify their salaries by sitting around thinking of ways to make changes to the law. This is just madness for insurers.

I once worked for a while at a major US insurance company in a department that tracked regulatory changes by state. It was sheer madness and bureaucratic nonsense.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

Insurance is different from state to state and from insurance to insurance.
I don't understand why this is.

Apparently you fail to understand how insurance works. Premiums are based on risks. The insurance company is much more likely to have to pay burglarly claims in Indianapolis vs. burglaryclaims claims in El Paso.

IMHO it's a ripoff.

Then don't buy it. You're almost always betting against yourself.

 

[BUGUDY]

Sorry to hear about your guns. When I leave I hide all my guns except for a few low dollar stuff on a gun rack, not that I would like them stolen, if it was some random thief, he might take them for all the guns I own. If I did get a safe, it would be more than bolted when I am gone, which might be a good thread.