It was bound to happen...

[RobJ]

The weekend place got hit about a month ago. They made 3 trips as far as I can tell. I had an IR game cam up in the back. Got a great shot of the front of the car and a perp but it's all whited out because they had the headlights on. Got one atv, bunch of tools, guns. There was a male and female involved. Took cleaning supplies, towels, frozen sausage, fudge sickles and dry food!!! Took all the normal stuff to. Good thing is they didn't find the house keys(double cylinder!!), opened a window to put stuff through then closed the window after. And they did not trash the house. I mainly had to just close cabinet doors. They drove the atv off and we believe they are close. The Sherriff is working some leads. I since added a fence and gate to secure the back from people parking there. Also added some motion lights. I'm thinking about a monitored alarm or just a home alarm with a lound siren. I had insurance, some, but you still always take some loss. The problem is there are so many weekenders around there, and I'm right on the blac top.

What do yall do to secure your place? And also check your coverages!!! I only had $1000 in tools. I might have lost 2-3 thousand. $1000 in guns. We had never changed the coverage since building the garage in 2004, and stuff started to accumulate! The atvs were on a separate policy, not replacement value but market value. I'm still waiting on that decision.

Rob

 

[tallyho8]

I hate thieves!
I hope that you didn't also have any damage from Hurricane Ike or Gustav that you claimed on your homeowner's policy because in our area if you make 2 claims within 3 years they drop your policy and it is impossible to get another one except at exorbitant rates.

 

[hitekcountry]

Took cleaning supplies, towels, ---- And they did not trash the house.

Rob

Call me crazy, but the first thing that flashed in my mind was that the female has a side job or full time job as a cleaning woman, probably cleaning houses for people that rent their "weekend" homes when it's not being used by the owners. These are people that hate to see trashed houses.

These home maintenance workers also have a good sense of which houses have fulltime residents and which ones are part time rentals or weekend homes.

 

[lhfarm]

Really sorry to hear about this. We have had a weekend farm/future retirement home for about 25 years. I run a full home automation system with driveway alerts, security cameras and a couple of forms of instant notification if something out of the ordinary takes place. I get an email every morning with a file attached listing activity from the day before. And I still worry.

I use a program called HomeSeer (Home Automation Systems - HomeSeer), running on a computer that goes 24/7 and has an always on internet connection. I can get to it from any Web browser. I use a wide variety of hardware to control lights, water pump, water heater, and even music. As I said, I've been growing this system for 25 years and I wouldn't expect you to do the same. You can do a lot with bits and pieces though.

The first line of defense is the driveway alert (Driveway Alarm System Driveway Security System Alert Driveway System Remote Driveway Alarm System). My drive is 1400' up a hill and the alarm is buried next to the drive at the first curve. I figure by the time they reach that point, they are committed to coming on up and I still have some time before they reach the house. What happens next depends on if we are around and if it is night time. If we are around, a chime goes off and a voice says a vehicle has been detected. This also sets off the dog alarm. He knows that someone is coming and heads to the door to see who it is. If it is between sunset and sunrise, the outside floods come on.

If we are not there, the system fires an email. It can phone or send a text message too. If it is dark the outside lights come on and so do interior lights. They stay on until another trip of the drive alter (or I turn them off if we are the arriving party). While some might say I'm just providing good lighting for the bums, I figure they will be kept guessing if I'm somewhere waiting with my shotgun . The lights also provide good lighting for my video cameras.

I'm running video software (Blue Iris - Home) that does a great job with motion detection. It uploads videos to the Web so I can what is going on. I'm tempted to look at the newer IP based cameras, but these cameras have worked well for years.

Luckily, it has never been tested with a theft. I have used it in a dsipute with a delivery company whose driver claimed to have tried to make a delivery. My gravel guy has been known to run up to get his truck's picture taken, knowing I'll call him when I see the video. Saves him a long distance call (probably not important in these cell phone times).

My wife loves the driveway alert, especially when she is there alone, so it is as useful when you are there as when you are gone. I think you can but together without doing the going the full home automation route.

If you PM me, I can tell you about some other security features I don't want to broadcast.

 

[RobJ]

I hate thieves!
I hope that you didn't also have any damage from Hurricane Ike or Gustav that you claimed on your homeowner's policy because in our area if you make 2 claims within 3 years they drop your policy and it is impossible to get another one except at exorbitant rates.

Not on this house, but on the other WAY OVERVALUED house(which raises the deductable, 1% of THEIR value...but of course for a named storm, like Ike, the deductable is 2%).

We had some roof damage, I fought that one hard, ended up making a different claim with 1% deductable. sometimes it pays to have the local rep working for you. No cancellation yet, 2 houses, 4 cars, 2, errrr 1 ATV.

 

[RobJ]

Call me crazy, but the first thing that flashed in my mind was that the female has a side job or full time job as a cleaning woman, probably cleaning houses for people that rent their "weekend" homes when it's not being used by the owners. These are people that hate to see trashed houses.

These home maintenance workers also have a good sense of which houses have fulltime residents and which ones are part time rentals or weekend homes.

The deputy said some cleaning supplies can be used to make meth. But in this case they took the whole basket thay most people have under the sinks. Also took utilsels(IN the plastic holder), and the little tray in my junk drawer...screws, nails, scizzors.

Nah we figure this is someone setting up a house or just needing all this stuff. They kept it and are using it!

 

[Kernopelli]

Man, there is nothing worse than a thief. We have been victims 4 times our self, the most recent last year. I don't know what to tell someone about property away from their home. Keep your insurance current and get riders on anything like guns, jewelry etc that have low coverage limits. I can tell you ( I work in corrections and have heard it all)..if someone wants something and has the time/opportunity, potentially nothing is going to stop them; lighting, locks, chains, alarms, safes, window/door bars, rebar in outside walls,etc. are all great deterrents but if your property is not able to be under regular supervision you are at the mercy of just how much effort someone wants to expend. I read one convict's case that regularly used a tow truck w/ O/A torch, chain saws, insulated cable cutters and full assortment of tools. If they couldn't disable, cut, saw, pry or break their way in he would drill then run cable around outside wall studs and pull the structure down around his target. He would only prey on unattended rural property, at least that's what his convictions were on. I have also heard many of them talk about just how easy it is to break in and steal things from the same room where people were sleeping just feet away from them. To them it's a game and some get very good at it. Most are absolute idiots to our benefit though.

At home, I increased my security lighting and wired the new ones w/motion detectors. Put window and door alarms in and lock up the garage/shop every night and don't leave anything outside. We also have an excellent watch dog. We tell everyone that she won't hurt you as long as we're with her but if not, don't try coming to the door. Not exactly 100% true but when they see her they believe it. She IS very territorial and is not shy about approaching anyone on the property. She has chased more than one person back into their car or off the property. She also knows the exact property lines and will not go after anything outside them. She's a real meat head but she pulls her weight.

 

[RobertN]

Sorry to hear about the break in.

In regards to the weapons, I am a firm believer in a good safe. I lock everything that I am not in direct control of. I also have a teenage son. He is very safe with weapons. I am not too worried about his buddies. But, the risk is not there. A rifle and shotgun are his. We get to them as needed/wanted. But, they are locked up unless my wife or I are home and supervising.

I like real safes. We stored weapons in a wood/glass case for a very short time. No security there. Like the safe, not only for weapons but important documents ect.

I have never had guns stolen from home, thank goodness. I did have two pistols get "lost" by UPS in shipping. That was 10 years ago. A couple months ago, I got a call from a Police dept a couple hours away. They had busted a criminal, and he had one of my weapons. At least one is off the street.

$1000 in guns.

 

[teg]

Sorry to hear this... Been meaning to video everything that we have up at our place, just to record what would be lost. We looked into insurance and for the price, I decided that if we don't "hit" after five years... we'll be insuring ourselves and every year we can add another $700 worth of stuff that we can get stolen,

We don't have much up there, a couple grand would replace all of it and with the insurance deductable... it was not worth it.

 

[SPIKER]

I been pretty lucky like you only been hit once that was a car broken into during time I was at a funeral, seems there is / was a crew hitting homes/cars for people who had deaths in family and the obit in paper when times were for calling ect. The crooks would hit the homes of the direct family members of the deceased. My car was parked at the GFs place when we went to her dads funeral. I had $1000 worth of damage & stolen parts, they broke door key/lock with screw driver, took stereo/CD player CDs Radar detector AMP & Subs & some other misc stuff. Insurance was 1K deductible...

I farm property has only cheap stuff mostly and lots of neighbors who I let have somewhat free reign for them watching place. I have not been hit there but the 2 front houses were hit stealing chainsaws ect. both times in daylight, one guy was trimming tree out near my drive (his property) sat Craftsman saw down to get lunch came back and it was gone! other guy had nice Saw taken from his trucks floor board, car drov into his drive while he was at work, walked/foot prints to his door, and then back, stopping at his truck and took his saw & gas can...

Mark

 

[Taylortractornut]

Im sorry to hear about your break in. We have a neighborthat was in the construction business big in the 50's up to the mid 80's. They did extremely well but had a son that was an only child and never had to take accountability. His mother spent their fortune bailing him and his son out of jail. Most of the time they were paying folks quiet money to not press charges on him because they woke up and him in their room. Hes on drugs and its a waste he can do anything heck of an operator, good mechanic and welder. he had the world in his hands and now hes a wasted two fortunes. I made it clear to him if I woke up and he was in my house hed be shot. Hes never done it. Plus we have 8 dogs.
I agree the female sounds like a house keeper or folks starting out. It also sounds like someone you may know to. By them not trashing the place. When scrap was up my neighbors grandsone stole the radiators off two old army trucks, and a crane and something else on a remote location. What turned suspicion on them was the fact that the radiators had been removed properly like they were gonna have to replace them. All the nuts and bolts taken off carefully and put in cans. Radiator hoses had been soaked in oil to slip off instead of just cutting them off. They knew to old man would have them put new ones on. I also had a house keeper when I bought this house and was single working alot of hours. I got to noticing I was buying alot of pledge and other cleaners and got the checking the trash for empty cans. I had to buy a pstol back from a friend of mine once. I lost a .32 H&R revolver one time in my dads old dually. We had gone to a little job we wre doing next to a pond and dad wanted me to take my pistol. On of his friends had a step sone that was sorry as buzzard Sh$$$. Dad hired him to labor while we did the operating and one night I forgot about the pistol under the truck seat. I went to his place and looked for it and only the holster was there . he thought I may had misplaced it. My friend was out one night talking to a a man about a gun and this kind fella offered him one for 25 bucks. He had noticed the that the handdles were some he sold me when I bought the gun with a bad grip. He snatched it up, I just had to give him his 25 back.

 

[Uncle Doug]

We all learn from these life lessons. Thanks for sharing. Theft is the worst kind of loss of property as it is 100% intentional. Hurricanes and other acts of God or even accidents we can handle and move on. Theft just kind of lingers and burns a hole in you if you let it. Some great advice given here, some of it also learned by the same way.

My first home in the city 35 odd years ago was hit while I was gone to a wedding. We always suspected it was someone we knew. Back in the 70's just like today people using drugs needed quick cash. Every gun we had was taken except for my dad's old Marlin 30-30 which had a broken stock and was on a top shelf of a closet. None of the guns were ever recovered as far as I know. We now also use a gun safe and keep important papers in a fireproof lock box.

One thing I did use along with the insurance was a claim on the gun loss with the NRA. As a member it covered at that time about $500-600 I don't quite remember which. It did cover my deductable so I was not out any money but it took years to build another small gun collection.

We now live in a rural area but right on a main county road with a lot of traffic. I did pick up another game camera and will position it in a hidden place. For security use one without a night flash or they will see the flash and steal the camera also.

 

[Western]

This is 1 reason I like the "castle law" here in Texas, of course it doesn't help you if you not home. I think thieves may think a little more. I can see why they watch obits and or marriage announcements, it's like an invitation for them to be stupid.

I have personally never been violated this way, since someone is usually home. I am always on the defensive when someone comes by and particularly some kind of salesman, I don't like surprise "show ups".

As a former police officer in Texas, I have seen my share of burglary's and have seen allot of good people loose their sense of security, many of them said it was like being "raped" to use a metaphor.

 

[RobJ]

Sorry to hear about the break in.

In regards to the weapons, I am a firm believer in a good safe. I lock everything that I am not in direct control of. I also have a teenage son. He is very safe with weapons. I am not too worried about his buddies. But, the risk is not there. A rifle and shotgun are his. We get to them as needed/wanted. But, they are locked up unless my wife or I are home and supervising.

I like real safes. We stored weapons in a wood/glass case for a very short time. No security there. Like the safe, not only for weapons but important documents ect.

I have never had guns stolen from home, thank goodness. I did have two pistols get "lost" by UPS in shipping. That was 10 years ago. A couple months ago, I got a call from a Police dept a couple hours away. They had busted a criminal, and he had one of my weapons. At least one is off the street.

Thanks,

The guns actually were not that bad. 3 old shotguns and actually I wish they would have found a 4th shotgun... . the others ones were sitting out or not really hidden. The one they didn't find was between the master bedroom bed matresses!! Go figure. We think they did it all by flashlight. There was a house key that was in the junk drawer that fell on the floor they never spotted. Of course if they had gone out the side door I would have gotten some better pictures of them. I had 3 rifles up there and they didn't find those. But they got all my other hunting stuff...every piece. I try and relate the hunting stuff to others by comparing it to a golf addict. Usually they have several gloves, many balls, new and used, couple pair of shoes...etc. Think that they took it all even down to the last golf tee!

But they took ALL my ammo (and I reload so it's harder to replace), gun cases, slings! An extra scope, bore sighting, etc. I had recently moved all that stuff up to the house.

It's a major bummer for sure. I'd give somebody $500 today to have it all back the way it was.

As far as someone mentioning insurance or not, NOT having insurance never crossed our mind. The insurance is only $750 a year, ATV's are $200 a year. To me thats a small price not only for robbery but in case of fire, etc. It also protects my investment. I built the house in 2001 and the garage in 2004. I have 20k in both. Even today I could probably sell it in a week for 130k.

 

[dmccarty]

Sorry to hear about the house. It does sound like someone local. Our Sheriff department seems to do a good job solving many thefts from houses. It sometimes takes them awhile but they seem to solve a fair number of them.

Our house is behind a gate that is about 1000 feet down the road and then another 400 feet up the driveway hidden in the woods. Not many people know the house is up there. You cant see the house from the gate unless it is winter time and the lights are on then you can see the lights. But not the house.

The gate is usually locked and shut and plastered with no trespass signs. The road is privately owned and dead ends on our land.

A few years ago the wifey drove to the store leaving me at home and the gate open. On the way out she noticed there was a minivan at the neighbors and looked suspicious so you called me and said they might be heading to the house.

Sure enough I see the minivan coming up the driveway. This does not make me happy. I really don't get how people dont see the gate and the posted signs. It puts me in a foul mood.

There are three people in the car, two women and a man. One women gets out and comes up to the door while the man who is driving stays in the car with the engine running and the side door open. I open a window.

The porch is lower by a couple of steps than the floor of the house which allows anyone in the house to have a height advantage. The windows are casements and easy to open from the inside but not the outside. Our GSD was wanting to eat the women on the porch so that was ONE reason I only opened the window.

The other reason was that she had a spray bottle in her hand with what looked like Pinesol or another cleaner. She said she was "selling" cleaner.

This is a great scam to allow them to sell you stuff they buy cheap at Lowes and/or casing the house for later theft and/or just jumping the person who opens the door. One squirt with the cleaner in the eyes and the home owner can be blitzed real quick by the rest of the group.

I was not Mr. Friendly to them and started mentioning the sheriff and being on posted land behind a gate on a private road. The way she reacted made me think she had some experience with John Law and did not want any contact with Mr. Law so she got back in the minivan and left ASAP never to be seen again.

A squirt bottle is very non threatening but it can take you out if you ain't careful.

Later,
Dan

 

[Taylortractornut]

Dmccarty I have that same thing happen alot at the landfill I work at. No trespassing signs everywhere, gates and Authorized personel signs every few hundred feet. In the winter Im down in a arge holow and cant see anything on top by the shop. Our Mutt Bonehead usually tells us if a strange car is comming. If dads out of the office or in anoth cell and the drivers are gone Its a bad feeling to look up on the hill and see a strange car. The dozer wont walk out fast enough to catch them though Ive caught a few on the scraper. I ask them if the ydidnt see all the signs. yeah we did but didnt think they mean us. We had some kids cross the fence and shoot the lights out of an old part scraper we have out there and try to shoot the tires on them but they are a little thick. We have pondered putting in a surveilance camera, being a landfill almost any theft or vandalism can be called echo terrorism.
There as also a woman here going around selling cleaning products she did the spray folks in the eye trick or mist their dogs in the eyes. Your story just remind me of those folks she went around wit ha cooler full of meat in her truck a little deep freeeze and go around to county roads. Her and he daughter were stealing stuff and ripping out window AC units, and copper supply lines on houses. She was finally caught.

 

[valley]

Man, I hate that. Let us know if these rats are found. I didn't read every post. I just electrified our corral I'm thinking of doing something about the house also.

 

[ultrarunner]

Really a sad comment on the times we live...

I too use double cylinder Deadbolts even though it is against the law in the City where I live... I don't lock them when I'm home... only when I'm out.

My thinking is why make it easy for thieves to walk out the front of back door... at least they will have to go out the way they came in.

 

[zzvyb6]

I'd like to see the pictures of the perps that you got, is spite of the light levels. Any way other viewers could make ot the vehicle type and brand/model?

Put an ad in Craigslist looking for items "no longer wanted" that may be your own and see if anybody bites. Then car bomb them.

 

[cityfarma]

I too use double cylinder Deadbolts even though it is against the law in the City where I live...

Just curious- Why is it illegal

cityfarma