Recovering from being burglarized
- Thread starter Robert Haas
- Start date
bazzateer
Well-known member
Indeed they could. We all could care a lot less. But I think you meant to say 'couldn't care less'?
Really sorry to hear about the theft though. I have tools handed down to me from my late grandad, some of which he got from his Dad etc. I'd hate to have some scum take any of it, let alone all of it.
I hope the OP gets his life back on track as soon as possible. He is not to blame for the theft and the police are not to blame for not getting the stuff back, the only people at fault here are the thieving scum who deserve to die the death of a thousand pains.
Hmrhead
Well-known member
Sorry for your loss. You can do all you want to protect yourself but if people are determined to steal from you they will. We had a close call a few months back. Kids clipped the phone line to bypass the alarm to break into the garage. About 6 months before that we switched to Comcast for phone, internet, and cable. Cable is buried! Even though the siren was blasting they got busted by the police after the alarm company called them. Police said they were surprise as they thought the alram had been disabled. First time I didn't complain about the Comcast bill when I paid it. After it happened I took a video of all the contents of the house and garage. Boy do I sound dumb on the narrative, you might want to skip doing that. Then I emailed a copy of it to my insurance company, as they had previously required a seperate jewelry schedule for my wife's baubles. Made a couple of hard(DVD) copies to store in my fireproof safe and sent one to my mother to store in her safe as well. Although I was not out any dollars it was still a huge pain. Also I had thought about disabling the alarm siren and was advised against doing that, as it could be viewed as entrapment if the future. Thanks to the ambulance/slip and fall lawyers.
Here is some helpful information. If you can not afford a security system, check around and buy one of the local or well known alarm company signs. Most thieves will go elsewhere if they see you have a security system...
leftyz
Well-known member
Thats not really true, I think thieves tell people to spread that rumor to keep people from getting burglar alarms. They know it takes police a good 10 minutes to get there for a burglary call, they will be long gone if there really is an alarm triggered.
84scrambler
Well-known member
I would look into getting a better alarm system/secondary alarm system that nobody else is aware of. Seeing that it was a former employee he could have had knowledge of the security system in place. Having a backup system that nobody else is aware of could have turned their 10 hour shopping spree into a 10 minutes sprint with the police. You can also look into a surveillance system that can contact you directly if it detects motion and or is disabled. Having a shop dog isn't a bad idea. Its a good theft deterrent for home burglaries. For the most part most thieves are looking for a quick and easy target. Make it a pain in the *** for them and more then likely they will leave you alone.
OWilde
Well-known member
Sorry for you loss Robert Haas--the money won't get back the family tools.
Really *****!
My folks had an auto parts store/repair garage in East Orange, NJ until around '96 (right on the boarder with Newark).
Place was hit a few times a year--usually Saturday night, as the place was closed on Sundays. There were alarms (audible and silent), steel doors, bared windows, fence with razor wire (insurance company suggestion). 1 in 5 or so attempts to steal merchandise/tools were successful.
The local police never were able to accomplish much, until my parents hired a retired local officer working as a PI. Didn't stop the break in attempts, but they got back most everything taken after hiring the PI. He knew where to look, who to talk to and really seemed to enjoy his work. IIRC the insurance company was paying for part of his fee the last few years.
Good luck Robert!
Geoff
Really *****!
My folks had an auto parts store/repair garage in East Orange, NJ until around '96 (right on the boarder with Newark).
Place was hit a few times a year--usually Saturday night, as the place was closed on Sundays. There were alarms (audible and silent), steel doors, bared windows, fence with razor wire (insurance company suggestion). 1 in 5 or so attempts to steal merchandise/tools were successful.
The local police never were able to accomplish much, until my parents hired a retired local officer working as a PI. Didn't stop the break in attempts, but they got back most everything taken after hiring the PI. He knew where to look, who to talk to and really seemed to enjoy his work. IIRC the insurance company was paying for part of his fee the last few years.
Good luck Robert!
Geoff
OccupantRJ
Well-known member
An electric fence controller wired to your car will stop that ****, because likely it's the same perp feeling comfortable enough to hit you repeatedly.
Last edited:
i8tokyo
Well-known member
When I was 15 my older brother had a body shop. An employee broke in stole tools and 2 customer cars. One was an old chevell that I had just spent summer stripping sanding and wet sanding. The A$$hats used the cars to play demolition derby. The cops followed the antifreeze and trans fluid back to the shop as they were putting them away. Too leave them there. The guys were high as a kite.
Hey someone that has spent time in the shop knows where the alarms are. Know the layout. Where to pry on doors. *****, and background checks? Unless you pay real well good luck finding 100% clean employees.
Hang in there you will recover.
Hey someone that has spent time in the shop knows where the alarms are. Know the layout. Where to pry on doors. *****, and background checks? Unless you pay real well good luck finding 100% clean employees.
Hang in there you will recover.
NZMacca
Active member
Whilst I don't agree that any victim of a crime is responsible for the crime happening to them, I do agree that "hardening" ones property to make it a more difficult target is a worthwhile expense. I am an electrician by trade and have had in the past two vehicles full of tools stolen when they were parked in my own driveway. My family has always had German Shepherds and currently we have two "land sharks" on our rural property, along with monitored alarm systems, IP CCTV, locked gates and controlled external lighting (and a couple of rifles). Attached is an example of my best deterrent....
Attachments
Busted_Knuckles
Well-known member
If you re-do your security system, take a look at Honeywell's "total connect" monitoring service, as well you can get a new panel that will dial out via hard line, use your Internet, and GSM (cellular) as well, giving you 3 chances to get out (assuming your not using DSL for internet). I'm in the process of putting this system together for my "new" and house and shop.
The panel itself will give you several ways to contact central monitoring and the "total connect" service, will hook you up via, email, text, or you can "play" with your system online (it will tell you the status of anything you want to know when your not present).
Part of my plan is to install "outdoor" motions, that will alert me of someone on the property, prior to an alarm/break-in. Basically, giving me a "heads up". So I know someone has "landed" but not broke in yet, giving me the advantage of showing up and causing them to **** themselves when I'm standing behind them and telling them to " smile and wait for the flash ".
Ive also invested in a Geo Vision DVR, and a bunch of high quality used CCTV Cameras, that are run by my pc, and I can access from any Internet portal. The software for the DVR allows for "alarm" if something moves in a selected portion of any cameras field of view as specified by the operator (me). Basically, if someone accesses the property, it will let me know. You can throw enough technology at your problem to insure it does not happen again.
Basically, you can know someone is there on the property, before they make it in the building to bypass your system. Its really all pretty affordable, and if you working on autos for a living, your over qualified to install these systems.
I share this, because I'm guessing most of you guys out there don't know this stuff is readily available and affordable. I'm also super paranoid about my stuff getting stolen, and think you can not put enough effort in to making it a mother trucker to get at you're stuff. I also pull the keys (forklifts, loader, trucks) out of everything and power down the panel at night.
I don't worry about true professional thieves, because my stuff isn't worth their time, Its the low life drug users and lazy teen age kids with time on their hands that worry me.
Shadowdog500
Well-known member
When our house was robbed in Philadelphia years ago the police were there just long enough to fill out their paperwork. When they were leaving we asked them if they were going to get the clear to see fingerprints off of the window. They said no, they only investigate murders. Effectively they were there just to document the robbery, nothing more.
When our car was stolen we also gave up on the police recovering it and started looking for it ourselves. About a month later we found it parked about 150' from a police station. All of the windows were painted black with spray paint from the inside and kids obviously using it for thier clubhouse.
Don't think the police are out actively looking for your stuff. You will have to do it yourself. It is a little late now, but I would have hit the pawn shops, auctions, and local flea markets immediately after the robbery.
A friend of my parents had his welding shop robbed twice, both times he found and recovered all of his equipment himself the following saturday at a local auction.
Just curious,
Hou do you know your previous employee robbed you. Do you have video?
Good luck
When our car was stolen we also gave up on the police recovering it and started looking for it ourselves. About a month later we found it parked about 150' from a police station. All of the windows were painted black with spray paint from the inside and kids obviously using it for thier clubhouse.
Don't think the police are out actively looking for your stuff. You will have to do it yourself. It is a little late now, but I would have hit the pawn shops, auctions, and local flea markets immediately after the robbery.
A friend of my parents had his welding shop robbed twice, both times he found and recovered all of his equipment himself the following saturday at a local auction.
Just curious,
Hou do you know your previous employee robbed you. Do you have video?
Good luck
Last edited:
Awesome post on the security cameras and motion detectors. I have been toying with the idea of putting out motion detectors so I know anytime an animal or human sets foot on my land (kind of rural). Good way to notify me if someone is prowling at night. Plus my wife is afraid of the dark. Good stuff...
TAMPAGT07
Well-known member
Were you "robbed" or burglarized? Robbery is when someone uses force to take something away in your presence. Burglary is when you are not there and you come home to missing property.
I don't think that there was much that you could have done.
This was essentially an inside job, from a former employee, who knew pretty much everything about your shop, alarm system and hours. Also they knew when you were there, and when you were not there.
You could have had the best alarm system in the world, the former employee still would have had information on how to defeat it. Likely if you would have had a dog, they would have killed it or poisoned it, or being a former employee, the dog would have been familiar with the person, in question.
Killing a dog, is not murder. All the flake would have had to say to a judge, is that the dog attacked him.
-----
Just be careful. As you replace tools/items that were stolen, thieves will retarget you, looking for the new goodies that insurance has just bought you.
Good luck
This was essentially an inside job, from a former employee, who knew pretty much everything about your shop, alarm system and hours. Also they knew when you were there, and when you were not there.
You could have had the best alarm system in the world, the former employee still would have had information on how to defeat it. Likely if you would have had a dog, they would have killed it or poisoned it, or being a former employee, the dog would have been familiar with the person, in question.
Killing a dog, is not murder. All the flake would have had to say to a judge, is that the dog attacked him.
-----
Just be careful. As you replace tools/items that were stolen, thieves will retarget you, looking for the new goodies that insurance has just bought you.
Good luck
It's actually very true. If you check the statistics you will see that most burglaries are not planned. The wrong person drives by and sees something that they want or they see a house with no cars in the yard. A small percentage are actually organized crime. The sign is a great deterrent.
TAMPAGT07
Well-known member
We were getting hit hard down here a few years ago, by thieves doing Kick-in's. They were very bold, as they would pull up to a house, mostly in the morning, and just kick in the front door. They would then run in and grab anything they could in like a minute or two.
Shadowdog500
Well-known member
Burglarized.
I heard in the news that some police departments are so short staffed right now that they won't even stop by to fill out the report themselves anymore. You have to go online and fill out the forms yourself.
Chris
Actually that was the Professors statement, I just agreed with it.
Do you have a a fenced in perimeter fence with heavy duty locks and Razor wire (if allowed)? A guard dog(s). Also I would recommend an alarm that is self powered with a wireless transmitter?
I am really sorry for your loss, and I didn't mean to set you and other members off. I should have picked my words better.
I also believe that this country and others will get alot worse.
Wow you really have no reason to keep posting your thoughts here, everything you have said is useless info!
LAROKE
Banned
And this is your 2nd post? Pretty bold man.
TAMPAGT07
Well-known member
Yeah really.....Who is this guy? Two posts? You gotta be kidding me? I'm sorry I'm not as wise and respected as you.
ddawg16
Well-known member
Just in case you didn't read all the FAQ's and get personally informed....it is somewhat 'frowned' on for newbie's to make such 'negative' comments....especially when they can be construed as a personal attack.
If you survive here long with that type of attitude, I can imagine that you may well surpass some of our more 'vocal' members in pushing the wrong buttons.
BTW...welcome to the board....don't let the door hit you in the back....
I can understand your frustration with the police. I work in the local public safety building as an IT person. I’m not an officer but I see plenty of useless **** everyday. Bust some poor kids for a little pot, or investigate tens of thousands of dollars in stolen property. Mmmmmmmm. What will all these cops do when pot is legal? Oh I forgot they are busy out giving speeding tickets. And public safety, that a joke. When seconds count the police are hours away. I’ll take care of my own thank you very much.
mmhouse
Well-known member
Sorry you lost all your stuff. It sounds as if much of it was irreplaceable even if your insurance company was completely agreeable.
I appreciate your posting about your experience though. I've taken photos of everything in my house but neglected to do that in the garage. I guess I'd better go do it.
I appreciate your posting about your experience though. I've taken photos of everything in my house but neglected to do that in the garage. I guess I'd better go do it.
ZRX61
Well-known member
Agree 10,000%
mdbeck1
Well-known member
So how about sharing some basic information so that others can set up their shops up as well????
Shadowdog500
Well-known member
I just remembered that my parents welder friend eventually found a homeless guy and hired him to sweep up the shop during the day and let him sleep in a small trailer in the corner of his shop. The shop was never robbed again, because someone was on site 24/7.
Chris
Chris
Sorry that this happened to you. You are handling it well. Much better than I would.
Wireless cameras with motion detectors that can be remotely accessed look interesting to me. They are not very expensive either. You can get an 8 camera setup for less than $1,000. Adding motion zones that set off alarms before they break in is also an option. There is a lot of technological advancement going on right now and it is melding with the internet/cell phones for instant access as Busted Knuckles mentioned.
I always thought about dedicating a closet to a human sized "live trap". Some of the nicer homes with very sophisticated alarm systems have safe rooms and trap rooms that will emit a gas.
The homeless guy in the shop is a great idea. It solves two problems at once - on site security and gets a fellow citizen off the street. It would take a trusting special person (business owner) to pull it off but it is a great idea. Lots of upside if it is successful. Lots of good PR. It does not have to be a homeless person. It could be a special needs person.
Wireless cameras with motion detectors that can be remotely accessed look interesting to me. They are not very expensive either. You can get an 8 camera setup for less than $1,000. Adding motion zones that set off alarms before they break in is also an option. There is a lot of technological advancement going on right now and it is melding with the internet/cell phones for instant access as Busted Knuckles mentioned.
I always thought about dedicating a closet to a human sized "live trap". Some of the nicer homes with very sophisticated alarm systems have safe rooms and trap rooms that will emit a gas.
The homeless guy in the shop is a great idea. It solves two problems at once - on site security and gets a fellow citizen off the street. It would take a trusting special person (business owner) to pull it off but it is a great idea. Lots of upside if it is successful. Lots of good PR. It does not have to be a homeless person. It could be a special needs person.
ZRX61
Well-known member
Years ago in the UK I worked at one place where there a 6ft wide hole right inside the front door that would drop you 12ft into the basement. It had a drawbridge arrangement during business hours & unless you knew it was there you'd have no idea. At night when the place was locked up the drawbridge was raised...
blue dog
Banned
Just like chief ben said, come see jerry lee. A dog is the best security device that any one can have.
bazzateer
Well-known member
Don't jump into a forum as a Newby and start slagging off established members - it's bad manners.
It gives everyone the impression that you have no respect for anyone else.
Civility costs nothing you know?
Keep on like that and you won't be welcome.
mopar4wd
Well-known member
I had a friend have his home robbed in the same manner broke in cut the alarm wires then spent 8 hours loading his own car with stuff inside the garage. (friend was on vacation) Police actually did recover a number of the stolen items (rich little town not much going on) He had an older hardwired alarm, they simply pulled the cable and telephone wires out of the side of the house no trigger. Police recommended the system be replaced by a cell system with the transceiver for the cell hidden in the attic. I used to work for a company that did high end electrical and monitoring systems for mega yachts, one of the systems we sold had motion sensor triggered cameras that would record and upload motion for 30 seconds after being triggered (video was uploaded to a secure internet server off ship) If the camera out side the boat was triggered it would just record if one pointed at an entrance was triggered it would text the captain and crew with a warning and a link to the video online.
Not to be beligerant, but I haven't read where you know for sure who did it. Is it just one of those- I know that SOB did it, or do you really have any proof? Have you received any heresay from people? Or is it just one of those things where it you know it couldn't have been anyone but this guy? I really feel sorry for you. No place is burglarproof.
You might also want to check into a different system. I have an ADT system in my home and it is about as burglar proof as you can get. If the phone lines are cut or the phone line goes down ADT calls me on my cell phone. Plus it has a backup cellular phone to communicate with. So it does not do any good to cut any wires. If my electric goes out, the system has a backup battery that lasts up to eight hours. I have door sensors, motion detectors and a glass breaking monitor. If any of them go off, ADT calls the police. They are here in a few minutes. And trust me, they come at 100 miles per hour. So you might want to check into a different system. It doesn't do a burglar any good to cut any wires with ADT. They are pretty good. Good luck.
HemiRambler
Well-known member
For those believing that dogs are the answer - consider this: A fellow I know was into alot of trouble as a youth a bizzilion years ago. One of things he and his buddies did was to go into junkyards and take whatever they needed. Out of curiosity I asked him "what about the dogs?" He said dogs are absolutely no problem what so ever! He went on to tell me that the biggest meanest nastiest dog wouldn't even slow them down, but a couple seconds. They didn't kill the dogs - not sure they even "hurt" them, but they BESTED everyone - within seconds.
IMHO Dogs are best in quiet neighborhoods where the size of the dog is less important than the barking noise they make.
Don't get me wrong - I think dogs are great - (I have 2 myself) & they've done their job several times - once preventing my wife's car from being broken into, but the reality is if the criminal is a "pro" they have many ways of dealing with obvious threats such as dog.
As far as advertising what type of security system you have - to me that's like playing poker with your cards in plain sight ;-0
Methinks it's better to keep 'em guessing - keep 'em worried - keep your "guns" oiled.
IMHO Dogs are best in quiet neighborhoods where the size of the dog is less important than the barking noise they make.
Don't get me wrong - I think dogs are great - (I have 2 myself) & they've done their job several times - once preventing my wife's car from being broken into, but the reality is if the criminal is a "pro" they have many ways of dealing with obvious threats such as dog.
As far as advertising what type of security system you have - to me that's like playing poker with your cards in plain sight ;-0
Methinks it's better to keep 'em guessing - keep 'em worried - keep your "guns" oiled.
Ocho
Well-known member
Sorry to hear about your loss. Being burglarized ***** big time.
Just a thought; could you issue a 1099 to him at the end of the year for the stuff he took?
It wouldn't get your stuff back, but he DID receive items of monetary value from you. He is being held in jail for taking your stuff and if convicted it will be proven.
Form 1099: Proceeds from burglary - $150,000
Sic 'em IRS!
Just a thought; could you issue a 1099 to him at the end of the year for the stuff he took?
It wouldn't get your stuff back, but he DID receive items of monetary value from you. He is being held in jail for taking your stuff and if convicted it will be proven.
Form 1099: Proceeds from burglary - $150,000
Sic 'em IRS!
Mighty Favog
Member
This thread has sure got me to thinking about security. If you could hook up a tow truck to my garage and just haul it and its contents away there isnt anywhere close to 150k value, but its still my hard earned stuff.
In my neighbor hood my wife and I are the only working couple. Everyone else is retired. We dont have any Mrs Kravitz type of people, but they do tend to notice if anything is out of place. But I guess in this day and age you never know who's lurking around.
Really sorry to hear about your loss...It just makes me sick to my stomach. Ive never understood how one person can steal from another.
In my neighbor hood my wife and I are the only working couple. Everyone else is retired. We dont have any Mrs Kravitz type of people, but they do tend to notice if anything is out of place. But I guess in this day and age you never know who's lurking around.
Really sorry to hear about your loss...It just makes me sick to my stomach. Ive never understood how one person can steal from another.
James E
Well-known member
The drawbridge idea is funny but there is established precedent in the US that the property owner is liable when booby traps injure trespassers.
I always thought it would be great to have a halon fire suppression system in my house that I could link to the burglar alarm when I was out of town. If anybody broke in, they'd suffocate when the system pumped the house full of gas. Problem solved. Unfortunately, the law frowns on such measures.
My old next-door neighbor just got burglarized in a similar manner to the OP. Neighborhood with zero crime for thirty years. He spends half the year in Florida and somebody who knew he was gone backed a truck up to his garage and took everything of any value out of the house in the middle of the night.
Really makes me want to document and secure everything in the house and garage now.
I always thought it would be great to have a halon fire suppression system in my house that I could link to the burglar alarm when I was out of town. If anybody broke in, they'd suffocate when the system pumped the house full of gas. Problem solved. Unfortunately, the law frowns on such measures.
My old next-door neighbor just got burglarized in a similar manner to the OP. Neighborhood with zero crime for thirty years. He spends half the year in Florida and somebody who knew he was gone backed a truck up to his garage and took everything of any value out of the house in the middle of the night.
Really makes me want to document and secure everything in the house and garage now.