ive been ripped off

[headwrench]

forget to lock the doors in the garage from a late night of working and also didnt lock the house when i went to work the next day. ill be damned , some SOB got me. got my mig welder and helmet, hammer drill, brand new set of drill bits, and from the house, my wifes laptop. i always come home for lunch, but not that day. i guess i learned my lesson, always lock the doors even if you go take a pee. thank goodness for insurance. this is just a reminder, take extra care to secure your doors because some mother #*^#++ will help himself. i feel better now, thanks for letting me vent.

 

[revlover]

Wow... I'm very sorry to hear that...

I've had my car broken into before - stole my ipod and 5 years worth of tax returns I was moving. The insecure feeling you get, knowing some a-hole went into your personal property... it takes a while to get over that.

I hope you have zero problems with insurance...

 

[walrus]

That stinks

 

[pipehack]

I bet you know the guy. I bet he knows you. I don't know you and I won't fill your head with sh#t BUT trust your instincts and feelings. You said a couple of things in that post that threw up a red flag. To me at least.

 

[billspit]

I had my MIG welder stolen out of my garage years ago overnight when the garage door was shut (its connected to a door opener). They also took an ultralight trout fishing rod and reel. Years later I figured out they also stolen my mothers old CPAP machine that we had paid $1300 for. I was going to use it to make a fresh air breathing machine for painting. Why they would have wanted that is beyond me, because its illegal to sell them used and without a prescription.

 

[billspit]

I bet you know the guy. I bet he knows you. I don't know you and I won't fill your head with sh#t BUT trust your instincts and feelings. You said a couple of things in that post that threw up a red flag. To me at least.

I know the feeling. Whoever took my stuff knew exactly what I had and where it was. I suspect it was either the guys that did the siding on my house or the Sears pest control guy that did a "free pest inspection". Both had been at the house in the days before it was taken.

 

[sammerdog]

That ***** headwrench - meth heads and a soft economy has this happening way too much.

Make sure you file with the police - its a longshot, but if they do catch the scum that ripped ya off, maybe they can match up the laptop and get it back to you. And if you're in a smaller town, don't hesitate going into the local pawnshops. The owners are usually okay guys and will keep an eye open for your stuff.

I got popped last summer - worst thing was a camera with pics of Daughter's wedding. Still pissed about that.

 

[Bo Heck]

I live on campus at college and theres a massive increase in robberies on campus. The apartment directly above me was robbed last week. The guys walked in cause the front door as locked and then kicked in all 4 bedroom doors (they all have deadbolt locks) and picked it clean. At another place on campus 2 guys in ski masks and matching outfits robbed an apartment, they just walked around checking doors till they found an unlocked on. It's getting worse and worse every week. I hope you get it worked out with insurance.

 

[nonhog]

Bummer , feel for ya. We've been hit twice maybe 3 times . All lil easy outside stuff. All of our solar yard lights, a latter (the same one my buddy asked as he was setting it next to my house"dont you want to put this inside?")
The shop and house have an alarm so maybe they'll go for easier picking but
you never know?

 

[headwrench]

my wife is freaking out. she is afraid to come home from work until she knows im home. its like trying to get in fort knox when i go home for lunch. she wants all new locks on every door just in case they made keys. one good thing though, nothing on the laptop with any personal info. just drag racing sites, and ****,[my wife lets me use her computer] and her sewing sites. LOL

 

[BLUBAYOU]

Sorry to hear about this.

I am nearing completion of my garage build and I have been trying to consider how I can make things as secure as possible. Thinking of anchoring some things to the floor (welder, compressor, etc) by chain to slow the removal if someone tried anything. At least it might make them take less or maybe even reconsider.

The one benefit I have is there is nearly always someone home at my place. My son is home with myself or other family members every day, so there is always activity, along with my 100lb dog, who is very defensive of my son and wife (though not of me?). She looks mean when the hair on her back stands on end! (talking about the dog)

I have had a lot of garage door salespeople stop by lately since the garage is up but there are no doors on it yet. Kinda urks me when they roll in and start looking around without knocking on the door first.

Makes me happy when I tell them i am building my own doors, and they need not come back.....

 

[headwrench]

im thinking of some push buttons on the garage doors wired to 12 volt converter to power 3 or 4 car horns with a master power switch hidden outside somewhere. it wont call the cops but it would make a he** of a lot of noise, that might scare them off. i have to do something so my wife will calm down.

 

[e-tek]

headwrench - I'm guessing you didn't have an alarm system...I do, but rarely arm it - I think the deterent is the stickers/signs!
I live in a mixed neighbourhood of OLD, established neighbours in houses and then "fixed income" apartment complexes - but have never had a "break-in". Only thing ever stolen where the Ford Taurus hubcaps off the wifes car - TWICE!!! I guess they are worth a couple hun each...One time they went to the trouble of taking all the lugs off to get at them. Of course it was RIGHT UNDER our bedroom window and the dog was sleeping in the garage feet away and no-one heard a thing!!!!
I was going to put flat bars on the windows in my shop, but have never got to it, they lay on the floor, all ready to go up - I just don't want them in my view....of course I'll kick myself for years if I get ripped off and they stepped on the bars to get in and out!

 

[jay50]

Sorry to hear about this.
Time to hit the hockshops and craigslist....
I agree with an earlier post; the thief is someone who has seen your man-toys. Might even be a low-life crack head neighbor you don't know about.

 

[Stuey]

yikes, that stinks! Hope they catch the *******(s).

 

[Brad54]

My next door neighbor got screwed over by his wife--he didn't know anything until the Sheriff came and emptied their house between Christmas and New Years. (He's still with her!). Well, we all suspected she was also doing his best friend because the friend would show up during the day when my neighbor was at work, etc. etc. etc.
Before Christmas, Best Friend was making a wood jewelry box for The Wife, drinking beer, and ended up running his thumb through the circular saw, ripping it up too much to reattach.

Everyone on the street jumped in and moved all their furniture, toys, appliances, the Christmas tree, bikes, etc. etc. into our garages while The Neighbor tried to figure out what the hell was going on. Three weeks later, The Neighbor and The Best Friend showed up with a big U-Haul truck to collect all his stuff. While I was talking to The Neighbor in my shop, I noticed The Best Friend was looking at EVERYTHING in my shop. He'd stopped over for visits before, and had been in the shop, but this time I felt like he was taking an active inventory.
After Dumb and Dumber left, I immediately went to Home Depot and bought dead bolts for the doors on the house, the man-door on the shop, and the shop's back door: Because of the slope of the lot, the front of the building is ground level, the back is about 3 feet in the air. I put a door back there in the middle of the wall as a fire exit, but no stairs or anything. What's really nice is without the steps, there's no way the door can be forced or kicked in, since the floor is chest-height.

After I put on the deadbolts, I hung a hand-written sign that said "What? You thought I'd make it easy for you, you 9-fingered Mother F*****? Besides the deadbolts on all the doors, I also have video cameras hidden in the eves. SMILE! You're on camera!" The ONLY way someone could read that sign is if they were behind my shop, standing in front of the door, which would not be easy with everything I have stashed back there.

I never thought about it again.
A year and a half later, Boy Wonder and I are out and bump into The Neighbor and The Best Friend. I make small talk with The Neighbor (our kids are in the same classes, on sports together, etc), and we part company. As we're walking to the truck, Boy Wonder says "MAN! The Best Friend REALLY hates you!" What? Why do you say that? "Didn't you see him glaring at you?" No. "He was looking at you and just had hate on his face."

Then I remembered that I hung that sign behind the shop... The only thing I can think is that he must have read that sign, because we'd always been cordial before.


You need to call the cops and give them a list of WHO was on your property the last few days--it could easily be one guy doing a rash of burglaries, getting entry and casing the joint by offering garage door service, etc.

I had a 24-foot aluminum ladder stolen by a guy who washed my house. Only visible in the back yard, and it was the only thing taken.

-Brad

 

[rinny_tin_tin]

forget to lock the doors in the garage from a late night of working and also didnt lock the house when i went to work the next day. ill be damned , some SOB got me. got my mig welder and helmet, hammer drill, brand new set of drill bits, and from the house, my wifes laptop. i always come home for lunch, but not that day. i guess i learned my lesson, always lock the doors even if you go take a pee. thank goodness for insurance. this is just a reminder, take extra care to secure your doors because some mother #*^#++ will help himself. i feel better now, thanks for letting me vent.

I walk around my property with a green beret, mirrored sunglasses, and a .45 sidearm strapped to my side. Neighbors and solicitors think I'm a headcase, and stay away

 

[TRC51]

Having a dog helps, but not in the garage. People always tell me I go overboard when I sell something because most times I will not have anyone come to my house. I think I am a realist because when I sell something like a motorcycle or snowmobile, I see the buyer or their "friends" looking around my garage. I worry less when they buy what I am selling, but when they don't.... It's even worse with stuff I am selling on craigslist. I will almost never have the person meet me at my house.

I agree with the others... someone knew what was in there. That is not stuff a quick theif takes.

 

[Skyline]

Sorry for your loss. It ***** that people can stoop so low.

Lets face it...there is little police will do about a home break in where only property loss is involved. Do NOT expect some ***** CSI chick to show up taking fingerprints. Do NOT expect some handsome hispanic cop to start canvasing all your neighbors for leads. That stuff is only on TV.

They will fill out the report. PERIOD.

On a more improtant note, each and every one of you garage nuts out there had better check your homeowner's policy for the total amount of coverage on your sick garages, particularly if they are detached. Coverage can be very different and VERY limited for a detached structure. Do not think that the total value of your homeowner's limits are available for your detached garage. My policy had a 10% limit for detached structures...untill I paid for an endorsement. This is probably more of a problem if it burns, because my 10% would barely pay for the structure and a little contents. My tools are probably worth another at least another 10%. But if someone backed up a truck...you could be in real trouble. Another great reason to post pictures in the gallery section and in the "Let's see your toolbox" thread....insurance companies will have a hard time believing you had $50k worth of tools stolen from a 2 car garage. Untill you show them all the pictures on Garagejournal.com. And explain that Craftsman does not equal Snap-on.

 

[Bo Heck]

do not expect some ***** csi chick to show up taking fingerprints.

.

 

[Titus]

my wife is freaking out. she is afraid to come home from work until she knows im home. its like trying to get in fort knox when i go home for lunch. she wants all new locks on every door just in case they made keys. one good thing though, nothing on the laptop with any personal info. just drag racing sites, and ****,[my wife lets me use her computer] and her sewing sites. LOL

Several years ago, my garage was broken in to and I had a bunch of tools and fishing gear stolen. There were pry bar marks on the door from the garage to house, but it was dead bolted and they didn't get it. My wife was pregnant at the time and she freaked out. She said there was no way she could raise our baby in that house now, and threatened to move in with her parents. The House was sold within 30 days of the break-in, and we were moved in to a new house before the baby was born. I thought it was silly at the time, but it is hard to argue with an emotional pregnant wife.

 

[Gabriel J]

That really really *****. Sounds like the items should be able to be replaced, which helps relieve some of the stress.

The way I look at it, if they want your stuff they will find any way to get it. You can lock the doors but they'll just break-in anyways. An unlocked door does not turn an upstanding citizen into a thief, a thief doesn't care if you lock your doors.

 

[KCarGuy]

Nothing makes you feel worse than, some low life trying to take to easy way, and steals what you have worked so hard for.

I had my 1972 Impala Custom stolen from in front of the Police Impound lot on Lower Wacker in Chicago...The Car was Originally my Grandfathers, had low miles, had a SB400 and a Turbo 400. Never...Ever got it back. For at least a year after that, i would go crazy looking around for a tool or a part and remember that it was in the trunk of the Impala...I really was upset about loosing that car....F'N Low Lifes!

I had a ***** try to break into my first house by trying to climb into my sons bedroom window...I had 2 Labs at the time. He was about 1/2 way in, when him and one of the dogs met face to face...he cleared a 6 foot fence in one leap.

We always have had at least 2 dogs, now I have 2 Boxers.

This does not help with a detached garage thou, but these days...working with your garage open, especially at night with all the lights on really is like a Free Sign to all the Piece of **** idiots that cant work for anything. The less you advertize, the less that they know.

Walk around your Garage and just think...If I wanted to steal something, how would I get in. Check out your windows, doors, and look for areas that are hard for anyone to see if something was going on.

I had a friend who's garage built cheap, 16" centered studs...vinyl siding...only the corners were plywood and the rest was a black pressboard material. Someone, while he was away on vacation, used a Cordless Circular saw and quickly cut through the vinyl siding and pressboard. Proceeded to walk through the 16" hole into the garage and out the main door with his Table saw and snowblower.

Cops found the property in the JackAss's garage (the whole neighborhood knew it was this jerk), but because he didnt live there alone and he was not home when the Cops found My buddies stuff, there was nothing legally that could be done, but return his stuff.

He since has moved to Pilter another neighborhood...So watch out.

I have a steel side door, good locks, small side windows and 1 overhead door has Vicegrips clamped onto the track, so no body can open it (with the Garage door open unplugged) The other door has a randon code opener on it. and security motion lights.
But I guess that if someone really wanted in, they would figure out a way.

With the Job situation being so horrible, I feel that stepping up Garage and home security may need to be a real Priority....Good Luck!

 

[zrxrider]

Man that *****! I can't stand a thief. I'm lucky to live far enough from people so my dog stays outside year round. He barks at everything! Been thinking of getting another one that bites! One time a guy crashed in my front yard and I only found out when my dog cornered him and wouldn't shut up. A dog is good peace of mind.

 

[KCarGuy]

A funny Guard Dog story...Years back my brother-in-law and sister were having some marrage issues and she moved in with my wife and I for a while. One night My brother-in-law came over so that the two of them could go out on a Date.

I was working on my brother's truck late that night back by my garage and heard this "deep toned" Thumping noise. As I walked down the driveway toward the street where my Brother-in-laws car was parked...2 teenaged boys were jumping up and down on the roof, trying to cave it in. (who does this ****???)

I chased them...I was younger then! I did catch one, brought him back to my house, sat him in a chair in the kitchen and told him to stay put.....
....My Black Lab parked itself under the table, between his legs and let out a long steady deep growl.
Enough to make his Balls rumble!
I stepped outside with my wife as the police pulled up (she had called them as I started to chase them). She looked at me with a surprised look and said "did you leave him alone in the house?" I told her "yes" and we both looked in the kitchen window to see him frozen with fear, sweating bullets with our Guard Dog in his crotch.
We could have left for a weekend if we wanted to...he wasnt moving!

Finally the Nice Officer decided that the poor young man had suffered long enough and did him a favor by taking him to jail.

That Dog ate steak that night....I Miss her, she was a great Friend.

 

[Bull]

I absolutely hate stories like this. I don't like people much as it is, and if someone broke in and took my stuff, I would want blood. I'd be more agitated than your wife, and would probably become a security headcase.

 

[zrxrider]

A thief does not like attention. When I went to the pound to find a dog, I picked the one who barked the most. LOL BTW, I would never get a pure bread......too many unwanted pups out there.........anyway, heres my boy, "Turbo":

 

[Tech Guy]

That *****. If they got any of your keys then for sure either rekey the locks you have or put new ones on. When insurance replaces everything, tear up all the boxes so the theives dont see them on garbage day as a lot of times they will watch the garbage for the replacements and break in again.

 

[nadogail]

my wife is freaking out. she is afraid to come home from work until she knows im home. its like trying to get in fort knox when i go home for lunch. she wants all new locks on every door just in case they made keys. one good thing though, nothing on the laptop with any personal info. just drag racing sites, and ****,[my wife lets me use her computer] and her sewing sites. LOL

A locksmith can rekey the locks quicker and cheaper than you can buy replacements and have them installed.

 

[ovilla]

First of all, let me just say that I'm sorry to hear about what happened to you there. I had my truck broken into a few times many years ago and it always sucked big time. Anyway, here's a quick story and then a couple of ideas for you.

A friend of mine owns an apartment complex in Chicago that was broken into in the middle of the day. People told police that they remember seeing what they thought was a carpenter cutting a big hole on the side of a house (they thought the guy was putting in a window). Anyway, the guy even wore some type of work shirt as he used a sawzaw to let himself in to the house.


Anyway, everyone seems to know someone with an alarm system so find one of these folks and give them a $20 and ask them to call their alarm company and request a bunch of free ADT stickers (one for each window) and a couple of little ADT stop signs (one for the front yard and one for the back). These alone are a HUGE deterent to many thiefs.

Go to Home Depot and buy a couple of electronic schilage combination locks. I have one for the door between the house and attached garage. These things are awesome! You just set it for auto-lock (when you first install it) and just walk out the house. Then each time you come back you have to punch in a 4 digit code. You'll never "forget" to lock your house as it will automatically lock itself each time. From the inside of the house it's always in unlock mode and the handle will turn just like an unlocked door. From outside the handle will simply turn but not unlock or open the door. You have to know the combo to engage the lock to work. Anyway, people worry about getting locked out of their own houses but the electronic locks will flash red for about a couple of weeks prior to the batteries finally dying on you, so you'll have time to swap batteries (which is something you'll need to do every 2-3 years, depending on use - mine lasted 3 years and we use that door about 20 times a day).

Finally, for much more peace of mind, get an alarm. These things are like cell phone plans. For about $100 you can buy a basic ADT alarm "kit" that ADT will install for free as long as you sign up for a 1-2 year monitoring plan. Your monthly fees will be between $25-$30 a month and this will give you pin switches in all exterior doors jams, motion detectors on all floors (and even the garage if you want), along with alarm triggering smoke detectors (that can also be wired into all of your existing smoke alarms in your house), and 1-2 alarm monitoring panels, and one or two sirens. I also added their extra loud 140 decibel siren and a talking siren that yells "Fire", "BURGLAR", and a couple of other phrases. Mine also has a back up battery and cell phone dialer (in case anyone decides to cut my power or the main phone line). Anyway, in the grand scheme of things, this is not that expensive when you consider what you pay for tools, cable TV, cell phone, internet, etc. Heck, don't go out to eat just once a week and you can easily cover the alarm monitoring bill.

 

[e-tek]

I like the Electronic Locks - but I want to buy the FingerPrint/Keyless type. No more hassle with keys, no worries about the kids loosing their keys, etc.

 

[BooUrns!]

I like the Electronic Locks - but I want to buy the FingerPrint/Keyless type. No more hassle with keys, no worries about the kids loosing their keys, etc.

Read some reviews on them, they're notorius for not reading correctly. I've read a lot of user reveiws from people who have returned them after being locked out of their own homes when the damn thing wouldn't recognze their prints.

I thought about getting them but that feedback put me off them. I prefer the weiser powerbolts as they're reliable. I've used them for years without complaints (just remember to change the batteries or keep a key on you).

 

[Snappy]

Headwrench , I hope you get your stuff back.Stealing somebodys tools should be a felony ! At least hang 'em on a telephone pole and throw rocks at 'em. I need to get some more of those "warning protected by 24 hr security system" stickers too. I don't trust anybody.

 

[tdkkart]

This does not help with a detached garage thou, but these days...working with your garage open, especially at night with all the lights on really is like a Free Sign to all the Piece of **** idiots that cant work for anything. The less you advertize, the less that they know.

This is one that I follow religiously, garage doors are always closed unless something is going in or out. I built more than one sizeable project in the garage at my old place and even my next door neighbors didn't know about them till they rolled out the door when finished.

I've pointed out to my wife several times that a guy could fully outfit his shop in short order by simply cruising through various neighborhoods on weekends. Welder here, oxy/accetylene there, big compressor here, big toolbox in that one, Harley in that one, jetski in that backyard etc etc.

I had a buddy that used to give me hell becuase he could never tell if I was out working in the shop since my doors were always closed. When you drove by his place the doors were always open.
He changed his tune when a couple of his son's friends helped themselves to some of his stuff, more than once.

 

[Full Size 66]

Yes,Yes, NO WINDOWS IN THE GARAGE!!!! Unless they're frosted like a bathroom window. Then only at the top of the wall and small enough so some a-hole can't break it and crawl in. As for the doors Steel man door with HEAVY jam and header with at least one BIG deadbolt and heavy duty lock & knob combo think instatutional style. Car doors can be very hard to make secure but I'm sure they make some heavy stuff W/ SECURETY CODE opener. Sorry to hear of your loss

 

[headwrench]

thanks guys for all the back up plans. all the stuff they took can be replaced, but dealing with the uneasy wife will haunt me for years. LOL

 

[JohnLClark]

A buddy of mine had his garage robbed by somebody backing a truck up to his garage door and ramming it open. Came up with an idea I thought was genius.

He dug a 8 foot long by 6 foot deep trench, in the floor, right inside the door. Then in the trench he put two old I beams he welded together and made cuts every 2 feet. Then made a way so they can rotate 90 degrees. The top of the beam sits almost even with the floor when not in use. But when up they are about 4 feet high.

When he locks the garage, he attaches a chain to an hole in the top of the beams, pulls them up. He then runs two 5 foot rods, that go through the beams, and meet in the middle, where they get locked together by a huge padlock. That keeps the beams from moving.

Three months after he set it up, some scumbag tried to ram the door again, this time the door gave 6 inches then hit the beams and the truck's bed wrapped around the back tire and could not be driven away. Shame it was a stolen truck.

 

[Bo Heck]

thanks guys for all the back up plans. all the stuff they took can be replaced, but dealing with the uneasy wife will haunt me for years. LOL

get her a carry license, a Kel Tec 380 or a Ruger LCP and teach her to shoot. this will make her more confident knowing she can defend herself if she were to walk in on someone. When seconds count, the police is only minutes away.

 

[jerk_chicken]

Yes,Yes, NO WINDOWS IN THE GARAGE!!!! Unless they're frosted like a bathroom window. Then only at the top of the wall and small enough so some a-hole can't break it and crawl in. As for the doors Steel man door with HEAVY jam and header with at least one BIG deadbolt and heavy duty lock & knob combo think instatutional style. Car doors can be very hard to make secure but I'm sure they make some heavy stuff W/ SECURETY CODE opener. Sorry to hear of your loss

I was thinking bars inside the windows. Leaving them outside would raise flags, but inside, then a drape between the window and bars should be good. You want to defeat these guys before they start. The moment they come up to something unexpected, they will likely head out.

 

[ddrewyor]

My neighbors have had some vandalism and theft occur to their garages. Minor stuff, probably kids from the area. Funny thing is that they never touched my stuff and they had to walk right past my back garage to get to my neighbors garage(s). My secret - I have the garage labeled and alarmed with a little red flashing light on a keypad. Oh by the way, every new year's eve at midnight I am out on my porch in my underwear and t-shirt firing off blanks from my shotgun and shrieking at the top of my lungs. I think this might also work to keep my daughter's would-be boyfriends away someday.

Hope they catch the punks and you get your stuff back!

Dave
________
Buy Silver Surfer