Just got burglarized, what do I do now?

[Tunafromlaguna]

Hey Camino King, go the FRYS Electronics over in Fountain Valley and invest in the Swann 4 channel surveillance system. It is really easy to install and not over priced.

Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Hpozzuoli]

So sorry to hear about your experience. I feel awful when I hear these types of stories. If you need ideas of what to do this is what I did.

1) security system with 2 outdoor sirens and 1 indoor one. The indoor one is designed to hurt your ears and make you get confused. Lots of noise is good.
2) make sure all access points like windows and doors have contacts on them. Even my shed is tied into the house alarm.
3)get the monitoring. It does no good if it goes off and nobody knows. Mine goes to a central monitoring company as well as the local pd/fd simultaneously.
4)I have a dog that loves to bark and hates people other than the family. ***** when friends come over but that's what outside is for.
5)I have 8 cameras run thru my wifi and I can watch them on my iphone. They also record onto a small hard drive
6)I am big on the 2nd amendment. It's your right so use it.

In the end nothing is perfect. You just want to give yourself the best chance you have at keeping safe.

 

[CaminoKlng71]

Re: Just got Robbed, what do I do now?

Nope. 40 years in the alarm business, 5 of them as an ADT dealer. ADT uses a variety of equipment from many manufacturers, some private labeled, some not. There's no such thing as an "ADT alarm". The same is true of other companies; they may have preferred brands, but most use more than one. We use four different brands and several models within those brands in various situations, so knowing it's one of our systems is no help.

What IS a help to the homeowner regardless of brand of equipment is cellular monitoring. As pointed out previously, it can't be defeated from outside the house. The intruder who's bent on defeating the alarm has to trip it first, and then it's a race to see whether he can defeat it before it communicates. Today's alarms communicate very, very quickly.

BFBOB,
I've been getting quotes and contacting security companies. I had ADT come out to the house and give me their opinion and pricing which seemed competitive. This was not an authorized dealer but a direct ADT rep. Is ADT a good security provider? As a professional are there any others that you would recommend highly?

 

[89GLH]

I would recommend not advertising whats in your home with open shades in the evening, or not going out and leaving the garage door up. My wife loves to leave the shades open at night, with my arcade cabinet right there in the window. Nothing drives me more nuts than that, I like my stuff and want to keep it.

 

[nti06]

if you choose to get a security system, upgrade the siren :

(skip to 1:25)

 

[Radio Ron w4ron]

I make sure to leave the TV or a radio on when ever I leave the house.
If someone walks up to the front door it sounds liek someone is home.

If you get a system with cameras make sure they're HD so there's good enough
resolution the jerks can be ID'd, I've seen cameras that were so bad their mother
couldn't ID 'em.

 

[nicksnothereman]

Got home tonight after work to find my bedroom window smashed in with a brick and my home ransacked. The girls jewelrey, my TV, my watches and most importantly my great Great Grandfathers wedding ring which has been worn by every man in my family since. 120 years and 2 world wars, and some junky with a brick took it to buy his fix.
Ironically I posted a thread about 3 weeks ago asking about garage security, and they didn't get into the garage.
#1. So here is the question, the girl is freaked out and is staying with her sister, and to be honest I too am feeling the personal violation as well. How do I get her to be comfortable being in the house again?

#2 How do you guys recommend securing the house? Totally open to conservative and the extreme/weird.

#3. I now have a beautiful piece of OSB covering my bedroom window. What do you spray paint on this to ward off any additional passers by.
Example: "Survivors will be shot again" or "OC's Largest In-home Aligator Farm"

You could put ballistic glass or plastic windows in. Sounds expensive to me.

I would just get insurance and a camera system but they'd probably just steal the cameras.

I can tell you this though bro. With most of these types of thefts (targeted) it's almost always the case that it's someone you know/someone that's your neighbor. Just saying, something to think about.

 

[sucking chest wound]

I make sure to leave the TV or a radio on when ever I leave the house.

I take this one step further. I leave a police scanner on. In fact I have two cheap ones that I bought at yard sales; one in the garage, and one in the basement (where there is a door). The scanners run 24/7 just loud enough to be heard outside the garage and basement doors. Program in a few local police departments, and there's always something being transmitted.

I have no science to support the theory that hearing police radio traffic might discourage some mutant from messing with my house, but it's fun to think so. I have taken many of the other counter-measures mentioned in this thread, as well.

 

[Fixnfly]

I take this one step further. I leave a police scanner on. In fact I have two cheap ones that I bought at yard sales; one in the garage, and one in the basement (where there is a door). The scanners run 24/7 just loud enough to be heard outside the garage and basement doors. Program in a few local police departments, and there's always something being transmitted.

I have no science to support the theory that hearing police radio traffic might discourage some mutant from messing with my house, but it's fun to think so. I have taken many of the other counter-measures mentioned in this thread, as well.

That's a really good idea.
The intermittent sound of people talking would be more realistic than radio or tv.

 

[nolimits76]

Sorry to hear this happened to you. I've had two close friends experience home break-in's. One of them also had a drive-by shooting occur next door to him, a few years back!

The thing is -- nothing really restores that feeling except time. Having dealt w/ this (via friends) I think this may be how I would handle it:

1. Sit down with wife & kids and ask them what would make them feel safe again. Some of the following will likely be on their list. Listening to them, and implementing items they say will help them regain their security.

2. Get a monitored alarm (cellular based)

3. Put all the stickers and signs up announcing your monitored alarm

4. Get the loudest siren you can buy. "Accidentally" set it off occasionally so neighbors hear it. Two things happen here. One, if one of your neighbors is a thief, he knows you aren't an easy target any more. Two, you can use the opportunity to talk with your neighbors and make them aware of the problems you've had and ask them to keep an eye out. Maybe even request they give you a call on your cell and call the police if you don't answer.

5. Maybe a dog. If you want a poodle, it isn't effective. If you want a rottweiler, it could be effective. In all cases, remember the dog will require work and attention 100% of the time. If you or your family can't devote that, then maybe it's not a good solution.

6. Motion sensored lights on fronts, sides and back of house.

7. With the above in-place, now create a plan in case someone is the house should it happen again. Things like how to get out of the house w/o being detected. Maybe one or two pre-paid cell phones that are always charged and hidden in different areas. Different "safe areas". Once you create a plan, practice it. Then re-practice on a frequent basis so it becomes second nature.

8. I know some people don't like guns -- but the plan above (for me) includes them. Multiple ones stashed in case I get pinned up. It also includes proper training for the wife and kids so they too can use them. Proper gun safety can't be stressed enough! Tactical training and range time are necessary. Yes I said tactical training -- things are very different in those moments and want to make sure everyone can handle the situation properly, or guns do NOT need to be a part of your plan. Some of the better gun ranges typically offer these tactical classes. If you have a hard time finding them, contact your local police as they use someone to train their officers.

 

[Alcohol]

Re: Just got Robbed, what do I do now?

I'm in Santa Ana, CA. My neighborhood is actually supposed to have a patrol car in the area at all times, but when I called tonight...it took 3:45 for someone to show up.
I think an alarm is going to be a must, and i have a great spot to put a camera that faces the alley behind my house.
I will deffinitly go hit some of the local pawn shops, I hadn't thought about Ebay but that's probubly a good idea as well.

Check your local craigslist ads

 

[Bobdog]

That *****. I got robbed about 20 years ago, they kicked my door in while I was at work and cleaned me out, so I feel your pain.

I invested in an alarm system, got a dog and did some reinforcing of the entry doors, plus screwed my windows shut. I also bought a heavy safe for my guns and important papers and hid it in a closet in the spare bedroom. Ultimately, I moved to a quieter neighborhood, much farther from the city, but that did the trick the for the remaining year or so that I spent in the house.

 

[john11139]

Seen a sign recently that showed a 1911 45cal with the words "would you like to meet God".

 

[CaminoKlng71]

Wow,
GJer's to the rescue. Thank you guys for the ideas and advice. I have a ADT security system with motion sensors and door sensors being installed. The garage is also tied into this system. Also tied to a new thermostat and fire/smoke detector and monitoring, because it solves 2 more "to-do's" on my new homeowner list. I also installed security lights in my backyard with motion sensors. I've been leaving a small radio on while i'm out and rotating which lights I leave on at night. I also really like the 3M security film on the windows concept, especially since you can get a little tint to it to keep your house a little cooler, and I may do that in the future as well once I have recovered from the security system bill hit. The dog debate is still raging in my household, no resolution to that one in site.
The best thing I think I did was notify all my neighbors with a handout telling them what happened, how it happened, and when it happened. I had a flood of phone calls and emails saying they would be on the lookout for anything odd. And they really meant it. I've had security guys and repair guys come over to the house while I'm home, and they have all said..."there are like 3 people standing on their front lawn watching me when I parked." 1 of my neighbors has even sent me photo's of my claims adjuster taking pictures of my house. Another one is petitioning the city to install video surveillance in the alley that runs through the neighborhood. I think the best security is the pride of ownership in your neighborhood.

Thank you guys for all the advice.

Also, I put a fake alligator tail coming out from under the back porch...made me feel more secure.

 

[truckman5000]

This happened to me, when i was young. And living with just my mother.
I watched chipps and kniteridder.

I was 17ish, my mom wouldnt stay at the house. But i knew i wanted to catch someone and get the stuff back. So i set some bait, no cars in the drive and lights off.
They broke in, i called cops. And hid out in the attic with a beebe gun. The cops got the stuff back, and prosecuted the junkies.
I wouldnt feel safe if that happened and no one was caught.
And the desperate's comeback for more.

 

[Travis28715]

I put hurricane proof windows in my home in AK. Brought them up from Miami. Locked the bottom lock and headed to truck to go to work. Guess what? No keys. tried everything I could to break into my home. Finally went to truck to get 4lb hammer to break small window. I made so much noise finally breaking out that window I woke the neighbors up. They put some kind of Lexan between two peices of glass. Supposed to stop 2x4 fired at 100mph or something. Amazing.