Reply to: Burgled

[configman]

If they burgle your house when it is tidy, it's easier for them to find stuff, and you can be almost guaranteed it won't remain tidy.

Antiprise measures seems like an excellent suggestion in this case.

I was burgled several years ago - police caught the burglar because my house was tidy. It was cleaned top to bottom before going on holiday. All that fresh polish was perfect for leaving fingerprints and vacumed carpets made it easy to find that boot print.

[markinbrussels]

1. get an alarm
2. get a dog, even if you dont like them
3. CCTV, IP cameras
4. AK-47

[Advocate]

I got burgled last week; oiks nipped in through an open window and pinched the missuses handbag, went out by letting themselves out the back door!

Police were actually really good, came round and took statements, Found the bag in an alley, came round and took more statements, Scenes of crime came and had a bash, PCSO came round to check if we were OK ( I gather some people get quite worked up regards to people being in their house), PCSO came back the day after with some window alarms.

Moral of my story? Shut your windows!

[Scrag Meister]

Sorry to hear about this, must be awful.

Have been looking at some security measures for my place recently. we have always had a couple of lamps on timers, one on the landing and one in the lounge.

Am considering some IP type cameras and a recorder etc...

[MrRobin]

Thanks for your suggestions, Minestrone and Aman. You're right, the worst feeling is that the house doesn't feel totally safe anymore (perhaps naive to think so in the first place), not that I could have lost out financially.

Plod was pretty good on the night, turned up within about 5 mins, brought the dog unit in etc etc. They should be sending round someone to try and find any fingerprints today. A visit from a crime prevention officer would be helpful too. I'm not expecting all that much after that tho.

Yes, the would be burglars know what I've got now but I made myself an easy an obvious target before, which won't happen again. Have invested in some security lights, getting the alarm fitted at long last, bought a lockable key cabinet and will be more cautious about leaving lights / a radio on when leaving the house next time (may get one of these)

[NotAllThere]

It's a horrible feeling knowing someone had been in the house when it wasn't tidy

If they burgle your house when it is tidy, it's easier for them to find stuff, and you can be almost guaranteed it won't remain tidy.

Antiprise measures seems like an excellent suggestion in this case.

[Aman]

That sucks. I hope you managed to secure your car and the police went beyond their normal remit of providing a reference number. A permie at a previous client had his company car stolen when he was in the shower.

I had several sneak in thefts at my place when there was a dealer living up the road. Druggies would go to her house, realise they'd no money and break into the nearest properties i.e mine. It's a horrible feeling knowing someone had been in the house when it wasn't tidy. Nothing since 2004 when she was thrown out. Despite all the neighbour noting car indexes, descriptions of people coming and going from the dealer's house and the dates and times, she was never convicted. The owner who rented it out to her was connected with a local family with a reputation so perhaps she was a registered informant.
I or the police tracked down the down the miscreants every time, the last attempted burglar from his footprints in the snow.

The crime prevention officers from the local Constabulary would be the best people for advice. With access to the crime files they will have the most knowledge of the local M/Os.

To be able to work from home, I had to have my house checked over by a security guy for a firm I was contracted to, so I beefed up security then. That was when I was living elsewhere though.

If you are looking at a CCTV recorders I'd advise a standolone one not a PC-based one as PCs are high on the list of a desirable haul. Dedicated Micros recorders are the de-facto commercial standard, not cheap though. There are cheaper alternative standalone recorders on the market. I specify them for FM contracts. ADI Gardiner should have a selection.
In a domestic situation fitting a standalone recorder into a secure cabinet with UPS backup is advised if you don't want the device stolen as well. A UPS backup supply is advised if your consumer unit is not locakable. Cameras might not even put some burglars off they'll hood up and switch off the power.

Preventing them getting in in the first place is better.

Trim hedges, so you are partially overlooked.
Good locks on the doors and lock up whether you are in or out the house
Locks on the windows including anti prise window stays.
Security cabinet for keys.
A monitored alarm, preferably with fixed wiring.
Blast mitigation film
Door closers.
Perimeter lighting.
A safe.
Locking file cabinets.

Leave a light, a conversational radio channel or televisoion on if you are out e.g. Radio 4, Talk Radio. When an attempted burglar listens through the letterbox to hear if there is anyone in they can hear voices.

Let a trusted neighbour know if you are away on holiday, have a friend check on your place.

It's a shame shutters arent so prevalent here as they are in Germany or Switzerland, they seem to mark out a property as vacant.

Avoid taking assets into work for a client if you can. If you do have them sign a manifest that you have taken your assets onto site. Some clients have in my experience been worse tealeaves than the domestic burglar.

Mark your valuables.
Keep an Asset Register including S/Ns and markings.
Lodge your asset register with an online secure registry.

[Zippy]

To be serious - sorry this happened. Minestone's suggestion is a good one and relatively inexpensive.
My experience of alarms is not great. Called plod one night because the one in the (obviously empty) house over the road was going off. Gave up after a considerable time on hold as any burglars would have been long gone by the time the buggers turned up.

[HairyArsedBloke]

Thing is, one burglar Bill has paid a visit and found something tasty he’ll or his pals will be back because they will assume that you have replaced all the stuff and they can have another hit.

I knew of one chap who put some of those pencil lasers on things that scanned around. When the police found out they went mental and arrested him. He got off with a caution and not a prosecution, but it shows that the police will not stand for anyone who resists the violation of ones property.

[MarillionFan]

Lucky escape, but I'm sure you won;t really see it as an escape as they were in your house.

Defo get some type of alarm they are pretty cheap these days, I have got a home server running blue iris and 4 foscam IR cams off that. total cost is about 250 quid. I have them inside looking at areas where folk would enter or look to steal stuff (my home recording setup).

You are Raoul Moat and I claim my five pounds

[minestrone]

House was broken into last night whilst we were out having a meal. We got back and disturbed the buggers as they were still here, found stuff packed up in pillow cases and laptop bags etc. They legged it with my car keys but nothing else was taken. First time it's ever happened to me.

Our house security is a bit basic (decent locks but nothing else) and I've been meaning to get an alarm installed since we moved in over a year ago which I will definitely be sorting out this week and I'm starting to think of other measures e.g. cctv.

Do any of the board members have any hi-tech security solutions? DVR recorders? IP cameras? I'm probably in knee-jerk mode at the moment and cctv is unnecessary but would be interested to hear your thoughts?

Lucky escape, but I'm sure you won;t really see it as an escape as they were in your house.

Defo get some type of alarm they are pretty cheap these days, I have got a home server running blue iris and 4 foscam IR cams off that. total cost is about 250 quid. I have them inside looking at areas where folk would enter or look to steal stuff (my home recording setup).

[MarillionFan]

I just looked up tea bagging on wikipedia and they have a picture

Zippy. You filty bitch!!!

File:Tea bag.JPG - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Zippy]

Is that an offer? Hope you like tea bagging

I just looked up tea bagging on wikipedia and they have a picture

[scooterscot]

Sell you some car keys Mr?

[SofaKingdom]

Yeah, but to be fair, you have probably had more experience of being "violated" than most on here.

Is that an offer? Hope you like tea bagging