Break-In!!!!

[davephan]

You might consider installing a security system yourself. You can buy the equipment needed, starting small and expanding the system gradually. You can get the system monitored for about $9 - $10 per month. Avoid the big name monitoring companies like ADT, Brinks, etc, since they charge $30 or more per month try to lock you in to a multi-year contract. Some of the larger companies try to remove the equipment if you cancel their service. The 'mark up' in price for a installed system is very high compared to doing it yourself. The $99 big name monitoring company systems are very junky in quality.

There are several stores that sell security system equipment. Here is one of the stores I've used:
http://www.homesecuritystore.com/

I worked for a couple monitoring companies for six years. I contacted the police and fire departments thousands of times over the years plus the keyholders. Almost all alarms are false. Once and awhile they are real and sometimes the real ones result in a capture.

The low cost monitoring company will program the alarm panel for you or walk you through the process. Security systems are generally wired, wireless, or a hybrid. Wired is the most reliable, but the most hassle to install. There are a number of sensors available for the perimeter or interior protection. If you use interior motion detectors, avoid PIRs. Use only dual PIR / microwave motion sensors - they cost a little more, but almost never false and if placed properly, are very difficult for the intruder to avoid tripping.

I could offer you you more advise if you need help installing a security system.

Dave

[Fuzzy]

Here's something to think about. if you DID have cameras set up, would it have makde any difference? or would you still be out the equipment, AND the cost spent on the cameras?

[Bizarroterl]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

Here's something to think about. if you DID have cameras set up, would it have makde any difference? or would you still be out the equipment, AND the cost spent on the cameras?

Cameras and DVR - more stuff they would have taken.

[davephan]

You mentioned the garage door was off it's tracks. Was the garage door pried open to gain access? Was the garage to house door unlocked? If the locks are weak, consider buying more resistant locks, such as Medeco locks.

Did the burglar leave any finger prints when looking through the items, deciding which items to steal? If so, were the police interested in collecting finger prints?

It's unclear if the burglar was tech savvy or not. The SATA drives could have be picked at random. Most burglars do not want to stay very long, since the risk of being caught by the police or shot by a home owner is higher the longer the burglar is in the home. Since the time was limited, maybe very quick decisions were made as the burglar was very quickly running around the house. Also check for missing items in the master bedroom and master bathroom such as jewelry.

Were there any documents with SSN data, bank account, financial or tax information on the laptop? Where any checks stolen? Sometimes burglars will steal only a few checks, not from the top of the stack, so that it is unnoticed. You should close your bank, credit, and checking accounts, opening new accounts as a precaution. Never use a 'stop order' on checks. Stop orders only last for one year. Burglars will save the checks and try using them one year later, hoping that the victim put a stop order on the account instead of closing and opening a new account.

Since the burglar now has seen your interior, it is possible that the burglar might return. You should serious consider installing a security system, or at the bare minimum install a believable security system sign in front of your house. In general, security systems do work and their presence tend to push burglaries to homes that do not have security systems. If security systems are installed in a very high percentage of homes in a given neighborhood, the burglars tend to avoid the whole neighborhood even though not all of the homes have security signs.

The burglary is not just a loss of physical items. You've also lost a feeling of safety and security in your own home. You should take steps to help prevent the recurrence of another burglary.

Dave

[Bikeman]

To go along with Fuzzy's comment, how many times has it happened in your lifetime, if it really worth spending the money and time?

I'm 57 and I guess have been lucky. Once when I was about 12, my Mom came home to find a neighbor kid in the closet. Nothing else had happened until about 3 years ago, a couple of teenagers were kicking on my back door probably because the side gate was left unlocked. I was watching the whole thing @ 4 in the afternoon. Scared the crap out of them when I opened the door!

~$10-$30 per month for 40ish years while living in over 20 different places over the years, seems awfully expensive. If it were more often, I'd be moving to better digs.

Jeff

[Zippster]

Originally Posted by Bikeman

To go along with Fuzzy's comment, how many times has it happened in your lifetime, if it really worth spending the money and time?

I'm 57 and I guess have been lucky. Once when I was about 12, my Mom came home to find a neighbor kid in the closet. Nothing else had happened until about 3 years ago, a couple of teenagers were kicking on my back door probably because the side gate was left unlocked. I was watching the whole thing @ 4 in the afternoon. Scared the crap out of them when I opened the door!

~$10-$30 per month for 40ish years while living in over 20 different places over the years, seems awfully expensive. If it were more often, I'd be moving to better digs.

Jeff

I'd have to agree with that, the best security is a better neighborhood.

[Bizarroterl]

Or better yet a dog. And a dog is really glad to see you when you come home.

[vexhold]

Dave,

We seriously have to go do lunch sometime.

[davephan]

Originally Posted by vexhold

Dave,

We seriously have to go do lunch sometime.

We should probably talk about it on the phone sometime. I've been to Hastings many times. The people talking about a better neighborhood are really making wrong assumptions about Hastings, unless they are talking about living in a fortresses in a gated community with armed guards.

There are things you can do to lower the risk, but there will always be risk wherever you live. The cameras are nice, but they only show what happened in the past. When an event occurs, you need immediate action. Most burglars try to reduce their risk of being captured by the police.

Dave

[Zippster]

Originally Posted by davephan

Hastings, unless they are talking about living in a fortresses in a gated community with armed guards.

Dave

Sorry man, I didnt mean to come off like you guys lived in the hood, lol, can and does happen in the best of neighborhoods too, just meant that if things like this happen all the time, maybe moving is a better option, in fact, I'm moving soon.