Sorry to hear about your problem , hope they get their just desserts. Mate of mine got broken into at work so he installed a video , next time he got broken into the video showed 3 guys , one about 3 feet away from camara looking directly into it who had a crowbar in his hand. Because yhe video didn't cover the point of entry into building it didnt show them breaking in. The police said it could not be used as evidence!! We knew wher they came from as a couple of days before a load of pikeys had parked a 1/4 mile away, the guy with the crowbar "bumped" into a few guys 2 days later.

http://wrangler.rutgers.edu/gallery/v/7slotgrille/hssss/album49/

[Edited on 11/2/07 by locostv8]

We live in the back and beyond. Only other house near us is the gamekeepers. People tend to know there are guns about (and thus far) haven't bothered. Not got alarms, locks on windows etc - in fact I rarely lock the car or house! Should probably start doing that really! Oli.

i got broken into in october and the buggers turned my garage over. . . no doubt my dog greeted them with a toy or something .

secure the place up and leave nothing outside that could be used to help, locked gates help at the side of the house and loads of lights outside. my outside lights also on a random on off timer

Sounds possible you might have disturbed him/them if the footprints were really fresh when you got back.

Taking bank statements sounds like they might try identity theft. Ask the bank what the best way to prevent fraudulent applications for credit. I was signed up on, I think it was, CIFAS (http://www.cifas.org.uk) at one point after one of the (ex) cleaners from work decided to apply for a loan with my details (stolen from my desk drawer).

p.s. Oli it's "If your not living life on the edge you're taking up too much room!"

quote:

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Originally posted by locostv8
This along with a 12 ga 8 round Winchester defender (sawed off with pistol grip) helps me sleep at night. When people come over for parts I make sure they meet the kids and generaly there is a gun around. I live in the country where everyone hunts and generaly have at least 5 guns in the house. There aren't many break ins, you do and you will probably be shot. It is a real deterent.

---

That's really bad news. In fact, both of your occurrences aren't good!

On a brighter note, have a read here, especially the last post on page 2.... That may cheer you up a bit!

quote:

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Originally posted by iank
Sounds possible you might have disturbed him/them if the footprints were really fresh when you got back.

Taking bank statements sounds like they might try identity theft. Ask the bank what the best way to prevent fraudulent applications for credit. I was signed up on, I think it was, CIFAS (http://www.cifas.org.uk) at one point after one of the (ex) cleaners from work decided to apply for a loan with my details (stolen from my desk drawer).

p.s. Oli it's "If your not living life on the edge you're taking up too much room!"

---

quote:

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Originally posted by Aboardman
sorry about the news, if you have an old pc would these be able to run some of them cameras around the house and garage?

---

i was concerned recently about security when someone nicked a large copper boiler out of my garden. Now i appreciate it was just sat there, but the thought of some 'travelling metal dealer' entering my property sent a shiver up my spine. What i want is a simple 2 camera hi res device that can store continous footage for two weeks before wrapping round to the beginning, ideally not a computer but a dedicated device for the purpose, that can be hard wired and hidden in the loft. Anyone know if such a device exists?

My commiserations (bugger, sp) Mike, you must feel sick. Was it a 'normal' window or double glazed?

[Edited on 11/2/07 by JoelP]

get an alarm and go to cash converters and tell them whats missing and go to game and tell them whats missing buy an alarm ,and get a big dog like me i never lock my door ever who would take on an algetyou (alsation)
(a dummy box front and rear will stop 99% of house brakers you can get them cheap from screwfix)if you want to catch him get a movement sensor camara like this one on ebay as there i a good chance he will be back Item number: 150088488076

i have one of these in the loft now with a 2gig card in it lasts well over a month and looks after its self

argoose

[Edited on 11/2/07 by graememk]

Sorry to hear the news. Whatever you do do not put up barbed wire - it's illegal and if the little scrote gets hurt you'll get sued. A friend of mine put carpet grippers all alont the top inside of his fence - the bizzies told him to take them down - they sympathised but explained how he would stand if anybody got hurt.

We were robbed last year while we were sleeping up stairs!! they stole my wallet,a lap top,ps2 + 40 games,a big bottle of change and even clicked open the car to nick the new baby seat!!! that really made the wife upset.It does freek you out that some one is in your house when you dont know i dread to think what would have happened if one of us
went down stairs!
the good news is 6 months later we were informed they were caught
sorry to hear you have been through the same ordeal, get down to the nearest alarm seller and get hooked up.

quote:

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Originally posted by graememk
i have one of these in the loft now with a 2gig card in it lasts well over a month and looks after its self

argoose

[Edited on 11/2/07 by graememk]

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Sorry to hear of your bad news.
I'm off to see how I'd break in to my house...........

and a few Berberis and some wild blackberries and you'll get some nice dickie birds as well. Sorry to hear about you misfortune. We're on a main street under lights and the solid gate to the back is six feet high. Some kids were messing around grabbing the top and pulling themselves up to look over one day so I f**ked them off and then greased the top of the gate, they don't do it now. I helped break into a flat yesterday, Yale lock dropped on and locked my mate out. I used my wrecking bar (jemmy) to force it and was amazed how easily it flirted open. Mortice locks and don't leave the keys so if they pick big anything up they can't get it out without making a noise.

[Edited on 11/2/07 by Peteff]

Barbed wire along fence edges is a definite no no. There was one local case of a granny who had that done after multiple burglary attempts. She was told by her council to remove it as it could hurt someone. If you put it inside the perimiter of the fence then its a little different. I've seen some installations where the barbed wire is at about 45 degrees sloping inwards so its inside the perimiter.

The last thing you want is some rat boy and their no win no fee lawyer attempting to sue you because they cut themselves trying to break into your house.

The problem is the type of buglars. Amongst others you get the scrote who just thinks that he has to nick things for a living and the smack head. The smack head will nick owt that looks like it can be sold quickly for another hit. You can forget trying to understand that smack head, it depends what state they are in when they got nicking. They won't give a poo about any subtle security. A set of cameras and a big sign saying "my dog bites off chav's bollocks" is about all that helps.

They will go though your bedroom hoping there is jewelry that can be sold easily. They will probably get a fiver or so if they can nick sufficient details to sell on for indentity theft.

Do you have double glazing? That does help as its very conspicous trying to smash that to get in.

Sorry to hear about your news, Ive had cars broken into a few times but so far have been lucky with the house - makes me so angry though...

Just remember that the litle sh*t who decided that it was their place to walk onto your property and help themselves is gonna be one f*ucked up little puppy but also in a minority thankfully.

Someone said to me when my car was last done over - are you ok? the rest is just stuff - they were right I suppose - didnt make me feel any better to be honest but as long as you and yours are ok - the rest can be sorted out.

well the police have just gone....

tried not to get miffed with them, at 4am i decided that they prob won't call, but just in case i'll sleep on the sofa so i can get to the door.

At 9am i called them to see where they where. They had someone round in 10 mins. Sence of Crimes came about 45 mins later.

Both where really good (although it looks like the bobby has walked through a good footprint). The scrote wore gloves so no finger prints & considering the stuff he touched we would have had hundreds of great finger prints.

I keep thinking they haven't taken much but the list keeps growing. Reading about jewelry i was just thinking, i haven't got any, i'm not bothered. Nothing really personal has been stolen ........ then it just clicked, ran into the bedroom and the gold watch i was bought for my 18th birthday has gone. Git didn't steal my company mobile though

so far the list is, ps2, games, cd's, dvd's, bank statements, gig tickets, gold watch, pda, 2 bottles of finnish spirits (that they don't sell in this country & where presents - not worth a huge amount but fecking expensive to replace).

starting to get pissed off now with the watch going & i haven't got a clue what CD's, dvd's or games i'm missing, i just know piles have gone.

Also just had work call me about a problem, I explained that they can sod off & why.

Oh, i asked the bobby about barbed wire, he was very non commital but did say, if i was to do anything like that i really should put up warning signs. The fact you can't disclaim your responsbility under UK law means i know he hasn't a clue & will have to invest in more prickily bushes (the council cut down the last lot that grew on their side of the boundry).

Here's the person that burgled my house. He and his sister were caught, she got a warning and he got community service and he's paying me a small amount of compensation.

My belongings were long gone but insurance has now paid out (took long enough).

Not to mention, best of luck in finding and beating the burglars

Since I got burgled I have bought an Alarm .. £80 Wireless Yale from B&Q, came with 2 PIR's and 2 Door sensors. Other sensors are available on eBay and B&Q. Really simple to install.

I was looking them up at 3am waiting for the police to call. I want the remove control one with 3 pir's and 1 door thingy. i know they eat batteries but i have a wooden floor in the hall and the wires will p*ss me off.

Also looking at a sodding big flood light for the back garden on a PIR - that and brambles should make someone think twice.

Just waiting for a call from the insurance company to say if they'll replace the window for me (they asked is it an emergancy - well no, but if i get the impression you won't let me leave the house and keep my insurance with a broken window so its pretty damned important.)

sorry to hear about this mike hope u get sorted soon

Oh Mike! So very sorry to hear that!

I can only add to the advice already given to get a good thorny hedge/shrubs at the end of your garden. When planting, 'stagger' them, so they are diagonally planted about 12-18" from the other, a thin line will pose no problem, but a deeper planted thorny hedge is not so easy to get over. sadly they will take time to grow.......
Getting a PIR for the back is also a good idea.

I always make a habit of closing all curtains before I go out and leaving a light on downstairs if I go out/wont be back until after dark.
I know of some people who leave a radio on when they go out, not too loud, but loud enough to make it appear someone is at home.

So very sorry to hear of the loss of you aunt..

Fozzie

Roadkill - why not post the pic without the blur... if they have been convicted then they are allowed to seen unless a minor.

No, that's what he looked like

I believe he was 17, not old enough to identify I think.

Can u still be prosecuted if someone hurts themselves on barbed wire and there's a sign up? I know chavs can't read but at least you can cover your own back!

Their is a great missunderstanding about british law. I believe in america you can disclaim away your responsbilities but in GB you can't.

All those signs in pub car parks about you parking at your own risk, those signs about enter at your own risk. Complete poppycock, but as you don't know that, you assume that they are correct.

Of course, proving this in a court of law when they've got a good lawyer is another thing.

Just bought the alarm - had to borrow money as i've had my account frozen till they can change account numbers / re-issue cards Got a cracking headache but it should be up in a few hours. Still waiting for the insurance company to phone me back from yesterday - they've got till 10:30 then i'm calling them and questioning what the heck i'm paying for.

round em up and shoot the lot.

signs up re CCTV, covers that angle. and signs saying dogs etc are a deterant.

alarms great idea. cheap and the NEW wieless ones are alot better than the older ones, batts last a year on average and longer in rooms less used. entry exit door prob 6 months thou.

i have 2 rotties now, so thats helps me, along with the CCTV with 24 hour recording and night vision, and alarms front and back. and signs for the cctv and dogs keeps me sort of legally covored.....

again, really sorry to hear about the break in, hope the police catch them, but better if you do!!!!!!!!

to be honest i don't want to catch them - it will just get me in trouble and anyway i'm not a violent person (although i know a number of people who are very adept at wielding swords and another who's licensed to use explosives - he does re-enactments in case your wondering).

now, anyone got a LONG drill so i can feed a wire from inside to outside the house for the back light? looks like its focus/do it all time

Unfortunate mate & worse is that there is nothing that anyone can do or say ( Appart from "Sorry gov here is you property and a big fat payment to carry out repairs and salve my mind before I commit suicide for having distressed you".
I have been on the receiving end of Toerags attentions on several occasions and its not a nice place to be. I hope you get sorted and I hope that the insurance company doesn't take the pi$$ like they have mostly seemed to do with me.

The sad thing is, that up until the mid to late 50's, WE HAD the RIGHT to OWN AND USE a gun to defend our homes.

[Edited on 12/2/07 by jollygreengiant]

Ok, is it me .......

the insurance company want to know exactly what CD's / DVD's have been stolen.

Does anyone have an accurate / up to date list of every DVD / CD they own? If someone took 5 to 10% of your collection could you identify all the disks stolen?

I appreciate they are trying to valuate everything but get real, its not as though i'm taking the mick, I'm doing my best to be straight here, i've found the 18th birthday gold watch so told them to take it off the claim & they want me to figure this out.

The reason they want to know exactly which CD's / DVD's were nicked is that they buy them direct and send them out to you. Guess they buy so many they negotiated a discount with HMV.

Guess how I know

Mike

dude! really sorry to hear about this, far too much burglary going very much unpunished these days, it's a damn shame those little pricks seem to have more rights than the victims.

In these cases the law is quite literally an ass!

Imho if someone enters your property to commit any sort of crime all rights should instantly become null and void.

When did an englishmans home stop being his castle????

Sorry rant over, my aunty got broken into last month, w*@£$#! smashed a window and grabbed a brand spanking new laptop.

Many commiserations again

quote:

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Originally posted by MikeR
Ok, is it me .......

the insurance company want to know exactly what CD's / DVD's have been stolen.

Does anyone have an accurate / up to date list of every DVD / CD they own? If someone took 5 to 10% of your collection could you identify all the disks stolen?

---

Just ask for every one you think you might have had Mike, its not like you are claiming for heaps of stuff you never owned like a lot of people do, just remember what you can and add a few bonus items.

a few bonus items ......


hmmm, willwood brake calipers - sorry, a present from Nat so i don't have a reciept.

completed locost - present from IrvineD.

winning lottery ticket ...... well this girl i met, she was really nice and ....... yeah, how did you guess a present.

And remember (as long as they don't catch them) that your prolly also insured for £300 ish in cash in the house. (wilwood city)

Edit.
I should add my feelings of disappointment as well. Had this more than 14 years ago when the kids were young and we were away on hols. Insurance was a nightmare (list and reciept everything now) and didn't sleep well for years (every little noise etc at night). They got caught and got 2 years probation after pleading guilty on the morning of the court case (20+ people as witness/interested parties in court claiming expenses). BASTARDS every one of them BRING BACK THE BIRCH.

[Edited on 13/2/07 by omega 24 v6]

Interesting final point. I was brought up without corporal punishment and my mum was a head who implemented a no smacking policy before it became law.

She has now retired and wouldn't go back to teaching. Teachers re-inforce disciplin that is taught in the home. All to often its not taught hence kids can be a nightmare.

Friends dad did the TT years ago, they went round on a non race day, got caught, got birched and his response was,
"That was the worst pain, i'll NEVER do that again".

Can't help thinking that their may be some mileage in current society for a similar system.

Sorry to hear about the problems Mike There's a lot of good advice in the thread. Alarms are ok though as long as you dont live in a street where they go off a lot and generally get ignored. Think a good guard dog is possibly the best deterrant though (something like an american bulldog perhaps).

Last time one of my relatives (distant i might add) was broken into it made national news...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/norfolk/4535182.stm



Effective deterrant though...

David

[Edited on 13/2/07 by flak monkey]