Somebody broke into my house - ask me anything

[TrogL]

(fixed formatting)

What did they take?

Jewellery, a Panasonic laptop, a Yamaha electric guitar, some cheap ornamental African drums, an African mask (why???), medications, a Sony digital camera.

What didn't they take?

• Stereo gear - it was unplugged and scattered all over the place, but nothing missing.
  
• My good computer gear - same as above
  
• DVD's - they packed them up in a bag all ready to go then left them behind
  
• My good camera gear - right out in the open
  
• My good synths
  

What did they leave behind?

• their gloves
  
• their burglary tools - tire iron, jimmy
  

I have a good idea when it happened because I was logged into my server from the office and it suddenly went off the air. They got in by jimmying a bedroom window.

We had just moved in and I was making arrangements to get an alarm system installed. We had to wait for the legal paperwork to come from the lawyer. The alarm's going in next week. Better late than never.

[pres2032]

1. um, you called the cops, right?

[TrogL]

6. They've been and gone

Fingerprint guys didn't get anything but glove prints.

We think they got spooked and took off.

[pres2032]

7. that sucks

i'm just glad they didn't harm anyone.

whenever i hear a strange noise at night, i just tell God that they can take anything they want, as long as they don't touch me or my family.

[GreenPartyVoter]

13. Too bad they can't check the gloves for epithelials, but I guess

they only do that sort of thing in murder cases?

[amazona]

20. yeah murder cases on TV and in the movies

Robbery is not a high priority crime. The cops assume you have insurance and if you don't, they all but come out and ask you why you are wasting their time. Hey, a strange man came into my house, I kind of think that kind of thing should be discouraged. But that is just me. No doubt some police departments are better than others. The cops who first came after the robbery actually tried to get us help by calling out the Crime Lab which takes fingerprints. The Crime Lab guy all but took the head off one of the cops for calling them because of budget considerations. And we could hear all this being discussed.

Sheesh.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[amazona]

15. that's because they didn't really take fingerprints

Another robbery victim here.

Crime lab units are expensive or at least the officers on the ground are told they are. So they always say, oh yeah, those are gloves, so they don't have to bother with taking fingerprints and dusting, sigh.

If they just stood there and said, oh yeah, it's gloves, they didn't even try to take the fingerprints.

I'm only a little bitter.

They did arrest someone for the crime who had none of the "stuff" and probably didn't do it but they wanted him for something else, so they're happy. Even if I'm not.

Make that a lot bitter.

All I can do is send my sympathy.

Don't buy your new stuff for awhile because burglars usually return after a few weeks or a couple months to get the new stuff you bought as replacement for the old stuff. Like the laptop, they're going to come looking for a newer one.

It really stinks.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[democracyindanger]

2. That sucks

Sounds like something scared 'em off.

[smbolisnch]

OMG I'm sorry that happened!

That's terrible!

[smbolisnch]

3. OMG I'm sorry that happened!

That's terrible!

[catzies]

4. Is everyone all right?

That's just awful.



edited to change adjective. Didn't RTFT.

[TrogL]

8. shaken but not stirred

It was mostly Ank's jewellery, but I lost my father's ring. It's pretty distinctive so I'm going to watch out for it.

I'll probably have a delayed reaction tonight.

[TrogL]

10. Actually, I'm having a delayed reaction right now

:cry:

[alittlelark]

5. I never lock and I''ve never been robbed

But then I live in Los Altos.

I'm soooo sorry. I would suggest a looong bath w/ candles and the tunes you NEED.

[TrogL]

9. It's surprising what you don't notice

I spent most of the evening sitting at the computer wondering why the desk appeared less cluttered. This morning I finally figured out my big heavy force-feedback joystick was missing.

[drumwolf]

11. Did they take anything that you couldn't replace by buying it?

By that, I mean photo albums, personal letters, or digital archives on CD-R or hard drive.

If someone broke into my house and stole my computer, it would be a huge financial loss, but I'd be able to undo it eventually. If they stole either of my external hard drives, it would be devastating, because there's files on there that I couldn't just replace by buying new ones.

[TrogL]

12. My father's ring, my old wedding band

I'm doing a backup of my data tonight. I had run a backup awhile ago but there's new family photos.

[GreenPartyVoter]

14. *BIG HUGS* I am so sorry. I hope they don't come back

-------------------------------------------------------
Join the new Boston Tea Party!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/index.htm#shopping

[radwriter0555]

16. Items that are easily pawned.... Hope you had insurance.

Once I got decent teevees and computers, I got the wazoo insurance.

That way, no one will ever steal my stuff...

[TrogL]

18. Yep, already talked to them

the adjustor left her phone number. I'll call as soon as I figure out what all's missing.

Still (not) finding stuff.

[TrogL]

17. Just found out a co-worker's house was also broken into

lives about five blocks away.

Same M.O.

[lpbk2713]

19. Do you have a webcam?

You don't even have to connect it to your computer. Just put it in a conspicuous place with a big sign beside it. Have a big arrow pointing to the webcam and in big letters print YOU ARE BEING RECORDED. If nothing else, they will leave in a hurry next time.

[hippiechick]

21. I'm sorry TrogL ...

It happened to me in September.
More than the 'stuff' they took, the creepy feeling of someone I don't know in my space wierded me out for a very long time.
I slept with the lights on for a couple months. Odd - considering they broke in during the day when I was at work.

Hope you're able to recover some of your things, and your sense of 'home' and 'safety'. It helps to have someone to talk to, BTW.


:hug:


:hippie:

[Love Bug]

22. Get a dog

Years ago friends of mine had their house broken into, as well as every other house on their block this exception: those who had dogs. It's not a guarantee, but most theves just don't want to deal with someone's dog.

[TrogL]

23. I've thought of that...but

There's nobody home during the day to walk it etc.

There's three (and counting) cats.

[RebelOne]

24. Actually, a nice big dog would be in order.

I have a Rottweiler. People across the street from me and next door have been robbed. But crooks give my house a wide berth.