Breaking and Entering.

[DRG]

Friday evening someone broke into our house and stole a camera, television and 6 unbuilt models and a few tools.

While I realize that isn't all that much it does make me wonder. Paula's jewelry isn't gone. Money laying in a desk drawer is still there.

Plus the house is not ransacked, the items are missing that's all.

Naturally everything can be replaced but I am more ticked off about the models that they stole.

[falcon wagon]

Sounds like some kid that's been in your house

[JamesW]

If they were kits of any significant value then it sounds like they knew what they were doing. Or like Carl said, it was a kid that had been in your house before.

Edited January 9, 2011 by grimreaper

[scummy]

Sounds like 15-16 year olds , they know value of camera, tools ,tele and got some models to build or give to someone they know .

[David G.]

Things are things and like you said, they can be replaced. But the break-in part, that's one of the worst feelings there is.

My sympathies.

David G.

[george 53]

What a drag!! I've had cars stolen before, THAT was a BUMMER, But I've NEVER had UNIVITED guests in my home. That kinda stuff makes ya loose your sense of security. Just keep a loaded gun at the ready, and wait for the lil bastiges to come back. If they DO ,MAKE SURE they NEVER to it to ANYONE ELSE again! I personaly am all for lethal force in a home invasion situation!

[Harry P.]

It's weird what people will steal and what they'll leave behind.

Years ago our apartment was broken into while my wife and I were at work. The thieves took some oddball things like my high school class ring and some of my wife's cheap jewelry... but they left obviously more valuable stuff like cameras and stereo equipment untouched. I guess they just wanted small stuff they could easily take with them. (not that they were trying to be discreet... they literally broke the door and the doorframe down to get in! In fact, that night after the police left, we "locked" our door by propping it back in place and piling our biggest and heaviest pieces of furniture behind it!)

[Adam deCoste]

one time my dad had his 63 chevy pu behind a body shop and over night it was broken into, it had lots of new parts in it and the doors were not even locked. All they took was one of the 63 cali plates and that was it

[SuperStockAndy]

Sorry to hear that, Donald.

It really doesn't make sense though. Models? Kids don't build anymore........

Hope you get everything replaced.

[Terror]

They sound like items that can be traded for drugs.You will probly never recover the items.The local police will tell you that,I know.We had band equipment stolen and never found a thing.It was a good night for the crooks cause they got 3 or 4 other places on the block even the cops place across from my buddies house.But what ya gonna do?It always happens when your not around it seems.Good luck to ya,maybe look into getting a dog or 2.

[Modelsbyroni]

Sorry to hear about that.

[crazyjim]

Change your locks!!! A neighbors house was broken into and they took the wife's purse and other small items. Her keys were in the purse. They didn't change the locks. The next week the theives came back and used her keys to get in and took more stuff.

[disabled modeler]

Sorry to hear about that Donald, Jim's right...change the locks and check all other point of possible entry make sure there secure. I would take the chance. Crooks like to get in when they expect your not home, they dont want to get caught specially by the owner. Ive had a break-in at my old repair shop once it was horrible to have to go through...I made sure it wouldn't happen again. Yours does sound like kids or young adults did it to me. also keep an eye out for strangers or someone hanging around acting like they dont want anyone to see their face, someone else could be next? Unusual activity is a good tip off.

[HotRodaSaurus]

A friend of mine here in the UK owned a 1959 Cadillac convertable when they were considered just old cars(1970s). He always left it unlocked so anyone wanting to try to find anything of value only had to open the door and take it.

One night someone thought they would have a look so what did they do? Slashed the roof not thinking to try the door though my mate was more pissed at them taking his AM CB radio(illegal in the UK)

John

[bigphoto]

Sorry to here that. Be sure to check the local pawn shops and give them a list of what was taken, most pawn shops these days don't want anything to do with stolen goods.

[mikemodeler]

What a bummer Don, probably the worse feeling in the world.

One of the first tools I got 35 years ago was an electric engraver. Anything of value of mine has my name engraved on it. We just got our kids new digital cameras for X-mas and I made sure their names were engraved on them in case they get lost or stolen. It also scares away a legitimate pawn shop if there is a name engraved on something and that person's name doesn't match. Not entirely foolproof but might keep someone from taking my stuff if they think it will be a problem to pawn or sell it later.

I have a ton of tools in the garage and in addition to keeping them locked up, I have engraved my name in them and also have taken pictures and recorded model & serial numbers. Took awhile to do but heaven forbid I suffer the same fate as Don, I can prove what is missing and be compensated by the insurance company. I have done the same to the inside and outside of the house. If we ever have a claim, we can show how things looked before.

Sorry you had to go through the experience, hopefully the criminals will be caught.

[walt francis]

I can tell you I know how you feel and it take awhile but the feeling safe will come back.

[charlie8575]

How absolutely horrible. The ultimate violation of your sanctity short of murder.

I agree with Jim, it might be smart to change the locks, just in case.

You can also rig a bell to sound during your absence on your windows and doors. I've seen articles on do-it-yourself Internet sites, Popular Mechanics and the like.

Your safety and peace of mind will come back. Don't let these cretans get the better of you.

Charlie Larkin

[Nick Winter]

Donald just my 2 cents, but those items sound easily sold, camera's, Tv's, model kits and tools all sell fairly easy.

If I was you I would check local internet selling listings for your things.

Nick

Edit: it does suck my elderly grandmother has had it happen twice, and she has an alarm service they too weird stuff to, except we can't replace them, they took my now deceased grandfather pocket watch and some other things belonging to him and some jewelry given to my grandmother by my grandfather. yet they left cash and flatscreen tv's.

Dosen't make sense to me.

The stolen things never surfaced, I keep checking.

Edited January 11, 2011 by Nick Winter

[paul alflen]

CHECK CRAIGS LIST!! WE HAD A GROUP OF HIGH SCHOOLERS BREAK INTO CARS THAT WERE UNLOCKED OR LOCKED THEY TOOK ANY THING OF VALUE. CELL PHONES, MONEY, GPS SYSTEMS. THEY GOT CAUGHT BECAUSE THE KIDS TRIED TO SELL A GUY BACK HIS OWN GPS. THE COPS GOT HIM AFTER THE MAN IDENTIFIED HIS OWN GPS,THAT THE KID WAS TRYING TO SELL.

[txdieseldog]

Donald, unfortunately events such as yours are what fortunately keep guys like me with a pay check and money for bills. (PD) In response to the reply of checking pawn shops.... in TX the pawn owners cannot tell you one single thing unless your name is on the pawn card. However, they are required to hold the items for, I believe it is at least 30 days, in the back to not be for sale to the public. Provides two things. 1) The original owner to get it back out. 2) Our detectives have a special squad that have an awesome repor(sp) with the managers to compare with recent cases. Best advise.....check with your PD, make sure they open a case and ask what they do with local pawn shops to try and recover your stuff. For those of you reading this, I can not stress enough to keep a log of your stuff. Take two extra minutes when you bring home that new item and jot down its specifics. Just like an ad for a car for sale. Make, model, serial #, color, and brief discription. If you are one of those that updates your version of items from time to time.......that should be noted. For ex: I have two PS-2 players in my house. #1 has pop up disc access, #2 has the slide out drawer for the disc. Just helpful info for your case if it unfortunately were to happen to you, which I pray it does not. Donald, sorry for the stupidity of others and their total disregard for your property. I hope you recover without too much stress.

Regards

Barry

[Kaleb]

I hate to hear that, what the law enforcement needs to do when they catch a theif is cut a finger off every time they get caught. But if Johnny law is like it is around here good luck getting them off their behind. Enough on that rant, reason is my dad had over $1500 in tools stolen out of his truck and seen the perps drive away and decribed the truck, it took the cops 45 minutes to get there and only thing he done was take the tire tool that they used. Didnt take the guns or ammo just tools.

Second one is, someone had their Ipad stolen, but they had paid the fee to track their Ipad beforhand. Once they called the cops they were able to track it to the thiefs apartment and the guy was using it when the they got there. Good thing is even if they turn it off it is still trackable.