Thieves Suck!

Serendipity

You probably remember the threads I posted about wheel locks and home security devices. Well, two houses down there was a break-in, cops came and left, didn't really do anything. The old lady that owned the house had an alarm and that scared the burglars away.

A few months ago down the road someone's Lexus LS460 had the headlights stolen. And various cars with nice wheels (BMW's, Mercedes, and Infiniti's) had been left on bricks.

Now, just last week our neighbor's G35 was vandalized. Spoke to the lady and she said this is not the first time, they took both headlights and 4 wheels before, and dropped the car on the pavement.

This comes way too close to home and I'm not sleeping well at night.

Any ideas besides a dog, video surveillance system, and house alarm? Already have a DVR with nice cameras - but doesn't help if someone is hiding in a van parked across the street, etc.

Face

Move.

Serendipity

Not gonna happen man.

tonyb

Face wrote: »

Move.

Yep,second that thought. Or you could get a gun and do target practice in your yard so when these thieves are caseing the street they will see the risk isn't worth the gain at your house.

treitz3

If it's happening that frequently, either have the neighborhood hire a private guard, undercover cop or somebody that can monitor the area during the peak crime times or start a highly involved neighborhood crime watch program.

Personally? If it was hitting that close to home, that often, I would be looking for another place of residence. At this rate, it's just a matter of time before it happens to you. Not if, but when.

nooshinjohn

Face wrote: »

Move.

Thirds... It is always a tough call, but for your safety, it may be the best one... Where do you live anyway? Maybe it's time for a Polkie-Patrol.;)

Serendipity

nooshinjohn wrote: »

Where do you live anyway? Maybe it's time for a Polkie-Patrol.;)

NYC Metro Area / 5 Boroughs

Serendipity

Haha...

(I put 'em where they least expect it)

And the other wire is for an alarm contact / glass break sensor

markmarc

Sounds like all the theft involves vehicles. If you have a garage use it. If not, and you have the room build one.

Otherwise 24/7 video surveillance

Sherardp

Glock 21C with laser/light is what I bought. Very nice and gives you the capability of putting 26 rounds down range. I bought the critical defense rounds from Hornady. YMMV. Benelli or Mossburg pumps do even better. Sounds like your in an upscale hood and the bad guys are on the prowl.

lightman1

Shoot 'em and eat 'em. Leave the bones on the front porch. They'll get the message.

Serendipity

markmarc wrote: »

Sounds like all the theft involves vehicles. If you have a garage use it. If not, and you have the room build one.

Otherwise 24/7 video surveillance

They are going after houses too. Most of the break-ins have been occurring during the day, when everybody is at work. They seem to like jewlery, electronics, and cash.

I don't think the local zoning allows for garages, but will see.

zarrdoss

It sounds like you need to organize a neighborhood watch, and include plenty of night vision scopes.... I mean cameras.


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TORI3

Does your houses, or any of the houses, have motion sensor lights?

My sister ran into some of the same problems as you...and she swears by this product:

http://www.feelsafernow.com/electronicwatchdog.htm

Here's another product...I think this may have been the one she used...

http://www.dutchguard.com/rex-p-persec.html

You can also get an NRA sticker paste that sucker on the window of you car, or even on one of the windows on your house.

http://www.cafepress.com/+NRA+bumper-stickers?cmp=knc--g--us--pol--bsm--search-e--NRA_stickers&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=pol--bsm&utm_content=search-e&utm_term=nra_stickers&gclid=CPH3s6TNp6MCFQTXnAodVXxh5w

treitz3

Serendipity wrote: »

Most of the break-ins have been occurring during the day, when everybody is at work. They seem to like jewelry, electronics, and cash.

You could see if the neighborhood would be interested in installing video surveillance around the neighborhood as well. If the thefts are happening during the day, be sure to purchase some signs that inform the would-be-crooks that they are under video surveillance as well. Place them in strategic areas that [hopefully] would deter the criminals before they even enter said area.

Arrange a meeting with local police and see what suggestions they may have to offer, such as increased patrols, undercover stings, video or whatever. Stay in constant contact because with any type of government office.....the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

High lumen motion detector lights can work wonders as well. Set them up to operate both during the day and night.

Cpyder

Buy a sophisticated car alarm for sure and if you are worried about your house, just get a loud, annoying house alarm. Seems like the thieves goal is theft. Stealing takes time and I don't think anyone is going to stick around with an alarm going off for very long. I would not recommend buying a firearm however. They can sour the situation really fast and often can end up with you or your love ones getting hurt. That's not worth your car or your house.

Other than that, just make sure you have good insurance. Any item they steal can easily be replaced. Also make sure you are safe as well as your family if you have one. These cannot be replaced and should be given highest priority.

toucanet

I'm sorry to hear of troubles in your neighborhood. The only advice I can offer is to make certain that your insurance policies are up to date in terms of reflecting current value replacement, etc.

I totally agree with treitz3's recommendations. This economy is bringing out the worst in people.

Please do not try to take the law into your own hands!

swb502

I recommend flying a Gadsden Flag, it seems to be a pretty big deterrent from people messing with your stuff. Every one seems to assume you’re a gun nut with a booby trapped house.

ohskigod

Gang, I gotta call the "Bravo Sierra" on those saying to move. looking for that ultimate safe neighborhood? concerned about your safety? then learn one simple basic premise.....the ultimate safe neighborhood does NOT EXIST.

Crime happens everywhere, especially where there are easy targets. and when a neighborhood feels safe enough to leave your doors open and crime is not even thought of, guess what...thats a prime target.

one break in does not an unsafe neighborhood make. I recently had an issue where some cars by me were "broken into" and by broken into I mean some were silly enough to think they were is such a safe neighborhood that they can leave there wallet, purses, cash, ID's and whatnot in a car unlocked with the windows open. criminals, ESPESCIALLY in this economy, will hit the blatantly easy targets wherever they are.

http://nononsenseselfdefense.com/homesecurity.html
the above link is from Marc Macyoung's website, a very knowledgeable man in the ways of criminal activity and avoiding it. I linked the Home security section but there are other many handy topics on the site.


to those in the "move" camp. thinking your neighborhood is shielded from it, makes you a very tasty target. Kind of like that oil deposit in ANWR. It's there, just no one tapped it yet.

mhardy6647

Move or drive a Kia. As one sows, so does one reap.
My postdoc adviser lived on the "urban frontier" in Baltimore in the 1980s. Rather than invest in stuff people like to steal, he and his wife had things like antique furniture, Audubon lithographs (which look just like the cheap ones, just more yellowed)... stuff like that.

Some hifi stuff is probably less likely to be stolen than other stuff. Never worried too much, e.g., about anyone making off with the Klipsch Cornwalls when I had them in the living room.

obieone

"I can resist anything but temptation"- Oscar Wilde

Option A: IF you're driving a high-end import like your neighbors, sell it for a mid to low-end domestic.

Option B: Start plastering your vehicles, and house with assorted stickers. Specifically, NRA, ADT, Sig, H&K, Glock, etc.

Option C: Install 'game cameras'. Both hunters, and game wardens use them for 'observing' wildlife. Motion activated, and low light/ night vision capable. This may not stop the crime from occuring, but you might get a license plate #?
Yes a remote chance, but hey, it sounds like you have to do something.

mhardy6647

Don't thieves like to steal guns? I wonder if advertising a houseful of guns is a great idea...

kawizx9r

I vote with moving as well.

I know it's easier said than done but if I were you I wouldn't be able to sleep either. Had my car's GPS stolen while living in Chicago, passenger window smashed and everything and I couldn't sleep for weeks after that! Though it's not much compared to what's going on in your neighborhood ($200 for the window and another $100 for the gps), I got myself a 9mm Beretta A weapon might not be the solution for you, so go with the first one...MOVE!

jimmydep

I'm with Lou on this one, Crime can happen anywhere. We had a rash of home and auto burglaries in my area recently. The police caught a 17 and 19yr old youths, the problems stopped. It turns out a neighbor saw the duo casing cars and called it in.
an active Neighborhood watch is the answer.

mhardy6647

jimmydep wrote: »

I'm with Lou on this one, Crime can happen anywhere. We had a rash of home and auto burglaries in my area recently. The police caught a 17 and 19yr old youths, the problems stopped. It turns out a neighbor saw the duo casing cars and called it in.
an active Neighborhood watch is the answer.

Absolutely true that it can happen anywhere (and it does, sooner or later). The big problem nowadays is that there are a class of quite mobile pros - around here, when there's a rash of things (e.g., stealing expensive parts from expensive cars out of garages or driveways), the thieves are usually from out of town (indeed, out of state), know what they are doing (i.e., work very swiftly and unobtrusively), and - according to the local police - are in fact quite dangerous if "interrupted", as well.

TORI3

You can't do too much to stop someone from taking things from a car, especially when it's parked on a street.

In your original post you stated that you didn't want to get a dog. But in all seriousness, that would definitely be your safest bet.

Unfortunately, I grew up in a pretty rough part of town with a pretty rough pair of friends, which is why I got the hell out of there when an opportunity presented itself. After being gone for three years I came back home and reunited with some of my 'ol pals who had refined their craft of jacking homes. Obviously I cut off ties, knowing that they hadn't changed one bit.

The only thing that might be considered valuable in this long-winded post is that I vividly remember them stating their hatred towards dogs...especially big dogs. They wouldn't dare touch a house, day or night, if they knew there was a dog residing with the family. Think about it. Would you attempt to break into a house if you knew there was a pissed off German Shepard on the other side of the door?

Schucks, even Kung-Fu won't help you in a situation like that. And with a gun, there's still a 50/50 chance of coming away unharmed.

It's a tough situation you're in...sorry to hear, but dogs are a proven deterrent.

Demiurge

Kill them.

dkg999

Camera's are getting cheaper, have more recording capacity, can be internet enabled, etc. It's not even a reactive measure, theives hate cameras and watch for them. Active watching via cameras and organized neighborhood patrols is a good proactive approach. Guns, while I am a strong supporter of our freedoms and rights, are a reactive measure. As said by Demi, when all the proactive measures fail and the SHTF, kill them.

mole'

get a big ****$ DOG!!!

On3s&Z3r0s

Humanity's dirtbags are a total bummer. Shooting 'em might be fun (never had the opportunity, so I can't say personally), but no state has castle laws that let you shoot people outside your house, so I think that suggestion is of limited usefulness. I like the garage idea. I have street parking, and I've had a car prowled (they busted a window on the off chance the car had something worthwhile in it... all they got was a portable jump starter). My next place will definitely have an attached garage. That failing, I guess if you have a car that might be targeted then get a good alarm. Sounds like you've already got the house covered.

decal

Shoot first,ask questions later!!!!!!!!