Alarming situation?

[Kay/NC]

The breakins have come too close to home. SIL had turned in gamecam pictures from his grandma's farm a mo ty or so ago, and we heard the sheriff's office had recovered one stolen weapon across the state line. That was supposedly bringing in the ATF. Still, more breakins are occurring.

He told us of two within three miles of our house, and theirs is closer that way. They already have alarms on their house. So far, the houses hit didn't have alarm systems.

We had put them on Jenna's, because of my scare while up there alone at night. I know what to ask for now, how the systems work, and have the habit of arming and disarming down pat. Yes, it requires that I take a few extra steps, and once out,if anything is forgotten, coding in and back out again.

Mike also decided we should lock up the gun safe, putting any loose cash inside with the weapons. He has had that safe for two years, but said he couldn't open it, so just used it as a fireproof cabinet.

Since these thieves steal mostly guns and things like video game consoles, plus cash, we wanted his locked up. They aren't really valuable, but they do have sentimental value...one is his Daddy's.

I asked SIL, who has one safe exactly like this one, to help him get straight with where to hide the combination for safekeeping. He had to leave, so Mike fought with the lock for thirty minutes...his Mom switched him from left to right handedness as an infant, and he is constantly zigging when he ought to zag. Not cool when it is L-R-L-R!

I fonally got a chance to try it myself, and opened it on the first try. Made him stand and watch as I opened it two or three times more. He saw where he was messing it up, and got good with it himself. At least that much is secure no. I may move a few sentimentsl pieces of jewelry in there, too

We will be having the installation of the alarms in just a few days. We are viewing it as more for personal protection than theft prevention. The alarms go off if a door is opened in the "stay" at home mode, and we will hear it if a door is breached while we are here, day or night. Motion detection goes in the most central room or hallway. Putting up fire alarm to wake us and call 9-1-1, too.

The basic installation is free, and the extra door alarms we need will cost $60. The fire alarm is $75. Monitoring is $40 a month. Less than $1.50 a day for some aded peace of mind. We will get a slight break on homeowners premium.

I truly hated that we felt the need at Jenna's house. It bugs me even more to cave in here. Still, we both felt that we react slower and sleep deeper now, so need a bit more of a warning window.

Do any of you use home alarm systems? Do you wish you did, or think you probably should, if you don't?

[Sundae1964]

We don't have any and only lock our doors at night.   We do have a small safe that dh doesn't know how to open very well and it was in the house before we even got married.  I really think he plays dumb when it comes to things in the house though. 

It does sound a little scary in your area right now Kay.  I hope the catch those SOB's and your community can relax once again.

S.

[Kay/NC]

It is really hard to lock this house while we are home...all four exits are used going out for different reasons, and walking up to a locked door just ticks us off. We have a coded deadbolt on one of them, which I would like to repeat on the other three, so we can lock them and still get back inside, without tromping a quarter of the way around this strung-out house, stumbling over stuff.

That would get us to lock better. The entry alarms will beep if the door is opened, whether the door is locked or not. If the system is armed and one is opened, the sound that goes off is painfully loud and impossible to sleep through.

We will have to train ourselves and our kids to code in when they enter an armed house. I get the system set to allow 45 seconds to get that done. We are using identical codes and passwords for both houses, so do not have one more thing to remember.

Before we had the first system, I could never conceptualize how one would work for us here. Now, I can pretty easily predict where the power supply and brain will go, and the keypad is wireless, so can go in the most convenient spot. Got to put it where one little guy can't get to it!

The people who are breaking in have been identified to the sheriff's office, by by name, vehicle, where they live...still, they are at large. These are guys who know enough about guns to go through a house and leave a cheaper one in favor of a better one.

One game system that was stolen was GPS tracked. Couple of days later in Ohio, from NC, so they are connected to a professional fencing operation. All we can hope is that the higher law enforcement agencies are trying to trace more goods to and through that pipeline. Thieves don't get far, without do someone they know will buy what they steal.

[Ruby Lou]

In Texas there was a string of vandalism and they think that the thieves were relative of the local sheriff.  This was over a year ago and I do not know if they were eventually caught or not.  They broke into my brothers house and took coins and other money and tried to pry open the gun safe.  Some of this was money in my little nephew's dresser drawer, up in the "attic" overhead of the laundry room and in a closet.  They have camera's now that they can see on their smart phone ...the inside of the house when they are away.  Also have an alarm system and pack guns.  My neighbor lady has an alarm system...she has plenty of guns in her house too and knows how to use them! (he son is a gun dealer)!

[Kay/NC]

Well, the sheriff who just resigned way ahead of the end of his term is suspected to have some bad ties. The resignation sure makes it appear that way.

I have heard for years that his son is the big criminal of the county...but, he never gets caught, either. I think anyone who doesn't consider that possibility is foolish. In this case, busting the burglars would lead to their fence....???

NC has a Castle Law. These guys take care to break into empty houses, while their owners are at work, mostly. Our farm is virtually always occupied. People move back and forth at all hours of the say, between houses, barns, shops, etc. We all have badass dogs, too.

[Suey73]

We had a  "neighbor"  that I think kept trying to  case the place a couple of years ago.  He was going by on the 4 wheeler all the time.  One time when he went by our part time employee saw him and said he was the scum of the scum.   After that  I tried to make an attempt to be seen any time he went by.  We are here all the time,  church would be the only regular time we might not be here.   But of course Sunday AM is their recovery time.   Our road is a dead end so he had to come back by.   Also,  since  PT employee had seen him I think he knew he had been made and on the radar.    If we are ever robbed  he is #1 suspect,  neighbor 1.5 miles away son is suspect #2. 

I wouldn't be surprised if he and friends haven't  looked in my house.    I don't have:  a flat screen TV,  cash or a stash of guns.   Only 1 gun sometimes visable.   No playstation,  no Iphone,  no laptop, no IPAD, only 1 diamond, the little one in my engagement ring.   Got a brand new printer and 1 blueray player.   Proably the amount of food here would be the bigger haul.   Of course the shop would be the really big haul.  

We have discussed trail cameras.  But, the technology just makes it hard to understand what it is we really need.   If we could get a relative to come for a day or 2 and help we'd probably be set up.    Also, need a driveway alarm.  Right now  a semi can sneak by us from 25 ft away if we are asleep.   A car can definitely come and go without someone seeing them.    I'm afraid too much of this technology is way past our abilities. 

Robbers in our area like to hit while people are at work around here too.   A fully locked door means you get to buy and replace a new door and frame. 

[linda/IL]

We are really bad locking doors.  Only at night or when we are going away for the entire day, and that's because I insist.  We are close to interstate so this really isn't smart.  We had some incidences several years ago, but no one ever got in because of our dog.  Now no dog anymore. 

I used to worry when we milked because everyone knew we weren't in the house then.  Always made sure it was lit up.  One of us is usually here.   DH does have some guns.  We got a safe a few years ago when our bank moved out of town making our lock box there farther away.  This blasted **#! thing is horrible to get into.  We take turns when first of us gets frustrated.  Probably should go back to the lockbox.

[Kay/NC]

Not being too predictable is probably our best ally.  No one knows when someone is here, or maybe just working in a barn behind the house, or in the woods right in sight of the house. 

I think being known to be at least a bit crazy, keeping ugly-acting dogs, not being too friendly when strangers drive up, are helpful, too. 

If anyone I do not know asks if the dogs will bite, I say, "They have teeth...."

If I really dislike their appearance, I might add, "If they know I know you, they will stand down...but, I don't know you. I would stay in your vehicle, if I were you."   

May sound unfriendly, but the folks we want here know they are welcome.  The rest can go hang. 

[manureseller]

Kay I would think with your pack of hounds that people would think twice about breaking into the house but then again people are idiots so there is that. 

That being said I am diligent about locking the doors here especially when Todd is gone. Then again our house is old so breaking into it wouldn't be that hard but I did tell Todd that when we get the new house we are getting an alarm system.  I'm sure we can find a fairly decent one for not alot of $$.  We don't keep alot cash on hand and all the important stuff is in a fire safe in our room.  The guns are not locked up because we don't have the gun safe in the house (going in the new one though) but once again they are scattered and hidden throughout.  Of course if anyone did get in they wouldn't have a problem with Paige but Rex would give them a run for their money as he's not the warmest to strangers right away and if they tried to give him a treat he'd take their hand off in the process. 

One other thing Kay what about the tack shed?  Is that kept under lock or video survalliance?  Something to think about when you start adding up the cost of tack and saddles and such. 

[Kay/NC]

All the tack is at daughter's end of the farm. UPS, mailman, and GedEx do all their drops here, because of heir dogs. You would have to really want a saddle, to run that gantlet!