Burgled.

Bad luck, there. Luckily no real harm done.

The problem with installing security and alarms is that they very much lessen the chance that insurance will be paid out should you be burgled again.

Best wishes Tony. It's a truly shitty experience. At least you seem to have retained your senses of humour and perspective, and best of luck with dealing with the aftermath.

It's years since I lived in the UK, but I do remember that getting a decent alarm system installed following our burglary was quite a cathartic and reassuring thing to do (and probably essential, as you say). 

HI Tony -

Alarm systems aren't that expensive. It's the security company's monthly monitoring fees that can really add up over time. After our garage break-in a few years back, I decided to go the DIY route. In addition to cameras, was also able to purchase security signs online that look the real deal, but are only for show. So far, so good -- no repeats.

Sorry this happened to you. I lost a couple of thousand dollars worth of tools, but decided not to file a claim. The raise in rates would have offset the claim far too quickly.  Was more concerned about Mrs. Hook's safety and peace of mind, especially when home alone.

ATB.

Hook

My suggestion is to read the fine print on your insurance policy very carefully. Especially the clauses that relate to the required alarm response time, sensor failures and your failure to arm the system. Another weasel-out area is the requirement for the property to not be left unattended. Check what that really means. For our property insurance to be valid, someone needs to attend the property EVERY day.

On another note, we were realistic in assessing how many accidental alarms we (or our dogs) might trigger and decided that the call-out fees would quickly out-weigh the insurance savings (first couple are free, then VERY expensive), so we turned the alarm off, and struck it from our policy.

I am sorry that it happened to you Tony - on the times I have had burgled items (twice in my life) it was the feeling of violation more than anything that bothered me; that someone apart from my wishes was in my place.

Sorry to hear about your misfortune, Tony.

Must be a horrible experience to be robbed and have ones personal space violated by a unknown intruder.

I’m lucky living in a very safe neighbourhood, we tend to know each other and overlook each others properties, and many of my neighbours have dogs.

But it does concern me how awful it would be to get burgled.

Looking at the modern array of surveillance and alarm technology on offer, it would seem there should be a cost effective method to greatly reduce the risk of a break-in.

A smart phone alerting system would be excellent with video camera link so one could see the burglars in action, which would enable one to activate the remote control sentry machine guns - rather like playing an x-box game, and when the ammo is out, another button remotely pushed can let the dogs out...

Sorry to hear that Tony. It's a horrible experience.

There is something to be said for (accidentally m'Lud) connecting the outside door handles to the mains when one is out.

Good CP advice should prevent a recurrence. The golden rule of crime prevention is - Make it difficult, and the arseholes will go elsewhere.

John.

True enough.

Had a thief at 4am break the dining room window and snatch my Macbook off the table a few years back. Sounded like hell, a double pane window breaking when you are dead asleep - I could've swore it was a home invasion. Went down the stairs screaming my lungs out. I caught a glimpse of him as he was running down the street, though the canine unit never lost his trail. This was before we had blinds - if they can see it then you are asking for it. We did have an alarm unit and now we have it programmed so we can turn it on with us in the house. 

Of course our 105 pound Lab was the last one down the stairs - and first to bark his head off if a chihuaha walks by on he street. Go figure. 

I you can afford it, get an alarm system asap. 

Also, keep in mind that statistically thieves have been known to revisit prior targets after an appropriate wait time, because they know the people have filed a claim and now have new replacement items...hence the need for an alarm system. Or a large Rottweiler with a foul disposition towards uninvited intruders.

I had an alarm at my prior home, and wish I could afford one here, but as someone said above it is the monthly fee (which of course is set up as a contract so you cannot cancel without a hurtful expense) that is the "problem."  Everyone wants to "only $35 a month" you to death...

Alarms are a complete waste of time - no one bothers about them except for complaining about the noise; the police are not interested in burglary (more revenue from catching speeders and easier), and the crims know that too.

The answer? There is none unless you can afford a private security guard.

3 things Tony

1/     If you carn`t run to a full blown alarm system(i`m sure you can) a well known internet auction house has stacks of dummy boxes for sale under 20 quid.

2/     If your house is like ours with a door from our hall going strait into the garage get your up and over door bolted from the inside. These up and overs a doddle to break into and this is how we got done some years back.

3/   I`ve put a m/cycle padlock & chain on the gates that run down the side of the house.

Mista h

Hi been done over twice the police advised to get a dog and leave all inside doors open,In the paper couple of years ago a lady parked her car in garage and was attacked by a rapper  an inside door was open the news paper caption was the african hunting dogs revenge it really chewed him up the judge give it a complete let off so get a dog.

Seems like a very extreme response to a type of popular music in which words are recited rapidly and rhythmically over a prerecorded, typically electronic instrumental backing.

Snoop Dog, perchance? Or Bon(i)o from U2?

Here in Australia we get done over about every couple of years. They rarely get much, but the damage they do getting in is infuriating and expensive. Many of our (alloy) doors and windows bear the scars of at least an attempted forced entry. Here are some lessons we have learned the hard way (beyond the mandatory alarm system and deadlocked openings):

1. Draw your curtains/drapes. The opportunist darlings like to target particular rooms which they know will contain portable goodies (e.g. master bedroom, study). Certainly never leave anything of value visible from outside. Monkey see, monkey smash and grab.

2. Hide your portable valuables. Make the dears work hard and waste time, hopefully with a deafening alarm siren sounding. Also make sure your deafening internal siren can't be silenced easily.

3. Remove, or at least hide, your keys. They might get in through a toilet window, but they're not getting out that way with your 60" LCD TV or NAP500.

4. Keep a radio turned on at moderate volume while you are out. Better - put it on one of those timers that cost a pittance. It won't fool them all, but it will deter some.

5. Get a dog with an emasculating bite. Not a German Shepherd like ours, whose idea of deterrence is to lick your crotch and high-five.

And no, none of the above helps if you are targeted by professionals. But most break-ins are still opportunist. You just have to be a more awkward prospect than your neighbour.

We are at the stage now where we lose very little, but we have to pay the repair bill. Next step is to leave a order form outside for the cherubs. They tick the boxes and we fill their order. Just as long as they don't smash their way in again (tongue only part way in cheek).

Alan

Christ, Alan, where do you live in Oz? I lived there for 35 years and was burgled just once. Maybe time to consider a new suburb.

That's correct hook the rapper was after the SU deep vibes you know.

Got done in early December 1986. We'd spent Saturday evening at the home of my father in law and his future new wife and then did some Christmas shopping before heading home. We popped into our local then my wife left the car our drive before joining me for a couple. When we finally got home we found signs of disturbance inside and when we checked we found somebody had been in and the house had been ransacked. It all went in slo-mo from then. The police reckoned the scum had been disturbed when my wife dropped her car off. Who knows what might have happened if she'd gone in and disturbed them.

I thought we were relatively secure as I'd fixed down our vulnerable windows but they seemed to have had a midget or child who could squeeze through a very small gap.

The police told us there was every chance they'd be back as they'd been disturbed and had  seen there was stuff worth nicking. I slept with a hammer at my bedside and then a few months later I got made redundant and was transferred to California totally against my better judgement .

Sorry for dragging it out but it was a seriously nasty experience. 1986 wasn't a Happy Christmas for us.