Is your home protected from burglary?
By KarenO52
@KarenO52 (2950)
United States
April 18, 2007 10:05am CST
My home has been broken into too many times. I no longer feel safe here alone. Last year, we were on vacation, and on the way home we got a call from my daughter that someone had kicked in my door and ransacked my house, stealing thousands of dollars worth of things.
The worst thing is not knowing when if it's going to happen again. And when something like that happens, it's hard to tell what's been stolen, because it's not there anymore, and you might not realize it's gone for a while, which makes it hard to file an insurance claim. You never get back the true value of the stolen items. For instance, the theives stole our television that was 10 years old, so it wasn't worth much according to our insurance company, and they only gave us about half of what we paid for it. I really loved that tv. It worked great, and it fit into the entertainment center that we bought specially for it. We bought a new tv, but we couldn't find anything to fit in the entertainment center, so we had to do something else with it. Now I'm using it as a bookshelf.
Has anything like this ever happened to you? How do you feel about it, and do you have any ideas for preventing something like this?
2 people like this
5 responses
@KarenO52 (2950)
• United States
23 May 07
I don't have an alarm system, but I would like to have one. My husband doesn't think they would do any good. I've been meaning to look into them anyway. I would feel safer. I hope the burglars didn't do much damage to your home, they can make a sure make a mess! I hope your insurance company compensates you well.
1 person likes this
@Woodpigeon (3710)
• Ireland
24 May 07
You won't believe this but yesterday morning I returned home to find my front door ajar. We live somewhere that anyone could have waltzed in, and as the dogs were in the guardem they would have benn clueless. My husband just didn't shut the door. I couldn't believe it! I seem to have a Burgular Encouragement System installed!
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
20 Apr 07
We had a burglary. Our apt was protected. Unforutnately not protected from the maintenance man who stole jewelry and coins. He ran off to Oklahoma. I am not sure I would say I feel protected.
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
2 Aug 07
Thankfully, I've never had this happen. I have a very hard time feeling safe in my home until I get used to it. When we moved into our apt. last year I kept all the windows locked for days b/c I was afraid. Now I can sleep with them open when I want to. I also like that we live in apt's b/c there are always ppl about and its harder for someone to climb through a window with ppl walking around. Also as a safety measure I always lock the screen door when I'm home. Good luck and be safe.
LIVE IN PEACE
@breepeace (3014)
• Canada
21 Apr 07
My ex boyfriend broke into my house when he knew I was on vacation. He took everything he'd left behind (despite the fact that I'd set up 4 or 5 times he could come and pick it up when I was there) plus a bunch of my stuff, broke both my doors and left my kitchen in total disarray (pots and pans all over the floor, broken plates, etc).
The police were pretty much useless, told me because he still had possessions there he was entitled to come in and retrieve his stuff whenever he wanted and that because we'd lived together he could be considered commonlaw (but not really -- it's a grey area, but defined lawfully it means two people that live as man and wife for 12 months or more or two people that live together that have a child or children together, neither of which we were) and was entitled to 50% of my possessions (huh?).
It was horrible. I finally pressed them until they pressed mischief charges on him for the damages, but didn't get my stuff back, and I have to repair the damages to the house or my landlord will take it out of my security deposit. :(
I'll never live with another man until he proposes.
1 person likes this
@breepeace (3014)
• Canada
21 Apr 07
PS. My doors all have security locks on them and the locks have all been changed, plus I have a dog that's sort of a deterrant and I live in an older neighbourhood where there's a lot of retirees so it's pretty secure. No one wants to break into a house when they know the little old lady across the street would be on the horn with 9-1-1 in two seconds flat.
1 person likes this
@Woodpigeon (3710)
• Ireland
20 Apr 07
Thank god we have never been robbed, although we have had quite a bit of property damage over the years, which isn't the same but it also isn't very nice.
On one occasion we had our windscreen smashed, we've had antennas stolen off the car, found our garbage can ON our car, and had the council's metal garbage can, which our car was parked next to, gas tank and all, set on fire. Our neighbour saw it and puut it out before the car, the house, and we blew up.
I have a couple of very large dogs, and I think that helps scare away potential burgulars. I know it wouldn't scare away all of them, but maybe they have looked for easier pickings elsewhere.
Sorry thathappened to you. It has got to be a nasty feeling to know people have been in your home where you are supposed to be able to feel safe.
@Woodpigeon (3710)
• Ireland
20 May 07
Yeah, one of the dogs especially has such a deep voice, he sounds really ferocious. He is, of course, but he actually has the voice to go withit, and unlike the rest of him, his voice hasn't aged a bit.
