Take your car keys with you when you go to bed....

[aquazi]

I had the misfortune of being burgled earlier this week while I was asleep upstairs (which as i live on my own is rather traumatic).. apparently they targeted me for my car keys - which is why they waited till I was home as I spend vast amount of time away on business with my car left at work.

Luckily they never got my keys as I had them in my bedroom with me; however they still grabbed whatever they could conveniently find downstairs; which amounted to over £4k of small electronics – laptops, SLR camera – including my backup hard drive with ALL my photos and music, which i have now lost .

Just a little warning not to leave your car keys lying around your home when you go to bed (which I often do, but certainly wont anymore)

 

[ksher]

How did they get in? Did you leave windows opened? Did they break any windows/doors? Someone tried to break into my house from the dining room door at the back, but failed. It happened in November few years ago, when no one was at home during the day. I then immediately had alarm fitted. I always have all my house and car keys in my study (car keys in the draw). I am now thinking about fitting one-way vision window films for all windows in the living room and dining room.

 

[Z4 Beemer]

Really sorry to hear this. All the electronics and even the car can be replaced, but personal things like the photos can't. Glad you didn't get hurt in the burglary. Same thing happened to my parents a few years ago, but their house alarm sounded. My dad went down to investigate but the police reckoned the burglar was still in the house hiding at the time and actually escaped when my dad was in another room. As you say, a traumatic experience.

 

[ferrelscent]

It makes me angry to see the aftermath of this sort of thing on tv programmes like Police Interceptors only to see the criminals getting away with a bit of community service or less.

 

[gannet]

sorry to hear

 

[Muso]

Sorry to hear that buddy,

Good that you and the Zed fine tho ! .. the other bits (bar the treasured media) can be replaced soon enough I hope.

I had a couple of irreplaceable guitars taken from a house burglary a few years ago (still gutted) .. I'm OCD these days on keeping keys and other important 'stuff'
upstairs.

 

[shambolic]

We had the same not long after we moved to new house( in the country no close neighbours). 12pm on a Monday afternoon back door kicked in and loads of gear gone, 42" tv couple of cameras and video cameras couple of laptops, wife's jewellery, etc.
TBH they left a lot of saleable gear as obviously junkie scumbags that didn't know what was good. My 4 breitling watches had just been serviced and were sitting in a Goldsmiths bag on kitchen table and were left, 2ipods were untouched!
It looked like the scoped the place and waited for my wife to leave through the security gates and drove immediately in before they closed.
Now have fully monitored alarm that phones me as well as alarm company if it goes off. CCTV all round and 2 dogs.
On a happier note one of the scumbags that did my hoose(5years ago) is still walking with a limp :wink:

 

[aquazi]

Thanks guys.. It may be wrong to say this but I now sleep with a massive kitchen knife + baseball bat under my bed – which I would probably would never use; but makes me feel more secure.

After I realised I had been broken into my first instinct was to check my 46” telly was still on the wall – which it was; I always imagine that would be the first target for these people; but the police said as its so big they are often not stolen and most decent laptops are worth more then a telly anyway. They said if they had my car keys then they may have taken the telly also – my response to that was the boot in the Z4 is big, but not that big!

The worse thing is that since this has happened i have heard so many horror stories from people who have been burgled and have been confronted by the villians.

How did they get in? Did you leave windows opened?

They pried my rear patio door open.. which according to the police is not a very good door as it has locking pins, while newer better ones are hooks (I have now screwed that door permanently shut until I get a replacement measured up and fitted)

I am also getting a better alarm installed which has zoning so I can arm the downstairs when I go to bed.

I guess I am just lucky my car keys were upstairs that day; and I unusually shut my bedroom door (as I normally leave it open) As if I had been disturbed I probably would have just walked downstairs in my half awake state; then who knows what would have happened.

 

[Taz]

sorry to hear, get an alarm fitted, passive sensors are useless, have shock sensors and door contacts

 

[bmwangler]

why are passive sensors useless, Taz x?

 

[srhutch]

What is the police recommendation for hiding keys?

I always leave mine on the floor next to the bed so if there is a fire I know where they are to escape, and if a burglar has got that far I would rather he just take them than do me or my family any harm.

 

[WLH]

Sorry to hear of your loss....

 

[AlanJ]

From recent Home Office crime figures....

It is estimated that more than 50 people a day across the UK have their cars stolen by burglars who ransack their homes and drive off with the spoils in their victim's vehicle.
A total of 15,741 cars were stolen last year by burglars who got hold of the keys after breaking into victims' homes.

HIDE YOUR KEYS

 

[petach]

What a s**t thing to happen to you, it is traumatic not just to be burgled but to realise you were there asleep at the time. I know that for some people the house will never be the same.

I have to say though that instances of the burglar being on premises at the same time as the resident is a rarity. The regular burglar does not want it in any way shape or form. There is obviously a difference between a regular stealth burglar and the person who breaks in and is armed to confront and terrorise to get what they want.

These make the papers and make people feel unsafe. I think it is worth pointing out that it is not common.

But, I feel for you and hope you get through the trauma.

 

[Taz]

there is an argument for leaving your keys downstairs

if somebody really wants your keys they may come upstairs to get them, they may even use violence to get them, so, is it better to let them find them?

 

[GAZA62]

Sorry to here this mate not nice been burgled years ago more security now and i always hide my keys day and night.

 

[original guvnor]

I've been seriously thinking about installing Navtrak ADR in my Zed.

http://www.selectautosystems.co.uk/navtrak.htm

That way you can leave your keys downstairs and not potentially be threatened with violence to hand them over but you will immediately get a call and the police will be alerted.

Sorry to hear about the burglary. I hope you can replace as much as possible as soon as possible. As someone living on their own in a quite a large house I can imagine how you must feel.

 

[pvr]

arghh, nasty stuff and it does take a long time to get over it.

I have had two attempted burglaries, one successful in my office and one unsuccesful as I installed CCTV everywhere which the burglar found and he went off and broke in next door.

From my first burglary, I really wanted to know who he was (he was caught on dna left at my house - a smoker who left his cigarette ...). That was the reason for the full CCTV coverage as at least I would always know who it was then.

This was the scrote who I caught on my CCTV who spotted the camera. He was caught within hours after the police came around.

If you need any info on how to make your house as bullet proof as possible, let me know as I have been there.

 

[aquazi]

Funny enough (or maybe not so for me!) is that the police said that as they didnt get what they were after they may be back! or in a few months after the insurance have replaced my items come back for the upgrades! - Unless they see visual upgrades to security.

They recommended to me that all keys, house and car are left somewhere secure/ hidden, never near a door - as i used to lock my door and leave my key in the key hole.

But they did say more often then not they do not confront ppl, but grab and run.

Have to say i am very impressed with the police service... they spent a lot of time with me, came to me within an hour.. going to all the houses down my road, and even now i have just got a letter from them saying they can offer a free service on securing my home.. which often involves fitting of additional locks! Sadly its a bit late for that now as i have screwed my back door permanently shut!

arghh, nasty stuff and it does take a long time to get over it.

I have had two attempted burglaries, one successful in my office and one unsuccesful as I installed CCTV everywhere which the burglar found and he went off and broke in next door.

I am very tempted in fitting some CCTV... how does it work at home? Do you have a monitor somewhere hooked up to some recording equipment? So should they break in what stops them talking the recordings?

I was looking at some of those broadband based alam systems; but knowing my luck the day my ADSL goes down will be the day i get burgled!

 

[Aebous]

They can come upstairs for my keys if they want too, I have a couple of combat knives spread about as long as my forearm. Plus one or two that could double as a throwing knife....although I'd probably just miss if I threw it.