Happy New Year...your house has been robbed!

[ilovefh]

Yup that is what happened to us! We went out for a nice dinner with my parents and sister. Mom wanted us to celebrate New Years with them at their house. We decided to stay and got home around 12:30. I went to pick up my laptop which I had left on the couch and it wasn't there. As I turned to look around for it I saw the tv had been moved and all of our gaming systems were gone. Bye bye PS3, Wii, Xbox360, Ipod touch, DSi, laptop, plasma tv, receiver, camera, all our games and accessories, movies, though they left the 4 Bluray Harry Potter DVDS, but took everything else. They even took our change jar that we were using to save some extra money for our trip!

Thankfully our homeowners insurance will replace most of it!

They used a crowbar to break into our back door.

Funny enough, we know they came around 10:40. I set the DVR to tape Jersey Shore (my secret love!) from 10-11. It recorded until 10:40. So since the DVR was unplugged when we got home we assume that is when they were here.

The cops also said another house was broken into in our neighborhood.

We were already selling our house, but until then how do you get comfortable in your house again? I feel so violated! (which could be why I am up at 12:51 still, because I can't sleep!)

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I'm sorry, that's terrible! I hope the police catch them.

 

[pigletgirl]

I have had that happen. It is awful! It takes a long time for you to feel comfortable again in your own house. I hated that! I mean, its your HOUSE for pete sakes.

Luckily for you guys, they didn't rummage thru your underwear and bra drawer with black ink, and destroy 20+ pairs of underwear and bras!

Yep, and the homeowners insurance didn't pay for a cent of it.

So yes, I can sympathize with you. It's a total PITA, violating, scary thing to go thru.

When do you all expect to get your stuff back? Is the insurance company giving you all a check?

 

[redlight]

How awful. Hope the police catch them soon and get your stuff back.

 

[HonestAbe]

That's terrible. I would recommend lojack for laptops at the very least. We feel pretty safe with an alarm, lojack on the laptops and there's home protection as a last resort. I've had a vehicle get stuff stolen from it and felt violated and extremely angry. I cant imagine how angry I would be had this happened to my home.

The investment in a home alarm system IMO is worth every penny. And the discount on homeowners almost covers the cost, but the peace of mind is priceless.

 

[ogreenlee]

We got a neighborhood email the other day b/c a house was broken into, but they left after hearing the alarm.

It's made me nervous.

I'm so sorry this has happened to you.

 

[ilovefh]

I have had that happen. It is awful! It takes a long time for you to feel comfortable again in your own house. I hated that! I mean, its your HOUSE for pete sakes.

Luckily for you guys, they didn't rummage thru your underwear and bra drawer with black ink, and destroy 20+ pairs of underwear and bras!

Yep, and the homeowners insurance didn't pay for a cent of it.

So yes, I can sympathize with you. It's a total PITA, violating, scary thing to go thru.

When do you all expect to get your stuff back? Is the insurance company giving you all a check?

You know, oddly enough, even though everything in my underwear drawer is fine, that was the most disturbing thing to find. My drawer wide open with all of my underwear and socks everywhere! Weird enough, they didn't take the diamond ring from an ex which was in the jewelry box on top of my bureau.

Thankfully they insurance company will give us a check. DH (who owned the house before he met me) was robbed several years ago so he has already been through the process. We won't get what replacement value of everything, but a depreciated value since since we don't have receipts for everything. They said it should be about a month and a half.

But I don't even want to get new stuff while we are in this house. I don't want to draw them here again!

 

[JCJRSmith]

Sorry to hear you got robbed. What a sucky way to start off the new year. That being said, you said your laptop was gone - did you store any passwords for any sites like your bank or credit cards on there? You need to hit those sites and your email provider and change EVERYTHING NOW.

 

[disneymarie]

Quite often it is someone nearby, kids with drug habits. To take that many items they had to have help, a car, use something to take it away. Was a neighbor canvess done to ID potential car parked nearby? Do you have snow to track.

Often a crowbar is a last resort, could they have touched windows outside to try and open, or lower level entries. Look for your items on Craigs list or ask the PD if they have surveillance on any suspects thought to by the stolen goods. Often this type, they take the goods to the middle man to get quick cash. It there anyone in the area that is known to have drug problems? sometimes school age kids know and if you offer a reward, that may help.

I would get motion detectors, signs from Ebay that state it is covered by surveillance, also Harbor Freight.com has dummy outside cameras for $5 or so, a few near the doors should help. You can also buy a system to hook up to see who is outside.

I certainly hope they catch them. I was once able to get a great palm print and few fingers on a sliding door and caught the kids.
Di

 

[Tantor]

Also put up Beware of Dog signs ......everyone around us has been broken in but us. We also have lights on outside all night.

 

[WDWBarb]

When I was in 2nd grade our house was broken into, ransacked and robbed. I remember it so well - I was absolutely horrified. I couldn't understand what would motivate someone to come into a private home and not only take things, but destroy whatever they could get their hands on (I found out when I was older that it was likely someone we knew that held a grudge against my parents).

Honestly, my parents had to sell the house and we moved because I simply couldn't sleep there anymore without waking up all night and fearing every noise I heard.

Not only was I disturbed by the vision of these men in our home (we knew there were two men because when we arrived home there were boot tracks of snow from two different books on the carpet) but what would have happened if my dogs and cat had been home. It's very ironic, but we were away visiting my grandparents that night (they lived about an hour away) and I insisted (threw a FIT, in fact) that I wouldn't go with them unless the dogs AND the cat went, too. I can't imagine in retrospect how I won that battle (who wants to take a cat for an hour drive?? lol) but thankfully our two toy poodles and kitty were safe with us.

I have always had a security system as an adult and cameras in very obvious locations (pointing from the windows). And yes, I believe a "Beware of Dog" sign certainly adds a layer of protection (as does the big dog barking when someone comes near the house).

to you, OP.

 

[jrsmom]

That stinks. We had an alarm system installed a few years ago after someone was attacked close by while out for an early morning run. We are also in NH and a friend had her house broken into in the middle of the day a couple of years ago. She was just starting to let her kids stay at home for a few minutes at a time when she would run a quick errand and that soon changed. It really makes you feel unsafe in your own home.

 

[daisyduck123]

Get a monitored alarm system

I have read many posts on threads similar to this one, from people who worry about being having their homes broken into. I never worry about that. We've had a BRINKS home security system for almost 20 years now and I believe we are fully protected. It works!!

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

I'm so sorry! Been there and done that, on NYE as well. It's heart breaking. The only thing they missed was our brand new video camera, which was hidden behind the coat rack. All of the other electronic devices (though not as numerous as yours) were taken. They even tried to come back a few days later, while we were home.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You know, oddly enough, even though everything in my underwear drawer is fine, that was the most disturbing thing to find. My drawer wide open with all of my underwear and socks everywhere!

SO sorry this happened to you!

About twenty years ago, I got home (small apartment, not much stuff) from work one Friday night and realized my VCR was gone. So was the remote. While I waited for the police, I discovered the instruction manual was gone as well. The creepy part? The manual was in a dresser drawer in my bedroom. I moved, not long after that.

 

[clovergirl5]

Yup that is what happened to us! We went out for a nice dinner with my parents and sister. Mom wanted us to celebrate New Years with them at their house. We decided to stay and got home around 12:30. I went to pick up my laptop which I had left on the couch and it wasn't there. As I turned to look around for it I saw the tv had been moved and all of our gaming systems were gone. Bye bye PS3, Wii, Xbox360, Ipod touch, DSi, laptop, plasma tv, receiver, camera, all our games and accessories, movies, though they left the 4 Bluray Harry Potter DVDS, but took everything else. They even took our change jar that we were using to save some extra money for our trip!

Thankfully our homeowners insurance will replace most of it!

They used a crowbar to break into our back door.

Funny enough, we know they came around 10:40. I set the DVR to tape Jersey Shore (my secret love!) from 10-11. It recorded until 10:40. So since the DVR was unplugged when we got home we assume that is when they were here.

The cops also said another house was broken into in our neighborhood.

We were already selling our house, but until then how do you get comfortable in your house again? I feel so violated! (which could be why I am up at 12:51 still, because I can't sleep!)

Omgosh, Im so sorry. Wow....thankfully your insurance will pay for it. I would feel violated too and I don't think I would be able to stay in my house again. I would feel to scared. Geez. Im glad you are moving and one day will be able to put this horrible incident behind you. I hope they catch the stupid jerks who did it too.

 

[C.Ann]

So sorry to hear this.. I've been through this twice, so I know exactly how you feel..

The first time was almost laughable as our house was burglarized while we were staying at my parents house while they were in Florida so that THEIR house would be safe.. LOL..

The second time was really creepy.. It was my place at the lake and it was obvious that the culprits had not only stolen items (antiques) and vandalized the place (put holes in the walls with a hammer; smashed a bunch of dishes; broke a window; etc.) - but there was also clear evidence that they had STAYED there for several days just prior to my arriving that spring.. Due to a strange set of circumstances, the culprits were apprehended 4 months later and spent time in jail.. Sadly the antiques were never recovered though..

It took me a long time before I felt comfortable in there again - knowing they had slept in the beds; used the bathroom; ate off my dishes; etc.. Definitely something I hope I never have to experience again..

Good luck with the insurance company - and hopefully this will be your one and ONLY experience!!

 

[ilovefh]

The second time was really creepy.. It was my place at the lake and it was obvious that the culprits had not only stolen items (antiques) and vandalized the place (put holes in the walls with a hammer; smashed a bunch of dishes; broke a window; etc.) - but there was also clear evidence that they had STAYED there for several days just prior to my arriving that spring.. Due to a strange set of circumstances, the culprits were apprehended 4 months later and spent time in jail.. Sadly the antiques were never recovered though..

It took me a long time before I felt comfortable in there again - knowing they had slept in the beds; used the bathroom; ate off my dishes; etc.. Definitely something I hope I never have to experience again..

Good luck with the insurance company - and hopefully this will be your one and ONLY experience!!

That is truly creepy!! Sends chills up my spine just thinking about something like that!

Last night stunk! I was so worked up I didn't fall asleep until 4am! As of this afternoon there were 8 houses that were broken into in our little neighborhood. We are the lucky ones because we live here year round, but a lot of people are seasonal so they are home relaxing and getting phone calls from neighbors saying their lake house was broken into!

And as terrible as this sounds, I feel better knowing that a lot of other houses were hit too. That way they weren't targeting us! We had shown the house the night before and were scared it was the guy we showed the house to. Now we know it wasn't.

Thanks for all the posts everyone! It makes me feel better to know others have gotten over it, so I will too!

 

[JerseyJanice]

I'm so sorry that this happened to you! Especially on NYE!

 

[disneyfan123]

Oh I hate stories like these, that is so terrible. I cannot imagine the violation you must feel. I am going to start looking at alaram systems now that I have read this!

I had a friend who was home alone for the weekend when she was 16 (years ago!) and woke up to discover her bedroom door was closed, she had left it when she went to bed. She thought her parents came home early and went downstairs to discover everything gone. The worst part: the neighbours saw people going in and out of the house and a van, but assumed since they had just sold the house they were moving out.