Our home was broken into!

[DreamDelta]

On Tuesday our home was broken into. We have an alarm system, but the person that broke in totally bypassed the motion detector. They broke into a side window that the motion detector didn't cover. The burgular went directly upstairs to my kids' rooms and cleaned them out. They stole laptops, my son's cell phone, Xbox 360, Wii, video games, iPods, DS handheld systems and digital camera, cd player, dvd players....they took all of my kids' stuff.

The burgular never went into my room and I'm thinking it was because my dog was behind a gate leading to my room and the den. My dog Nala isn't much of a barker, so I don't know if she did anything menacing or not (she can't get around very well due to the fact that she had knee surgery recently).

Of course I have insurance, but that's not the point. We're scared.... I've started to make our house more secure, but don't want to feel like we're living in a prison. My kids' are hurt that all of their things are gone, some things that they earned money for to purchase themselves and I'm majorly ticked off. My kids' have just started sleeping in their rooms last night, they're terrified.

Sorry for such a long post....

 

[DaniB]

That's horrible!! I'm so sorry.

 

[happily single]

That's a horrible feeling. I'm sorry for your loss. I would be on the phone to my security company raising H*ll!!

 

[Ephany]

That's awful.

 

[KBW]

Oh no! I'm so sorry!! It's such a violation of your space...

 

[java]

Oh I'm so sorry. We just had our cars broken into and that upset me. In your home, that's just terrible. I'm sorry.

 

[DreamDelta]

Oh no! I'm so sorry!! It's such a violation of your space...

That's probably the most upsetting part....

 

[ThisIsTheYear]

That's awful! I'm so sorry.

 

[robinb]

Oh no! How scary! I wonder if the burglar knew your kids or family. It seems odd to me that they would know which window was not covered by the alarm system and then know to go straight to your kids' rooms to wipe them out of their electronics. We were burgled once but it was our own damn fault ... we left the door unlocked. Happily, the burglar only got my DH's work laptop which was a virtual boat anchor because of all the levels of security on it. Not only was the laptop password protected, but the hard drive was too. I'm sure the thief didn't get much for a non-functional laptop.

If there is a rash of burglaries on your neighborhood maybe the police will catch up with them.

 

[NYCDiane]

Oh no! How scary! I wonder if the burglar knew your kids or family. It seems odd to me that they would know which window was not covered by the alarm system and then know to go straight to your kids' rooms to wipe them out of their electronics. We were burgled once but it was our own damn fault ... we left the door unlocked. Happily, the burglar only got my DH's work laptop which was a virtual boat anchor because of all the levels of security on it. Not only was the laptop password protected, but the hard drive was too. I'm sure the thief didn't get much for a non-functional laptop.

If there is a rash of burglaries on your neighborhood maybe the police will catch up with them.

That was my very first thought when I read the OPs post. Sounds like someone who knows your family and knew where all the good stuff was.

I'm so sorry that your family had to go through something like this. I can imagine your kids must have been afraid. I hope things will get back to normal for you soon and that you can replace the items taken.

 

[MomToOne]

Our home was broken into a couple of years ago. The entire place was ransacked.

My daughter unfortunately was with me at the time I discovered it. I quickly rushed her off to a friends house while I waited for the cops to show up, but she saw it all and it left her very upset.

I found a few very visible new "security" efforts made her feel much better. In our case, that was mainly ALWAYS making sure our driveway gate got locked (which controls access to our back door, the way they got in, and which wasn't locked the day of the break in). Now, I know that the crocks actually tried several side windows in addition to the door that they eventually pushed in, and know full well they would have just broken one of those if they didn't get in the door, but she imagines that locked gate as our barrier against the evil people in this world, and it makes her feel safe again.

Unfortunately, while we as adults know some things are just random crappy happenings of life, that the crocks would never have dared to try and come in if you were home, etc. kids don't get that and just can't get past it easily. So you need to give them something - ANYTHING - that they can hang their hat on and feel safe again. So my suggestion is that you find some big "show" of new security for your children like my locking the gate was for my daughter. You may know it's not a complete, or even really a partial, fix, but come up with something that they will feel is a big deal. And profess to them that you feel absolutely safe again because of it. Yes, it's a lie, but kids are black and white, and need to have something like that. Now, this is just my opinion and I'm sure there will be plenty of folks that don't agree with me. But it comes from experience, and from the desire to give kids peace of mind after something terribly traumatic for them so I think it is justified.

(And, of course, over time, also continue to quietly go about doing what you need to do to make the house as truly secure as you can. But we all know as adults nothing is perfect.)

 

[DVCLiz]

That's a horrible feeling. I'm sorry for your loss. I would be on the phone to my security company raising H*ll!!

Why would you blame the security company? It's the homeowner's choice which doors and windows to monitor with contact alarm sensors. Each one costs money to install, so I am sure many people choose the "most likely" targets for thieves but not every single door and window in their home.

I moved into a new two story house the summer Elizabeth Smart was missing. I covered every single window - even second story windows that were almost impossible to gain access to. But if I had done it the summer before I probably would only have chosen the first floor windows, and maybe not all of those.

 

[smokeyblue]

Sorry this happened. I know how you feel. My landlord left the door open and I came home and my place was tore up from one end to the other. The worst part was the fact that my personal items were strewn all over. To this day I still think about the file down at the police station that contains snapshots of my bras and panties. I was so mortified. To make matters even worse they "good cop, bad copped" me as if I did it to myself.

 

[Purseval]

We have a glass break sensor as a backup so if a thief smashes out the window to crawl through without opening anything that would break a contact it still sets the alarm off.

 

[Cindy B]

Sounds like someone familiar with your kids... the perp knew to go only to that room, which window, etc.

I would tell your kids (I'm assuming they are older) to keep an eye out for other "new things" that others may have. If they are teens, keep an eye out for people selling these items for drugs--pot, crack, wet, etc.

It may even have been a "gang" thing.. I use the term gang loosely, but it happens as well.

 

[disneysnowflake]

I am so sorry that happened to you.

 

[Swimalie]

I'm so sorry this happened to you and your family. I agree with the others that it sounds like someone who knew where to go. My husband is a former law enforcement officer. While we don't have an alarm on (it's installed but not activated) we have reinforced all windows that are accessible and all the doors. My mother in law (who is 68 and can't get around well) woke up to a man in her hallway. He had broken through 3 doors - 2 standard locks and a dead bolt - to get to her hallway. It is a scary feeling knowing some one was in your house. I hope you get that secure feeling back soon.

 

[sissy_ib]

I'm so sorry. Several years ago when I still lived at home our house was broked i to and it was someone my younger brother new. It is not a very nice feeling at all.

 

[chellt]

Mine was broken into over a year ago. The police actually called me because they were out patrolling and saw the door kicked in....

They caught the idoits (HS kids) because one of them dropped their tardy slip on my floor while they were cleaning me out!! Dumbest. Criminals. Ever.

Well, maybe not so dumb.... They arrested them, but they claimed to have already gotten rid of all the stuff.

Until.....A year later....I had lojack on my laptop so I at least got that back!!!

 

[FINFAN]

sorry this has happened...I understand the feeling of vlunerability and violation for sure. I think it also sounds like the thief knew just where to go, not much of a comfort, but at least all of you are safe, The items can be replaced. I know you are probably tired of people saying that but hang in there. I also understand your kids hurt since they earned a lot of the items themselves. I sure hope the favorite items of theirs can be replaced. The way new models of things come out so quickly, maybe they will be able to get the latest model f something, to kinda help take the sting out a little.