Sorry to bump an old thread, but I always seem to have two cents: Determined thieves are hard to thwart. If you are truly a target you will need extreme measures. But most of us don't have more than the simple stuff,computers, cameras, TV etc. Serious locks are number one, and make sure you DON'T have a place where someone can work the lock in comfort, (like a back door screened from sight with bushes). A simple video recorder system that shows THE OUTSIDE, (cameras looking back at the doors or down the side of the house where the windows are) will set you back about a thousand dollars. My thinking is that you want to discourage someone from TRYING to get in. If they fear they are on camera, and might be leaving a record of the attempted break in, they should move on.
You can call the police, but I follow the belief that the police are to protect society, and you personally, are completely on your own. They will come and take a report, they will provide all the gestures that allow you to feel you have done something, and need not take measures into your own hands, and they will make it easier for your neighbors to sleep well, ("we will increase patrols in the area") but your stuff is still gone!
Our office has been broken into twice, the second time by someone who picked the lock on 4 offices in our building, and 4 safes in those offices. Surprisingly professional in my opinion. We lost $200. out of the safe, 3 laptops and cheap digital camera.
So we bought some new locks, fancy (and $220.00 EACH) that have a bevel on the edge of the teeth, looks like the teeth on a rip saw. Supposed to be "Pick Proof". So.. guess what, the building got hit again about a year later, lots of offices lost computers etc, but our office was untouched!
