Home Forums Discussions General Discussion Burglarized

Hey everyone. I know that has nothing to do with the program, but I consider everyone on here my friends so I wanted to share this experience and ask for suggestions.

Last night I got home at 1AM EST and noticed a medication missing. I then started looking around and saw some things moved around. A very expensive speaker was moved and then wires were disconnected, but they didn't take it.

The weird thing is they went upstairs and opened some drawers and took a cell phone charger. I have those chargers everywhere, but that was the only thing they took.

I was rather freaked out, even forgot to call the police. It's a very weird feeling to know someone has been in your house.

I was wondering if this has ever happened to anyone and also what would be the best thing to make sure it doesn't happen again, e.g. an alarm system, a video camera, etc. No one else lives there (who would live with me) and I don't have a dog or anything.

Sad to hear, Bert. It must be a scary feeling.

You must have spooked them before they lifted major stuff, or they aren't pros, just snooping for an item of value for a quick snatch. Or casing your place for some other time. (Sorry, that made it scarier.)

You really have to get hooked up with Brinks or ADT security. One of their local contractors can install sensors, etc in a few hours, and sometimes the system is discounted if you sign up with their monitoring service (usually $20-30/month).

You can buy a wireless system to install yourself, but I don't know about reliability, or how easy they are to beat. The monitoring is really the key, since most break-ins are actually in daytime, when you are at work. You want the service to call you and the police asap.

Stay safe.

Thanks John,

Yeah I think using a security system is the way to go. That would be great for peace of mind. You know I was thinking how easy it would be to back in a U-haul and just take tons of stuff. It would look very normal to the neighbors.

I have a police officer coming out tonight. Believe it or not, he said he is going to lift some prints. I didn't sleep very well last night that's for sure.

Bert -

Just to point out the obvious - you are a physician, which makes you a target in some people's minds. You need to be wary, and protect yourself. (I don't mean to sound doomsday-ish).

Just a little anecdote: When I opened my micropractice, we leased a small converted house that had been someone else's practice. They had an alarm system which we intended to not use - trying to keep costs down, safe town, no narcotics on premises, etc. The week we opened, two practices nearby were burglarized - mostly computers were taken, as I recall. But we heard the message the universe sent us, and we are paying the $30 a month to the alarm company.

It is a very vulnerable feeling to be burglarized. Take care of yourself. Here's to your, and your family's, safety.

Steve
Ashland, OR

Sorry to hear that. I've used alarm systems in my home ever since I became a homeowner in 1995. I don't deceive myself or get a false sense of security yet my wife feels safer. (I feel a good dog is a better deterrent, especially one that barks at strangers. Great companionship also (assuming you like dogs)).

We use ADT and have been satisfied yet in the office I use a local company and am equally satisfied. Protecting the office is important since if your computer is stolen, your patient's data can be compromised. About a year and a half ago, someone entered the office on a Saturday and the alarm stopped them cold in their tracks. (Never caught them however).

Which reminds me, did you figure out how they entered? If they appeared to have a key you might wish to rekey your locks. Of course the police should be able to give you all that information. Do be aware of your surroundings however and pay attention to the people in the background around you. I don't wish to make you paranoid or neurotic, yet I'm former military and we are trained to have "situational awareness" at all times. It's a good skill to have, and the type of break in you describe does make one wonder whether they were casing for a larger robbery or if it was something more personal. Be safe and here's hoping it was just some kid who didn't know what he was doing.

I may be too cocky but my home security system is a red-neck farmer husband with a closet full of guns and a reputation in town that he is not afraid to use them. I also have some "vicious" donkeys and mules who sound their "alarms" whenever they see anyone outside (thinking they will get a peppermint treat or some watermelon rinds!!)

Leslie

Thanks everyone for your sentiments and ideas. The one thing that makes me think they weren't casing it for a later return was I would think those type of criminals would want to leave no trace of their being there.

Taking medications and a cell phone certainly moves me to action I may well not have taken before.

Plus, there is only one company in the area that can activate that phone so I need to get my information, receipts and serial numbers to AT&T. Maybe they can notify me or the police if someone comes in with a stolen phone.

Ran your story by my bike riding buddies this morning. It reminded them of the character Rose on 2 1/2 Men who was always stalking Charlie and entering his apartment.

This happened to us twice when I lived in Minneapolis. Really spooks you. We even had a monitored alarm. Police didn't respond or 20-30 minutes so they still took a bunch of stuff.

Yikes! Did you have cameras?

I know the feeling. We do have Brink's-monitored alarms at both the office and home. After our window had a rock thrown through it (shatter-proof, but not bullet proof), we installed cameras. The usual surveillance camera sets (8 or 16) at Costco or Sam's club with internet-enabled video recorder. We set it to motion detection recording and automatic write-over for older footage. You can watch live footage remotely, on your Windows Mobile phone or other web-browser. Really useful for false alarms, or to call the police if there was a real break-in in progress.

Bert,

I recently had ADT installed here in the office. I think it is worth the monthly fee just to be able to affix their stickers to your windows and doors. Hope you can track down the creeps. Maybe you need a dog at home.

Leslie

Is the $30 a month for the monitoring? What does an install cost. The cameras also sound like a good idea.

The install was not bad but I played hard-to-get and got a better deal. I will send you an email about what services I have. I do not want to broadcast my system to all.

Leslie

My alarms cost hundreds to install but include all the trimmings. I only let them install it since they wanted to provide their own stuff. Around here, home packages that are free include one door only. The camera is a good reassurance, and is needed to check for when the alarm does go off, and to catch the thief. For example, search for Q-See or surveillance at Costco. I installed and hid everything, of course.

I have a guy coming out Saturday. I will keep everyone posted.

So sorry to hear about the break-in. Stay safe.

Our office building has been burglarized twice in the past 10 days. Part of the problem is that the tenants in our building are fairly sparse. The owner failed to maintain the building several years ago and was foreclosed. Now the bank owns the building and the realty/management company as well as bank are lackluster.

They stopped paying for the security system without telling the tenants. The couple security cameras in the entry area, "now they tell me", don't actually record anything. DUH!

These thieves come in late in the day, around or just after closing: 5 to 6 pm when the building is open and don't arouse too much suspicion. They were seen at one point and told the witnesses they were the cleaning crew. They were chased away but only after making off with the computer belonging to the county medical society.

In my own office, I now have had a latch plate installed. My security camera is in a spot where it cannot be approached without the perp being seen. I am going to start having video recorded and sent remotely for storage, as well as bolt down my computer. Luckily, aside from my computer there's not a lot of goodies in my office.

They stopped paying for the security system without telling the tenants.

This I believe is the third time I am hearing this. Once a friend of mine - found one day his system for some reason was not working. He called the company in Houston to get it fixed, got an appt for next day; the same day - when he went to drop his kids to the school/run errands - in 1 1/2 hrs his house was cleaned out.

If you cannot trust the workers at the security company ....?

WOW! Scary story. I hope an investigation was done. Personally, I do not believe in "security systems". That just adds one more reason not to.

My security system is living in a modest home that screams "nothing here of value" and a 12 gauge.

These are all good reasons to invest in your own security system. The one I just got for my house was put in my a very, very good business with just one person. Put the whole thing in, then went around and fixed my telephones, electricity, installed light bulbs that he bought from Home Depot all at no charge.

It's like anything else. Anything you buy is only as good as the quality of it and the installation.

Sounds mysteriously like you installed that yourself Bert.

Nope, I can't even change a light bulb.

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!

In the first building where I had my office, a guy came in and with a sledge hammer bashed in locks in office after office. Since I was IN my office at 1am, they bypassed it.

In the second building, same thing happened. Again, my office was spared.

Being a night owl has its rewards! Listen- I hope that they catch the crook(s)!

Al

I don't know what the HIPAA laws are at ATT. I keep wanting to call and see if someone activated an i-Mate. Of all the cell phones, it is the most distinctive. Not many in Maine. But, whether they would tell me that I don't know.

I did take some moves to stop this again. First thing I did was actually lock the doors when I leave.

1. We have been burglarized. Nothing was taken as we listened to the builder, who insisted on having 2 locked doors from all entrances to come to main work area. After 1 door was broken,some teenage thieves backed off.

2. According to the legend some of these doctors were setup by undercover agents.
http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=news/local&id=6865955

(screen the patients from the very first phone call, tell the receptionist to ask if they are on narcotics for what condition, then decide if you want that patient.)

3. Many doctors who were named in malpractice suit say that is the worst thing they went thru. Name dragged on for 3-4 yrs, hair turning grey. Reputation tarnished.

Neither one of them is good. The perils of being a professional.

But I believe most would choose the first one if they were given a choice. The burglar does not have unlimited resources.

As long as you hold on to your backup, you can rebuild. You are set back for a few hours.

The second one : defending yourself against unlimited resources.

Third one: Report is sent to NPDB, filling out endlessly the event in all future applications.

Choice of least of all the evils- that is the first one.

If you want to go with the do it your self wireless security system route (about $300, takes about 4 hours to install in a small office) you can get a "sensaphone" which will call up to 4 numbers in case of loud noise (burgler alarm ,smoke alarm) or any other of abnormal situation (power failure) . I have temperature sensors attached to the medication refrigerators and freezers. THe sensaphone unit is over $300, but the advantage is that there is no monthly monitoring fee. I have been alerted numerous times about the refrigerators being warm (usual cause - nurse leaving door slightly ajar) and saved $1000's in avoiding spoiled medication.

I agree the ADT monitored system is better, but I live in a low crime area. I still have stickers on the exterior doors saying we have some central monitoring system.

From the physical security perspective, you want to implement your security in depth/layers.

A reasonably inexpensive change you can make that will deter all but the most brazen and prepared is interior metal doors and door frames. Most interior doors can be kicked in any adult quickly.

Using the metal door and frame on your bedroom and perhaps your study/office will not only give you some greater peace of mind, but buys valuable time for the perp to either abandon the entry, or for help to arrive.

In combination with the previously mentioned alarms, shatterproof windows and cameras, you can enhance protection for hard-to-replace items, and potentially yourself.

Indy,

Can you give more information about these days? Not that I wouldn't pick protection and security over decor, but do they look OK in a house. For some reason, I can't picture a metal door.

What is the general cost of one?