Strangers In Our House - Occasionally

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.308 Norma

.308 Norma

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I didn’t want to distract from Good Ol’ Boy’s thread “Selling A House And Firearms,” but over the course of the past 5 or 6 years, I’ve had essentially the same concerns, and we are not even selling our house. What we have been doing is having a lot of renovations (new roof, windows, siding, and now a new front entryway) done on our 40 year old house. Each of those renovations include having relative strangers in our house…several times for each one.

Just yesterday, we had a couple of guys (salesmen) measuring our front entryway, taking pictures of it, then sitting at the kitchen table with us talking prices and showing us options. We’re going for it, so in a few days an engineer will show up and take some more “technical” (as the sales guys put it) measurements. Then along about the first of June, a small construction crew will show up, tear out our old entryway, and install a new one.

It went the same ways with our new roof, new windows, and new siding. First the salespeople were in our house, then the people who took the “technical” or “precise” measurements were in our house, and finally the construction crews were in our house.

So yeah, strangers wandering in and out of our house, seeing that we are guns and hunting enthusiasts, and maybe “casing” our house, kind of concerns me. And I don’t know what to do about it. We have a couple of gun safes that are pretty much out of sight, and the guns we have that are not in the safes, are not just strewn around for everyone to see. But like most people I think, we have pictures, posters, trophies, books and magazines around that demonstrate to anyone who is paying attention the kind of things we are into – guns and hunting.

I guess about the only “upsides” are that we have a noisy dog that gets nervous and barks when there are strangers around, and our good, “keep up with the Jones’s” neighbors, Bill and Vicky come over to see what’s going on whenever someone is working on our house – even when it’s just me.:)
 
Sounds like you might want to consider getting a good security system. Unfortunately, I can almost garauntee one of those workmen is either going to try rip you off or will blab to some scumbag buddy about the "gun house" he just worked on.

I was lucky in that I had the opportunity to evacuate all my guns, ammo, and paraphenalia to my Dads house when having my roof replaced recently. This exact subject was a big concern and I took care to purge every sign of gun interest from my property before hand......

Ugh.
 
We did a remodel a few years ago. My reloading gear is right by the major home mechanical stuff: water heater, furnace, etc. The stuff I had to move out I did. My wife suggested, for other stuff that was on large shelves we had, that we take boxes (we used boxes from cases of beer) and cut off the back and bottom. Then we organized stuff on the shelves so they fit into logical physical groupings and we put the fake boxes over the stuff (brass, bullets, etc.). Now, it's not like the stuff was locked up. If someone "tried to steal a beer" they'd know instantly what was there. So we weren't going for security.....but just trying to not make stuff obvious.

I've heard it said seeing a safe *can* be a deterrent. So I think there is a chance that workers (or supposed buyers) seeing a safe may simply cause the bad guy to prioritize a different house as a better opportunity. The bad news is the presence of a safe means there is something valuable. But it ALSO means getting that stuff will take some time. And I don't think the bad guys like taking time.

All that said, I saved the box that my safe was delivered in, and I just put it over the safe so it looks like a big cardboard box is sitting there. Like the fake boxes described above, if someone went up and messed with it they'd easily see what was behind there. But for someone just walking by it looks like a box.
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
Sounds like you might want to consider getting a good security system.
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That sounds like a really good idea, and I will look into it.
NIGHTLORD40K said:
Unfortunately, I can almost garauntee one of those workmen is either going to try rip you off or will blab to some scumbag buddy about the "gun house" he just worked on.
Click to expand...
I'm sure you're right, and not because I'm denigrating construction workers. I'm a retired, 30-year electrical worker myself...I know how word gets around in the construction community about what things are likely to be found in so-and-so's house.
 
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.308 Norma said:
That sounds like a really good idea, and I will look into it.

I'm sure you're right, and not because I'm denigrating construction workers. I'm a retired, 30-year electrical worker myself...I know how word gets around in the construction community about what things are likely to be found in so-and-so's house.
Click to expand...
Agreed, most contractors are hard working, honest guys- but everybody knows somebuddy who knows somebody who isnt so upstanding......:(
 
Valid concerns. I am lucky, I do most of the trades myself. I don't have to have strangers in the house. I have a neighbor in Montana that had a bunch of guns stolen by contractors employee working on his house last fall.
 
Friends of mine had ALL their guns stolen when they remodeled their kitchen some years back. The husband himself was a plumbing contractor.
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
Sounds like you might want to consider getting a good security system. Unfortunately, I can almost garauntee one of those workmen is either going to try rip you off or will blab to some scumbag buddy about the "gun house" he just worked on.

I was lucky in that I had the opportunity to evacuate all my guns, ammo, and paraphenalia to my Dads house when having my roof replaced recently. This exact subject was a big concern and I took care to purge every sign of gun interest from my property before hand......

Ugh.
Click to expand...

Wow, why are you so sure about that. Is that what you would do? Dont forget, workmen that see the insides of houses also have workmen come to theirs.
 
Casefull said:
Valid concerns. I am lucky, I do most of the trades myself. I don't have to have strangers in the house. I have a neighbor in Montana that had a bunch of guns stolen by contractors employee working on his house last fall.
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This is me.

Fortunately when it comes to renovation concerns I have no worries for the most part. I was in construction for a living for years and am pretty able in most aspects.

Still it's a valid concern for a lot of folks.
 
When I lived in an apartment, the landlord and all his cronies (ie handy people) were in and out fixing things. Mostly the AC. And I only have one large safe for the bulk of my firearms, the rest sit in single safes for fast and loaded access. I had the same concern about strangers eyeballing my interests and my solution was rather simple. I cluttered the corner my safe was in. I had broken down cardboard boxes against the safe and stacked tupperware storage containers all around. Easy way to "get stuff out of the way" for whoever comes by to work on your place.
 
I understand being concerned about your property, but not everyone is a thief. Get recommendations. Preferably use a small contractor. Talk to them. If you get a bad feeling, move on.
I did remodeling and people didn't act paranoid because I was recommended by family or friends. Also a good dog it a great deterrent.
 
.308 Norma said:
So yeah, strangers wandering in and out of our house, seeing that we are guns and hunting enthusiasts, and maybe “casing” our house, kind of concerns me. And I don’t know what to do about it. We have a couple of gun safes that are pretty much out of sight, and the guns we have that are not in the safes, are not just strewn around for everyone to see. But like most people I think, we have pictures, posters, trophies, books and magazines around that demonstrate to anyone who is paying attention the kind of things we are into – guns and hunting.
Click to expand...

I don't have any guns that are unsecured in my home, they're either on my person or locked up. If there were contractors in my home I'd make sure of it.

If you're concerned enough to ask about it here then go through your home and put all that stuff away.
 
Home security system. And also, if a safe isn't bolted down or is not super heavy, list the guns' details under homeowner's insurance items.

Over five years ago the gun subject came up with three guys (one guy per visit) doing either air cond/heating inspections, or roof repairs, and recommended by people we have known for years. Our objective has been to use only guys who are experienced with air cond/heating or roof inspections/repair and own their business. They enter our home alone (leaving any "Ernesto" outside, on the roof). Used these now for over 5-7 years.
No burglaries yet--how is that possible?

These guys, among other subjects, are smart enough to know that if no other Non-family/friends see Your safe, were they to blab about it and you have a burglary within a few weeks, that you will know who probably First leaked the info.
The real pros don't talk about such personal stuff. They know about customers' "opsec".

Why worry about the pros who are truly vetted, when anybody could follow you home from a gun store or--better yet--shooting range, and just might (?) reach the logical conclusion that at least a pair of guns are stored in your home (many are kept in cars), returning for the break-in at about 0930-10:30 when people are at work. And those low-lifes are not "our" guys who inspect for problems in home systems or a roof.
 
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.308 Norma said:
...like most people I think, we have pictures, posters, trophies, books and magazines around that demonstrate to anyone who is paying attention the kind of things we are into – guns and hunting.....
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If it's really a concern you might want to think about packing that stuff away temporarily. Sometimes it doesn't pay to advertise.
 
A dog is a good deterrent and security.

One time I had a mobile car wash company come to my house to wash a couple cars. With the car wash company came a few questionable hands. So, I had my son walked our dog, and intentionally passed through while they worked. I told them in passing that I didn’t pay that dog’s training for nothing. Their demeanor immediately changed.
 
Always plant a seed of “risk” in the minds of strangers in your home; (ie) “My neighbors are all retired and nosey, if any of them question your presence, direct them to me or call me at work.”; “My mom is keeping my two German Shepards while you guys are working.” (etc) - make everyone think twice.
 
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Steve S. writes:

Always plant a:seed of “risk” in the minds of strangers in your home; (ie) “My neighbors are all retired and nosy, if any of them question your presence, direct them to me or call me at work.”
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I've chatted up a couple of guys working for me and mentioned that several of mine don't work, and two are Vietnam veterans who keep active on their properties.
 
Yeah I'm always concerned about what someone will see. Besides stealing things in this " See something say something" world all you need is someone who doesn't like guns calling the local LEOs saying you have an arsenal. I had a cable guy come in last summer. I wrapped my gun safes with moving blankets and put everything away were the guy would be working. He finished up and said while I'm here I'll change all your splitters because they were out of spec. One was by some shelves that I had a clear bin with a couple K of 5.56 cases in. He replaces the splitter and says " WOW you must be one of those loader guys. You have enough cases to start a war." I didn't sleep good for a couple weeks. I like the box idea. I need to pick up some large appliance boxes to wrap the safes in.
 
I had to do a series of fairly large repairs and upgrades to my house recently that caused all manner of service personnel to have access to various parts of my house. I always made sure to put away whatever could be, but there many gun related things that simply can't be hidden.

My approach to handling this was (and continues to be) to get the name of the person doing the work from the company and verifying them when they arrive. I make a point to ask them their full name and write it down in front of them. This has resulted in quite a few surprised reactions. I let them know when they arrive that they will be on camera while they are working.

None of this of course can prevent them from talking about what they might see (if they are even in a part of the house with something to see), but the extent of the total accumulation is never apparent. If they ask, I always severely downplay the value of anything visible.

Combined with the phyiscal security I have added to my home, I feel that my guns and related gear are as safe as I can make them. A good insurance policy is the last resort. Hopefully I won't ever have a need to use it.
 
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otisrush said:
I don't think the bad guys like taking time.
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This is the number one thing locks and safes actually do. There is no system that is unbeatable, merely systems that make breaking in and stealing things take too long. The longer it takes. the more likely it is someone is going to notice or the police will respond to the alarm. Thieves don't have or want to take the time to do a careful, in depth search of your home. Good locks, a security system and a safe in an out of the way place all help.
Workmen on a week long (or longer) project are going to know your routines, and, while they themselves are honest, may casually tell a good buddy they trust about something they saw in a house they were working on.
Also, I know a guy who thought it was cool to have stickers on his house and pickup truck windows proclaiming his love of certain firearm manufacturers. Took a couple of years but he did eventually have a burglary.
 
MedWheeler said:
Steve S. writes:



I've chatted up a couple of guys working for me and mentioned that several of mine don't work, and two are Vietnam veterans who keep active on their properties.
Click to expand...

Pat Sajack was a Vietnam Vet. He worked for AFNVM an didn't fire a single shot the entire time he was in Vietnam.
 
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