Robbed--What Now?

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Commander Crusty

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While on vacation, SEVERAL people broke down the front door of my home, stole my 500# gun safe and my nightstand quick safe, the TV and my wife's jewelry. The police have come and gone and have all the necessary information--including ALL the serial numbers. Now what?

The only gun left is the LCP I had in my pocket while traveling. My front door is nailed shut. No sense buying new guns till the house is more secure--but HOW to make it safe? I KNOW the criminal are heavily armed NOW with literally some of the best weapons in the world! Apparently, I can't secure my guns just by putting them in a safe. I'm afraid the criminals will be back as soon as they think I've replaced my stock. I can't afford to move. What the heck am I supposed to do now?
 
Alarm system.

Big dogs.

Get to know your neighbors better if possible so you can look out for each other, unless you suspect they had something to do with the theft.
 
I would recommend that any gun safe weighing 500 pounds or less be permanently attached to the structure with either (hidden or spot-welded) bolts or hardened chains and locks. That's how the Army secures their weapons - with a minimum of three locks between them and the outside. An alarm system would also be a wise investment, and should reduce the cost of your homeowner's insurance.

Granted if someone is determined enough, it's nearly impossible to prevent theft - we simply want to make it as difficult as we can. Perhaps they will seek an easier target.

It almost sounds to me like the thieves had inside information as to what was available there. I'd take that into consideration next time, as well.
 
Option 1- Move

Option 2- Improve your security. Lighting, locks, concealment around the home, (bushes and such) dogs, burglar bombs, alarm system...


That's a tough situation to be in. Its one of my worst fears.
 
Nothing beats a nosey neighbor, guard dog's, and a high tech alarm system.
In my area, police are very SLOW in responding to only alarm systems; cuz
just 'bout everybody has 'em these days. And, YES - make sure your safe
is bolted down; in a room whereas the thieves would have too move some
heavy furniture, in order too get it out the door~! ;) :)
 
I don't know about securing your guns except maybe a heavier, bolted down safe. I have an ADT alarm system since I live in the country. The one time I managed to push the panic button in the dark without realising what I had done the deputy was here in about 5 minutes. I think that is fast enough to catch a thief. If they don't catch them in the act they won't get caught by law enforcement here.

If your police are anything like the SO here, kiss your guns gone. My daughter was robbed three years ago. After about a month the SO told them they had found one gun and were waiting on the guy to lead them to the others. I guess they are still following him around since that was the last they have heard of the matter.
 
Wow. My condolences. I guess the next move is to get an absolute monster of a safe and bolt it to concrete. That and a home security system/alarm that will notify police... Man, that really sucks.
 
I always found gun safes or other safes to be a problem they only slow criminals down. Plus they scream I have something important expensive in here.
You need to get back that feeling of being safe again.

1. get an alarm system for when you leave (don't put the signs out saying you have one, cuz they may just buy the plans off an employee on how to get around it.)

2. flood lights that activate to something moving.

3. if you want to keep your guns I don't like safes I like hiding places. Bookshelves that move, crawl spaces, closets made a little shorter with dummy wall. get creative
You want something that someone will walk right past or even dug around right next to/trash and not see what you have hiding.
 
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That's a great idea. A hidden room with your safe inside. The most common way to hide a room is a hinged book shelf, but there are many ways.
 
To Clarify the Situation

The safe was NOT bolted down. I wish I had done that. On the other hand, they did break the door down, and had apparently unlimited access to the house so even bolting down my little safe might not have been enough. I do like the Three Lock Rule. I could have locked my bedroom too, but again, that would help me feel better, but may not have really stopped the thieves. Still, thanks for the suggestion.

The closest neighbors (both less than 40 feet from my house) did not see or hear anything, and I DO know them fairly well. I am as close to certain as I can be that some OTHER neighbor WAS involved. Almost no one else would have had the inside information they needed.

I noticed that the thieves did NOT steel the handmade guitar that was "hidden" behind the love seat in the living room, and I think there is a lesson in that. Thanks for reminding me. I'll have to see what I can do about hiding things in plain site.

I did not have an alarm or motion detector lights, but have a guy coming tonight to get them installed.

I'll let you know what the insurance offers, but I'm not hopeful.

======

I thought I was doing enough to be a good, honest, responsible gun owner. I guess I could have, and should have, done more. It just makes me sick that the very worst type of people now have my guns, and guns from my father's estate. I'm also afraid they'll be back.
 
Sounds to me like the thieves KNEW what you had and where it was. Somebody that you or a family member knows, possibly?
 
Man, that sucks. You had a 500 pound safe that the burglars completely stole. That sounds like a well equipped team to me. Inquiring minds would like to know if you bolted the safe down. (EDIT: I read above that your safe was not bolted down; that should be your first fix in your security system; also, you should be a mentor to people who think they don't need to bolt down their safe.) These thieves were prepared and staked you out. I doubt a better safe would have stopped them completely, except if you over-engineered your safe and spent a tremendous amount of money.

Regardless, you should get a better safe, bolt it down, and get and a good insurance policy. Personally, I would also move, even if it's just down the street. My home has never been broken into, but I can understand the feeling. I've had my car stolen once with all my belongings inside (college). I got the car back, but I felt violated whenever I drove that thing. So, I sold it.
 
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A good alarm probably won't result in a police response quick enough to catch a grab n dash type of burgler. However, if you bolt down your safes or otherwise make them difficult to haul out or simply hide your valuable possessions, the alarm becomes extremely useful because even a relatively slow police response will be quick enough (not to mention that a burgler would need an enormous set of cajones to stick around and pry out a safe or search for hidden property with an alarm going off in the house).

Some things to consider when picking out an alarm system. It's a good idea to have a cellular transmitter as a backup (or primary) for your alarm in case the landline gets cut. Also, battery backup for your alarm is a good idea in case you lose power.

In addition to your alarm, think about some form of video surveillance, so that if the robbers get away, you at least can greatly help the police catch them.
 
when they install your alarm, ask them to install or leave an extra speaker for you. after they are done you can install the speaker above or in the same room as your safe. I forget how many decibels mine is, but you will move alot quiker in my safe room when it goes off. :D
 
stolen

If I knew the save was the weight of yous I would bring a van and a movers
cart.and roll it right out.as to locked.in a qiute place a carbide drill in the right spot will let you get to the unlockers.and your in.takes about a 1/2 to 1 hr.I have opened a few.they had broken insides.:rolleyes::uhoh:
 
Very sorry to hear this. :(

-Make an insurance claim (unless there was a clear exclusion for guns)

-Put the serial numbers on any and all stolen guns websites you can find

-Get a heavier front door with two or more deadbolts.

-Get a security system

-Get motion sensing outside lighting

-Get a much, much, MUCH heavier safe

-Bolt said safe to floor with monster bolts

-Begin renewing your collection

Again, I really feel for you - that sucks worse than just about anything.

Technical point of order: You were "burgled", not "robbed".
 
The problem with a dog in this case; he was away on vacation.

My other problem with dogs is simple. I love my pets.

In the situation here, they would simply be killed so the theives could get some work done.

The don't have insurance for that. :(
 
If you are an NRA member you need to contact their insurance folks immediately. I had several guns stolen in a break-in several years ago and was not aware of the NRA coverage for theft until several months later. By the time I called them it was too long after the theft. I think the lady said I should have reported the theft within 90 days, or something like that. So, give them a call ASAP, if you are a member.
 
I'm working on converting my cistern to an armory room, which will have a vault door into it. This is about the most secure setup I can imagine, since the cistern is a solid, poured-concrete room with walls at least a foot thick on every side. The only entrance right now is a trap door on the porch, which I will obviously secure once I make an opening in the basement for access via the vault door.

Even so, I know it's only a major deterrant to a determined thief. And if they have the proper equipment, even a properly secured vault door will not stop them. It's just a matter of time and opportunity. The only other thing you can do is hire armed guards to stay at your place while you're gone...
 
Dirt, I think the point HighOrder was trying to make was that a family pet is irreplaceable. Back to the topic for the OP.

1. Hopefully you have homowner's/renter's insurance. I made sure my homeowner's would cover my firearms and I asked what kind of proof I needed to prove I owned them.

2. Hindsight is always 20/20 so it is always easier to look back and see what could have prevented this. Don't beat tyourself up over the "what if's". Now you must ensure the safety of your family in case the thieves return.(we now know they could be armed) Who cares about your property your family's well being should be of primary concern.

3. Now to the beating... Noone should know the difference of when you are on vacation or not. If you have a garage try to always park in it so noone will know if you are home or not. Get motion or sunset lights that will turn on automatically either on motion or when it gets dark. Have a neighbor collect fliers and papers delivered to your door so they don't pile up. Don't put your trashcan on the curb without arrangements for someone to return it. Don't get into a routine of anything if you can. (I have a flexible work schedule this may not be an option for you) If you do all the before mentioned and you still get hit you have been "cased" for some time and hopefully you made notice of that vehicle or person who was watching you.
 
Sorry to hear what happened to you. My guns were stolen while I was evacuated for hurricane Ike last year. The guy took 85% of my guns. He couldn't carry the rest with him. When he got home, his father reported him to the police. He was arrested within a few minutes. When I came back the first thing I did is to make sure that I had my serial numbers. I gave that to the police. I got my guns back within a week. All police were on hurricane duty and that is why I didn't get it sooner. I had a lot of damages when that guy took my guns. He throw all guns against each other. One of my safety on my 5.7 was broke off. Browning hp, sigs and the rest were all scratched up. Police told me that if they didn't recover my guns in time and learned that one of the gun were used on them, they would have done the best to charge me with something. He and his partner persuaded me to get a safe. I got one that can hold 45 and more. The house that I am in is insured. But I had renter's insurance for things like this. My renter's insurance did kick in. I used that money to get my safe. Now I hav something that weights over 1000lb. And I am not going any where when the next hurricane hits. I probably load up 4 clips of 17 rds of glock magazines and wait for some creep to show up and try again. Oh yea I also have two dogs as well. I will give the burglar a chance. Leave an id, go, and wai for the police to pick you up. Stay here with me and wait for the police. Or let me put him out. I like to give people a choice.
 
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