Burgled again

[Sawtooth]

I guess I should have expected this. I had some stuff nicked from my house before christmas. Games and DVDs mainly. The burgler was careful not to take so much stuff that I noticed and padded out drawers etc to make them look untouched...clever stuff. Also there was no sign of forced entry so I assumed they had acquired house keys probably from my kids "losing" theirs. I changed my locks and got the items replaced on the insurance. Now we've been burgled again with the same MO. Turns out my youngest son had erm "lost " his keys again and didnt tell anyone.

So basically I think he's being targeted at school by some bastard thief who knows he and his dad buy games etc. Only thing I can think to do is change the locks again and not let him have a set of house keys.

Any other suggestions?

 

[S-Gray]

Security Cameras? May sound stupid but if you're being "targetted" it seems like an idea

 

[adams901]

make sure he isn't being bullied, it could be that he is being made to hand them over instead of losing them.

 

[pg_exoshear]

Originally posted by Super_Gray[SG]
Security Cameras? May sound stupid but if you're being "targetted" it seems like an idea

As odd as it seems, you cannot use the video tape evidence in court without getting a counter suit against you. You can't video tape anyone without them knowing. I'm not sure how you get around that -- But I think a sign saying "these premises are monitored by CCTV" or something might work. A phone call to your local police would find out how to do this though. <_<

 

[Damini]

And you can get alarms, so that even if you do get the keys to your house you still need to key in the correct code too.

Sounds quite strange to me to be honest though. If you're thieving, you'd want to be in and out Very Quickly. Why waste valuable time bulking things out? And if they are spending time doing this, seems they're very confident that you won't be home any time soon. Does seem like there's more to this than just missing keys.

 

[Munkey-]

we had a nice security system.

woke up everyone in the neighbourhood if anyone entered the sensored rooms if the alarm was on.

shouldnt cost too much methinks?

 

[PR.]

I had a webcam setup to look out the window into the front of the house, its the only way into the house as we are surrounded by high walls and trellis etc.

I got hold of some software that could sit and monitor the webcam and if enough movement was made it would take a picture and store it on my HDD. I have about 20 pictures of postmen, delivery people and my parents leaving the house.

I'd recommend only giving the kids a single key to a door, also buy them keychains I have one and never lose my keys.

We also have a house alarm, but you can buy these single systems that protect a certain area (such as the door the kids have the key for), which are cheaper

 

[mank!]

Originally posted by adams901
make sure he isn't being bullied, it could be that he is being made to hand them over instead of losing them.

that's some wise advice. it may also explain why your son didn't say he lost his keys, because he was ashamed.

 

[Testin da Cable]

 

[Tom]

No disrespect, but are you sure that its burglars? Maybe you should have a chat with your kids, I'm sure they're fantastic, but the bullying(?) thing might run deeper than you think.

As for video camera evidence, you can film whatever you like, wherever you like, and you don't have to ask anybody's permission, especially in a public place. Ask these fellas, they should be able to advise you.

Most people will just give up and admit the truth, once they know they've been caught on camera.

 

[Mellow-]

Dude! Sawtooth! That sucks.

 

[Sawtooth]

Yeah, I thought that maybe he was being bullied but he says not. He said at school they have to leave keys in their bags say when they do DT etc and his year planner has his name and address in it. I wouldnt put it past him or his mates to have bragged a little about games etc . The fact that they bulk out drawers says they are really confident about us not returning. This smacks to me an amateur job though. They think they can keep coming back else why bulk out the second time too?


To try and stop this I was thinking of a motion sensor alarm for the front door. The back way in means going through 2 mortice locks and Ive put bolts top and bottom of both of these. I've now got window locks everywhere. I really want to know that they have broken in if it happens again, and now I think I will as they will have to use a lot of force.

 

[Damini]

I really hope you get this sorted out Sawtooth. There's nothing that feels so nasty as knowing your house isn't secure, no matter whether its in through a window or through a key.

 

[S-Gray]

Hmm... ive never heard about having to put Keys/Jewelery into bags... that sounds like a very stupid rule, whats up with a pocket which is "secure"?...

Really... if your kids have lost your keys once, i wouldnt give them keys again... well not for a few months until everything gets "quiet", if you (hope you dont..) get burgled again, then you can safely say it wasnt down to your son in any way...

Kids brag about games... of course they do... its what all kids love "oh yeah i got this new game for <console> it rules" then one of his "friends" get jealous... and it goes from there.

 

[Teh Krypt]

How old is your child by the way? In high school im sure he could keep the keys on him at all times..

Or, at least I can at high school, I'll keep my keys in my shirt pocket if I need to take my blazer off for DT..

Also depending on where your computer is, you can get a cheap webcam.. then just set it to motion detect. I did this once just to moniter the dog

Can take photos all the time while theres movement.

 

[Gumbo]

'scuse ignorance, but what's DT?

And also, maybe you can't use the cctv in court, maybe you can, but if it identifies the thief and it is a kid you know, then the video to the parents or just the name dropped to the police should do the job.

Sorry to hear about this, theft really pisses me off.

 

[Gumbo]

Ah Ha, Design and Technology

It was CDT in my day.

 

[Sawtooth]

Thanks for the help. I think I've secured the house as well as I can at the moment. I do have a web cam knocking about the place so I can give that a shot.

It really pisses me off. Ive had a word with my son whos 13 tomorrow and I kinda upset him a little as I made him realise how a little thing can lead to a whole lot of trouble. I guess he never really understood the consequences.

DT is design and technology btw. When I was at school (oo 25 ish years ago)my mum always made me wear the keys around my neck under my shirt, but with the health and safety these days the school has banned this practice.

You can almost understand the Dave Martins of the world.

 

[mank!]

i always keep my key in my wallet, i guess i'm fucked if anyone steals my wallet really.

 

[S-Gray]

Yeah.. i use to do that, but living so close to Liverpool i didnt feel safe

I hated DT in school... i got a wonderful "U" in my GCSE (didnt do any work).... plus the teacher was a prick heh .

I dont see why it should be a banned practice if you have your key tied safely around your neck, out of view under your shirt... i mean its not like they can strip search you is it? they'd never really know it was there...

 

[.cage]

lawl, u at gcse

 

[mank!]

cage got all a*'s cuz he iz a gud boi heheehe :sleeping: :sleeping: :sleeping:

 

[Mellow-]

roffle.... tbh.

 

[stu]

OK, so your stuff has going missing... twice. Whoever took it went to great lengths to make it look like everything was normal. There's no signs of entry, disturbance, or any of the normal things you'd expect when someone breaks into your house. They take games and DVDs. And your son keeps "losing his keys" and not telling you.

Am I the only one that thinks you have a cleptomaniac child?

ps: how the FUCK do you get a U at gcse? You get a B just for writing your name on the front?

 

[S-Gray]

Well, i didnt do:

Coursework, Revision, anything like that, so when it come to the test i just... put my hands over my eyes and did a "spot the ball" for the multiple questions....

arse! got em all wrong heh

 

[old.D0LLySh33p]

Unlucky about the burglary.

My mate's been burgled twice this year, but luckily both times the robbers haven't really targeted her room, just trashed it

 

[WPKenny]

Originally posted by stu
OK, so your stuff has going missing... twice. Whoever took it went to great lengths to make it look like everything was normal. There's no signs of entry, disturbance, or any of the normal things you'd expect when someone breaks into your house. They take games and DVDs. And your son keeps "losing his keys" and not telling you.

Am I the only one that thinks you have a cleptomaniac child?

ps: how the FUCK do you get a U at gcse? You get a B just for writing your name on the front?

I was thinking this while reading. Is there not a chance your son is taking this stuff to sell/give away due to either bragging or bullying?

It's not the most pleasant thought to have about your own son but when I was younger (about your son's ages) I used to be a bit of an arcade fanatic and steal out of my mum's purse to feed my habit. It wasn't drugs or due to bullying, I just loved playing down the arcades.

Is there a way you can rig up the webcam or something without your son knowing?

It depends all on whther you want to prevent it happening again or you want to catch the person doing it.

Have you risked asking your son outright if it's actually him dojng the stealing. He may want money for something.

The other option would be to ring up the school and ask the head to inform the teachers to keep a closer eye on his socialising and whether he's hanging around with trouble makers or not.

 

[Nos-]

He's clearly selling the goods on to feed his skag habit.

 

[Tom]

Originally posted by WPKenny
The other option would be to ring up the school and ask the head to inform the teachers to keep a closer eye on his socialising and whether he's hanging around with trouble makers or not.

heh, show me a school that is interested in bullying, and I'll show you the picture of me shagging Sandra Bullock.

Although what you were saying about selling the games is what I was trying to say, albeit nicely

 

[old.Fweddy]

Originally posted by Tom[SHOTTEH]
the picture of me shagging Sandra Bullock.

Really!? You're a lucky man.