In October 2003 I discovered that some one has broken into my garage/shop and stolen a bunch of my tools. It wasn’t too bad as I had just moved into my house ( in the safest suburb in America according to the literature) and didn’t have a chance to set up the shop yet so they didn’t get the choicer stuff. The insurance paid full replacement with a $500 deductible. I was able to set up my shop. Unfortunately my homeowners insurance went from Approximately $600 a year to $1288 a year.
January 6th, 2004 I was at home during lunch time to get a new chuck key for my AEG 3/8 inch drill. I drove to the store 10 minutes away and realized I had better go back and get the drill to make sure I got the right chuck key. When I got back home, I discovered that the thieves had returned and stolen a lot more stuff this time. They got a number of old Stanley 18 t – bevels as well as an extensively reworked Shelton plane, my AEG drill and lots of other irreplaceable tools. They got my 2 sets of chisels as well as my father’s block plane etc. etc. the list could go on. The replacement tools from the first theft cost about $5000. The total from the second theft cost nearly $7000. And I had to pay the $500 deductible again. And my homeowners insurance increased to $1788 per year.
After some thought I had an automatic magnetically locked gated installed for about $4500. I installed a surveillance camera that would email me at work when there was activity within the field of view. Months passed and I slowly rebuilt the shop and replaced tools as best I could. I beefed up security where I could. I was never able to find an AEG BE8RL drill. I had to settle for a heavier and clumsier Bosch drill.
Many months passed. December 15th, 2004 I drove up my driveway at lunchtime and noticed that the gate was ajar. I thought perhaps my wife didn’t close it all the way on her way to work in the morning. I was wrong. The thieves had returned. They had smashed the gate and driven up toi the garage and this time they took their time. They got my table saw. They got my 30 gallon air compressor, my Roll away tool boxes that were loaded with ALL my hand tools. All my router bits. All my tools that were replaced as well as the ones they didn’t get the previous two times. They got everything. Even now, as I type this, over a year later I am still getting queasy. They even stole a new furnace I was going to install in the garage for the winter.
There had been some sort of computer conflict and the surveillance camera wasn’t working at the time (I have since repaired it). The insurance company required the $500 deductible once again and this time they were very tough about everything I wanted to replace. They disputed most everything They sent a special investigator to interview me. I spent a total of about $15000 to replace the tools and repair the gate. The insurance company shorted me about $3000 beyond the deductible. Then they dropped me from coverage.
I rebuilt my tool collection as best I could and accepted that the memories I had formed using tools that I been collecting since 1966 were all that remained.
I got a burglar alarm with motion detector for the garage/shop. I pay $35 a month for the alarm service. I lag screwed heavy wire shelving that I trash picked from Home Despot over all the windows. I used 12 inch lag screws to screw the replacement tool boxes to the wall.
I was able to find an insurance company that gave me better coverage for about $700 per year. So that was the one good thing about this.
My wife is patiently enduring this with me and noticing that I have built very few pieces since this all started. I am still shell shocked and find it difficult to work in the shop.
So do you folks think I’ll get over this? I remember having great times in my shop, making some substantial pieces and even making some decent money at it. Now it feels like I’ve been punched in the gut every time I go in there.
Any Thoughts?
BTW_ I do have good tool Karma. —> Though given the opportunity many times, I have never bought a stolen tool. I was in the building trades for years before I became an engineer and though offered very cheap tools by suspicious characters several times, I refused to buy tools that I wasn’t completely sure of. So much for tool-Karma
Replies
That is definitely a bummer! How about a dog? You don't have to get a killer, although if I were you, I might be looking into a T-Rex or similar right now! A lab is a nice dog, big enough to scare away the unwanted, but not a menace. A German Shepherd is nice also. Definitely a good guard. I like a boxer, personally. Nice, short coat, kind of an intimidating looking dog, a decent guard.
I might suggest a series of moats, drawbridges and the like. I'm not sure where to get a good "moat monster" these days, but if you look on Ebay, there is probably one for sale. You could wire your shop with a series of explosives, say claymore mines and the like. The wires would be a pain to work around, but if anyone broke in, it would be their last time. Another Ebay item would be an unmanned "Predator" with the Hellfire missile option. It could orbit your neihborhood with a web-link to your computer and you could monitor your shop that way. Your insurance company might frown upon firing an anti-armor round at your own home, so you might want to check with them first.
I have been robbed before and it is an unpleasant thing to say the least. I am a contractor and will not purchase stolen tools. My heartfelt opinions of such people can't be printed in this forum, but I imagine you understand. I would say a dog or an alarm.
Good Luck!
John
Edited 2/9/2005 8:46 pm ET by JMartinsky
Thanks for your kind thoughts. I think these thefts might be pay back for leaving the trades a becoming an automotive engineer as a form of retirement.
I did design several lethal booby traps but decided to avoid their use.
I have a two small sons and don't want to even think of what could happen. The dog would be a good thing. I grew up with a series of German Sheperds and really like the breed. I just think that I probably wouldn't be able to spend enough time with them to give them a good home. Also my property is kind of odd. It is 66 feet wide and 660 feet long. Yes it's an eightieth of a mile wide by an eighth mile long. Fencing it for a dog would bankrupt me!
So far the burglary alarm and camera and gate seem to be doing the job. This is the longest stretch without a burglary so far - nearly 14 months with nary a missing tool. Th epolice, by the way, have been useless.
Dear Tony,
"I think these thefts might be pay back for leaving the trades a becoming an automotive engineer as a form of retirement." I am curious as to why you would think that. It would seem to imply that you know who your thieves are. If this is the case, I would be even more inclined towards harsh measures.
As to your property, what did you buy an old runway? I am kidding, of course, my property isn't all that different, but you are much narrower. I have never had a dog, but I think that they are good for kids as well. I have four, and we are considering a dog. You said that you grew up with dogs, so you would know. If no one has time to train them, then I think that I would rule out a Shepherd, but its pretty hard to go wrong with a Lab. The "invisible" fencing is effective for a couple of reasons.1. Nothing to get in the way or look at.
2. "Bad guys" don't know where the dog will stop. Or if.
3. If the dog is really charged up, say if some one is messing one of your kids, it can and will cross the line to protect you folks.
4. Expense? I am not sure, its got to be less that a solid fence. Getting back to booby traps, I do like the shotgun idea with the blanks, although an old farmer in these parts, used to load out with rock salt. Not really deadly, but PAINFUL! You could also rig up some pepper spray, that would be fun! A TOW missile is probably too expansive, but you could rig up some tear gas or maybe some beanbag rounds for the shotgun. I remember this old Vietnam Vet that I used to work with, discussing booby-traps made out of a 2x12 and a spring from a deuce and a half. Pretty nasty. Perhaps you could hire a sniper, although their talents are at a premium these days. Good Luck,John
I Now have dogs # 6 and 7
#1 through 6 were/are siberian huskies, # 7 is a mutt from the spca I also have a cat, whose guard cat properties havent yet been tested, though he still has his claws. I have had a nice trailer stolen when the dogs were at the kennel because i was on a trip. Nothing else. Just want to point out the problems of the invisible fence. It will not stop skunks from coming in your backyard, nor will it stop racoons. It will also not stop a kid from coming in your backyard to get bitten by your dog, invisible fence also do not stop other dogs to come and pick a fight with your dog.
Edited 2/12/2005 12:22 pm ET by bouboubomber
Those all all valid points in particular about the invisible fence. In my neck of the woods, a fence would only stop the kid and the other dog, the raccoons & skunks around here all ex Navy SEALS and defy stoppage. The deer too while I'm at it! Truth be told , I am invading their territory, so we will have to learn to live with each other. Thanks for the thought.John
No problem. I have had about 45 dog/years (years multiplied by # of dogs). And i personally prefer a physical fence as opposed to the opposite. I knew someone who had one, it worked well but when he left home, he put the dogs in a pen, to avoid kids being bitten, etc. I leave my dogs outside when i am not there each one is chained to his post with his dog house, they are loose when I am home, so i feel much better knowing there is a fence, however if you keep the dog inside while you are away, then there is less problems. Never had a burglary though there has been some in the neighboorhood. Even though I have Siberian Huskies, which are the kind of dogs that will help a burglar! Anyways, in my opinion, dogs are good deterrant for burglars, but get a dog because you want a dog! As for the fence vs invisible fence, look at the pros and cons.
I am a woodworker and police officer and the comments in reference the police "not doing anything", I think another person said police are a waste of oxygen, cripes, what do you people expect. Get out there and do some footwork. Go to pawn shops, id something and call your local law enforcement. You think those pawn shop losers are honest with us. Heck they know what they can get away with and they know without serial numbers or some other proof of ownership, we cant do anything. Did you write down your model or serial numbers or bother to put an owner applied number somewhere on the tool? I doubt it, but you expect officers to pull some miracle out of their rear. You dont know how many useless waste of time theft and burglary reports I take where I ask "Do you have a serial number for that?" and I get, "Well, I meant to write em down, but..." I feel for you, I truly do. I fear the same when I leave my residence for an extended period of time, but I guarantee you it would be a lot worse if officers weren't patrolling the streets. That is a theft deterrent in itself. Man I really enjoyed this forum prior to this discussion now I think I'll just go back to the shop.
Please understand: I don't think the police are a waste of oxygen. All the investigation that was done into these three burglaries was done by me. My list of activities is extensive. from going to Flea markets and pawn shops to asking the nearby autoparts store to look on their video surveillance for that day and time to see who bought anti freeze ( they damaged their vehicle ramming my gate and were leaking all over the place). I also informed the local cops that the state police lab could determine the manufacturer of the vehicle through the paint flakes and lens fragments left behind. I gave the detective the name to contact to get this done. I called my state representative to get clearance for this. HE, so far has done nothing .
I had no serial numbers for the hand tools but I gave extensive physical descriptions of everything taken. Down to where and how an edge of a chisel was fractured. So far - nothing done. One uniform told me Burglary was low priority and that if someone had gotten killed we'd really see something. I believe that because with the two multiple murders in our town in the last three years, they were able to solve them within a week.
That is why I said they were useless. I was specifically referring to this case and no other.
Tobias, please don't let the clueless (and incredibly rude) comments of a couple of Knots members turn you away from the forum. They're simply not thinking about the "real world" and are, IMHO, being very self-centered. When people start dumping on the folks who provide community services, the first thing I think of is how financial support for said personnel simply continues to fade. Nobody wants to pay for police protection, road maintenance, park services, etc., etc., etc., but then they scream when they don't get personalized top-drawer service. Nuts!
Certainly, most police forces fall far short in resources when it comes to doing the footwork you describe. If we want them to take on those tasks, we'll have to pony up the funds to hire more personnel!
I'm lucky to live in a small community with excellent response to emergency situations. While I've had my issues with a few of the officers (mostly with respect to how they target teenagers), they are right there when the burglar alarm goes off at my business. I realize in a bigger community that's probably not the case. forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Agreed. So how did one errant (and certainly not very well considered) comment by one participant get us to talking about funding of community services?
does anyone know if I order an AEG drill from Britain (or anywhere else), if it can be used in the US?
Tony,
Some Ridgid drills are made by AEG - just look for the "made in Germany" on the box. Solid drills and needless to say they work just fine here. Assuming you can handle the color - LOL!
Wayne
http://kropla.com/electric2.htm
as far as drills/electrical tools from europe, I don't think they will work here without replacing motor, and not just cord, but I'm not an electrical engineer. England uses 230V and 50Hz. the link above also shows the type of plug they use.
Re: the noise maker- Harbor Freight has 12V air horns and they're cheap, but they work. You can have a backup battery and if someone gets in while the system is armed, it makes a whole lot of noise. One set outside and two or three inside and they won't want to stick around. Not only does the noise draw attention to what's going on, but the dirtbag can't hear if someone is coming up behind them. You could use a car alarm if it's just to make noise, or even to tie into a home alarm system. It just needs to provide the right kind of input trigger. And they usually come with a remote control. Get the kind that has "Code Jumping" so it's harder to grab the code.
"I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
The UK is 240v 50 Hz but on construction sites it is manatory to use 110 v so tools are offered in 110 v versions.They are also much morer expensive than in North AmericaHowever the problem occurs with the frequency 50Hz as against 60 Hz in the US.For fixed speed things the just run slower and a bit hotter.With variable speed ,electronic feedback etc this could be a problem.Maybe Richard Jones has had personal experiance with his transatlantic flitting in search of ale! ;-)
Interestingly, I know that in parts of upstte New York they still run at 50 Hz> I suspect that the European tools would run fine at 60 Hz.
My experience was with a U.S.router in the U.K and the veriable speed was very unhappy.However on SCMS(110v 60hz) and 3hp(230v 60 hz) leeson table saw etc I had no problem
Tony,
Boy does that sound like pay back. Sorry you went through that. Get a brace of dogs and put up a sigh " forget the dogs-beware of the owner"
Best,
Jim
I like the sign "My guard dog can make it to the fence in 1.7 seconds. Can you?"forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
LOL!!! I love it!!John
Ya, but he is so cute!
Jim
what a bigtime bummer.
now clearly it wasn't another woodworker, cause anyone who is into woodworking has at least enuf tools to meet most needs (I know we all have lust-after lists somewhere, but even the most basic wwer has a table saw, so why go out and steal another one??? ) OTOH, folks who do this kinda thing ain't generally known for their intelligence
The stuff is most likely being fenced. Probably in another city at a pawn shop who just fills in their regular police reports as having taken in "circular saw" or "table saw" and is intentionally sparce as to details so as to remain under the radar.
I think that there are enuf highly paid folks on police forces who would have clued into this years ago. Yet, why no action to "upgrade" info requirement from the pawn shops.
I buy stuff from pawn shops, and I'm often perplexed as to where it comes from, so I tend to deal with pawn shops where I have a rapport with the owners/managers. They describe the steps they take from being burned, but they tell you some really wierd stories too.
More to the point, and from hearing stories of tool thefts over the years in various parts of Canada, if you can understand that insurance companies would dearly love to minimize losses from such disasters as yours, can you begin to understand why, after 10 years of internet access, insurance companies, who often have details such as serial numbers of various tools stolen, have not pooled their resources to produce a website searchable for SN's, for folks like you who want to get their special tools back? I cannot understand why they haven't.
I dunno about where you are, but we got "crime stoppers" here in Canada where anonymous tipsters are paid for their tips if it results in a conviction.
It would be such a simple matter for the Insurance co's to list what SN's they have on a web site, so that a pawn shop owner or a purchaser from a pawn shop could enter the SN and see if there's a "warning-this SN was reported on a stolen biscuit jointer in Sante Fe on xx.xx.2003" , or "an SUV with this VIN was written off by XXX insurance co in 2001"
Wouldn't that be simple to do eh? Wouldn't that crimp these buggers style substantially? Wouldn't it flag "crooked" or "Naive" pawnshop owners for the consumer eh? Wouldn't it allow the police to be more effective if, as in your case, you could search the internet to help find your stolen articles and spare them the grunt work? You would be motivated to help, why don't they take advantage of that? To me it's a no-brainer.
Makes ya wonder why not.
I know contractors who don't list their address on their business cards, simply to avoid targeting, but there are ways to find that out.
Just today I was talking with an acquaintance about security for tools and there was no simple solution. Tools remain a target for thieves.
Up here in Canada, in the past it has been suggested to inscribe your Social Security Number on your assets. Recently I have heard that while you may have done that for years, and you may have marked every asset quite diligently and clearly, but even though the police may have arrested a suspect with tools with your SIN # inscribed on them, they CANNOT access information which would connect the item with you, WHY? because it violates newer privacy laws. Maybe the same catch-22 applies where you are. Telephone numbers may be a more prudent identifier to inscribe
That being said, some years ago in Winnipeg the cops apprehended a ring of teen-aged burglers who had dilligently made a list of every stolen article for each address. Great fodder for the prosecution, but the insurance companies were somewhat aghast to find out that more than half the claims for items stolen were "embellished" substantially. Now in Winnipeg the insurance companies are more pro-active and supply investigators to the local police, although primarily for stolen cars.
a quick search for "stolen tools" lists databases for stolen phones, handsets, motorcycles, heavy equipment and HTML code, but I didn't see one sponsored by any insurance company. Certainly nothing for tools. I ain't suprised...it's almost as though they don't want to do anything about it.
Now why couldn't a major company such as Dewalt or PC offer that as an added protection to purchasers of their equipment???
I haven't understood why there hasn't been some action for years now. It is simply not the due diligence one would expect from folks who you pay to protect you from catastrophe. Perhaps they are asleep. Perhaps they are content to just take your premiums for years and cancel when you actually have a claim...
Sorry for yer loss of "old friends" I still dunno what the answer is.
One thing is for certain, you can't live yer whole life in fear.....
Eric in Calgary
Eric
I agree with almost everything you said. Except the SSN number thing. If someone's low enough to steal your tools, they're also low enough to take your SSN from your well marked tools, and use that information to perpetrate identity theft against you. You'll end up in even more of a nightmare than just getting your tools stolen.
A better idea is to engrave your state or provincial drivers licence number on your tools like 'AZ Lic #123456789". That's something the police CAN trace, and isn't as easily usable for identity theft.
If you build it - he will come.
Having your old treasures stolen is horrible.
The cops are a waste of oxygen. Apart from being able to legitimise a theft claim to the insurance agents, they are not worth calling.
With all your new security I doubt they will be back. If it involves much effort the majority of scumbags dont bother.
I heard of a fella here who collected guns. They were securely locked in his garage at all times. He had a shotgun loaded with blanks pointed down the drive and rigged to a sensor like shops use on the doorways. That thing went off several times but nobody ever tried to make it to the garage.
Everything, 100% of it, depends on how you look at it.
DW
I do not agree with you about the police. Do you know that in the U.S., we only have 650,ooo Law Enforcement to include Federal, State, and Local Police. Police Officers are over work.
I shouldnt have posted that comment. I was talking from our perspective, not yours.
A few months ago a young woman called the police from her cell phone and told them "they' had taken her shoes and had drugged her. Three time she called for help. The cops said they would have a taxi sent.
She hasnt been seen or heard from since.
Last week it was revealed that police on traffic duty were told to ignore emergency calls and keep writing tickets. Those responding to the call often had to do so from further away.
Whilst all this is going on they claim they are under-resourced. Most people would assume that if resources were tight, then emergency calls would take top priority. It seems not.
Confidence in the police and the emergency system here is low and it doesnt look to improve anytime soon.
Everything, 100% of it, depends on how you look at it.
DW
Let me guess - you had a few tax cuts in the past few years? Might be a correlation there?
Yes we have had some tax cuts. The usual election promise sort of thing that suckers voters.
In reality an awful lot of the population got something like $1.80 'extra' each week.
Recently it was revealed that the Govt was running at 3 million per week surplus. Another Govt dept has approx 30 million a year left after covering all its obligations ( I use the word obligations loosely )
In addition it has over 3 billion tucked away somewhere, no doubt making a tidy return. So I dont buy the lack of resources line.
Just a few weeks ago we saw on the news that the cops were going to start patrolling bars to kick out the drunks who by the letter of the law were not permitted to be in there still drinking. So, the question then is: If they have the manpower to cruise bars and evict drunks, can find all the cars and people required to write speeding tickets, how come they cant go and pick up a woman in desperate need of help?
Everything, 100% of it, depends on how you look at it.
DW
Tony
When I worked in the New York area, theft was a major problem.
I could tell you stories.
Here in Vermont, I don't let it be known what I have and theft isn't a problem.
No windows to look into or break thru and heavy metal doors.
I also train dogs, so the dog fencing around the place is kind of obvious. No one knows when they might enter my shop and meet a dog face to face. Same with my house.
When I used to maintain radio sites on mountain tops, vandelism was more a problem then theft.
In the buildings where the equipment was kept, I installed tear gas canisters.
A company named Revel (I don't know if their still in business) sold them for just such a problem. One good wiff of the stuff got rid of the problem.
One place, a competitor was the problem. He'd break in an vandelise the stuff. Boy was he surprised one day when he got gassed.
The stuff was equipment safe, so in a shop would work fine. Just don't gas yourself.
Godd luck, and sorry for the problems.
Jeff
You really feel violated when thieves strike. These are most likely the same ones that have marked you as an easy target. Booby traps are illegal and likely to hurt someone in your family or you. Taking the law into your own hands may land you in jail. Keep making reports to the local police department and the State police and keep checking up to see if any rings have been arrested. These guys are making a living stealing and they will get caught. You probably don't want to be in the next cell. You may want to get a Jobox to keep all small tools in and securely fasten it. Make sure they can't get your doors open to take things out. Your tools are just objects, don't let them steal a part of your mind, hard as it may be. The thieves will get their due, eventually.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Hammer:
Good advice. I think mostly the thoughts about traps were a way to get rid of some of my anger. I would worry about hurting my kids and/or wife with any of that stuff.
There was a tool theft ring busted around here (suburbs of Detroit by the way). Some of my co workers saw it mentioned on the local news cast. I told my local police about it and they didn't know what I was talking about. They were going to try and find out what TV station it was on. What a bunch of keystone fools.
I think I am a bit more secure now. The alarm, the camera, and I have a Job box and my power tools are locked up every time I close up for the night. Kind of a pain to have to lock everything up, but it does help me keep the shop cleaner.
Being a police officer by day (and night) I have seen things stolen that you just wouldn't ever think of stealing.
I have learned several things that I will share with you.
1) Locks only keep a honest man honest. No matter what you do people can still get in. Short of building the place out of steal and welding the door shut people will still get in. The thing you have to remember is that if you can enter so can anyone else.
2) Install the biggest loudest noise making device you can find on every entry point that can be used to get in or out. No one likes to advertise the fact that they are robbing you blind.
3) Trapping things may sound like a good idea but when a buddy or one of the neighbors kids drops over for a visit and gets hurt you will understand the cons for this idea. The last time I checked we are all human and to be human is to make mistakes or be forgetful.
4) Dogs are man's best friend for a reason. A good size dog is like #2. They make lots of noise with the added benefit of having teeth and not being afraid of using them.
5) Install lots of lights. No one likes to be seen when stealing your stuff. Theft is one of those jobs where notoriety is not welcomed.
6) Mark everything in a manor that would be easy to id by either you or law enforcement. If you are at the local flea market you can spot your stuff just at a glance. Also if it has a S/N right it done if not make your own. Police have no way of entering items in to there system unless there is some sort of unique id number. If a police officer finds a bunch of stolen items and none of them are marked then there is no way of telling who owns it. I have see items stolen and 18 years latter found on the other side of the country. Also marking it in a manor that will stick out in someone else's mind is better than it sticking out in yours. If you paint a naked lady on the side of your tools and you tell the police officer that belive me it will be remembered by him.
7) Blinds in the windows. People do not break in to places just to see what maybe lying around, they go to get what they can see and want.
8) Get to know everyone on your street. If you don't know your neighbors then they will will be less app to notice things that don't seem right when you are not around. Hand out contact numbers to everyone so when that noisey old lady across the street is peeking out her window see what is going on in the neighborhood she will be more likely to call you to let you know then to walk across the street when the police are taking your report. Remember a hundred calls of annoyance is worth it when she calls to tell you someone is robbing you blind.
9) Tool storage is not only a place for your tools when your do but a place that can be securly fastened down and then locked up keeping your power tools safer. Most thevies what a quick in and out so it something is going to take a lot of time to get open or out will be left.
There are lots of little things you can do to keep your stuff out of someone elses hands but remember this that a lock only keeps a honest man honest. A $5 lock will stand up just as good as a $30 lock and when you find your place broken then you are not the $25 extra dollars you spent. Also the harder it is for someone to break in then the more damage they will do in the process.
Scott C. Frankland
Scott's WOODWORKING Website
"He who has the most tools may not win the race of life but he will sure make his wife look like a good catch when she goes to move on."
Thanks for the tips.
Recently had an idiot( my name for thieves)try twice in 2 weeks to steal a snowblower from my woodshop's yard. The first time it was my fault since it wasn't locked up. Heard a noise in the back, peaked out my blinds to see the idiot walking down the driveway with the `blower, I gave chase a ways further than where he dropped it wanting to beat him senseless. The second time idiot came back with help on the weekend, cut the fence, and brought a sledgehammer. The snowblower was chained and locked to a 1/2" forged eye bolt epoxied to the foundation. The lock was a large double-locking MASTER LOCK. It survived 6-7 direct hits without yielding, the eye bolt was bent down but still intact. Now I keep snowblower at home and put in back of van when needed. Will build a solid storage shed and tie it into burglar alarm next summer. Anyway, your comment about a $5 vs. $50 lock is baseless in my opinion. You get what you pay for. As for the idiot, I am still hopeful to teach him a lesson that his momma didn't, and I am someone who can take care of himself.
Did you report it to the Police? .. You should because they may have hit other places in the neighborhood..Neighbor caught one with help of police.. They sort of 'Baited' the thief.. As in leave the garage door open by 'mistake'.. Police caught a group of them by following where they went...
I have reported both attempts to police. Was advised as to what improvements I could make to help deter the idiots( motion lights even though I have dusk to dawn lights). After expressing concern that idiot brought help the second time and I work alone the officer told me that I could probably get a carry permit for my work. He also said they don't like holes in the back and dead men don't sue. I must admit that I am considering and praying about that one. We both think that idiot might be gang and is now trying to save face after failing the first time. Any thoughts on that one?
You could consider a sensor arrangement that sets off ####mega loud noise-such as a diesel electric horn or siren-plays havoc with jumpy disgustoids of limited mentality. Then when they are fleeing they trip over your trip wires and hurt themselves.....Philip Marcou
Got the f______ loud siren hooked up with the alarm in the shop. Idiot was trying to steal stuff from my shop's yard. Shop is in an industrial setting, not at home. Dog isn't a good possibility, not enough time. Besides I am feeding a colony of feral cats there. If only I could train them to attack.
From what I see on t.v you guys in A merica keep all kinds of pets-geta BIG CAT ! ;)(;Philip Marcou
Tony,
I feel for you. I have not had it as bad as you, but I have had tools stolen. Maybe 1,000 or so. The one thing you did that should really work is the monitord security system. Those really work. My garage is wired every which way; motion glass breakers, door sensors. All the wireing is inaccessable and I have the loudest freaking alarm horn on the market. It is battery backed up as well. Obviously some one could defeat the system, but that requires a lot of skill. Most of the guys I know that have a comercial shop use large gun safes to store all power and hand tools.
good luck,
Mike
I think the alarm is doing the trick. I've got battery back up as well as cell phone back up should the Phone line get cut. If any of the wires are cut, the central monitoring station calls the police.
This still doesn't get me into the shop, but at least I have a better chance of having something to work with when I do get in there.
I think I've started to focus all my energies on burglar-proofing and not enough on wood working.
In many cities the police are not even responding to home alarms anymore, and even in the event they do it's a low priority so by the time they get there the thieves have cleared out.
We don't respond unless a keyholder is going also. But yes you are right we don't rush at all.
I won't tell anyone not to install one but it will not save your stuff, but for fire or medical calls it could save your life.Scott C. Frankland
Scott's WOODWORKING Website"He who has the most tools may not win the race of life but he will sure make his wife look like a good catch when she goes to move on."
and I did't intend that as an indictment either. Police and fire have to prioritize, and in the event of property crime I can understand that it's low. At any rate, the only alarm I'll put my trust into is made by Glock.
Well it was the uniform cop who suggested I get an alarm. He suggested a company and said it just cause they dealt with them a lot. The police have come here a couple of times it's usually about ten minutes from the triggered alarm. I think the guys on the beat around here feel kind of bad I've been hit so many times. The third time I gave up talking to the detectives and decided to talk mostly with the technicians and the uniforms. I know they always look at my house now when they drive by.
Comforting in a way. I thought of all those reasons to not get an alarm too. But then I decided to talk to a bunch of different people who had them. They were uniformly pleased with them. I think the signs alone are enough to deter. A thief, given the option of breaking into an alarmed house or an unalarmed house is going to break into the one without the alarm. It isn't full proof. It is only an effective deterrent. And I still don't want to go into my shop any more.
Tony I can tell you I have seen may people in your shoes and though I cannot relate you have to force yourself back out there and get back into a project. With time you will have put it behind you.Scott C. Frankland
Scott's WOODWORKING Website"He who has the most tools may not win the race of life but he will sure make his wife look like a good catch when she goes to move on."
Mike I don't think security systems are all they are cracked up to be. You don't have to beat the system you just have to be faster than the whole system. Once a sensor has been set off the system waits for 30 seconds for someone to enter a pin number (some system have certain sensors that automatically call in while others require a time delay but this only cuts the response by 30 seconds). The system calls a regional call center which collects the alarm information and generates a report at the call center. Most residential setups require a call to the residence to ensure all is all right or to see if the alarm set off by the homeowner before they call police. Police are then called where a dispatcher takes a report and then dispatches a car to the alarm. Response time up to now and be several minutes before a police car even gets notified of an alarm. The police officer still needs to respond which maybe could take a few seconds to several minutes depending on what else is happening (life and death over property). This leaves in total best case at least 5 minutes response time but most likely 10 -20 minutes. I know I can carry a lot of stuff off in less than 5 minutes let alone 20.
I have watched surveillance tape of a whole robbery taking place in less than 45 seconds net was well over $8000.00. Three guys smashed a window jumped inside threw everything into big plastic garbage tubs and then back out the window and into a stolen truck. Found the truck and garbage cans just up the street. The guys drove right by the police cars in another stole car without a care in the world.
Another thing with alarms is that when they call out the tie up your phone line so you cannot use it. If the sensor keeps getting triggered then that means additional calls by your system. Mean while you have jumped out bed swallowed your heart again and see someone outside or even worse in your house. You grab the phone to call 911 and the phone is dead because the alarm system is on the line and unlike your 16 year old daughter you cannot tell it to get off the phone. You either have to wait or grab your cell to call 911 to tell them that the guy is down stairs or driving off in a black pickup truck with a bumper sticker "Jesus Saves" on the tail gate.
Another point is most people while have there alarm go off several times because of several false alarms and the speaker will get unplugged. System still works but you don't hear it and neither does your theif. Big flashing stobe lights are great because they tell you something is going on and will making finding your house in a sea of houses easier to find.
I for one am not going to put myself and the lives of the general public in harms way coding to your house for a false alarm. It is a fact that over 95% of alarms are false so most times police respond with that in the back of there minds. Scott C. Frankland
Scott's WOODWORKING Website"He who has the most tools may not win the race of life but he will sure make his wife look like a good catch when she goes to move on."
Scott,
A lot of what you say is true, or partialy true. The 30 second delay can be disabled. Mine is set so that the delay is only on the door. The motion sensor is located so that opening the door and disarming the system will not trigger the motion sensor. I like in a pretty nice comunity where there are a lot of cops waiting for a burgurly alarm to go off. I know from experience that the response time to my house is less than two minutes. Your results may vary!! I think that that the horn is a key element. Mine so so freaking loud that you can't think when it goes off. Everyone on my street can hear it. A talented thief can defeat all this, but I hope that talented theifs will choose someone else with more to offer. I think that a gun safe or a safe room made of brick with a super tough door is the solution in areas where alarms may not be as effective. A safe room can be made pretty cheep using cinderblock rebar and a good door. There is no perfect solution if you had the crown jewels in the garage SOMEONE would get in. We can only hope that the potiential risk is too great for the reward.
Mikeplease excuse my spelling.
Mike thanks for your reply and yes you are right about the alarm delay settings but I think I did mention that though. In the area I work in there are about 90,000 people either living or working in the area and there are 24 police officers that police it (6 to a shift). For the most part it is bedroom communities for the cities next door. In our area the worst case scenario would be 30 minutes response from end to end of the area. Also most of the alarm systems have a panic button if the home owner is in trouble. Also we do respond to an alarms quickly if they come in as multi zone alarms. In my neck of the woods most break and enters are done when the homes occupants are not home, the thief is not looking to harm the occupants just take there stuff. Usually when we get a home invasion (where harm is done to the owners) then the injuries are the main reason for the break in (ie. unpaid debts, settle a score). Bottom line is we have to use common sense when dealing with alarms or for that matter any call that gets dispatched. I am no good to the public if I wind up injured or dead while on my way to deal with a call.
The sad part about all of this is that poor Tony is still out a bunch of tools and still is not able to get back out and work at his hobby. And I don't think all the guns, alarms, dogs, cats, traps, or locks will make him head back out in the shop and work wood.Scott C. Frankland
Scott's WOODWORKING Website"He who has the most tools may not win the race of life but he will sure make his wife look like a good catch when she goes to move on."
You claim you had 3 tool insurance losses in 3 years totaling $27,000 from a backyard shop.
You are lucky you can find insurance.
I don't want to be in your insurance pool.
A good German Shepard or some kind of Watch Dog on duty would have save you lots of $ and bet you would have never anything stolen + a good loyal friend.
Thieves stay away from Barking Dogs and Dumb Thieves get Chewed .
I have always had and keep dogs around the place and never had anything stolen
What about the police in your town? Did they took any fingerprint, or line-up pictures. Someone in your neighborhood should have seeing something.
Well, I for one will vote in favor of a security system. I have one that monitors the house and the garage, with door switches, motion detectors, smoke and temperature detectors, a low temp alarm (just in case the furnace goes out) and several LOUD sirens - one is mounted up under the eaves on the outside of the house, a second is inside the garage, and I put a third one inside the cold air return for the furnace. When those things all go off at the same time, you're gonna know about it. The system is monitored by a local company, so they know the neighborhood and know where I live, unlike the major companies that route all their calls through a central office on the other side of the country someplace. Mine calls out over the regular phone line, but you can also get systems that use a cellphone connection so you don't have to worry about not being able to use the phone when it seizes the line, or having the burglars cut the phone lines. It also has a battery backup so it will still work if the power goes out.
I haven't had any problems for years now, thank goodness, but at one time I did have a number of breakins. They were mostly before I got the security system; after I had it installed I had one more, when I was out one night. The burglar broke a window and crawled in, the motion detectors sensed his presence, the security system set off the alarms and called out to the monitoring company. My neighbor heard the noise and looked out, and she later told me that within two or three minutes the cops were there with a police dog (I am fortunate that I live only a couple blocks from the local precinct house.) They tossed the dog in through the window and had him check the place out, but by then the burglar had scrammed. All he had time to grab on his way out after the sirens started going off was the TV remote control. So, all things considered it worked out pretty well.
Granted, the police are going to prioritize their calls - if there was a murder or a traffic accident or something like that, they're going to respond to those calls first. Still, I think it's a good thing to have, and well worth the money. One thing that hasn't been mentioned is that your insurance company will likely give you a discount for having a security system, which helps offset its cost. Also, having it connected to the smoke and temp detectors to protect you from fires is probably just as important, if not more so.
As far as false alarms go, I've only had one in the last fifteen years, and that was shortly after the system was installed. It was due to a window switch that wasn't adjusted quite right, and once that was fixed there were no more problems. If you have a good quality system it shouldn't cause any problems.
A security system is just one part of your defense. Like others have said, you need to do all the other things to improve your chances - good locks, strong doors and door jambs that are hard to kick in, keep the curtains pulled, build shutters for the garage windows or board them up, install outside lights with photocells or motion detectors, etc., etc. It's a sad reality of life that everyone needs to think about this sort of thing these days, no matter where they live - I'm in the big city, but I have family and friends living in small towns and out in the country who've had the same problems.
if burglary is still a problem/concern for you, get a digital trail camera with a motion detector from Cabelas or other outdoor sports supplier. Hide it good and turn the flash off. A company called Penns Woods also makes a video version, and with the Sony digital eight movie cameras, you can even have a night vision type of camera. The good systems are about $500 for the still camera, and about $1000 total for the video.
Sounds like you might have some neighbors who spot stuff for criminals to me. Have other neighbors also had breakins? If not, that would be my bet. They may not be taking it themselves, but tipping off some criminals, or maybe themselves to pay for the drug habits, to get some cash and reselling the stuff.
I actually set up a surveillance video camera with softweare that emails me at work then there is activity. The whole set up set me back about $200 at 123cctv.com It has it's own dedicated computer and works quite well/ That is how I know how long it takes the cops to get here oncee the alarm is tripped. The video is time stamped.
I didn't read all of the responses to your post but wanted to say one thing. Once they find your place as a spot to burgle they will keep doing so until something stops them. It's worked in the past for them so they will keep coming back until you make it not worth the risk for them.
thieves are basically lazy. That's why they steal. I'ts easier that getting a job they think. So make it real hard for them. Unfortunately they have more time on their hands than you do.
Sorry to hear about your dilemma. Hope things get better.
Guy named Luka on the Breaktime forum could empathize with you--he posted a thread recently about someone coming into his living room and stealing tools. Very disconcerting. He got lots of advice about dogs and geese and weapons.
Geese?John
Oh yea, geese! Or at least one big kick @ss gander.I used to occasionally visit a second hand (aka junk) yard that had a couple of geese as guard animals. I swear they were smarter and more aggressive than my rottwieller was. Anytime someone new came around they would sound an alarm that would raise the dead, and if the person didn't leave, the gander would spread his wings as wide as a truck and charge. Most folks didn't stick around to find out what he'd do next.Tom
Geese are fantastic watch-dogs! Spent some time at a graduate lab in Wildlife and Fisheries years ago, and the prof in charge had a small flock (20 or so) big honkin' Canadian geese who had originally been imprinted on him. Nobody, and I mean nobody got near that lab without half the county knowing about it! What a racket!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
DO NOT MESS WITH GEESE!!! Had one clamp on to my finger through a fence, I had to reach over the fence and squeeze its neck (gently) to make him let go! That's the last time I went to a petting zoo!: )
My deepest sympathies are expressed to you, bad luck seems to come your way in droves man. I don't know if its any help but what about engraving all your equipment with your postcode/ zip code plus ultra-violet pen and putting up warning signs outside your workshop saying so. The idea being it will devalue your equipment and maybe it will not be worth their while to do your shop in the first instance, which is what you are trying to achieve anyway. My apologies if you have already tried this.
All the best Steve
Thank you for your kind thoughts. I am going to engrave as you suggest. I also am looking into a 'lo-jack' device to put n my tool box to see I can trace where it goes. At least I should be able to get a lo-jack decal for the tool box.
Tony,
My condolences to you, and thanks. This thread has really got me thinking about what i have invested i n my shop and tools, and how little, if any, that I've invested in security. Fortunately, the most expensive tools are too heavy to walk away with. But the old friends, the ones that I have the greatest fondness for, the tools that have handle stains that match my hands, would be easy pickings.
I think it's time to consider my next tool expenditure to be something that safeguards my friends.
Tom
Dogs are good things. I live in an "edge" neighborhood outside of Washington, D.C., and we've always had a dog. First an Austrailan cow dog (Blue) and now a mut, part Husky, part terrier and part antelope. (Ripken. Hey, I'm a Marylander.)
Be warned though, a dog is not a buy it and forget it option. They take a lot of care. You have to have to feed it when you're in town and get someone to feed it when you go out of town, and there are shots and the like. They also bark, shed and crap in the yard. The Skipperkee, Lucky, our backdoor neighbor's dog barks so much, I've thought about rubbing him out.
When you get a dog, you take the good with the bad. They also become part of the family so be careful when choosing one. I highly recommend a mut. Rip is big enough, and with his blue eyes he's very wolf-like and barks enough to scare off people, but he's a most gentle animal. He also sheds like crazy, craps in the yard, digs holes and wakes me up on weekends when I may have overindulged the night before. I wouldn't pay $1 for another or take $1 million for him.
I know it's not woodworking, but I see so many dogs that people just throw out into the yard that I feel I have to let people know what they are getting into. If you're not prepared to take care of him/her then don't get one. Just putting the dog out back, will turn him into a bad dog, and there are enough of those already.
I agree with your views on dog ownership. That is why I have avoided getting one. At present, with both of us working, we wouldn't have time for a dog and leaving one alone out back is not a humane option.
If a real dog isn't practical, Go to X10.com and look for their barking dog alarm. It can be set to trigger when a motion detector is activated, and can even be hooked up to an amp and good speakers for a louder output(I think). The same motion detector can also turn on lights, and trigger other events as well using the x10 protocal. I use x10 devices in my house, and for the little money I spent have been satisfied with them.
Dave B.
Cool Idea and more than slightly amusing. I'll look into it. It does appear as though burglar proofing my shop is my new hobby - replacing wood working. I'l see if I can figure out a way to combine the two - Perhaps a dead fall of lumber as a trap?
Based on my experience, if you make it to difficult for the idiots ( my name for the theives, more on this later ) they will go somewhere else to ply their trade(sic).
Security is not an area where it pays to go cheap. Monitored alarms are good but the idiots know that they have at least a couple-three minutes safely. Things like security bars and doors, better quality locks and hardware, blinds in the windows, and heavy tool cabinets all work. If in a commercial setting then what about 6'chain-link fencing with triple barbed wire on top? I know that it looks a little jail like but it does deter most idiots. And deterence is really your first line of defence unless you will never leave the property. Now, as to why I call crooks idiots, most of them are theives because they are to lazy or whatever to get a regular job. If I called them what I really feel that they are/deserve I would be heavily censured for my vulgarities. The truth hurts you know. I hope that you are not buying from pawn shops. It has been my experience that this supports the culture of theft. This is based on my limited experienced observing what walks in the door trying to sell his? tools, generally they look like they have not earned an honest living in an awful long time. This applies to a lot of the flea market tool vendors in my area to. Best of luck to with this problem in the future.
I pride myself on never having bought from a pawn shop. If what you buy at a pawn shop isn't stolen then you are probably profiting from someone else's hard times. Either way, something I have not, nor ever will do. Many times I have been on a job site and been offered things like a three hundred dollar router for $20. I never bought them. I don't buy stolen and I don't buy from someone desperate to feed their kids or pay the rent. Usually I just feed the kids.
It has been over a year since the last burglary. The alarm, the camera and the heavy locks and bars on the windows may have stopped them. Or they just got arrested someplace else. I think it is over. Though I must say I am still nervous about it. At least I have started to build again in my shop.
My congrats for your convictions about buying questionable tools and feeding the kids instead. I carry that one step further. Used to be a carpenter/general contractor full time. I would never hire any one who walked up on the street looking for work regardless how good their sad story was. Figured there was a reason why they weren't working and was afraid of some of the possibilities. Bottom line was hiring someone you don't know the history, worst case they could be setting up everyone on the job. To many possible downsides.
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