GF's brother's house robbed

[ThePresence]

My GF's brother's house in Baltimore was CLEANED OUT this morning. His wife went to the gym for an hour or so, came home to a ransacked, empty house. She didn't set the alarm when she went to the gym. No sign of forced entry. All jewelry, cash, electronics, TV's etc. all gone. Over $16k in total. This is why I am getting a safe.

 

[darkxshade]

inside job

 

[FDF12389]

Originally posted by: darkxshade
inside job

Yup

OP when are you creating the FS/FT thread?

 

[thecrecarc]

His wife is an idiot.

 

[OdiN]

Not setting the alarm FTL.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Inside job? Professional thieves can do something called pick a lock They also case the house beforehand...and can empty the place within 15-30 minutes.

 

[Tim]

Gonna need a big safe for all those TV's.

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: thecrecarc
His wife is an idiot.

Sure, in hindsight. How many people set their alarm when they run out for a few minutes? She went to the gym, didn't set it. It's human nature.

 

[Capt Caveman]

No sign of forced entry? So, she didn't lock the door?

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: theplaidfad
Gonna need a big safe for all those TV's.

Most of the damage was in the jewelry and cash.

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
No sign of forced entry? So, she didn't lock the door?

She did.

 

[ViviTheMage]

There is a show where 'professional' thieves break into houses and show how easy it really is to case it, and how fast they can take thousands of dollars worth of stuff.

 

[sjwaste]

Originally posted by: ThePresence
My GF's brother's house in Baltimore was CLEANED OUT this morning. His wife went to the gym for an hour or so, came home to a ransacked, empty house. She didn't set the alarm when she went to the gym. No sign of forced entry. All jewelry, cash, electronics, TV's etc. all gone. Over $16k in total. This is why I am getting a safe.

I guess I could make the obvious jokes about living in Baltimore or criticizing that the alarm wasn't set, but really, the most important thing is that no one got hurt. Possessions can be replaced. I just hope they were insured, that at least makes picking up the pieces easier.

Truth is, even the good parts of Baltimore border on the parts that aren't, so the next move is to improve security or move out. I'm sure they're frantic now, having just been robbed (EDIT: burgled, actually) and all, but you and your gf can definitely help by calming them down, maybe even having them up to live w/ you for a while. Help them assess the situation so that it's less likely to happen again.

Also, and I do mean this seriously, keep an eye on ebay or local craigslist for the possessions, at least the ones that are easily identifiable. You might be able to get your own leads for the cops to chase, if they're planning to do that at all.

Glad everyone was safe, at least. Don't mind the idiots who have begun to post in the thread. If it turns out I'm one of them, feel free to call me out and I'll apologize

 

[Juno]

geez, it's baltimore.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: ThePresence

Originally posted by: thecrecarc
His wife is an idiot.

Sure, in hindsight. How many people set their alarm when they run out for a few minutes? She went to the gym, didn't set it. It's human nature.

I set it even for 15 mins drive to get lunch. 4 buttons and done.

At my mom's house (even safer than here), there were only 4 or so hours in the day when nobody was home... and we got robbed then. Somebody always stakes you out first... it's hardly random. A few blocks down from her, someone was robbed while they went out. A neighbor witnessed a gray van parked nearby with 2 men just calmly walking in the front door while the driver stayed. They knew he was gone at that particular time. Of course he called the cops but it was too late.

Alarms are deterrents... they don't allow thieves to take everything inside while an alarm is blaring and neighbors are around.

 

[amdskip]

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
There is a show where 'professional' thieves break into houses and show how easy it really is to case it, and how fast they can take thousands of dollars worth of stuff.

To catch a thief, I think it was canceled

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: ThePresence

Originally posted by: thecrecarc
His wife is an idiot.

Sure, in hindsight. How many people set their alarm when they run out for a few minutes? She went to the gym, didn't set it. It's human nature.

Then why even have the alarm in the first place?

 

[BassBomb]

We like never set our alarm unless we are going to be out for more than a few hours. But then again we live in a pretty safe area.

Normally we have someone at home all the time

 

[CraKaJaX]

It's not that hard to pick a lock. That's assuming it's a standard door knob. Does she go to the gym at that hour every day? The thief could of been watching for a week or so and planned on when to go in. If he saw her leave and come back within an hours time, maybe he figured she wouldn't set the alarm and decide to break in then? Just a thought.

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: OdiN
Not setting the alarm FTL.

Seriously, in Baltimore of all places too...

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: sjwaste

Originally posted by: ThePresence
My GF's brother's house in Baltimore was CLEANED OUT this morning. His wife went to the gym for an hour or so, came home to a ransacked, empty house. She didn't set the alarm when she went to the gym. No sign of forced entry. All jewelry, cash, electronics, TV's etc. all gone. Over $16k in total. This is why I am getting a safe.

I guess I could make the obvious jokes about living in Baltimore or criticizing that the alarm wasn't set, but really, the most important thing is that no one got hurt. Possessions can be replaced. I just hope they were insured, that at least makes picking up the pieces easier.

Truth is, even the good parts of Baltimore border on the parts that aren't, so the next move is to improve security or move out. I'm sure they're frantic now, having just been robbed (EDIT: burgled, actually) and all, but you and your gf can definitely help by calming them down, maybe even having them up to live w/ you for a while. Help them assess the situation so that it's less likely to happen again.

Also, and I do mean this seriously, keep an eye on ebay or local craigslist for the possessions, at least the ones that are easily identifiable. You might be able to get your own leads for the cops to chase, if they're planning to do that at all.

Glad everyone was safe, at least. Don't mind the idiots who have begun to post in the thread. If it turns out I'm one of them, feel free to call me out and I'll apologize

Thanks.
Electronics are insured (don't ask me why or how), homeowners insurance covering around $2800 of the other stuff. Not much, but it's something.

 

[Squisher]

I surprised a burglar in '94 and have a crease in my forehead to prove it.

The guy cased the neighborhood posing as a electric meter reader.


After we fought he got away by stealing a car on the next block. The guy was resourceful.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: Squisher
I surprised a burglar in '94 and have a crease in my forehead to prove it.

Fist fight? I don't think it's worth risking your life for. You never know what they'd pull on you. Maybe you were actually lucky.

 

[BrokenVisage]

Originally posted by: ThePresence

Originally posted by: thecrecarc
His wife is an idiot.

Sure, in hindsight. How many people set their alarm when they run out for a few minutes? She went to the gym, didn't set it. It's human nature.

Come on man, there's a difference between running out to Wawa for milk and eggs and going to the gym for an hour.. in only one of those two instances should you even consider not setting the alarm.

 

[sjwaste]

Originally posted by: BrokenVisage

Originally posted by: ThePresence

Originally posted by: thecrecarc
His wife is an idiot.

Sure, in hindsight. How many people set their alarm when they run out for a few minutes? She went to the gym, didn't set it. It's human nature.

Come on man, there's a difference between running out to Wawa for milk and eggs and going to the gym for an hour.. in only one of those two instances should you even consider not setting the alarm.

Heh, anywhere I've lived that was close to a Wawa was also in an area where an alarm wouldn't be necessary

I guess there is that one near the Christian St. projects in Philly, though.