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what do you do to prevent electronics from being stolen from home?

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bombatwist said:
so yeah, i'm asking this question because i've gotten robbed TWICE now within a 2 month time-span. once at my apartment near my college and just recently back at my parent's home. My parent's always keep the house locked but they still managed to break through.

I was just wondering what you guys specifically do for any electronics laying around and how to keep them from being stolen(or at least make it alot harder for them to get stolen). Electronics such as HDTVs, Game Systems(PS3,X360,Wii), DVD players, Laptops, etc. (because these are things that i've lost)

I know home security like alarms would be a good idea but sometimes that doesn't really stop burglars. I was thinking of wall-mounting any HDTVs I own in the future, and maybe get some sort of kensington lock for the rest, but anyone have any better ideas?
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Get this alarm system:

www.Simplisafe.com

It's completely wireless, portable and won't mess up your apartment. It's really cheap for monitoring as well. I use it at my home and love it.
 
get a decent door and noisy double glass windows. If you live in a suburb and the whole neighbourhood goes on vacation the same week, you're screwed anyway.

I will never understand why american homes (if they are the same as those I see in TV shows) have those shitty locks and shoody doors.

Seriously, a door that links to the exterior, SLIDING?
I'm surprised it even keeps out the water.
 
Thales_Angry.JPG


He's actually really friendly, AFTER you cross the threshold and he realizes you are a person. But he barks very loudly at noises, so if anyone is trying to break in it would sound like he is going to kill you.

Works out perfectly. I can have anyone over I want and even perfect strangers he never growls or barks once they come in and he see's they are a person. But anyone not in the know would think that they'd have to contend with a 100 lbd Germand Shepherd Dog and it just isn't worth it.
 
vbuggy said:
Problem with too friendly dogs: They do jack.

A friend got robbed with the entire family sleeping upstairs. Dog (Lab) was downstairs. Apparently they even fed the dog.

They'd taken the lot - computers, TV's, other valuables in sight. Even sneaked into the kids rooms to take their laptops and master bedroom to purloin the jewelry. That's as they're sleeping presumably feet away.
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Made me think of Mayhem commercial...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE1FwOw1zIc
 
For apartments, the policeman that came to my place when it got robbed said that the apartments with two locks (with one of them being a decent deadbolt) never got robbed, if there are other apts in the building with just one lock. The break ins are time sensitive of course, so breaking into one with one lock is easier than an apt. with two.

For my house I also have an alarm system with stickers indicating as such. This will stop the casual thieves, although the more pro ones often don't seem to care as they are in and out so fast. They'll even go as far as to find the phone lines and cut them before coming in. You can get around this with a wireless backup, but again if they're in and out quickly that doesn't really help.

I do have security cameras, but none at the main doors so no deterrent. They're for looking at my cats and the deer that eat my flowers. 😀

I had never thought of that cactus idea. Good idea. It wouldn't work up here in Canada though because they'd die every year.

classy said:
I have home owners insurance. They steal anything, just file a claim and replace it.
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It's a major PITA obviously, and you can lose data as well if they get at your computers.
 
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I have my own private super ugly front entrance and stairs that lead up to a 2nd door (which is only for my apartment). In reality it would be incredibly easy to break in, but I don't really have that much to steal.
 
We don't lock anything. It's nice never having to fumble with keys.

I live out in the country. If they make a special trip to break in, they are going to get in regardless of the locks.
 
I would think that the costs involved in moving far outweigh what was lost in the thefts, especially if he has a mortgage. Plus, didn't the OP say that the thefts occurred at two separate residences? Are they BOTH going to move?
 
bombatwist said:
The area that i live in isn't ghetto at all and all my windows and doors were locked shut but they managed to break the lock on my sliding door and bust in. the handle to my sliding door was completely broken.
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For sliding doors lock them and build/buy 'bars' to place in the track where the door would normally slide. It's a good failsafe, and the same idea can be applied to certain window styles as well.
 
bombatwist said:
The area that i live in isn't ghetto at all and all my windows and doors were locked shut but they managed to break the lock on my sliding door and bust in. the handle to my sliding door was completely broken.
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Then it is someone you know that is ripping you off.

-KeithP
 
pelov said:
Get a dog.
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Yep. I mean, if burglars break in in the first place, whatever meager attempts to secure the electronics are probably going to fail anyway.

Locking windows/doors + insurance + not living in the ghetto. We also have a security system, but I'd take a dog over it (have too many pets already).

As mentioned a dowel or metal pipe in the track of the sliding glass door helps. Could install metal bars on your first floor windows if allowed, etc...
 
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datalink7 said:
Thales_Angry.JPG


He's actually really friendly, AFTER you cross the threshold and he realizes you are a person. But he barks very loudly at noises, so if anyone is trying to break in it would sound like he is going to kill you.

Works out perfectly. I can have anyone over I want and even perfect strangers he never growls or barks once they come in and he see's they are a person. But anyone not in the know would think that they'd have to contend with a 100 lbd Germand Shepherd Dog and it just isn't worth it.
Click to expand...

Exactly how our german shepherd is. He sounds scary as hell if someone comes to the door, he gives that crazy deep "who the hell are you?" bark. Really though he's a sweetheart who loves belly rubs, squeaky toys and tennis balls. 😀 He is very wary of strangers though if he doesn't see me greet them first. So if someone broke in, there would be problems. He's also backed-up by a 70 pound lab mix who likes to bark her head off too.
 
Get those doors with the double deadbolt that goes through the physical door into the floor (protrudes from top and bottom of door). Those work pretty good.
 
Plant a GPS tracker in your HDTV or computer. Once you get robbed, grab some popcorn and give the data to police.
 
jaysen said:
"nanny"/indoor cameras are ONLY good if you wanna know they they shit in your toilet prior to stealing your $1,000 camera, or helped themselves to a bite to eat before pocketing your jewelry. Cameras are only good in two places - At entry points when they are eye-level so you can actually obtain a good, clean, and clear picture of the perp however this doesn't even guarantee you'll catch the SOB. Facial recognition is only in the movies, sorry to disappoint you. The second place is on your exterior shooting the Street/Driveway - good placement will improve the chance of obtaining a license plate if these guys are in a vehicle.
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I think of a camera as more of a deterrent rather than a way to catch the thief. I have a camera pointing at the Street that isn't even recording most of the time. It's out of reach but noticeable with IR lights that have a red glow at night. I'd imagine that on a row full of houses you'd probably less likely to hit the one with the camera.
 
Our Chow, Lab, and Golden.....and lastly, the Aussie shepherd. That foursome can make even the most determined thief think twice before breaking in.....at least, that's the hope. I do know I wouldn't test the Chow if I didn't know her.
 
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