Burglary insurance + security. Do you bother?

[Winston001]

I have a relative who locks every window and takes half a day off work to let a serviceman into her home. No leaving a key out for access.

In fact I know plenty of people (mainly ladies) who are fearful of burglars. I do understand how unsettling the idea of a stranger going through your home can be but is the security paranoia worth it?

In reality, what have you got to steal?

In my case a couple of laptops, DVDs, a big flatscreen...and sod all else.

[Brian d marge]

doesn’t happen here
door unlocked all the time .....had a suzuki bandit stolen once ..but the old bill found it next day ,,,,so I had to pay someone to take it away
Stephen

[carburator]

I have insurance and I have good secuirty.

why because ive worked bloody hard and bugger some lowlife sod who thinks
they are going to get it for nothing.

[hellokitty]

I would be more worried about the place being trashed, or vandalised. I wouldn't mind so much if it was the stuff worth money that can be replaced that was stolen, like TVs and stuff. I have a lot of art done by a friend who has died, and I would be devastated if it got stolen or damaged.
Most importantly, I worry that someone may steal my dog :(

[unstuck]

Never lock anything, only ever been ripped off once, and I got everything(and more) back. Thinking about what you dont want to happen, increases your chances of it happening. Plus, there are not many people down here who are willing to steal from me.:devil2:

[Jantar]

We have insurance, and there are locks fitted to both doors. I know we have a key for those locks somewhere, just can't remember where. The last time we ever locked the place up was 3 years ago.

I don't see the point of additional security; if some one wants to break in to a house in a rural area then a lock isn't going to stop them. No neighbours close enough to hear any noise anyway. So I reckon if someone really wants to steal something from our house then lets at least ensure they don't thousands of dollars worth of damage on their way in.

[meteor]

A few comments above are from those in the deep south. Fair enough. That'd be great. I have rellies on farms down there that don't lock their house either, ever. But here in Auckland there's whole suburbs full of ratbags that make the living out of ripping people off. The whole gang drug culture has an undercurrent of theft, burglary, robbery to pay for it so it's an economy in itself. Statistically it will happen, just when? Just got to remember that it's not personal and hopefully minimise the feelings of violation. Security/alarms are a deterrent, it won't stop them if they really want your stuff, but might displace them to do it elsewhere. Insurance... yes I do, same as car insurance etc because the cost to replace it all IF it goes west is a big chunk of coin.

[Bassmatt]

I only ever lock my house up if I am away for 24hrs+. We are supposedly in a higher crime area but have been in the same house for 12 years now with no problems.

[steve_t]

Been burgled a few times - Hamiltron. Insured so, as others said, it's not the losing stuff cos insurance will buy a new laptop and DVD player etc but I really didn't expect to feel so violated. Strange scumbags in the place where you sleep (even if you're not home), going through all your shit is quite psychologically traumatic.

Now I've got a good house alarm and it rings my cell phone if it's triggered. I also have a cheap security camera in my garage which records when it detects motion but is also accessible via the internet. Hopefully, it'll never happen again but I'm not going to make it easy for them if they do decide to break in.

[Edbear]

I would be more worried about the place being trashed, or vandalised. I wouldn't mind so much if it was the stuff worth money that can be replaced that was stolen, like TVs and stuff. I have a lot of art done by a friend who has died, and I would be devastated if it got stolen or damaged.
Most importantly, I worry that someone may steal my dog :(

You should worry, Daisy is so cute and adorable..! :msn-wink:

[Akzle]

A few comments above are from those in the deep south. Fair enough. That'd be great. I have rellies on farms down there that don't lock their house either, ever. But here in Auckland there's whole suburbs full of ratbags that make the living out of ripping people off. The whole gang drug culture has an undercurrent of theft, burglary, robbery to pay for it so it's an economy in itself. Statistically it will happen, just when? Just got to remember that it's not personal and hopefully minimise the feelings of violation. Security/alarms are a deterrent, it won't stop them if they really want your stuff, but might displace them to do it elsewhere. Insurance... yes I do, same as car insurance etc because the cost to replace it all IF it goes west is a big chunk of coin.what?? don't you have a whole heap of police to keep you safe??

but enough of that.

the only time i'm ever been burgled was when i did lock up my house (this was south auckland >< many years ago.) and we were robbed...
by the damned neighbours! who were known to police, we had 3 eye witnesses (i was at work) and yet.. huh. cops couldn't do shit. we were told "all your stuff's probably been sold on by now (about 5 hours later) so here's a reference number for your insurance company." didn't talk to the neighbours, didn't do shit. top f*ing job.

so i lock my shit when i'm in cities.

so... security = neighbours. insurance = nil. (insurance is expensive, until you need it.)
not too many people come up/down my road so new vehicles get spotted and watched quite closely.
for many years the locals had their keys soldered into tractors and quads etc just to save loosing them. my keys never go too far from the ignition and my door is only locked when i'm away for days (more to keep the neighbours kids out of my guns than against burglars)

[Scuba_Steve]

I used to not have insurance till I gots burgled. Thief got caught thanks to my flatmate chasing after him, then our legal system stepped in... he got a whole 30hrs community service :tugger:
lost 700$ cash in that, the rest of stuff was recovered.

Most of my stuff is electronic so the value gets dropped as fast as a MP's promise but given that I use them frequently I want them replaced soon as poss if something happens & the insurance obviously covers more than just thief's.
As for security, not so much. Our house is surrounded by others you'd be an idiot to try steal from here, but I am currently playing with ZoneMinder.

[Flip]

Fark me.

I lock and alarm everything.

Last weekend at 0130 hrs sat morning the alarm went off in the workshop-mancave.

I shot down and found the judas door open. Called the rozza who turned up imeadiately. Didn't catch anybody this time. Some little cunt had got the door open and got in.

Home also has a monitored fire and security alarm.

The fucking crims don't care what or who you are they will take anything they can sell.

[neels]

We lock the doors when we're not home, but other than that not a lot of other security measures, after all if someone wants to get in they will.

Kinda glad we have insurance too, otherwise we'd still be sitting in a fucked house in east christchurch wondering what the hell to do next.....

[Haggis2]

Theft of stuff is one thing, but what about months later when pics show up of your toothbrush up said burglars bumhole? :(

[JimO]

if you dont lock up you may find the insurance company will be reluctant to pay out, my main security is two dogs, one inside at night and one outside and the only way in is through a squeeky gate that wakes the dogs every time so by the time someone is 1 meter on to the property the dogs are ready to go

[Flip]

My dog is more valueable than any thing else I own, to me.

[Big Dave]

Fully monitored call out alarm and comprehensive household insurance here.
You only have to learn that lesson once.

[Winston001]

Interesting.

I shouldn't have included insurance in my question. Its common sense to have that.

And as JimO says, your insurance policy requires you to take reasonable steps to secure your property. Had a case once where State refused to pay on a house arson cos the property was empty and not secure.

Locking the door when you leave is fair enough but some people go to great lengths to have security alarms and latches on windows, and deadbolts worthy of a prison. I can't see the point.

When you look around your house, for most of us - what is there to steal? If some yob wants to stagger down the street with my 46" plasma...good luck but I don't think he'll get far.

[Scuba_Steve]

Locking the door when you leave is fair enough but some people go to great lengths to have security alarms and latches on windows, and deadbolts worthy of a prison. I can't see the point.

When you look around your house, for most of us - what is there to steal? If some yob wants to stagger down the street with my 46" plasma...good luck but I don't think he'll get far.

some thief's bring vehicles & even mates

As for shutting your place down like a prison, unless you actually are literally shutting it down as good as a prison it's largely futile if someone wants to get your stuff, however you might deter the opportunists.
'course if your've got aluminum windows & the crim has even the slightest bit of intelligence he only needs 30secs to be in, regardless of the amount of deadbolts & window locks or latches you may have

[Jantar]

...'course if your've got aluminum windows & the crim has even the slightest bit of intelligence he only needs 30secs to be in, ....
Most windows I've ever seen have been glass or acryllic. Aluminium ones may not let much light through. :blip:

[Big Dave]

When you look around your house, for most of us - what is there to steal?

And some of us do OK :-P
We had over $30k worth nicked - fortunately it was insured.
The replacements are much better protected.

You can't beat them - the trick is to make it a harder target than the place 'next door'.

[Akzle]

i could care less about a TV (not that i have one) but they took a laptop with all my first daugter's baby photos on it, my camera with half a roll of film (yes FILM) shot... it's the stuff that's not worth money that they f*ig take anyway. and sell it on for less than even the hardware would be worth.

they also jacked a few airguns and my cash stash of ~2k$

but fuck it.

i believe in karma.

[Peeteey]

My dog is more valueable than any thing else I own, to me.

I understand that completely! :niceone:

[hellokitty]

You should worry, Daisy is so cute and adorable..! :msn-wink:


My dog is more valueable than any thing else I own, to me.

Yup, people do steal dogs....... I would be frantic if Daisy was taken.
I love my baby, who else would put up with my constant cuddling and affection? Would drive Mr Hellokitty crazy :(

[FJRider]

Locking the door when you leave is fair enough but some people go to great lengths to have security alarms and latches on windows, and deadbolts worthy of a prison. I can't see the point.

When you look around your house, for most of us - what is there to steal? If some yob wants to stagger down the street with my 46" plasma...good luck but I don't think he'll get far.

It is about the cost of a couple of jugs of beer to buy a new toaster at the Red-Shed nowdays ... and the TV you bought (second-hand) a while back is hardly worth mucn now either. But the hassle/inconvenience and cost of replacing it ... plus the repair bill for the damage they did on entering ... can mount up.

Some low-lifes would rather just pinch things ... and then save themselves the price the price of a few beers. And simply not give a thought for the rightful owners ...

[hellokitty]

Insuring your household contents is not only for theft, but for fire too. Imagine if your house burnt down, the cost of replacing everything, appliances, clothes, furniture etc, would be huge. I probably have $10K of bike gear alone.... may not be worth it, if I sold it, but if I had to replace it...

[Akzle]

Imagine if your house burnt down, the cost of replacing everything probably have $10K of bike gear alone.... may not be worth it, if I sold it, but if I had to replace it...

(insurance is expensive, until you need it.)

i rest my suitcase.

[steve_t]

Insuring your household contents is not only for theft, but for fire too. Imagine if your house burnt down, the cost of replacing everything, appliances, clothes, furniture etc, would be huge. I probably have $10K of bike gear alone.... may not be worth it, if I sold it, but if I had to replace it...

That's the bugger with replacement value vs market value

[tigertim20]

I have a relative who locks every window and takes half a day off work to let a serviceman into her home. No leaving a key out for access.

In fact I know plenty of people (mainly ladies) who are fearful of burglars. I do understand how unsettling the idea of a stranger going through your home can be but is the security paranoia worth it?

In reality, what have you got to steal?

In my case a couple of laptops, DVDs, a big flatscreen...and sod all else.

Coming from someone who was the victim of a home invasion, its seldom about what you have to steal. Your home is and should be, your castle. Its YOURS, a safe place for you to escape. I was home and beat the fuck out of the cunt that broke into my house, he was pretty seriously injured, this is MY home and i WILL defend it, myself and my wife. I am extremely lucky I was awake at the time, it could have been very different if I was asleep. that was about 2 years ago now. I used to sleep like a log, I still wake up to any small sound in the night and go charging through the house prepared to dish out extreme levels of violence to any cunt who shouldnt be there - its an awful thing.

a home invasion as well as a burglary basically result in the same thing, the sanctity of YOUR home has been spoiled, it no longer feels safe. Most poeple will survive just fine financially if the TV and a few items go missing, I think the more important factor is knowing you have a safe home that is yours, a place where you feel secure and protected. once thats gone, its a hell of a psychological mindfuck to go through

[SMOKEU]

Have to keep them cheeky kaffirs out somehow.

[Fast Eddie]

my security is a wee map of where the neighbours keep their spare keys, which I stick to the front or back door when I go out.

so far so good.

[Fast Eddie]

Have to keep them cheeky kaffirs out somehow.

flame throwers and german shepherds.

[BMWST?]

Insuring your household contents is not only for theft, but for fire too. Imagine if your house burnt down, the cost of replacing everything, appliances, clothes, furniture etc, would be huge. I probably have $10K of bike gear alone.... may not be worth it, if I sold it, but if I had to replace it...

make sure you itemize that bike gear then....a lot of insurance companies have upper limits of any easily portable items and prolly would be reluctant to pay out on 1000 dollar helmets or 700 dollar jackets

[Winston001]

Coming from someone who was the victim of a home invasion, its seldom about what you have to steal. Your home is and should be, your castle. ... I was home and beat the fuck out of the cunt that broke into my house, he was pretty seriously injured, this is MY home and i WILL defend it, myself and my wife. I am extremely lucky I was awake at the time,

I used to sleep like a log, I still wake up to any small sound in the night and go charging through the house prepared to dish out extreme levels of violence to any cunt who shouldnt be there - its an awful thing.

a home invasion as well as a burglary basically result in the same thing, the sanctity of YOUR home has been spoiled, it no longer feels safe. ....knowing you have a safe home that is yours, a place where you feel secure and protected. once thats gone, its a hell of a psychological mindfuck to go through

Ok that's an important point. A burglary is a home invasion no matter how little gets taken away. We should all feel safe and secure in our homes.

Good post. :niceone: