Do You Worry About Your Train Stuff Being Stolen?

Don't have any extra testosterone, I only have my Beagle Boy (and he ain't a watchdog), me (and my experience) and the police, who do a great job!  That is true, though, this topic does come up now and again.  It's just fun to respond.  Matt 

quote:

yea ,it would be a problem ,theres already too many dog,cat,whatever pictures posted on here cluttering up the forum. i understand other members interests besides trains and railroading,but its time the line be drawn.-jim

 

Gee... the folks running the OGR board do allow a little bit of latitude. I see photos of pets, guns, cars, planes and what have you on a fairly regular basis. I wouldn't mind seeing a picture of Allan's new buddy.  Nobody has to look at threads that aren't of interest.

"The bottom line is that if you're denying those rights to someone for their potential to abuse them or do anything wrong, they're no longer rights for everyone, at all."

 

I do not agree p51.  Not every one can drive, for example. Yes, I know it is not a "constitutional" right, but we have regulations because of the potential for some to hurt others.  Why should some one with no mental capacity to handle a firearm safely have the "right" to do so and hurt others, as they do virtually every day in this country?

 

But, we are not going to "solve" anything here.   I respect others opinions and will most certainly NOT shoot them for having them.

Heat seeking missiles in a defense perimeter...maybe land mines would be more practical.

This thread has managed to equate free floating paranoia with toys being taken. Weird...but everyone thinks we are weird anyway so.... what the heck? How about a cheaper solution ..dig a moat and add a drawbridge. 

I think this topic is going astray.

I believe chances are if you are robbed,  like I was once,  it will happen when no one is home,  and they will take things like cash,  jewelry,  tools,  and electronics,  and leave your trains alone.

Knew an antique book dealer who was robbed once.   They took his TV and left the book that was valued at over $20,000 alone.

I live in Oshkosh WI. Really? 

Nope! - NO guns or dogs - but TCA  (J.A. BASH)  blanket coverage.   

 

(My immediate neighbors are heavily armed) 

NO

Sure, but there are all those zoning permits and variances to contend with.  

In my case, an unsympathetic HOA that looks down on boiling oil and catapults.

no

Makes sense. A TV can be sold much easier than a $20K book. Most crooks wouldn't know the value of that book, anyway.

I have a cheap dummy flintlock hanging on a wall in our living room. A pal of mine who was a cop once told me that most crooks look to take what they can before they're likely spotted, so if you put stuff out in the open that looks good, they might just snatch that and not go looking for the better stuff. No clue if the theory is valid but it makes some sense.

he also told me that most computers never get taken because computer stuff is constantly evolving and it'd take way too long to unhook everything anyway.

Plus, you know the layout of your house, they don't. I can walk thru mine blindfolded. I did catch 2 guys in my house in Fells Point, I chased both of them, caught one of them, he went to the hospital then he went to jail. The cops told me and the guy who caught him he was glad we beat his a##, if they did someone would have videoed it.

 

Jerry

mixerman/Jim,

You're one heck of a nice guy. I cannot understand one thing, though. Why can't you lighten up just a little bit? Life is far to short to be so stinkin' serious all the time. I realize what the rules state. We both know that the rules are somewhat flexible. We don't want to break the rules. We just want to bend them a wee-bit .

 

Nah!

 

Read: Matthew 6:25-34

 

KD

 

Too many other more important things to worry about than my trains getting stolen. If somebody needs my ratty old Marx tin bad enough to break into my house they can have them! LOL

 

Besides, they'd have to pass up the TV and my wife's laptop to get to the trains. To do that they must be fellow Marxists! 

Same here. 

 

I have far more important things to worry about. 

We have no guns in the home. Study after study has demonstrated that your chances of being killed or injured with a firearm are multiple times more when there are guns in the house, than if there aren't. The evidence is irrefutable. If you want to protect your toys, there are safer ways to do it (although personally having my toy trains stolen is near the absolute bottom of things I worry about). Here's a summary from one source:

 

"Having a gun in your home significantly increases your risk of death — and that of your spouse and children.

And it doesn’tmatter how the guns are stored or what type or how many guns you own.

If you have a gun, everybody in your home is more likely than your non-gun-owning neighbors and their families to die in a gun-related accident, suicide or homicide.

Furthermore, there is no credible evidence that having a gun in your house reduces your risk of being a victim of a crime. Nor does it reduce your risk of being injured during a home break-in.

The health risks of owning a gun are so established and scientifically non-controvertible that the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a policy statement in 2000 recommending that pediatricians urge parents to remove all guns from their homes.

Study after study has been conducted on the health risks associated with guns in the home." 

That's the craziest logic (I am hesitant to even use that word here) I've ever read...

Well, no freaking kidding you're more likely to have something bad with a gun if you own a gun as opposed to not owning one at all. That strongly falls under the, "No [S], Sherlock" heading.

 

But the problem with such 'studies' is that they're often biased against who paid for them. And I mean in either way to look at this issue.

So NO, it hasn't been 'proven' at all. For everything to back one side of the issue up, there's equal 'evidence' to support the opposite conclusion.

And yes, I'd write the same thing if someone made generalizations for the opposite viewpoint as well as I find either comment that any view on this subject has been 'proven' to be downright laughable because neither case is actually true at all.

Yep, a new pooch will likely be messing up the house a bit sometime around spring. He or she will obviously come from the shelter where I volunteer regularly.

 

As for the "stolen trains protected with guns" thing...I'll steer clear of that discussion. I'm a Life Member of the NMRA and I'm also a Life Member of the NRA. 

Hogwash.  That is right from the talking points of 7 persons who work in a tiny office inside the beltway.  They call themselves the "coalition to stop gun violence".  Here are the stats these lobbyist groups wish were not published by the CDC and FBI:

 

 

Dusk to dawn lights by front & rear doors of house and by both sides of garage door, fluorescent yard light in back yard lights up back yard and between house & garage.  Backed up with motion sensor floodlights.  Deadbolts on all doors and window blocks on house & garage.  Then if they get through that they get to meet the Anklebiter. No one except us gets in the door unless he is restrained on a leash. Even our good friends & neighbors call us before coming over because they don't want to deal with him. We got him from a rescue shelter & we were told he had been abused by his first owner. Most of the time he's a good dog for us but if his face starts twitching it's time to watch your own feet & hands. I wouldn't want to try coming in the house without him restrained.  Ouch!

I wonder what the statistics would be if firearm suicides and firearm unintentional deaths were added to the firearm homicide number.   Too many of our returning vets are shooting themselves.  Too many kids are shot by other kids.  Don't you remember when an instructor was accidentally killed by the young girl shooting an automatic weapon?  Another item that isn't shown in the above statistics are the terrible injuries.  James Brady and Gabby Giffords are just two examples.

 

You can almost get statistics to prove any point depending on how the data is presented.  The fact is that firearms take a terrible toll each year in this country.  First world nations with stricter firearm laws do not have this level of daily violence.  For example, four people were shot dead on the streets of San Francisco a couple of weeks ago and it did not make the national news because this kind of crime is so common.  I recall a report that about 90 people were shot over the 4th of July weekend in Chicago a year ago and about 10 died.  

 

Joe

 

 

Yes, my trains have already been stolen twice.

 

Bill

In 2008, my home was burglarized, they used my own wheel barrow to remove my gun safe, they took my PC a camera and a few small items. They walked right past my Legacy FEF-3s, GS-4 and many other $600+ locomotives that were displayed, didn't touch a single one, my trains are one of the last things that I worry about being stolen.

 

Guns and Dogs? LOVE em' BOTH, doesn't even have to be a Shepard, Doberman or Rotty, I have seen an 85 pound Golden Retriever come around the corner of the house at O dark thirty, Hell bent on protecting property and Family, Thank Heaven he recognized me in the Dark.

 

 I have a CCW, and carry whenever I can. I HAVE had a gun in my FACE, and know what it is like to breathe through the barrel of a 38 special, I wouldn't wish it on any one. That was before I was old enough to own a handgun, and I often think about how LUCKY I am to be able to write this.

 

 A gun is NOT EVIL, it is simply a tool, no different than a hammer, some times BAD PEOPLE do bad things with them. The courts have repeatedly ruled that the Police are NOT responsible for your protection. My Wife and I have decided to accept the responsibility of protecting our Family and Loved ones ourselves. Others may choose differently, that is their choice. My Step-Daughter is 17 and the youngest in the home, both She and her Brother, have been taught proper Gun Safety, so small children are not a major concern. When the Grand-Daughters visit, we DOUBLE CHECK that ALL Firearms are properly stored, and the Granddaughters are NEVER left unsupervised, for many reasons, firearms in the home is only one of them.

 

Theft of my Trains? not something that I even think, much less worry about.

The Safety of my Family and Loved Ones? ALWAYS on my mind, whether it is an Intruder, Fire Safety, Safety on the Water, and of course Firearm Safety.

 

Doug

Many years ago a number of neighbors had been broken in to. Pre cell phone days as I left the house noted some guys that looked a little suspicious dropped into a friends a few blocks away and asked them to call the police, giving details we had a lot of break ins. Drove back home as I turned into the road one of the guys was near the side fence back of my yard watching, he turned and ran and other guy jumped out of my yard and ran. Drove back up to my friends and asked if they had called they said yes I asked them to call again telling them they were in my yard. Then drove back home, again same thing the guys went running from my backyard. This time drove into garage a bit scared and called the police again asking where they were. They said they had not sent anyone as no full description given. So now they sent someone. About 20 minutes after the call police stopped 2 guys walking several blocks a way that meet the description. They had break in tools were well known criminals. When I asked police later on and asked why they had attended so many neighbors and spent so much time with finger printing and trying to see who had broken in why would they not have come earlier when called!!! No answer.

 

After this was a bit worried about the basement for break-ins. Added bars, alarm and warning stickers, then let the blackberries grow up around the fence of the back yard.

 

The worst part of regular insurance even with a special rider on a collection is that you have to purchase replacement products to match what you had before. That can be pretty well impossible to match a lot of stuff that was released many years back.

 

I did a detailed video of everything that I could record in the whole house especially the train collection  and put copies of this in secure locations off of site just in case of something like a fire or major break-in.

 

It is always worth while taking extra precautions against break-ins. If you house is difficult enough perhaps they will just as soon go to an easier target one of your neighbors that is not as hard to break into.

 

Jerry

 

Nobody in their right mind would steal Hot Waters trains, he doesnt keep the boxes.

We've been through the whole break-in experience.  Though, we were on vacation and the home was empty, the thieves only took small electronics, jewelry, and things that they could carry.  We think it was some local neighbors.  Ironically, we had guns at home, and they didn't take em.  They looked at em, but didn't take em.  They ransacked the house.  It looked like a Tornado or Tasmanian Devil went through the house.  They looked at the trains, which were in plain sight, and only apparently knocked a loco over, while trying to get to some small stuff on the layout.

Since the break-in, we have moved, and now we have really great neighbors, who watch out for each other.  Being that our layout is not built, and we are still in move in mode, the train equipment is still packed away in their boxes.  I'm not too worried here in our new home, plus from a security standpoint I am adding IP cameras and flood lights to the perimeter, once it warms up a bit.  And though people have their opinions about firearms, I believe in them and their practicality.  Here in KY, we have Castle Doctrine, and we are by far one of the most progressive States as it relates to how it applies to us.  

 

From a Weapons training and usage standpoint, though I prefer not to utilize deadly force, unless absolutely necessary, I do have my training from my time in the Army, to which my instincts revert to when situational awareness kicks in, and I will do whatever is necessary to protect my family.  If somebody wants to come into my house with the intent of causing harm, they will leave in a body bag.  Our trains are not worth shooting someone over.  If they want em that bad, they can have em.  That is what Insurance is for.  Everything in our house of value is documented, photographed, and backed up on cloud servers in password protected folders.  

 

On the other hand, when it comes to the safety of my wife, kids, and the dog, I will use whatever means is needed to protect them.  Police response in our area is approximately 5-10 minutes responding Code 3, and though we have officers that live in our neighborhood, I cannot count on them to respond to my home if I am calling 911.  My .45 is always on me, and it only takes me 1.5 seconds to draw on a subject.  1.5 seconds is much faster than 5-10 minutes in a life and death situation.  And I have firearms strategically placed throughout the house, so if I need more firepower than my .45, its not hard to get to something that will punch a larger hole in an intruder.  Dogs are great, and ours is quite protective of us, but if somebody throws him a steak, he is useless.

 

Definitely an interesting topic.  I loved the guns and backhoe response.  My wife read it, and started laughing to no end.

Short answer, no.

 

We take common sense precautions -- lock the doors, good home alarm system with cellular back-up, perimeter lighting, and interior lights on timers. 

 

Statistically, the likelihood of being burglarized while you are home makes the Powerball seem like good odds.  That being said when my sister and I were very little (I have no recollection of it), my parent's house was robbed while my dad was away and my mom was home.  The thieves did not know my mom was home, most likely.  They held her at gunpoint while they cleaned out the house.  She didn't care, and she never expressed any desire to turn the inside of our home into the OK Corral.  Rather she made sure we were quiet and safe.  As she has said many time since then, "people before things."  And of course, they moved out of the hell-hole that was known as 1970s NYC.

 

Thanks for all the Great Replies, and Suggestions Everyone!!

Remember to keep your car doors locked, and watch where you park when transporting your Train Stuff.

K.C.

Alarm system, outdoor perimeter lighting....and Max the guard dog.......

 

 

 

Peter

No.It is a bad habit to worry about every waking adverse thing that could happen.I enjoy having my layout/trains and thats all I think about.If my trains get stolen,I will take whatever the ins.Co.gives me and go shopping for new ones.Nick

Some of the replies are pretty humorous.  The best way to secure your trains is as others have stated.  Good locks, lighting, an alarm system, and common sense when it comes to securing your home. Dogs make a good deterrent and most thieves will move on if they know dogs are around but some will still venture in and be able to work around the pooch.

 

A weapon of any kind won't do a hill of beans when you are not home when 98% of the thefts happen.

 

Prepare and secure your home or living space.  Get insurance and go about your lives.

As unfortunate as the vets killing themselves and the gun related crimes are, there is a deeper problem present than the availability of firearms. Those who wish to kill others or themselves will find other means to do so if there is no gun available.

 

Now let's get back to the trains!

I am not making this up this really happened to me.I got robed 2,the second time while at work.Broke in and stole my dvd/vcr,tv and cloths.Well when I got home I noticeed the aircondistion was remove from its placed.Called the police and long story short.They took my things and sold them to.My aunt who lives at my grandmother house.I suspect the police knew who it was though.But I was so happy to have some of my things back.I didn,t make a big deal about it.But the person who did this.Is gonna break in some one home.And the home owner is gonna be home.And this person is gonna get shot dead.As for my trains were un touch  and didn,t mess with my computer ether.

Yes, please!

 

 

 Well the high dollar aspect isn't a concern here, like it or not! But, I used to worry, and would have likely lost them at least one of the two times I was robbed, if they were not in storage. The neighborhood I'm in today is much better, but not immune.

  Like many other recent isues in other threads, I feel proper education, and maturity about guns (or lack of) is the issue. Kids always have been, and will always be interested in this hunting, and defense tool. Actual teaching outweighs most other "best intention, preventions".

  I took air rifle classes at the first age opportunity afforded, encouraged by my one rifle owning father, because his was in the home. He only test shot it once ever, then just cleaned it once, or twice a year. Without the class, and my history of curiosity about things? ....no telling. So to this day...good call Dad! 

 I won some regional contests etc. No BBs were issued to neglectful handlers at this school, those worthy graduated to pellets, then real weapons, in accordance to their proven handling skills, and not until. With proper safety even the worst shooter capable shooter is safe. Learned they were not toys not even BB guns. That a toy gun could get you killed, and could be seen as a real one. My buddies and I, ended up pointing even cap guns, just a little to the side out of force of habit

 I earned the right to fire a rifle in 3rd grade, but I own no powder guns now to protect my trains with...or have stolen. Haven't in over 30 years, though I actually really like them, and at the range, outshoot the cops I know, except one.(using their guns too) Still have my Daisy.(see tag line)  

  Some others staying with me now bring the dogs total to 270lbs for 3 dogs. Even if they love you, it can be an issue to remain standing around them if excited. And they would be.

 On vacations, I do hide 2 childhood locos, rocket launching car, and my Wells Fargo gunfighter car.

 Hopefully they take the TV, computer, jewelry, and stereo instead of the dirty old trains .

 

    

My security measures are confidential, but add to that special insurance against damage or loss...

 

It is not really something I worry about much.

There is one danger that apparently hasn't been addressed here...

There's always the chance someone might know of your trains and they're into that, too. Then, they break in as they know what you have. If nobody's gonna see it, why not?

That's happened to a few friends of mine who collect historical military stuff. Only stuff from their collection was taken and no other rooms seemed to have even been entered.