House Break-In - Trains Stolen!

Very sorry to hear about that, Art!  It's surely a terrible feeling to be "violated" by scum-bags who break into your home and steal your personal belongings.  Thank goodness you have a vigilant neighbor.  He may have saved you an even greater loss if the thieves had elected to return.

Not good at all, Did they leave the Brute?

Naturally, we had to make an unscheduled and very harried trip to NC to have the door repaired and access the items taken more closely!

 

It is, as you said, that sense of having been "violated" that is most disturbing!

 

THANK YOU for your expression of sympathy!

Curiously, the Brute and its consist were undisturbed - probably too large and heavy to fool with - or they left in a hurry?? The Teak elephant chair probably weighed a couple of hundred pounds!!

 

Neighbors did not report any strange vehicles parked at my house.

Art,

Sorry to hear of this intrusion and theft.

Have you had an open house recently and home repair guys through that area?

 

Seems like they may have had those items targeted.

Ditto what Charlie said.  This is the main reason why I have never posted any pics of my trains.  It's like advertising - here's what I have, come and get it.

 Sorry to hear about the news and your losses.

 

Have somebody walk around the neighbor hood /Wooded areas. Maybe if they where on foot they stashed the stuff nearby or where spooked away and will return for it later. You might have a chance at catching them.

 

I hate hearing this kind of thing. I feel for you.  

 

Do you have any distinguishing marks on your stuff so we can be on the lookout on the usual sites?

It doesn't help you now but for the same reason I installed digital cameras and motion sensors along with digital locks. My daughters ex- boyfriend was taking stuff when we were at work and selling it for drugs. Plus I was getting tired of rekeying locks, so the new ones Schlage have a keypad and everyone has a user code. This way I get an alert when someone enters along with video of the arrival. Also door sensors will trigger the cameras when the doors are opened. My current collection (about 2 years) isn't worth that much yet, so not too concerned. Again, sorry for your loss and I hope it all works out. Dennis prr2818

Sorry to hear about that Art.  Hopefully they'll catch the dirt bags. Good luck.

I'm sorry to hear about your loss, but at least nobody was hurt. You have to wonder what would have happened if someone would have been in the house had someone been there...

Art:

 

Very sorry to hear this news. It always seem to happen to the good guys. Hoping somehow this will turn out as well as it can either through recovery or insurance.

Sorry to hear this Art,

 

I know the feeling, had my house robbed years ago.

The bad thing is that your trains are really not traceable (recorded serial numbers).

But if you browse the local pawn shops, you may find the trains there.

Even though you have insurance, this cannot replace memories.

 

The good thing is that there was not a confrontation, things could have been ugly.

As long you and your your family are safe, then the heartbreak is the memories of what these items meant to you (there is no replacement for that).

 

Keep your chin up!

 

Art...... . I am so sorry.

 

Peter

bluecometk, is right check the immediate area quickly. My step daughter had a house party (unauthorized of course) while we were away and the high schoolers just texted others and it got way out of hand. Everyone got thrown out eventually that eve and the next day when we got home all things were cleaned up and she thought she got away with it. I went into my office and had 2 -21"Mac computers gone, wife's jewelry gone, all my mens cologne gone! They had been drinking and smoking so to get rid of the smell take my stuff. All totaled, 18,000. worth gone Found the computers the next day stashed in the woods , but by that time it was pouring rain and ruined. I thought her mom was going to kill her, she is a great kid and got taken advantage of. Nobody ever caught and all is well except for very high homeowners for 3 years.

Art,

 

I'm so sorry to hear this. It's a real shame people like that exist in this world. Best of luck.

Very sorry and sad to hear about this Art....  This is one reason why we have a monitoring service 24hrs per day.  The other nice thing is the police station is only a couple of blocks away!!

 

Alan

Art,

I am so sorry for your loss.  You probably already know to do this but check out the area pawn shops.  in most cases, the thieves who break in to houses take the stuff to a pawn shop where they try and selL it.  It might be worthwhile for you to spend the day searching the pawn shops, especially the ones a little outside your immediate area.  My son was able to recover all of his stolen tools from one of the area pawn shops.

I hope they find these idiots and they recover your property.  

Ed

 

That's a shame Art, we're really sorry you've had to go through this.

I'll check Asheville's craigslist from time to time and perhaps you can keep watch on other cities within a 50 mile radius or so...

 

Perhaps talk with the local police about posting a reward to try to lure the b*stards back?

 probably the worse of all our fears is this happening. It almost sounds like they're pros? Kids would take at random and nowadays they just smash stuff.

 I can only wish they catch the scum bags for you! Good luck.

Wow.  That really sucks. 

 

Just a thought for you to contemplate moving forward.  Hire a security expert (one who only consults - does not sell security devices) to assess your property and determine what deterrents you can add.  For example, they may suggest changing the entry door from one with windows to one without windows.  Although I have no idea if the door has windows, I am using that as an example.  And they may suggest a locking mechanism that locks the door at the ceiling and floor as well.

 

Hope all goes well and that the folks are caught and the goods returned in the condition in which they were taken.

 

 

Art,

So very sorry to hear about this. Thank God you and your wife are safe. I hope that somehow there will be a happy ending and the scum bags will be caught and that you will get your items back.

   

Sincerely

Your Friend

Frank

Art,

 

Very sorry to hear about this theft.

Ginny and I have a redundant alarm system and a back up that a thief would be best not to encounter. E-mail me for some suggestions.

 

Eliot

 Man that sucks   !

 

 About 10-12 years ago a man who had for years put up a Christmas display had about $10,000.00 worth of trains stolen.Unfortunately he didn't have any insurance on his collection .

 

 Smart move on your part,good luck with your recovery .

I am sorry some worthless clowns got your things.That really sucks big time.To have your home broken into.I hope they get caught.

THANKS to ALL for your expressions of sympathy! 

 

Between the TCA Insurance and my collectible riders with my homeowner's policy, I am covered. Only regret is that I did not etch any ID marks into each item! 

 

There are only about 8500 people in the entire county, so it would be highly unlikely someone would try to fence the train items locally.

 

The carved elephant chair was a one of a kind item we purchased in San Francisco about a dozen years ago. The wine and the trains we can replace.

 

Luckily, they also ignored the Z-4000!

 

I am also as others sorry for your loss. Your post will get some of us to think about this issue in more depth.

I can only hope that some police officer will always remember a stolen One of a kind Teak elephant chair weighing a couple of hundred pounds!! and catch the dirt bags.

It doesn't help you now but for the same reason I installed digital cameras and motion sensors along with digital locks. My daughters ex- boyfriend was taking stuff when we were at work and selling it for drugs. Plus I was getting tired of rekeying locks, so the new ones Schlage have a keypad and everyone has a user code. This way I get an alert when someone enters along with video of the arrival. Also door sensors will trigger the cameras when the doors are opened.

This is definitely ALL Forumites should SERIOUSLY consider installing. IF anythin, the cameras tht cn record at the very least! Well worth the investment for times like these!

I have double locks on both front and back doors. Also double hung windows. Twice someone tried to get in but they couldn't make it through the window.

Very sorry to hear of the break in. It is very disturbing and unfortunately getting more common each day in the US. We were broken into back in January. Fortunately, the deadbolt on the inner door of the garage was set and it stopped them. I promptly invested in a 4 channel DVR security camera system. Huge deterrent, and allows for monitoring of the property 24/7 from anywhere.

 

That chair may be their demise. Its huge! Unless they shop it up and burn it, it will be easy to spot at local flea markets or in there have them there, pawn shops. If you have pawn shops there, drop off a list with photos if you have them to all of the local shops and ask them to call the police. That is how we caught the punks who burglarized our Florida home.

 

Good luck

 

Gandy

Sorry to hear this disturbing news, Art.

 

Unless break-ins, are a fairly common occurrence, in your neighborhood, I'd at least be suspect of someone local; who knew something about the contents of your house.

 

Even if you are insured, beware - your place could be hit again; thieves have been known to return, once they think your insurance has replaced the stolen items.

 

Also, they may not of had the time to take everything they wanted, during the first break in; on a return visit, they can finish the job.

 

Be vigilant; have your trusted neighbors keep their eyes and ears open.

 

I wish you the best...

 

 

Rick

 

Sorry you had to experience this Art. Hopefully you'll get to recover some of the stuff somehow. Before I moved into my current house I was going there on weekends to do work. When I went out to the garage to get a tool it had been half emptied out! To this day I still don't know which tools I have and which ones were stolen. Local cops were no help.

These cameras I have will record from 15sec to 2 minutes on each event occurrence and are stored on a server away from the house. I get an alert and can view the live or recorded video as well as download the video file to provide as evidence if ever needed.

probably the main reason i don't join the TCA or other organizations that publish home addresses.  the internet knows me as overlandflyer or gary.  even a last name which is often required for registration is a dummy and my posted picture is rather obscure.  i will tell you that i live in San Diego (maybe), but good luck finding me.

 

cheers...gary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's practical and relevant advice. Also watch Craigslist and Ebay. Not just to recover items but to track down the culprits. If someone could post photos of the stolen items that would help folks know what to look out for.

hello guys and gals............

 

Is thief a problem with brass locomotives as they are much harder to carry away in a hurry ? 

 

the woman who loves the S.F.5011,623

Tiffany

Art;

Sorry to hear about this, but glad you had good insurance.

Good luck on recovering from the various pawn shops, it is possible.

 

Wild Mary;

Hear hear, and ditto except different breed dogs but I added a monitored Alarm as well. Nobody comes near the place. We had a rash of car break ins and a couple home intrusions in the area not long after we moved in. None of our stuff was touched.

The thieves knew not to touch stuff with alarms. My car wasn't even locked but that little red led flashing on the dash kept them from even trying the door !

Thieves may be dumb but they are not blind.

Oh yes, the thieves were caught, pawning the loot less than 2 miles away in the same town.

Like I said, dumb.

Smart folks get a job and don't have to steal.

 

PS

Time to Chlorinate the gene pool I say.

oh i'm sure my method isn't foolproof but i see no reason to have my street addressed published by an organization and mailed out to thousands of members when i mostly communicate online.  there are plenty of people out there who's personal information is much easier to obtain.

 

though if you do manage to locate me and get inside, be sure to smile for the camera(s).  my system actually calls my cell phone and sends me a picture if there is a change in the view.  handy if there are pets or an earthquake involved.

Sorry about your loss.

 

A few tips:

 

always keep your windows locked

every exterior door should have a deadbolt. Keep both locks on each door locked when your not home. 

Install a storm door over your exterior door and keep that door locked.

install window well covers that lock but can be unlocked from the inside.

install a security lock bar on your patio sliding doors.

install a motion alarm on both panes of patio sliding door glass.

install timers on your lights

 

most criminals enter by kicking in a door. If you have a storm door over your exterior doors, it significantly decreases the chance of someone kicking in your door. Most criminals if they break glass to enter will do this from the rear, and it's usually a sliding glass door. If you have a motion alarm, which sticks to the glass and sounds when there is a heavy vibration, he will most likely leave when he causes the damage. These alarms are very inexpensive. If you have window wells and don't have them covered, your asking for a break in.

 

dont spend money on security cameras unless they are high enough quality that you can identify the suspect off of the video. Otherwise your just paying for the entertainment of seeing what happened.

 

 

 

oh and of course there's the second amendment. Just keep them in a safe and secure place.