Friday Not A Good Day:

[painman]

Probably the most effective way to protect yourself, outside of animals, is to get a Community Watch and get involved. I have in my neighborhood and stopped some crimes, put up NO Trespassing Signs, and got others(Trusted) to follow suit along with my trusty portable protectors that can be anywhere(at least in this state).
May things go well for you and don't over react for a time...lightening can strike anywhere....Just ask John Ramsey.

Silver, my wife is block captain of our neighborhood watch program. Kind of ironic isn't it? My fault for not having an alarm but I'm sure it would have helped in our situation. You just never think it could happen to you but believe me it could have been much worse. Kind of glad we only had rank amature's raid us as these guys really missed some oportunities to have hit us much harder. I have a solid door that goes from inside the house to the garage where the bikes are plus a Caddy and have it set up so you have to use a key to get into the garage from inside. Needless to say they couldn't get into the garage where there's a safe and other goodies also. I talked to my insurance agent and we only had $2500 for coverage on jewlery and that really hit us in the shorts as we probally lost over $6000 worth. So check your policies and make sure your covered on what you've really got. We had no records of what we had and just had to go on memory of what was there. Some of the jewelry was my wife's grandmother's that is really personal items that could never be replaced also because of the sentimental value. The punk they caught is still locked up and we also talked to the DA today and charges are suppose to come in tomarrow for the thief. For sure we are going to stay on this and hopefully he will rat on his little buddies so we can lock them up too. Four houses were hit very near ours the same day by the same group and ours just happened to be first. PM. <><

 

[evilmedic13]

Sucks to hear about that, glad everyone is okay and even happier PD caught the little pricks. 11 and 12 yo olds :glare: , starting young on what is sure to be lives well spent, on the taxpayer dime of course. Good thing you didn't have to use your weapons, waaay more drama than is needed! Any more comments from me would not be very welcome, so I'll leave it at that.Again, glad you're okay, awa your family!

Evil, concerning what I had said about using a weapon, anyone who has a weapon in their home has that weapon for mainly self defense in that home. While it would be the farthest thing from my mind to willfully go out of my way to use it, still the ones who are carrying weapons are sad to say, young people who are totally misdirected in their lives and are the ones to most likely use a weapon. I am from a background that I have had much training in the use of a weapon and am not a sadist just waiting for a chance to use one. But believe me if your 12 or 80, you break into my home and make an overt action even simulating the use of a weapon I will defend myself just as any citizen or police officer would. Heaven forbid that day but that is sorry to say is reality. I know I would use every bit of restraint I possiblly could but like you said, glad were ok and I'm still glad me and my family wasn't home. The officer handling our case said he is really surprised more people haven't been killed or injured as a result of break-ins. Anyone who commits a crime such as what happened to us takes that chance plain and simple and really deserves to be should I say, put out of their misery and all this is really not drama, it is reality. As you said, I'll leave it at that. Take care Del.<><

You said everything I wanted to other than some class related comments. The only drama I meant was the BS that would come your way in the form of "wrongful" death suits, unwarranted and for the most part,beatable, it's just that you'd still have to hire a lawyer to defend against an otherwise waste of time lawsuit! Not to mention, when I killed a guy 12 yrs ago it still beat me up inside to the point I swore I was gonna have a nervous breakdown,no matter how it broke down, I had still made someone leave this earth, even if it was an accident. Only time I went to church after my Mom died, that was 7yrs before, and haven't been back since, me & the "big guy" have an understanding now.

That's all I meant, I am pro death to anybody that is a menace to others, like rabid dogs, I think they should be put down quickly. If you shot and I was the medic, I think my concern would be more for you and your mental status, I assume you're a good shot so I wouldn't have to waste any time on the "victim".

I see it too much to care anymore, come over to Chicago and I'll show you kids just like that out at 4am, doing/dealing drugs,etc everything they can to deprive themselves of a life away fom prison or a funeral home. Unforunately, some of those kids are probably smart enough to cure cancer, instead they're killing each other and then some. :angry:

My .$02, for those who don't agree, read my forum name again.

 

[painman]

EM, what you say is right on. It is those of us who are still alive that have been there that have to deal with our emotions and some of those time just cannot cure. I'm praying for that boy while he's in a captive atmosphere and maybe he also can make some sence of his life with the man up stairs. We only get so many chances in life and mine was in 1994 when I came out of a life of drug addiction and really just being stupid. I did the church thing then but I never stopped going and am now in ministry with motorcyclists and some other crazy Christians. I tried everything else I could get my hands on but really this is the only thing that works for me. I just hope something good can come from this situation that has happened. But personally I'm thankful for those who do your line of work as not everyone can handle the situations you have to deal with I'm sure. Several in my family are in the medical field including my daughter and you guys deserve way more than what is given. Take care, PM. <><

 

[03HiYoSilver]

Painman,

May the force be with you. The good news is at least you have the suspects and you can take them (and their parents if they are minors) to court and get yours losses back in monetary value. I know it won't bring back the sentimental items but perhaps, they may cough it up to keep from paying the $$'s.

I took some minors(and their parents) to court last year for vandalism on my property and won the case and my $$ losses. It was not much and time consuming, but I felt it was my civic duty to take a stand and perhaps the minor would learn a life lesson...the parents are probably a lost cause.

My best to you and with wishes you get your belongings back along with peace of mind!

 

[kaitsdad]

Del,

I've been there. Our home was burgled in 1990 by professional thieves - and we were hit hard. The neighborhood was cased, routines established, and when the timing was right, we were cleaned out. The homeowners' insurance paid out quite a bit - and the settlement allowed me to buy my first home computer (which in 1990 was a chunk$$) so there was a bit of a 'silver lining' aspect to the whole thing.

Hasn't been a problem since.

Your issue now is the feeling that your family has of being violated - that their home has been tainted with the presence of someone that was not welcome. Even though it was sub-teen children (scary, isn't it? ) they were still in your home.

Please be thankful that they were cowards, and entered when they were certain that there was no one home. Had one of you been there, the outcome could have been much different.

So - take the settlement check, install an alarm system, repair the damage, and move on. Have a neighborhood watch meeting, and continue on with your lives.

May I suggest new paint, carpeting, skylights, etc., ? Change the place - make it 'new'. And give your family hugs, ok?