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GAH [Jul. 14th, 2009|11:18 am]
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[Current Mood | annoyed and tired]

bums! got burgled at 3AM last night. Al was still up and noticed the internet connection drop as they unplugged everything in the living room and then a few minutes later he heard the door shutting behind them and wondered if it was one of us coming in. no sign of anyone by the time he got down there - which considering they had my shiny 32" Sony HD TV means they must have had a car.

they also took Al's EEEPC and my old nokia 6300 phone. and fuzzy's housekeys to open the front door. which unfortunately were his bike and bike chain keys too. arse.

nice policeman turned up at 6:00am and took details after he went I phoned into work and told them I wasn't coming in. SOC came round about 10 and proved, to my relief, as i suspected that they'd come in through the window in the living room (which they'd had the good grace to shut behind them thus confusing us) - by forcing it when it was open in vent mode. they left a couple of bin bags which the police should be able to get prints from (and foot prints from me walking round probably too before I twigged) and they took prints from the window.

it was a relief because I *remember* locking the door behind me when I came in at 8 last night and no-one else went out. but then you start to doubt yourself and worry about the insurance claim...

our landlords, Handley Gibson Twaite, have sent someone out to see us and very quickly and after he's dealt with a slightly more pressing water pipe burst somewhere he's changing all 3 locks and putting a new catch on the window (it's really wobbly)

all in all very annoying but a good wakeup call to the security of the house - that window lock was a bit wobbly before and I know that if it had been fully shut they wouldn't have been able to get purchase on it. nothing of sentimental value was taken (well apart from my beautiful shiny 32" sony widescreen telly *sob*) and we're a little wiser.
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Comments:
[User Picture]From: [info]blondelass
2009-07-14 10:25 am (UTC)

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Bugger! Really sorry to hear that.

But why yours? It's not like they could have just been strolling past and thought "ooo, there's an open window".

Hope you get the insurance sorted.
[User Picture]From: [info]sarah_orange
2009-07-14 10:27 am (UTC)

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lots in the area last night apparently and one attempted one over the road... perhaps they thought there'd be less chance of getting disturbed at the bottom of a cul-de-sac?
[User Picture]From: [info]daevid
2009-07-14 10:33 am (UTC)

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That was my thinking too... I take it most of the students have gone or are going...
[User Picture]From: [info]nigelh
2009-07-14 10:45 am (UTC)

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At a guess they pick on an area and go hunting within it for "easy" targets.
[User Picture]From: [info]maviscruet
2009-07-14 10:35 am (UTC)

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That is a massive pain. Bastards.
[User Picture]From: [info]purpledonna
2009-07-14 10:37 am (UTC)

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Goodness, at least you were all unhurt.
[User Picture]From: [info]daevid
2009-07-14 10:40 am (UTC)

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That is the main thing!
[User Picture]From: [info]ebb
2009-07-14 12:22 pm (UTC)

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Yes. This.

Sorry to hear about it but luckily they didn't damage any of you and took things which will be covered and (hopefully easily) replaced by insurance. And improved house security is never a bad thing.

*tea*
[User Picture]From: [info]sarah_orange
2009-07-14 01:16 pm (UTC)

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*biscuits*

(Well if I wasn't on a diet)
[User Picture]From: [info]dracven
2009-07-14 10:44 am (UTC)

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Bastards. At least no one was hurt.
[User Picture]From: [info]wibblefish
2009-07-14 10:48 am (UTC)

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scumbags, hope they get em and glad you are all ok.
[User Picture]From: [info]lostlorelei
2009-07-14 10:54 am (UTC)

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That is rubbish, poor you :/ xxx
[User Picture]From: [info]kantti
2009-07-14 10:55 am (UTC)

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Oh dear, poor you. Hope insurance claim all goes smoothly.
[User Picture]From: [info]kynon
2009-07-14 10:58 am (UTC)

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Bar stewards.

Still, it's only *stuff* that's been lost.
[User Picture]From: [info]sarah_orange
2009-07-14 11:48 am (UTC)

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exactly - if it had been my pc I'd have been *gutted* but important stuff is upstairs and these are just opportunists looking for shiny stuff
[User Picture]From: [info]sinibar
2009-07-14 12:21 pm (UTC)

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It's the difficulty in nicking / sale value ratio that's critical. Sounds like your lot knew exactly what they were doing. They'll have been disappointed not to get a haul of DVDs and only get a cheap lappie, but they wouldn't have known that when they targeted your place.
Fortunately most things that have sentimental value fall below the too difficult / too little value threshold for the professional house-breaker. It's the twats with a drug habit to feed that smash windows and take *anything*.

Security, BTW, is just a matter of making your house less attractive to burglars than the ones around it. More than that is unnecessary and just inconveniences you. The reason I say that is because I know several people who've gone way OTT with security after getting burgled (although I doubt you would anyway). I've actually got *less* security conscious as I know what will be nicked and frankly I can afford to lose it. The real valuables are either worthless to them or are very well hidden indeed.

A good tip BTW is never to leave keys around, then they have to get whatever they're nicking out an unlocked window or however they came in.
Also consider padlocking your PC to something relatively immobile. If they need more than a pair of wire-clippers to get it they'll leave it.

...and of course, my sympathies.
[User Picture]From: [info]ruby_noir
2009-07-14 11:31 am (UTC)

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Pricks. Does make me appreciate the bars on my windows (and stress about the two out of three locks on my front door that don't work!). Must be a relief to know for sure that you didn't leave the door open - after my car was nicked, I spend ages second guessing myself about whether I'd left it locked. Hopefully the insurance will play nice and replace all your stuff quickly... and if they did leave prints, the police might even catch the bastards and let you guys have 5 minutes alone with them and the barbarian axe!
[User Picture]From: [info]twokan
2009-07-14 12:05 pm (UTC)

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fuzzys "customer service tool" should do nicely. A claw hammer with a stanley knife tapped to it
[User Picture]From: [info]twokan
2009-07-14 12:06 pm (UTC)

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sorry to hear that hun, do they just follow you and al around?

Think i better make another cider delivery soon
[User Picture]From: [info]malcav
2009-07-14 12:07 pm (UTC)

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Awwww sorry to hear that chicken. glad no one was hurt though.
[User Picture]From: [info]plushy
2009-07-14 12:08 pm (UTC)

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Ah gahds! I live in fear of the day I'll get burgaled, it's bound to happen to everyone once isn't it? :( Sounds like police and landlords are being really good and proactive though which must help you feel safe again. If it's going to happen, them's not bad circumstances for it to happen in. Plus obviously you guys are all ok which is the most important thing :) Hope it all gets sorted quickly! x
[User Picture]From: [info]toxicpixie
2009-07-14 12:21 pm (UTC)

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Arseholes :(

Nathan, the Toxic Pixie
[User Picture]From: [info]breadlord
2009-07-14 12:51 pm (UTC)

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Did they get your 360? I've still got one you can have if they did...
[User Picture]From: [info]sarah_orange
2009-07-14 12:53 pm (UTC)

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nope - I think the wii and the 360 were next on the list but they probably heard al moving about
[User Picture]From: [info]ulfilias
2009-07-14 12:52 pm (UTC)

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Arse....*BIG HUGS*

Its always aweful when something like this happens, no matter what they take or not....its the invasion of your safe space that jars the most....London 3 times in 5 years was grim.
[User Picture]From: [info]_pyromancer_
2009-07-14 01:36 pm (UTC)

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Bastards. "May they get what they truly deserve".

At least nothing irriplaceable taken, and hopefully you'll be able to get an even nicer new flatscreen with the insurance money.

Does the living room door lock? Possibly think "layered security", when leaving the l/r, lock the door from the hallway side (and leave the key in the lock, turned through 90 degrees), so that even if someone does get in through a window they can only get back out the same way - makes it hard to nick large things like TVs.

(*HUGS*)
[User Picture]From: [info]sarah_orange
2009-07-14 01:52 pm (UTC)

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a simpler but similar solution is to not have keys round as you need keys to open the front door...

we have learned!
[User Picture]From: [info]blondelass
2009-07-14 02:08 pm (UTC)

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I always take my keys & bag upstairs with me. I've heard of people having keys pinched with a bit of wire via the letterbox, even when they're half turned.
[User Picture]From: [info]bikerfaerie
2009-07-14 09:07 pm (UTC)

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I always have my keys in the front door in case of fire, wouldn't like to think I couldn't get out.
[User Picture]From: [info]tonyyoung
2009-07-14 03:50 pm (UTC)

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sorry to hear i have been robbed before and its not fun..but it definitely gives you the wake up call for more security
[User Picture]From: [info]smoke_rising
2009-07-14 04:17 pm (UTC)

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That's awful. I'm very pleased nobody was hurt, that's the main thing.

Hope all insurance stuff gets sorted with minimum stress. xx
[User Picture]From: [info]purplefreakgirl
2009-07-14 04:36 pm (UTC)

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As said to El Fuzzy, Bastards!!! Its a horrible feeling but at least it was just stuff and nothing that important to you all. Fingers crossed they catch the gits and chop their hands off!
[User Picture]From: [info]redjel
2009-07-14 04:43 pm (UTC)

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oh no! How dreadful! Do you have insurance?

I was burgled when I lived in Manchester, and I thought nothing would ever come of it but they left their prints on the window climbing in and the police caught them and they were prosecuted. Fingers crossed for a good outcome for you!
[User Picture]From: [info]karliflower
2009-07-14 05:41 pm (UTC)

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Shit news. Glad they didn't get upstairs and get anything more. Glad the police have actually been useful and you have a decent landlord. From the tone of your post you seem to be handling it better than I would in your situation. Hope you're okay.
[User Picture]From: [info]emma_emily
2009-07-14 08:07 pm (UTC)

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*hugs* Well done you for not freaking out (not sure i would be the same!).

xx
[User Picture]From: [info]bikerfaerie
2009-07-14 09:09 pm (UTC)

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That's really crappy. *hugs*
[User Picture]From: [info]defiance23
2009-07-14 10:35 pm (UTC)

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Bastards, glad that the po-po and the insurance have been helpful though. Hope that they catch 'em and that you get your stuff replaced.
xx
[User Picture]From: [info]pyropaws
2009-07-14 10:40 pm (UTC)

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Gah, rotten scum :S Can't believe they had the gall to do it while you were all in.

Glad to hear your landlords are getting all your locks sorted and hope that you get your things replaced without too much hassle *hugs*
[User Picture]From: [info]miss_behave
2009-07-15 08:57 am (UTC)

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Bastards!
[User Picture]From: [info]big_daz
2009-07-15 02:47 pm (UTC)

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One way of deterring burglars is wiring the door handle to the mains. Which will learn 'em.

Unfortunately, if they come in through the window it rather makes that idea redundant..
[User Picture]From: [info]sarah_orange
2009-07-15 03:06 pm (UTC)

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am considering greasing up the window frame to at least make it unpleasant :)