Well, Someone Just Tried To Break IN My Home.... This Just May Do It As Far As My Collecting Interes

stman · March 22, 2005 1:54PM

I wasn't able to catch him but he had some guts coming on my porch while I was here.
I really don't own that many coins these days, and anything of real value is kept at the safe box.

But as a collector only I might keep a couple low value pieces here to play with. I'm not a paranoid type of
guy and only wish I could have caught him.... I tried. I've never liked the idea of not being able to sit and enjoy
my favorite coins at home. Now I don't feel comfortable to have anything related to Numismatics whatsoever around the house.

There is a good possibility I'm done with all this as coins don't give me enjoyment sitting at the bank.
Never did, but I felt comfortable to at least have a couple things around to look at. All books everything will be outta here in the morning and I'm thinking very seriously of selling what I have. Except what I have put away for my darling Granddaughter.

Just thought I'd share this with you folks.

jmccarthy1983 · March 22, 2005 1:55PM

Start collecting shrunkin heads and label them Thief #1, #2 etc and display them in windows.

poorguy · March 22, 2005 1:57PM

If you let the wannabe theif do this to you, then in a way he has stolen much more than any material possession.

Cladiator · March 22, 2005 1:59PM

Had a similar occurance recently, sucks.

gyocomgd · March 22, 2005 2:01PM

Are you sure he was after you coins specifically?

ElectricEye · March 22, 2005 2:03PM

Keep the coins. Get a safe. Buy a rifle.

Boom · March 22, 2005 2:03PM

Man, that stinks stman. While I do understand, don't let this make you give up something you enjoy. In that case the bad guy wins and we can't have that. There's ways, you know......

stman · March 22, 2005 2:12PM

The person (who I only saw from the back) seemed to be just some low-life. He had to be pretty young the way
he jumped over my gate when I was after him. Talk about mans best friend? That Beagle Boy in my sig line got very serious.

I don't know that he was looking for coins as I don't discuss these things with anybody else around here.
That's why I've always enjoyed this forum to see and share with you folks. It's not like you can talk with the neighborhood about it.

It's not I'm letting the jerk win, like I said I get no enjoyment keeping everything at the bank.

sellsatan · March 22, 2005 2:15PM

The house I bought has a heavy old floor safe secured to the joists and covered by carpet. If it wasn't for that fact I'm sure I'd be very paranoid about having the bulk of my collection in my house. Unless you know the safe is there (and only I and the previous owner do), you'd have no clue. That makes me feel better.

Strat · March 22, 2005 2:26PM

Stman,

I hope you continue collecting coins, I would hate to think this incident causes our community to lose someone of your caliber. In that respect, we all get robbed. Keeping coins in the bank presents issues as well, and it's not very convenient or enjoyable. Just continue to be discreet, keep your books, 'cause there's a great deal of enjoyment in numismatic lit, even if you end up selling your coins. Most of all, take some time before making a final decision.

Bear · March 22, 2005 2:29PM

Where were your brothers, Smith and Wesson?

Sandhawk · March 22, 2005 2:31PM

or your German cousin, Glock ???

TommyType · March 22, 2005 2:34PM

<< Had a similar occurance recently, sucks. >>

Same here.

Spent about $1000 on a safe and security systems around the house, (if you count the new Dewalt drill used to install it.)

Chances are any thief would have gotten away with much less....but it's the principal!! Fix your surroundings in the way that makes the most sense to you, then go about your life.

Don't let 'em win.

Tom

FullStepJeffs · March 22, 2005 2:38PM

Stman,

Find out what the law is in your state... in Texas, they'd be dragging him off in a body bag and congratulating me.

Again, as someone already said... by changing your life and selling everything you own.. he won.

Steve

relayer · March 22, 2005 2:47PM

Sounds more like you need coin insurance.

Also put up video cameras that monitor the perimeter of your house, motion sensors in the yard with lights; then motion sensors inside and a wired alarm; and a weapon as the last line of defense.

Unimental · March 22, 2005 2:48PM

Total bullsh!t. Whether or not the ba$tard was after your coins, it's completely unfortunate. It doesn't take much to lose your sense of security.

I got held up at gunpoint about twenty yards from my apartment a few years back (prior to any coin interests). I still have dreams of grabbing the gun and making him beg for his life. Yeah, it sounds pretty harsh... but anyone who's lived it will understand (at least a little bit).

Argh. Rage.

Lakesammman · March 22, 2005 2:57PM

Agree - buy a gun.

TUMUSS · March 22, 2005 2:59PM

<< Keep the coins. Get a safe. Buy a rifle. >>

And a Dog!

numobri · March 22, 2005 3:05PM

All I can say is,

BUMMER.

I hate my stuff being at the bank.

oldcameoproofsguy · March 22, 2005 3:28PM

That sucks stman!!!

RAD · March 22, 2005 3:58PM

<< 

<< Keep the coins. Get a safe. Buy a rifle. >>

And a Dog! >>

Actually, a shotgun is a much better home defense weapon, especially if you are untrained....but in any case, should you get a weapon, TRAIN WITH IT!!! I know how you feel, though...when I was a teenager, our home was broken into and much stolen (no coins, thankfully). It make you feel violated....

michael · March 22, 2005 4:20PM

the market is really good right now and if you deside to sell your collection

you should get a fair value for your collection

SaintDennis · March 22, 2005 4:57PM

That was pretty brave of you going after a thief. What were you going to do with him after you caught him?

SMS · March 22, 2005 5:37PM

Maybe that's why most coin collectors are also gun collectors.

2ndCharter · March 22, 2005 10:16PM

I guess I'm the fortunate one here. While my hobby is collecting coins and paper money, my wife's hobby is raising and training German Shepherds. We usually have at least three or four of them running around the house (not counting litters). Lots of dog hair to clean up but no troublemakers come around here.

etexmike · March 22, 2005 10:30PM

All of my coins are kept in a safety deposit box at the bank. Of course it is only a 5 minute drive from work.
My job is pretty flexible so I can see them whenever I want.
It does have be between the hours of 8 to 4 and Monday thru Friday.
I think that is a small price to pay for my peace of mind and I still love to collect coins.

-----------

etexmike

BAJJERFAN · March 22, 2005 10:46PM

<< Actually, a shotgun is a much better home defense weapon, especially if you are untrained.... >>

There is nothing quite like the sound of the action a pump shotgun being cycled to make even the toughest crook squirm in his shoes.

DominusDeus · March 22, 2005 11:17PM

Kind of a bad idea to keep guns and stuff in your home. Expecially if you're gone and a thief breaks in. Say goodbye to the guns. Expecially so if you happen to come home while they're still inside. THEY would then have your guns instead of YOU.

You guys should check out It Takes A Thief on the Discovery Channel. Very cool show.

ScarsdaleCoin · March 22, 2005 11:24PM

what makes you think he was breaking in to steal your coins....maybe he was just breaking in to steal.......

CarlWohlforth · March 22, 2005 11:31PM

That is terrible stman!

I came outside to find my car window broken and most of my stereo robbed. Some of it was left behind to what was taken was useless. I sure felt violated though. Crime sucks.

goose3 · March 22, 2005 11:36PM

Stman....

I'm not sure why you think this guy was coming for your coins but here's my best somewhat educated guess.

Your place probably appeared to be empty and this turdbag just happened to be in your area looking for such a place. I would bet that he was looking to steal stuff he could carry off quickly and easily such as cash, wallets, purses, jewelry, and even small electrical gadgets such as DVD players, PS2's, etc....

With all the drug problems today, this guy is probably a meth-head or a heroin addict. They will steal the shoes right off of your feet while you're standing there to supply their habit.

I highly doubt he comes back to tango with you again because he knows he will be in for some trouble if he does.

If you leave, turn exterior lights on outside your house as well as some interior ones and possibly even a TV. When I leave my house (we live out in the country) I turn the tv on and leave a light on and close the blinds. I also have a HUGE light out front that comes on. Don't leave any cash or small valuable items laying around where they can be seen through something like a window or door when you are not home.

Also go outside and look around your property. Trim any shrubs/trees away from windows and look for places to install some security lighting. I have also considered having a security system installed at our house but I have seen firsthand how they work for 10 years and they are basically WORTHLESS! I might opt for some exterior cameras to be installed at some point and hooked up to my pc at some point down the road.

I certainly wouldn't give up collecting because of this piece of dung.

bare25man · March 22, 2005 11:42PM

i dont belive it would really matter whether you collect or not- if you sold out and put a sign on the door NO COINS some scum bag would have to check it out. If its not coins it would be something else.

K6AZ · March 22, 2005 11:51PM

<< Keep the coins. Get a safe. Buy a rifle. >>

I disagree.

Get a safe. Buy several shotguns. There is nothing that puts more fear into a would be theif than the sound of a pump action shotgun.

Hedger · March 23, 2005 12:06AM

Sell some of those coins and get a nice double barrel 12 gauge.

TonedPeaceNut · March 23, 2005 12:07AM

I agree with the others -- don't dump the coins. Buy a good safe. I'm not sure it has to be a huge bolt to the floor 3000lb one. Personally I would have to keep that one in my garage and I think that the garage is the easiest place to gain access to in the house and thus the easiest to steal. I'd put one up on a 2nd or 3rd story that weighed enough that it would make it heavy enough that two people couldn't carry it away.

I also agree with the shotgun idea, the sound of the pump action is so distinct that everyone in the world knows it. You might never need to fire it just based on that sound. If I were a thief and heard that slide action pump, I certainly wouldn't wait to see if it was actually loaded before I got my *ss out of your house.

And finally, a security system might not be a bad idea. Anything that causes them to hurry out is a definite plus in your favor.

Most thieves usually aren't prepared to deal with a safe even if you aren't home. They want small fenceable items that they can carry and leave quickly with. Most theives aren't experience enough to deal with safes or how to drill them correctly. And any thief who is, might not want to be bothered with a home safe anyway cause how is he to know what you really have. You could have grandma's receipes or goldbars in there. He'd rather hit a coin store or jeweler and know what he's getting.

The best that you can do is put in place layers of protection and make your home uninviting to a thief.

Sorry about your ordeal,
TPN

Nysoto · March 23, 2005 12:27AM

Stman,

Don't let the scumbag ruin your enjoyment of numismatics. You are doing the right things - keeping most coins at the bank, and not talking about your collection with your neighboors. Coins in the bank are not as enjoyable, you can always rotate a few coins every couple of weeks and keep them in a home safe (or a hiding place away from the safe).

I hope you will keep enjoying the hobby and posting here, I admire and respect the honest opinions of your posts.

Bill

Smittys · March 23, 2005 12:28AM

I'm sorry about what happened, a safe and alarm is best. A bigger dog too.
Gun kill people, and sometimes they kill you. Second do you really
want to shoot someone over coins. And what if they break in when you're
not home and steal your gun. Know you have an armed thief. JMO

ksteelheader · March 23, 2005 1:06AM

<< Where were your brothers, Smith and Wesson? >>

And my cousins, Sturm and Ruger?

gyocomgd · March 23, 2005 2:54AM

Sounds more like you need coin insurance.Also put up video cameras that monitor the perimeter of your house, motion sensors in the yard with lights; then motion sensors inside and a wired alarm; and a weapon as the last line of defense.

stman · March 23, 2005 3:04AM

Hi folks, and thanks for all the comments. The way I grew up and the place, we just didn't talk about what we might have under
our belt for protection. I've always gone by the theory if you're gonna pull something out you better use it (and I would.)

Most things mentioned in this thread I have well under control. I guess it's the part of feeling violated that sticks in ones mind the most.
Someone mentioned get a bigger Dog? Heh, you just don't know how tough this Beagle boy in my sig line can be.

Although he don't like me to tell people that with me he is just a lover boy.

Russ · March 23, 2005 3:08AM

Security systems are pretty useless if they are only the silent alarm type. If you install one, make sure it comes with a bleeding ear inducing high decibel siren. I got hit twice in under two months, and the scumbags just ignored the alarm company stickers all over the windows. They figured it was just a silent alarm and they'd have plenty of time before the cops arrived. What they weren't counting on was the siren that goes off after 10 seconds. The way crap was scattered everywhere, it was obvious they went running when they heard it.

BTW, after those two hits, I added iron bars to all the windows, bolted through the building frame, a camera and motion sensitive flood lighting. Slimeballs are lazy, and it would now take far too much effort, (like ripping out the building frame), to get in.

Russ, NCNE

Lostandfound · March 23, 2005 3:45AM

Stman, I feel bad for you and hope like others that you will not sell your coins and your enjoyment because of this thief. Looking at the number of posts you made over the years, I think you would miss the hobby alot!

The people on this board gave some great advice for protecting your coins and if you had a #1,000 safe, the thief would not be able to junp the fence with it.

I wish you the best of luck, and give yourself some time to settle down and think it out.

carl · March 23, 2005 7:19AM

I agree with everyone about getting a gun if you don't already have one. Kind of let friends and neighbors know you go to shooting range. Word gets around. Try some of thoes fake motion detector cameras that activate when something goes by them. Make sure you have lights on timers all over the place especially the porch. That person probably didn't know you were home and may have been casing the place for a while so change your habits of coming and going. If you use charge cards for lots of stuff remember they leave a computer record of when and where you were at a certain time so change your habits not your hobby.

Nickelback · March 23, 2005 11:44AM

It's unfortunate we live in a country where this crap is so rampant. Security is not just passive, and safety deposit boxes, home safes, security systems, dogs, and firearms all have a place in protecting you and yours. I'd say your best weapon against thieves is your own intelligence and good old common sense. Evaluate your home for "thief opportunity" entries; if you decide on a security system make sure it wakes the dead; if you decide to arm yourself make sure you learn how to use (and where to keep) your firearms; know the local laws regarding how to respond (in some places you can't confront potential suspects because you might violate their rights if you harm them), and remember: keep your coin interests alive in your home! - you're not taking them with you. Insurance is a good choice but as my old drill instructor used to say in the Corps: "Effective communication has many forms. Sometimes a good left hook is as effective as a dissertation. Just depends on who your communicating with..."

Michael

Well, Someone Just Tried To Break IN My Home.... This Just May Do It As Far As My Collecting Interes

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