Security of coins and valuables - 'Tis the Season!

dsessom · November 19, 2009 3:16AM

In light of all the recent postings of burglaries, I wanted to start a thread on home security for those of us who actually keep our coins and valuables at home, and not in a safety deposit box at the bank. Not that I am any kind of expert on the subject, but I am an ex-Deputy Sheriff and I know that burglaries increase exponentially during this time of year, due to the holidays. As sad as it is, there are plenty of unscrupulous people out there who steal to provide Christmas gifts, etc. or just know that there are lots of goodies to be taken from homes that normally aren't there at any other time of year. So, please be aware of the recent increase in burglaries and do what you can to protect your valuables and your family!

I hope other members will add to this thread, and add ideas as to how to incease security for your home - specifically your coins and valuables, but general home security as well.

First, the obvious stuff:

1. ALWAYS lock your doors and windows.
2. Buy an alarm system, or some sort of intrusion detection system. These can range from a few hundered bucks to several thousand, but it's the BEST money you will ever spend.
3. Get a dog! You would be surprised at the deterrent power of having a dog in your house. Even a little bitty Chihuahua! They bark and make noise. Burglars don't like that!
4. Hide your coins and valuables. Be creative. Don't put them in dresser drawers, closets, or under your bed. These are common places for burglars to look.
5. Be aware of any unusual traffic/people around your house. Burglars usually case a location before they actually break into it.

Please feel free to add to this thread. Being proactive really helps, and I hate hearing of people loosing thousands of hard earned dollars to scumbags who think it's OK to steal from others.

slipgate · November 19, 2009 3:21AM

Have a decoy safe with common coins!

RyGuy · November 19, 2009 3:25AM

<< 5. Be aware of any unusual traffic/people around your house. Burglars usually case a location before they actually break into it. >>

This one is especially true! My fiance was mugged in our neighborhood a few weeks ago and our neighbors noticed an unfamiliar car in our cul-de-sac, which just happened to be the car the

drove away in. Luckily, a wary neighbor wrote down the license plate number and the lowlifes were caught.

Edited to add - We live in a rather affluent neighborhood which didn't have any crimes reported since a break-in in 1988! Just goes to show it happens everywhere, we're all vulnerable.

Kablemodem · November 19, 2009 3:30AM

My house was broken into a few months ago, but I was lucky and nothing was taken. I came home to find an open window and the screen on the ground, but there were no footprints that would have been left had they come into the house. My suspicion is that my parrot greeted them with a big Hello! and they took off. I now have an alarm system and I make sure my windows are locked.

A few years ago a DirecTV installer noticed a jar of change on my dresser. The guy commented that that was a good idea as a thief may be satisfied with that and not look for anything else. It was both reassuring and creepy at the same time.

2bucks · November 19, 2009 3:31AM

Lights! Thieves don't like the light. Replace any burnt bulbs on the exterior of you home. I really like the motion detecting flood lights...

Also, keep your pie hole shut!

notwilight · November 19, 2009 3:34AM

Try not to post your security plan on the internet. --Jerry

PrivateCoinCollector · November 19, 2009 3:42AM

Get a PO Box and have all coin related items sent to that address. Magazines, coin deliveries, etc.
A good fireproof safe that is bolted to the floor is always a good bet as well.
Never conduct a buy/sell from home if you can avoid it. Opt for your bank.
Ask your children not to discuss your collecting with their friends AND explain why.
Keep the collection insured (I know this is controversial)

dsessom · November 19, 2009 5:45AM

<< Try not to post your security plan on the internet. --Jerry >>

Good point! LOL

Generalities are OK, but definitely DON'T be specific about your security plan.

rld14 · November 19, 2009 5:52AM

Anything valuable I keep in the SDB.

However in case I get broken into I have a very sneaky decoy setup. I have a number of fake chinese coins that I bought off of eBay, they are in Capitol and Coin World holders with random fake price stickers on the back.

They'll find those, take em, and think they hit the jackpot

291fifth · November 19, 2009 5:56AM

Hire "contractors" to guard your house 24 hours a day.

JJM · November 19, 2009 5:57AM

<< Have a decoy safe with common coins! >>

..........

.....

...having them Insured for 2x there value for $27 dollars a year
under your umbrella policy aint a bad idea either

Justman7 · November 19, 2009 6:57AM

I have lived in the same sub division for many years, its a good place to live with friendly neighbors. I always locked my windows and doors when I was away from home, but never thought I would be robbed. A little over a year ago my house was broken into while I was at work. I came home to find the door kicked in. I do have safety deposite boxes but I also have coins at home. Unfortunately the thieves got a good amount of silver coins, modern coins, and cash I had in the house. Everyone please take extra caution this season and make sure your coins are well hidden if they are in your house! Be prepared because it can happen to you!

mkman123 · November 19, 2009 7:09AM

place deadly booby traps in your home such as mines, feces coated nails that are hidden under the carpet, a sentry gun, etc!

j/k

One contribution, if you visit a coin store, watch your drivers window when you drive away because sometimes burglars will go to coin stores and watch the person who is buying the most, etc and follow them.

Dropdaflag · November 19, 2009 12:18PM

Booby traps are a bad idea. All kinds of bad things can happen.

droopyd · November 19, 2009 3:18PM

<< feces coated nails that are hidden under the carpet >>

Bear · November 19, 2009 3:34PM

Booby traps can be considered a basis for a burglar

to sue you for any injury incurred due to the trap. In

case of death from the same cause, the family of the

deceased may file a law suit against you.

melvin289 · November 19, 2009 3:58PM

You can coat dynamite with crack cocaine and rig a booby trap. The police will think the crooks broke in, set up a crack lab, and it blew up. Thus, no law suit.

Ron

golfer72 · November 19, 2009 7:35PM

What does having insurance have to do with preventing theft?

Stew · November 19, 2009 10:00PM

I don't know if this will work for just anyone.
In my neighborhood there are a handful of neighbors that are very pro-active in the security of our area.
Any suspicious activity is checked out, If there is a vehicle or people moving through the neighborhood that
are not known they are watched until they either leave the area or are greeted by someone known in the area. (Visiting a Neighbor)
Just two days ago a vehicle drove to the back of the property of an elderly person in our area and they were trying to steal metal
from the property adjacent to theirs. One of the young men in our neighborhood witnessed this got in his Custom Chevy Blazer and went to find out what they were up to. as he approached they threw down what they had and close the trunk on what they had already acquired.
and took off quickly. Trying to get away with my neighbor in pursuit.
After ramming their little Honda car a couple of times they ran like hell to get away from him. Leaving the neighborhood the thieves saw a Police car and were heading for it (Scared to death I would imagine) As the thieves were going around the squad car my neighbor spun them a little and pinned them against the squad car. The Officer jumped out Surprised wanting to know what was going on. The thieves got out of their car trying to act innocent pointing the finger for the whole incident toward my neighbor. He responded by calmly explaining to the officer what he caught them doing and to inspect their trunk. Off to Jail the bad guys go.Back to working on his yard my neighbor goes. Time out of his day 20 minutes. Damage averted if elderly person had confronted thieves= Priceless
The Police released the the thieves a couple hours later due to the fact that they were minors.
That Afternoon a couple of neighborhood kids who found out what had happened had warned my neighbor that the thieves planned on coming back to destroy his Blazer for ramming them earlier in the day. Turns out that the thieves from another area near by go to the same school and were talking about what had happened and what they planned to do to my neighbor on Facebook or Myspace.
The thieves were warned by those that saw their posts online not to come back into the neighborhood that what happened earlier was just a small incident compared to what would happen if they returned and they should count themselves lucky that they got out with only a couple of bumps on their car. The Thieves insisted they were coming back. Needless to say they did not.
Even the children in my neighborhood are involved with watching their neighbors houses. By letting the kids know that this is THEIR neighborhood and if they don't want thieves here they have to step up and do the right thing.
WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR OWN SECURITY AND THE SECURITY OF OUR NEIGHBORS. Police can not be every where all the time.
Very seldom are the police called in our area and it is well known in the ranks of the Police Department that we Police our own area and help the Police Department any way possible.
Moral to this: Get you and your neighbors involved in the security of your homes and neighborhoods. If you see anything that is suspicious
get a squad car out there. You Know when something does not feel right in the pit of your gut. That is your instincts talking to you, Listen to them. If you are not comfortable getting directly involved like my neighbors and I then at least pick up the phone and call the Police.
They do not know what is going on in your neighborhood unless someone tells them.
That one little gut feeling that something is wrong could save you or you neighbor from being robbed or worse.
One phone call that stops a robbery or worse could make you a friend for life for saving them from a tragedy.
Just My 2 Cents

Stew

keepdachange · November 19, 2009 11:40PM

<< place deadly booby traps in your home such as mines, feces coated nails that are hidden under the carpet, a sentry gun, etc!

j/k

One contribution, if you visit a coin store, watch your drivers window when you drive away because sometimes burglars will go to coin stores and watch the person who is buying the most, etc and follow them. >>

I do not even want to imagine how one would go about "coating" nails with feces

ricko · November 20, 2009 12:17AM

Home security is paramount. And without getting into some of the paranoia so frequently voiced here, it is necessary to take proper precautions - much of which is outlined above, and the costs are really minimal - especially if you consider what most of us spend on coins. A good home safe (800lbs or more), bolted or secured to the floor or frame of the house, a movement activated video recorder in prime areas, a home alarm system (as mentioned), good neighbors who are aware and apprised of what to watch for, and of course, your own home defense system which includes training (and more training). I have over 300 hours of training in weapons and the applicable laws, have attended the civilian police academy and have several acquaintances on the force. YOU are responsible for YOUR safety and YOUR valuables. Prevention beats suffering the loss and pain of a robbery - or worse. Cheers, RickO

Stew · November 20, 2009 12:32AM

100%

kahokia · November 20, 2009 12:33AM

This may be a stupid idea, but for some reason it appeals to me: if you have a safe, place a strip of freezer tape on a space near its door and write a bogus combination, giving no idea of direction or number of turns. For extra credit, make a few of the digits ambiguous . . . is it a one or a seven, I dunno. It might cost a less-than-brilliant thief some time, or at least tick him off.

AUPT · November 20, 2009 12:41AM

I do not even want to imagine how one would go about "coating" nails with feces

>>

Step 1) Swallow the nails . . .

SNMAN · November 20, 2009 12:43AM

<< I do not even want to imagine how one would go about "coating" nails with feces

>>

Step 1) Swallow the nails . . . >>

Security of coins and valuables - 'Tis the Season!

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