Home Broken Into While Traveling
 

My friends who live in a relatively wealthy and very safe area flew from the US to Europe recently. They left around noon and sometime over the next 7 hours their house was broken into. One relative was to stay at the house and discovered it about 7 hours after my friends left....and maybe only minutes after it happened. No one other than friends knew of their trip. It is very coincidental as one of my friends is not working and stays at home every day other than the daily trips around the neighborhood.

One suspicious character is the shuttle bus driver to the airport. The driver knows they were leaving for an extended trip since they were traveling very heavy (with very good reason). This was just friendly chatter on the way to the airport. Anyone else hear of such coincidence? I used to travel a LOT and never thought twice about this mere small talk but thinking about it now, a shuttle bus driver is a prime side job for burglers with great "benefits" of knowing when and how long people will be away?

It's easy to guard against this. Just drop in conversation the notion that someone is still in the house when you get the shuttle.

Did your friends post it on Twitter:D

First of all, I feel for your friends.

Second, I think it's a useful precaution to consider. Of course, we of all people blog about our upcoming trips but our address is somewhat masked and we do live in a gated community with 24-hour security, armed guards, and Rottweilers. ;)

Many years (1950s) in Santa Barbara CA the police broke up a burglary ring orchestrated by some employees of an ambulance company listening to the police radio and figuring where the cops were and weren't.

It's more than an urban myth, according to Snopes, that some low-lifes plan burglaries by reading the obituary and/or wedding column and breaking in during the event.

Yes, unfortunately something to consider when leaving on trips.

Cheers,
Fredd

I was robbed at home during a MR to the West Coast a few years ago. The robbery was committed by somebody who had a key (perhaps a disgruntled former employee of the apartment complex). As an amazing coincidence, it was the same MR where I made both EXP and 1MM!

The value stolen was about $2,000, and insurance refused to pay. Well, I figured that it was still worth doing the MR because the value of my eVIPs far exceeds $2,000 (in fact, each one can be worth up to $2500 if used to maximum value).

Yes, I probably would have been robbed eventually even if I hadn't taken the trip. But, I learned my lesson. I changed my locks to Medeco Dealer-Based-Keyway (DBK) cylinders so that nobody can make copies of the keys except me (ID and signature matching required). Key security is a big problem nowadays in apartment complexes.

Brat husband is a professional locksmith. Highly recommends Medeco, one of the best high security locks in the business. He always says the best security is also a barking dog and nosy neighbors. We have both.

airlinebrat 53

When I leave my home, I don't lock the doors and my storage sheds don't have a lock anyway! But I don't need locks, I have neighbors who know who belongs and who doesn't and my home is on a ridge with only one way in. My home is in rural Montana. I have not been home in almost a year and have no doubt that nothing has been stolen.

there were people staying there.

No twitter or facebook. I read about this online about doing this is a no no. I do know some frequent travelers who do this. Not a good idea.

They have 2 dogs but were too friendly.

Thanks for the recommendation on the Medeco locks. I heard the same from someone else but can't read any good reviews/recommendations on them.

I hope this thread is a reminder to others to be aware when we are out and about.

Cheers.

Thought about the driver too even though I always travel light.
As they take my bag, I tell them I'll be with them as soon as I "arm" the house, which I do.

Its stopped one potential intruder when they started to remove a screen, scared them off.
If you live in an apartment, they make totally portable versions too, might be at Best Buy.

I used to get NRA static stickers in my renewal membership mailing; I put them in all the windows at home. Thieves *really* don’t want to mess around with an armed household.

If you’re going to have an alarm system hooked up to a phone line, make sure your DEMARC is inside your home to prevent someone from disabling the line.

Many apartments are master keyed, which reduces security enormously. I'd have pursued the apartment complex over the loss, since not rekeying apartments and other security flaws are often the cause.

A patented key system, such as Medeco or Assa can be quite helpful, but if you believe that no one could ever get a copy made, then I have a bridge to sell you. Medeco Biaxial DBK systems have a limited number of keyways, and they will repeat many times across the USA. Also when the patent ran out in 2005 (2007 in Canada), then keyblanks could be produced by anyone.

Another possibility to consider is that it was the relative who was supposed to be staying there. Maybe he/she blabbed to the wrong person about staying in a home in a wealthy area. Perhaps a workmate who would know the relative's schedule?

Isn't this a way that Secure Flight(tm) could make travel less secure?

The more personal information you are required to share while you travel makes it easier for criminals to discover when you are absent. A TSA TDC would be a great asset for a local crime ring.

I have heard that you should put your work address on checked bags, rather than your home address. Otherwese every baggage handler knows you are travelling and has your address.

If your bags are lost, you can always request they be sent to your home when you fill out the lost bags claim.

Curious as to why the perosn whose apartment was "robbed" (really burgled) did not get reimbursed by insurance. Insufficient documentation or a loophole? What is the point of having insurance against burglary if they don't pay your claim?

I'd guess because there was no proof of forced entry. If someone uses a key, bump key, or picks the lock, then it's difficult to prove that you didn't just take the stuff yourself.