ouch... Robbed in PA

I agree but they have to have tools to do it. I think most wants to get in and get out quick.

EDIT: also if you have thick chains and thick padlock they'll have to work at it.
 
Cable, chain, trigger lock, and not having ammo next to the guns would have been good additonal steps to prevent being on the wrong end of my own guns. I think I had a near miss with the robber.

One of the lessons learned was not leaving cutting tools around. It was just dumb luck my broken hacksaw was in the garage.
 
A good way to learn how not to be a victim is to think like a thief. Plan on robbing yourself and you'll discover ways to do it.
 
good update.... 1st good news

Saw one of my rifles listed on GunBroker by a local shop. Shop owner seems legit and has ID on the local that sold him the rifle. Hopefully the police will be able to connect the dots and score one for the good guys.
 
That sucks. I was robbed at the beginning of May. Two guns were not in my safe. They found one. Lesson learned. The crime scene unit came the next day and got a couple of good prints off some liquor bottles they moved while looking for stuff. I still haven't heard a thing from the cops.

Glad to hear that you found one which hopefully will lead to the rest of your stuff.
 
The thieves being comfortable enough to get in your place in the first place is where you need to start.

Time to talk to a alarm company like ADT that will put a dozen stickers on the inside of your windows telling the burgulars,look -you are going to jail if you mess with what's in this property again.

Things like making sure your mail is not where someone can see you are not home,lights that stay on at night to light your property,no large bushes next to your house.

Anything you can do in advance that denys to a burgular any comfort that they can even get near your house without being seen.


Park an extra car in the driveway to make it loook like someones home-not in the back of your property where it's more convienant for you.

Even posting signs such as -"This property is under remote video survelliance at all times,All trespassers will be prosecuted,"

And most important of all is this.

No security technique you use will be effective if you disclose ways to defeat it to people you think are your friends.

You need to keep your mouth shut about just what you are doing and how you are doing it and especiually when you work late or when you are not at home.

Thieves love to know the homeowner won't be home for eight or ten hours.

Makes them all warm and fuzzy as they ransack your place.

And finally,definitely spend the eight hundred or a thousand dollars and buy a real gun safe and use long,heavy gauge screws to shoot it to studs in the walls of your house.

It would not hurt to have some kind onf sensor added to the room it is in so when the dirtbags come back they are greeted by a one hundred and fifty decibel air horn like sound coming right next to the safe.

Anything you can do to make a thief unsure he is safe is what you want to do-paramount is-tell NO one WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

And finally-you must stay alert to anyone who is prechecking your security peremter around your house so they can find a time that is best to break into your place.

This includes anyone who just shows up out of the blue or who starts asking unwarranted questions about your personal activities.

That's NONE of their business and you just got a break in who is stealing from you if they keep that up.

Sadly,it's usually someone you know and thought you could trust.
 
Amen to what BN said. There's this adage that's real close to true:

Watch your enemies close but watch your friends closer. The best advice of all is to keep your mouth shut. Confide in nobody, not even your kinfolks because they talk things.
 
im sorry to hear that man! Im only 30 minutes from Wilkes-Barre so ill keep an eye out for ya at gun shops to see if anyone has tried to bring them in and sell them
 
Thanks boosted.

Another lesson I'm learning is my serial numbers being in the data base means squat to shop owners... list is LE only. Some local police departments fax a hot sheet to local dealers, mine doesn't. I visited 5 shops today, few more tomorrow. I ain't giving up anytime soon....
 
latest update ... my suspect has the same IQ as the one in MLeake post #15.

He sold the 788 to a dealer less than 2 miles away. The dealer knew him from previous deals and checked his ID on this one. My cops have to wait their turn to arrest him. He is in custody in New Jersey on other charges, and is in the process of being extradited to a neighboring community here in PA on similar charges.

1 rifle + 1 moron in police custody. 3 rifles and handguns still out there.
 
Are the detectives so overworked that they can't do a search warrant on his home? Good luck in getting the rest of your stuff back.
 
they checked his last official address and several more recent unofficial ones..... they'll know more when he gets back from his visit to Jersey. Working theory is the handguns made the trip to Jersey with him but the hunting rifle market is better on this side of the state border.
 
Bought a used handgun at a local shop last month. Had to wait 21 days to pick it up. The shop had to hold it that long to make sure it did not come up on a list as stolen. Laws like that should help recover at least some guns.
 
Good job!

Glad you were persistent, Tom, and this goof is likely to get sent to the jail house for a while. People like you make it tougher for dummies like your burgler.
 
Thanks Redneck...... but....

I spent much of the day thinking what an idiot this guy is.... but this idiot has my guns and I don't... I feel less smart.... more updates and reflections to follow....
 
Sorry about your loss. U must live in the suburbs or in a rural area. I've found that the average city crooks only go for handguns whereas the ones in the outerlying areas will take whatever they can grab.
 
Ranger, I live in the city with only a driveway between houses.

Just got a favorable progress report from the police and may have very good news to post soon
 
Good update.

Suspect who sold my 788 to a local dealer is back from New Jersey, is in police custody, and so are three of my rifles.

He says didn't know me or that I had guns, He drove around and picked my house at random.

Broad daylight, not nighttime robbery as I first thought. He knocked on my door and nobody answered. He then went around back to the basement door and kicked it in. No chance my neighbors would have missed that a few years ago, but they are older, and inside running the AC on a hot afternoon...they missed it all.

He sold 3 handguns sold on the street to unknowns.... and Ruger 77 rifle 358Win is unaccounted for. ...more likely he knows but doesn't want to rat on who has them.

Police have my Ruger 77/44, Rem 788, and most importantly my Win 94. They say will return them asap and don't need to hold them for the trial.

Dealer who coughed up my stolen 788 and broke the case was out $200. Considering the book and sentimental value of the recovered guns I'm inclined to cover his loss and add some drinking money.
 
It makes me very happy that you got your stuff back, the important one anyway.

Pay the shop owner his $200 and a six-pack. Reward a good deed that returned you a priceless possession.
 
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