Foo - GF's house was broken in to today.

My GF's house was broken in to today. She still lives in FL (for now).

I'm 3200 miles away....what can I do to help make her feel better (and safer)?

- call ADT and pay for the install and first six month's monitoring...

- sorry to hear this...

p.s. or, tell her to drive out to Tampa, pick up the round-trip ticket to SeaTac waiting for her, and fly out to see you for a week!

^^^^^What he said. Sorry about that bro. :(

Mich tells me to sleep with a gun. But then again that's Mich. :rolleyes:

I sleep with the knife instead. :D

web cam and software so her home computer can record intruders?

Unfortunately there’s no easy fix, especially from such a distance. An alarm is a great idea, but she’ll probably still feel unsafe for some time. I’m not sure I could ever feel safe sleeping with a weapon.

^^^^^What he said. Sorry about that bro. :(

Mich tells me to sleep with a gun. But then again that's Mich. :rolleyes:

I sleep with the knife instead. :D
+1 with linux_author.

I would surprise her by sending her a bouquet of her favorite flowers.

I feel really bad for whoever breaks into Siu's place. Hopefully, it would never happen. *knocks on wood*. I'm sorry to hear about this KT. I hope she is alright. She might be a little shaken up so try to comfort her.

I also agree with Torvalds, plus some flowers would be a good idea.

web cam and software so her home computer can record intruders?
Nice idea....but that was one of the things stolen.

- call ADT and pay for the install and first six month's monitoring...


Yes, so they can monitor you getting robbed.

Buy her a big dog.

Awww man :( :( :( Thank goodness she wasn't hurt!

Nice idea....but that was one of the things stolen.
new computer?

new computer?
Hook it up and they steal it again, web cam and all?

buy her a ticket to GNW

just another reason Florida sucks...

just another reason Florida sucks...
+Eleventybillion on that one!!

Yet another reason I wanted out.

That sucks. I hope she's okay.

Obviously, have her file a police report. Contact the insurance company to replace what ever was stolen.

Send her flowers with a round trip ticket or better, fly out there, deliver the flowers yourself and spend time with here there.

Here's a tip: take a video of your house showing what you have and the serial #s. You might also consider keeping item/serial #/description on an Xcel spread sheet. Update it annually, keep a copy in your safe deposit box or at least in another location. Video is good, I find that digital pics of the item and the serial # is better, burn that to a CD and update annually.

That's horrible! I think she needs a big dog as well. Is she going to move closer to you?

Is she going to move closer to you?That's in the eventual plan....but she's going back to school and the schools out here will put her on a waiting list, so she's stuck in FL until Sept. next year.

My GF's house was broken in to today. She still lives in FL (for now).

I'm 3200 miles away....what can I do to help make her feel better (and safer)?
KT ~ I am so sorry to hear about this/there are a few things that can be done. As I am in Industrial Security, I may be able to offer some advice/PM me if interested...

+Eleventybillion on that one!!

Yet another reason I wanted out.


I was broken into some years ago. I know how she feels. Some druggie I am sure. The druggie called me that night and wanted me to buy the stuff he stole from me! How he got my number I do not know. [back before C-phones] I said "okay where do we meet?" But I called the police and gave them the info. They arrested him, went to court and ordered to pay restitution. I have not seen a dime.

I was broken into some years ago. I know how she feels. Some druggie I am sure. The druggie called me that night and wanted me to buy the stuff he stole from me! How he got my number I do not know. [back before C-phones] I said "okay where do we meet?" But I called the police and gave them the info. They arrested him, went to court and ordered to pay restitution. I have not seen a dime.
Yeah....she is not far from you. She lives in Seffner (North Brandon).

Sadly it's easier to get the stuff back through illegal means than through the system.

KT, look into the IBM thinkpads that have the tracking modules inside of them...I forgot what it's called, but I know they offer them since one of my past employers used laptops with those inside of them.

Basically it "phones home" to an IBM owned server whenever it's connected to a WLAN or hardwired connection....this is at the NIC level, so it will phone home regardless of OS reinstallation, etc. Basically it assures someone gets caught, hopefully the thief if they are stupid enough to boot it up around a unsecured hotspot and see what's on it.

I second the security system....good plan. Peace of mind of some form is worth more than simple restitution....you may want to advse her to change ALL passwords, etc. If the crook is smart, they could be looking for cached passwords and the such. Yes, it's a huge hassle, but when done, it's further peace of mind.

....you may want to advse her to change ALL passwords, etc. If the crook is smart, they could be looking for cached passwords and the such. Yes, it's a huge hassle, but when done, it's further peace of mind.yeah...I've already talked to her about that.

^^^^^What he said. Sorry about that bro. :(

Mich tells me to sleep with a gun. But then again that's Mich. :rolleyes:

I sleep with the knife instead. :D

I sleep with the puppies. Better than either, built in homing and multi strike capacity.

Im sorry to hear that KT.
Thieving is personal violation that goes beyond just taking stuff.
Scum. Kharma happens.
Due to a family situation I have to spend a year in FLA
and am dreading it. Stuff like this only makes my dread seem more real.

I sleep with the knife instead. :D

Knives make horrible self defense weapons.

If you are ever in the position where you have to use it, the assailant is also most likely armed, and they wont hesitate.

You have to be close to the assailant.

You have a chance of getting yourself hurt as well, a knife is equal opportunity.

You're better off with a weapon to bludgeon with, that way you can be further away from your attacker and do just as much damage, plus it looks more threatening when you show up with a bat rather then a 7" folder.

You're better off with a weapon to bludgeon with, that way you can be further away from your attacker and do just as much damage, plus it looks more threatening when you show up with a bat rather then a 7" folder.
That's always been my standard. I've kept a bat beside the bed ever since I moved in to my own place at age 19.

That's always been my standard. I've kept a bat beside the bed ever since I moved in to my own place at age 19.

I prefer the 9 iron.

Yeah....she is not far from you. She lives in Seffner (North Brandon).
Puhleez "North Brandon"? :roflmao: It's friggin SEFFNER.

Puhleez "North Brandon"? :roflmao: It's friggin SEFFNER.
When I lived in Gibsonton, I told everybody I lived in "South Brandon".

She doesn't like to claim Seffner any more than I wanted to claim Gibsonton. ;)

Personally, I wouldn't bother with the alarm. I'd place a lot more emphasis on making sure all of the doors have a sturdy lock (get new ones if necessary), and that the windows lock. Then make a habit out of always, always locking the house at night or when not home. And for cripes' sake, don't leave an extra key under the Welcome mat...

Sorry your girlfriend had to go through this, KT. Any chance you could swing a visit for a few days, or at least the weekend? That would probably help her immensely.

Knives make horrible self defense weapons.

If you are ever in the position where you have to use it, the assailant is also most likely armed, and they wont hesitate.

You have to be close to the assailant.

You have a chance of getting yourself hurt as well, a knife is equal opportunity.

You're better off with a weapon to bludgeon with, that way you can be further away from your attacker and do just as much damage, plus it looks more threatening when you show up with a bat rather then a 7" folder.

WTP I forgot to mention that I sleep with two large dogs and a puppy in my room as well. Somebody's gotta protect my bikes.....:D

^^^^^What he said. Sorry about that bro. :(

Mich tells me to sleep with a gun. But then again that's Mich. :rolleyes:

I sleep with the knife instead. :D


Black Sabbath had a wonderful song about Michigander.

I'd say what I think she should do, but everybody who's been here for at least a couple months already knows.

I'm glad she's okay.

- call ADT and pay for the install and first six month's monitoring...


Yes, so they can monitor you getting robbed.

Buy her a big dog.

90% of would be burglers won't break into a house with a security system. They want easy pickings.

When I lived in Gibsonton, I told everybody I lived in "South Brandon".

She doesn't like to claim Seffner any more than I wanted to claim Gibsonton. ;)


Got to agree with ya there KT. If I lived in Gibsonton, I would tell everyone I knew that I lived in South Brandon also!!! By the way, for all readers unfamiliar with Gibsonton, Florida... It is a hell hole where all the retired Circus Geeks and Carny's go to retire. they can always find a room next to the Bearded Lady or rent a trailer from the Crab Boy. Gibsonton is the town you go through to get to the ghetto.

I prefer the 9 iron.
12 ga Magnum next to the bed! Corpses don't testify.

I prefer the 9 iron.

sand wedge - it's much heavier.

wow...sorry to hear it. Hard to get over that kind of thing...lots of people end up moving.

how about showing some statistics about how rare it is to have the same place broken into twice....you know, kinda like "hey now that it happened once, it'll probably never happen to you again" kinda thing...

sucks though...I don't think there's much anyone could say to me if that happened to me

how about showing some statistics about how rare it is to have the same place broken into twice....you know, kinda like "hey now that it happened once, it'll probably never happen to you again" kinda thing...
That might be good if she didn't tell me in an email today about how their house was broken into once when she was a kid and how it freaked her out for a long, long time.

That might be good if she didn't tell me in an email today about how their house was broken into once when she was a kid and how it freaked her out for a long, long time.
d'oh!
well...i bet the stats are even slimmer that it would happen a third time then. :p

teach her to hit people with guitars, then get her this, the sight of someone charging at them with that has to be frightening

http://theohiorocks.com/personal/dimebag.jpg


/joke option

Just a quick update...she wouldn't let me do the security system thing. I did get some good tips from a forum member and passed them to her.

I did order a Vermont Teddy Bear (Police Bear). She's exhausted every possible bit of help, but she's still without a laptop and her house insurance deductible is high enough that's its pointless to file a claim.....so I bought/ordered her a new laptop too.

Both should arrive today. :)

Tracking shows it should be there any minute....she's gonna be soooo surprised. :D

Glad to hear/don't forget the laptop lock (http://www.i2electronics.com/)!

Glad to hear/don't forget the laptop lock (http://www.i2electronics.com/)!
No....I've warned her that if she ever gets another laptop,she needs to get a laptop lock.


BTW.....delivered. :D

Just a quick update...she wouldn't let me do the security system thing. I did get some good tips from a forum member and passed them to her.

I did order a Vermont Teddy Bear (Police Bear). She's exhausted every possible bit of help, but she's still without a laptop and her house insurance deductible is high enough that's its pointless to file a claim.....so I bought/ordered her a new laptop too.

Both should arrive today. :)

Tracking shows it should be there any minute....she's gonna be soooo surprised. :D

Cool beans! you're winning big points for sure.

I hope your tracking doesn't say "Signed and recieved by Brad"
:D ;)

I hope your tracking doesn't say "Signed and recieved by Brad"
:D ;)Dyin' for that Vermont Teddy Bear, are ya?

Dyin' for that Vermont Teddy Bear, are ya?

An USB Teddy to go with that laptop :D

http://nayyeri.net/misc/USB_Teddy_Bear.jpg

I prefer the 9 iron.

I have a 43inch scottish claymore under the bed and it is nice and sharp.

I prefer the 9 iron.


Rottweiler is far more effective.

http://www.thetalkingdog.com/images/Viscious_Rottweiler.jpg