8865 break in.

Hi Maureen
Really sorry to hear your story. It might be worth asking the Police to suggest someone to do the work.

Sorry to hear about your problem, Maureen. Try to ask the neighbours, they may point you in the right direction.

Hello Maureen, sorry to hear about this.... The bastards are every where these days:madd:

Do you live out there permanantly or a holiday home owner?

We were "done" recently and am contemplating buying an alarm system in the UK and bringing it out to instal myself, I think E4k sounds a lot:wideeyed:

We are obtaing quotes for shutters at the moment to make it more difficult for a future break in, but the numbers are very high. Still what price security??

Do you mind me asking what agent you used / are using for your house?

Thanks and good luck

Andy

There seems to be an increasing trend, unless we're just hearing about more. I wonder if it's the same group targeting holiday homes or if it's always been there but due to more Brits owning it's just being reported on the likes of forums more. Again sorry to hear about it :madd:

Hi all thanks for your replies, it's a holiday home so we are going to have to get an alarm system fitted, we are thinking of doing one ourselves but it won't be connected up to the police unless there's a way of fitting it, then having it connected to them. We haven't let the house to anyone, there's a lady in the village who is helping at the moment and paying bills for a small fee, she's the one who called the police, it's her own business and she has a web site, speaks good english and is helpful but a quote for an alarm system hooked up to the police station would be ideal but not for this kind of money so any info will be helpful, the house has shutters but unless there is an alarm they will probably break in anyway, but there has to be someone to hear the alarm going off, as the house is in its own grounds, thanks Maureen

My Italian friends office was broken into a few years ago, they took computers etc - I took over a 'Dummy Alarm Box', which he fitted in clear view on the outside of the building. No more break-ins.

In those days it was a lot lot cheaper to go to B&Q in the UK and get an alarm system to take over to fit in Italy. I don't think things have changed much since then.

Personally, I'd fit a wireless system - with an extra high decibel sounder inside the house [to drive the b*ggers out]. They are much easier to fit. The one I have at home in UK has a solar powered exterior alarm with battery operated sensors inside. The only work in fitting it was screwing the box on the outside of the house and masonry nails inside for hanging the sensors on. [And don't forget any garage/store rooms]

You might also want to think about outside lights, we bought several solar powered LEDs , with PIR's, about 25gbp,ebay, they work great and throw enough light to maybe put the ******s off.

We were also the subject of a break-in sometime ago in Rome. My view is to get a good home-contents insurance policy. One can spend thousands on a security system and making your house what you think is burglar proof, the sky really is the limit in terms of expenses. More unpleasant is that your house may end up looking like a maximum security prison. These days, intruders are increasingly sophisticated, and if they target your home there's nothing much you can do about it, except if you lived next door to the police.

The system we are looking at has infra red detectors and an auto dialer, this could be linked to the police or phones us at home. It is wireless so installation should be easy:laughs:

The cost here for the full kit is £250 but unsure if getting through current security at Liverpool airport will be straight forward.

Andy

Andy, where did you see the alarm you have mentioned?, it sounds like a decent enough kit, thanks Maureen.

Sorry to hear abt break-in, alarms are expensive and subject to false alarms, altho' good fake boxes can have some deterrent value and external security lights with PIR's can help. As for steel shutters etc I'm sure they would slow up the entry somewhat but the thieving villains will usually get in somehow. Not a nice prospect. Let's hope this is an isolated incident for you.

Unfortunately it is true that if the burglar has time and wants in they will get in, they will be gone by the time an alarm notifies anyone. Insurance is nice but doesn't replace special items nor help with the feeling of being violated.

The external box, motion lights and making sure entry points are visible (not blocked by plants) are helpful. Also light timers so that some lights come on and off may help. If someone stops by periodically in your absence that will also be noticed (fresh vehicle tracks in the drive).

[quote=redslk;83455]The system we are looking at has infra red detectors and an auto dialer.........but unsure if getting through current security at Liverpool airport will be straight forward.

Andy[/quote]

Should be OK as long as you don't take it in your hand luggage,

The system we have been looking at is a Yale, and is available from Screwfix.com

Being wireless should make it easy to install, and as we will probably choose to have it phone us back in the UK we will be able to monitor false alarms and apologise to our neighbours early.

As they know we have been broken in to I am sure we will be forgiven for trying to protect our property.

Cheers

Andy

Thanks Andy for the info on this particular alarm system, we will be having a look, Maureen.

I wonder if the best answer is a housesitter?

There are people out there who'll be willing to housesit for short periods for a small amount.

Do these alarm systems work?Our neighbours is always going off and now no-one takes any notice and once its gone off it wont work until it gets reset,so useless.

[quote=manopello;83774]I wonder if the best answer is a housesitter?

There are people out there who'll be willing to housesit for short periods for a small amount.

Do these alarm systems work?Our neighbours is always going off and now no-one takes any notice and once its gone off it [B]wont work until it gets reset[/B],so useless.[/quote]

As I understand it, just like the one in our house here in th UK, after a period of time (setable by you) the system silences and re arms itself. If it was set off by the wind or some other false trigger, this would keep your neighbours temper down, and if it was a real alarm trigger, it would keep activating whilst the villains are in the house, hopefully bringing the local plod around for a nosey.

I definately will be discussing our arrangements with our neighbours to let them know we are not taking the mickey if the thing does go off falsley though.

Andy