Breakins

Mullie

Looks like it was a big night for breakins in Greystones last night. We're up in Charlesland Court and the alarm went off at 3am, the backdoor handle is hanging off the door but thankfully they didn't get in.
So far I've heard from the locksmith, there were 3 more in the Charlesland area, 1 in Redford and the police had a callout to a car breakin in Killincarrig while they were at my place.
So lock up everyone!

Angel

Yeah, one of our cars was broken into on Sunday night.

Hi

weird that...the missus has been up a few nights in the last couple of weeks...she believes someone was trying to prize open the windows...was thinking of putting censor lights on the house.

Moobui

There has been quite a few break ins in Eden Gate too, some of them during the day when people are at work.

Huntthe

Mullie wrote: »

Looks like it was a big night for breakins in Greystones last night. We're up in Charlesland Court and the alarm went off at 3am, the backdoor handle is hanging off the door but thankfully they didn't get in.
So far I've heard from the locksmith, there were 3 more in the Charlesland area, 1 in Redford and the police had a callout to a car breakin in Killincarrig while they were at my place.
So lock up everyone!

Tis the Season.....

Those of you don't have an alarm should get one before they get in.

Welsh Wizard

Huntthe wrote: »

Tis the Season.....

Those of who don't have an alarm should get one before they get in.

But who is going to take notice of a house alarm now that so many go off for no reason...

Huntthe

Welsh Wizard wrote: »

But who is going to take notice of a house alarm now that so many go off for no reason...

They're useless stand alone, you need one connected to a Security firm or Eircom Phonewatch.

The Real B-man

Lots of Houses in Kilcoole getting burguld also 2 in my estate alone i got broken into two years ago and was in the house at the time and didnt hear them! if you have a alarm put it on when your in the house for piece of mind!

Huntthe

Statistically most burglaries occur when people are in the house !!!

Mullie

Huntthe wrote: »

Statistically most burglaries occur when people are in the house !!!

Exactly, and the other night, if our alarm hadn't gone off, I could have woken up with someone in the bedroom.
Fair enough, people (including myself) do ignore alarms during the day, but the true value is in the warning it gives you when you and ur loved ones are in the house.

sagat

A dog is by far the best alarm you can have. Very rare that somebody will break into a house if they think there's a dog inside.

MyPerfectCousin

sagat wrote: »

A dog is by far the best alarm you can have. Very rare that somebody will break into a house if they think there's a dog inside.

And even if it's a little dog who wouldn't intimidate anyone, it would at least be good for raising an early alarm.

The Bishop Basher

Mullie wrote: »

Exactly, and the other night, if our alarm hadn't gone off, I could have woken up with someone in the bedroom.
Fair enough, people (including myself) do ignore alarms during the day, but the true value is in the warning it gives you when you and ur loved ones are in the house.

Depends where you are. Round our way we all check out each others houses when alarms go off. Well all except for one house. They managed to alienate everyone so we let that one ring

Huntthe

Guys , forget about a dog as security, a bit of steak with a sleeping pill in it through the letter box or earlier in the day and than they're back in an hour, Shep is not the answer.

As regards there being value in alarm activating and telling you that that there is someone in the house , well I'd just prefer they didn't break in, in the first place personally.
If you have a monitored alarm, an alarm that someone is going to respond to if it activates , than burglars will leave you alone. Possibly only checking the odd time to see if it's on by tapping on the doors or windows...cheeky buggers, but that's what they do.

RayM

The spate of burglaries in Greystones and Kilcoole was actually mentioned on Liveline earlier today. A woman rang up and said that "even the council estates were being burgled" (seriously, she said that). Her Sony Vaio and Volvo cabriolet were taken.

Pablo Sanchez

Huntthe wrote: »

Guys , forget about a dog as security, a bit of steak with a sleeping pill in it through the letter box or earlier in the day and than they're back in an hour, Shep is not the answer.

.

Im not sure cartoon/movie break-ins are that big a concern:eek:

Huntthe

Pablo Sanchez wrote: »

Im not sure cartoon/movie break-ins are that big a concern:eek:

The thing about free advice is that people tend to ignore things they don't have to pay for.Feel free to disregard my advice, no skin off my nose. Putting the pooch to sleep is the oldest trick in the book and is a regular occurence.

Pablo Sanchez

Huntthe wrote: »

Putting the pooch to sleep is the oldest trick in the book and is a regular occurence.

Well i do remember something similar in 'Theres something about Mary'?

Eoin

I think we're drifting a little off topic here!

Pablo Sanchez

Eoin, correct as always:pac:

I was mearly trying to point out that the type of opportunistic thief looking for open windows or unlocked back doors is unlikely to put that much planning and smarts to come prepared with steak and doggy sleeping pills!

That said this time of year there is always a spike in break ins. Its christmas time for theives too and they need pressies under their tree as much as we do.

In fact a lot of insurance companies are aware that people have more merchandise than usual around christmas and this can be targeted so they are good enough to up your insurance by 5-10% for free and gratis.

Huntthe

Pablo Sanchez wrote: »

Eoin, correct as always:pac:

I was mearly trying to point out that the type of opportunistic thief looking for open windows or unlocked back doors is unlikely to put that much planning and smarts to come prepared with steak and doggy sleeping pills!

Opportunistic is stealing a hand bag from a car or a wallet from a coat, guys who break into peoples homes are not just chancing their arm.

steve-hosting36

We were burgled a little while back (Eden Gate) - feckers prised open the kitchen window and were in - we have an Eircom phonewatch alarm, but they simply pulled the phone cables out of the junction box at the side of the house!

Since then the junction box has a steel plate on it, the alarm has a GSM backup modem, the house is surrounded by sensor lights and CCTV with offsite recording and every window and door has security locks fitted....

Since the new junction opened, it's been open season in the area

Huntthe

Wow must have cost a fortune, would the steel plate or the switch to GSM not have been enough ?

fishdog

We were burgled a little while back (Eden Gate)

Sorry to hear that! Nothing worse!

we have an Eircom phonewatch alarm, but they simply pulled the phone cables out of the junction box at the side of the house!

This is very common now and it seems to be well known that the wireless Eircom alarms are easier to get around than most other alarm systems.
(I installed many alarm systems in the past, not any more).

Since then the junction box has a steel plate on it, the alarm has a GSM backup modem

The steel plate is a waste of time because the box is only made of plastic! Just cosmetic.

The GSM module is very good idea.

Wow must have cost a fortune

The CCTV has come down in price alot and is easy to install. Many people install it themselves now. Maplins sell easy to install IP cameras for small money now (each camera can have an IP address).

Stinel make qood quality sensor lights (5 year warrenty) for about €60 each.

In the past I was often called to install an alarm in a house that had just been broken into. All of these houses had one thing in common, no dog!!

steve-hosting36

What fishdog said - the cctv and sensor lights were not that expensive, the security locks were dear, but worth it for the peace of mind. As for the steel plate - it covers the eircom junction box (which is plastic) entirely, and is bolted into the wall above and below the box. Barring actually getting a dog, we felt these measures sufficient to ensure the scumbags 'keep walking'.

Huntthe

Excuse me for being stupid but does your phoneline come from the ground. My phoneline comes to the house from a pole and at a height.The only way to reach the phoneline is on a ladder.

ciaran67

Remember, its usually down to just a few people doing these burglaries.

Eoin

Huntthe wrote: »

Excuse me for being stupid but does your phoneline come from the ground. My phoneline comes to the house from a pole and at a height.The only way to reach the phoneline is on a ladder.

I am pretty sure that the phone lines in Charlesland go in through the ground from DP boxes that are outside every few houses. Also, the alarm box itself probably connects to the phone line through a standard RJ11 phone cable into the house, so you can probably snip it at the box. fishdog can probably correct me on this though.

delly

No alarm system is foolproof and every house has a chance of being burgled, but what stops somebody targeting your house is how easy you make it for a burglar; i.e. having as many deterrents as possible.

First off regardless of how much value you place on an alarm alerting your neighbours, the fact is that 2 out of 3 houses that are broken into don't have alarms so they are worth having. Keeping side-gates padlocked, having sensor lights and ensuring windows are closed are simple things that can make a burglar think twice and move onto the next home.

FirstIn

My two pence worth:

I am in a 2 bed townhouse,

I have an alarm in the house, not a monitored one but useful nonetheless.

To augment this I am planning on adding a standard sliding bolt type lock to the top of the back doors. It does mean the back doors can never be opened from the outside which in fairness this should never be needed.

Then I am going to put two ip wireless cameras in, one in the porch and one above the cupboards in the kitchen pointing at the back doors. A little project for the Christmas time, anyone else have ip cameras in their home for security reasons. I have a few questions re storing the images etc.

fishdog

No alarm system is foolproof and every house has a chance of being burgled, but what stops somebody targeting your house is how easy you make it for a burglar; i.e. having as many deterrents as possible

I could not agree more.

It is possible to get around any security, but why bother?? Most burglers will simply move on to a softer target.

the security locks were dear, but worth it for the peace of mind

Garrison make a great lock barrel upgrade that are designed to fit into the doors that are used in Charlesland and Eden Gate etc. They are not too expensive and take only minutes to fit (easy to do yourself). Brown Brothers sell them.

Also if you want bolts for back/sde doors etc. try "Interlock" in Cabinteely. Bolts dont have to look ugly.

am pretty sure that the phone lines in Charlesland go in through the ground

They all do in Charlesland.

As for the steel plate - it covers the eircom junction box

Yes, but once you have a GSM module the phone line is no longer required.

we felt these measures sufficient to ensure the scumbags 'keep walking'.

I would think you are correct and I wish you the best of luck.

BTW I would advise that you do not take the small discount for having an alarm that is offered by the insurance companies. This is because if you forget to arm your alarm and you are broken into the policy is null and void (and yes they can check)

neets

are Brown Brothers a shop or a manufacturers? we were talking about making our doors more secure so this sounds perfect. also thinking about a yale lock for the front door. will a locksmith fit both for us?

ciaran67

Does anyone know, roughly, how many places have been burgled?

Put the alarm on while in last night for the first time.

fishdog

are Brown Brothers a shop or a manufacturers? we were talking about making our doors more secure so this sounds perfect. also thinking about a yale lock for the front door. will a locksmith fit both for us?

A shop. They will fit it for you, but that will cost alot more. Do it yourself, they will tell you how in the shop. Garrison are the manafactuer

fishdog

Does anyone know, roughly, how many places have been burgled?

Put the alarm on while in last night for the first time.

I dont know how many, but I have been told of quite a few.

fishdog

To augment this I am planning on adding a standard sliding bolt type lock to the top of the back doors. It does mean the back doors can never be opened from the outside which in fairness this should never be needed.

A good idea, back doors are a favourite target.

anyone else have ip cameras in their home for security reasons. I have a few questions re storing the images etc.

An easy to use software package comes with them as you will see.

The Minstrel

My parents' house was broken into a while ago and they ended up not taking anything. The only new-fangled bit of gear was a flat screen tv, and they didn't bother with that. Was only a 26", most knackers would have at least a 32", so I'd say they turned their noses up at it.

What are the main things that burglars go for?

Eoin D

The Minstrel wrote: »

My parents' house was broken into a while ago and they ended up not taking anything. The only new-fangled bit of gear was a flat screen tv, and they didn't bother with that. Was only a 26", most knackers would have at least a 32", so I'd say they turned their noses up at it.

What are the main things that burglars go for?

Loose cash for definite, jewelry as well i'd imagine, laptops etc. I mean it's logical that they would be taking small things that are easy to get out of the house and can be offloaded pretty easily.

A mate of mine got robbed and they tore the house apart and only took cash. This time of year they would be going for the presents though, they're well aware that there are more goods in the house this time of year than any other time. There's no morals in theft but it's particularly ruthless doing it this time of year.

fishdog

What are the main things that burglars go for?

The above and car keys (then your car), mobile phone, credit cards

The only new-fangled bit of gear was a flat screen tv, and they didn't bother with that

They wont get much for it and it is too big and bulky.

Mullie

Eoin D wrote: »

Loose cash for definite, jewelry as well i'd imagine, laptops etc. I mean it's logical that they would be taking small things that are easy to get out of the house and can be offloaded pretty easily.

A mate of mine got robbed and they tore the house apart and only took cash. This time of year they would be going for the presents though, they're well aware that there are more goods in the house this time of year than any other time. There's no morals in theft but it's particularly ruthless doing it this time of year.

Generally speaking - day = jewellery - night = cars.
I was down at the station yesterday and asked had they upped patrols to counter the increase in burglaries? They're doing their best but they say that there are 4 estates being targetted. The Garda told me that the guys know where they are, they're scanning the radios. Didn't exactly inspire me with confidence.

mikedragon32

This is the problem with the analogue system they're using. Anyone with a scanner can pick up their radio signal and stay one step ahead. A new digital system was being considered a while back, don't know what ever came of it.

To be fair to the Gardai I'm sure they're doing their best and are obviously being stretched at this time of year without all of this going on too!

ian_m

mikedragon32 wrote: »

This is the problem with the analogue system they're using. Anyone with a scanner can pick up their radio signal and stay one step ahead. A new digital system was being considered a while back, don't know what ever came of it.

To be fair to the Gardai I'm sure they're doing their best and are obviously being stretched at this time of year without all of this going on too!

This is true.

I think rather than have the Gardai call to your home after a break in ask them to come around beforehand. They will have a quick look around your house and tell you were you might need an extra lock or whether it's worth getting alarm.

An active Neighbourhood Watch scheme is needed in Charlesland.

Pablo Sanchez

To be fair i do see a number of marked and unmarked Garda cars do the rounds of the estate every day, in fact they almost crashed into me in the Superquinn underground carpark yesterday.

While its unlikly they will catch anyone red handed that way, it should act as some sort of deterrant.

Hammiepeters

Don't they have mobile phones?

Mullie

Hammiepeters wrote: »

Don't they have mobile phones?

Actually, when they were in my place, the call they got for a car robbery in Killincarrig was on a mobile.

Hammiepeters

Hope they caught that agile young murderer in the balaclava over in Howth. Those super sleuths!

Maisy

Two weeks ago I was woken by one of the dogs, he'd hopped up and was barking at the back door. Since his hearing is waaaaay better than mine, I thought I should check it out. I'm on the boundary and lo and behold there was a guy walking down the boundary wall. At this stage the bigger dog had joined us, he has a bark like a wolf, and together with the bared teeth (the dogs, not mine) , yer man was gone like a shot.

I told the neighbours by way of making sure they put the alarm on at night. But it was the dogs who got the thanks (!), the neighbours were delighted with their performance.

Ah, those moronic beasts have their uses............;)

Welsh Wizard

What use is a dog when it barks 24/7....??

I hope all had a great christmas and nothing was nicked...

Maisy

None at all, like an alarm system that is constantly going off, - my dogs know only to kick off when there is good reason to, and so are extremely useful, and which is why the neighbours are happy to have them around and pay attention to them when they do.

Sparks115

Hi Guys, I had an attempted breaking yesterday at 6pm. I was only down the road when we got a call to our mobiles that our alarm had been triggered. We raced up to the house as the alarm has never gone off before and the back door had been opened with a crow bar in 3 places exactly on the lock points. They didnt take anything thank God as the blarring alarm must have given them a fright. The police said we were lucky we had an alarm as most time if the house is broken into any kind of deterent will work otherwise they will grab what they can. We think they may have had a look out as a lovely neighbour called in to let us know he saw some guy walking around aimlessly up to know good at the same time of the breakin and another neighbour noticed a blacked out car also near our house driving slowly around the green so we got the reg and reported it just in case . So thanks to the great neighbours for noticing and letting us know. I was broken into 5 years ago in Drumcondra and had no alarm and they took everything downstairs and it was heartbreaking so I am just so happy. Still love living here and wanted to tell anyone without an alarm - please for peace of mind and not to have the heartache of finding your place ransacked get anykind of alarm that will deter these scumbags:D

Mullie

Glad to hear all was ok.
I've a suggestion for the next AGM. Dump the free bus that half the people in the estate can't use anyway and hire a security company!!