Break ins Maynooth

Staplor

There have been 2 houses in Maynooth broken into tonight, one was a neighbour of mine, Gardai say it's probably the same group. The lock barrels were smashed in, and the alarms beaten off the wall.

Sasha144

Whereabouts was this?

Staplor

One Straffan Woods, one Castle Dawson

coffeepls

Is that because of that lock snapping thing? I got a locksmith to have a look at my mam's back door lock because I was suspicious it was the one that's really easy to break, and it was. I can't explain it well (I'm no locksmith!!) but there are youtube videos about this 'lock snapping' - I think it was BBC that did a documentary a year ago. It's frightening how breakable they are.

Staplor

Yep, I was chatting to the locksmith, basically the barrell of the lock (where you stick the key in) sticks out, they put a vice grips on in, wriggle it left to right and snap it off in seconds, then they beat the alarm panel off the wall, and disconnected the wires in the main alarm box thingy, all within 10 seconds. The locksmith charged €75 for a new anti snap barrell, he said he was kept going with this stuff all day, everyday.

coffeepls

I wonder how something as alarming as this lock snapping hasn't made the front page of the metro - it'd be just their kind of story.
Even when I mentioned in work about how easy thieves can get these locks broken, it seems people don't know of it.

Horrible to be broken into.

tdunninx

Where the houses were empty? If you beat the alarm box off the wall does the system not work?

Staplor

Basically they ripped the keypad off the wall, and disconnected 2 wires in the big box which look to have disabled the siren and the flashing light. I'm shocked at how easy it is to do.

Moonbeam

ugh that is not good:(
I hope in both instances the people were ok and nothing sentimental was taken.

Nothing worse then finding out someone has broken in:(

Redsoxfan

Our house was broken into by snapping a lock barrel a few years ago, since then we've upgraded all locks to the more secure type. Seems very common way to break in. Our alarm went off but nobody seemed too bothered. Thankfully nothing was taken, and other than the cost of the new lock barrels, we were no worse off.

coffeepls

Just in case there's anyone wondering what type of locks these might look like, the classic example is the main door lock where you have a actual handle on it - and in order to lock it you hoist up the handle, turn the key. Often seen on PVC type doors. That said - that is just the one I know of..... no harm in having a locksmith have a quick look to see that the door(s) on your house/apt are good ones. A locksmith said to me that having good locks is way more important than an alarm.

Riskymove

Redsoxfan wrote: »

Our alarm went off but nobody seemed too bothered.

This is what usually happens...how many of us run to investigate when they hear a house or car alarm?

The problem really is that all you can do is your best to deter any opportunistic burglar. If somone decides to break in as they are targetting something in particular, there is not a lot you can do.

Staplor

You've just got to be a good neighbour, it works both ways.

Riskymove

Staplor wrote: »

You've just got to be a good neighbour, it works both ways.

the problem is that most of the road can be out and about during the day!!

Raminahobbin

Riskymove wrote: »

the problem is that most of the road can be out and about during the day!!

Exactly, plus we're all so used to alarms going off that they have become background noise. You can be hearing an alarm go off for ages before you actually notice it going off!

TheBody

Raminahobbin wrote: »

Exactly, plus we're all so used to alarms going off that they have become background noise. You can be hearing an alarm go off for ages before you actually notice it going off!

I lived in Maynooth for 10 years (and still work there). The reason I moved was the constant house alarms drove me insane. 24 hours a day, all I could hear were the bloody house alarms.

I love the peace and quiet where I live now.

Moonbeam

Alarms drive us mad too.

MickH503

coffeepls wrote: »

Just in case there's anyone wondering what type of locks these might look like, the classic example is the main door lock where you have a actual handle on it - and in order to lock it you hoist up the handle, turn the key. Often seen on PVC type doors. That said - that is just the one I know of..... no harm in having a locksmith have a quick look to see that the door(s) on your house/apt are good ones. A locksmith said to me that having good locks is way more important than an alarm.

What do the "good" locks look like then? My front door lock is like the above and the barrel sticks out a couple of millimeters maybe. Are good locks completely flush with or contained within the handle plate?

coffeepls

MickH503 wrote: »

What do the "good" locks look like then? My front door lock is like the above and the barrel sticks out a couple of millimeters maybe. Are good locks completely flush with or contained within the handle plate?

I don't know a way of telling them apart - to me, it's all to do with the part of the lock you can't see - the bit in the actual door (the barrel). I guess if you google it you'll find something, it's all to do with the barrel being either the standard type (will easily snap, and a burgler can be through your door in less than a minute) or the newer type (will snap, but the door remains locked and the lock is still intact).

The best thing in all honesty, is to give a locksmith a ring. Peace of mind is worth it. Google anti-snap locks or anti snap cylinders - or as I mentioned before, there are videos on youtube (BBC did a documentary once) about this 'lock snapping'.

Redsoxfan

MickH503 wrote: »

What do the "good" locks look like then? My front door lock is like the above and the barrel sticks out a couple of millimeters maybe. Are good locks completely flush with or contained within the handle plate?

No real way to tell them apart. The barrel still sticks out. coffeepls' post is a good summary. Call a locksmith and they will know what you are looking for straight away.

SQ2

There's a locksmith in Kilcock, Acorn Locksmiths, Robbie did my mum's locks a couple of years back, I'll find out what it cost her

Staplor

The lad my neighbour called out on Sunday after 9pm was €75 for an anti snap barrel.

L1011

They're not hugely difficult to fit yourself and cost about 25-30 a pop. Keep meaning to do mine even if I do have practically nothing of value in the house (7 year old car that needs a major service and a four year old high-end-when-new-but-not-now laptop are about it)

Moonbeam

I have nothing worth stealing either but hate the idea of anyone getting in.

ElKavo

Hey Guys,

As were moving to Maynooth I've been following the thread. We are living in rural Laois have a modern house and have the anti snap barrels fitted to the doors. We were away on holidays last year and the house was broken into. They got in by using a crow bar on the window and pulled all the locking pins out of the frame through sheer force ( probably took less than 1 min). Window guy said it doesn't matter what you put into your house. If they want in they'll get in. We have a dog too and she was away with the grandparents at the time. But had she been there I would seriously doubt that the house would have been done. I guess what I'm saying by all means fit the anti snap locks but unless you have roller shutters on your house that are anchored in several points your house is easily breakinable ( if that is a word). All you can do is hope your a lucky one and it never gets done. If it does get done just remember its only stuff and once everyone (family) is safe and sound it really is irrelevant, especially with kids, you have to make as little out of it as possible.

Not trying to put a downer on everyone.

L1011

Glass can be put in quickest of everything - the issue with barrel snapping is that its extremely quiet and quick and can be done to an occupied house or in a built up area without disturbing anyone. Glass smashing and crowbars are neither.

ElKavo

We Live in an estate and no one heard a thing either. Best to have a dog in the house IMO. They pick up on everything.

L1011

ElKavo wrote: »

We Live in an estate and no one heard a thing either. Best to have a dog in the house IMO. They pick up on everything.

Was anyone there? Daytime in an estate in far out commuter belt - I assume from "rural Laois" - would generally mean absolutely nobody around.

Badly Drunk Boy

I work with Somebody who had her house broken into a few weeks ago (in Newbridge). They brought tools with them (shovels'n'stuff) and got in through a window at the back of the house. There were 2 dogs in the kitchen (where they broke in) including an Alsatian, but they still managed to rob the place easily enough.

ElKavo

There was no one in my house and no one in the neighbors house on one side and that was done too. They got in the patio doors there.

I have had a house broken into it while myself an ex and her parents were staying in the house too, in this case they took the glass out of the frame didn't break a thing slid in took what they wanted (keys to my car :mad::mad:) and left.

I think your missing my point. If they want in, there getting in if your there or not it really is irrelevant. If you want an early warning get a dog or live in your house with the windows/ doors alarmed at all times. Burglars are scum who don't care about you or your family they just want your stuff because they somehow feel that its OK for them to take what ever they see fit.

ElKavo

Badly Drunk Boy wrote: »

I work with Somebody who had her house broken into a few weeks ago (in Newbridge). They brought tools with them (shovels'n'stuff) and got in through a window at the back of the house. There were 2 dogs in the kitchen (where they broke in) including an Alsatian, but they still managed to rob the place easily enough.

Yep they don't care If you have a dog / cat / lizard / alarm. Had your friend have been in the house the dogs reaction may have alerted them to it, that is all I'm saying. No one pays attention to alarms. Monitored alarms don't respond quick enough and the Guards are over stretched at the best of times. Even if burglars are picked up they are processed go through court and usually don't even serve any time.

L1011

ElKavo wrote: »

I think your missing my point. If they want in, there getting in if your there or not it really is irrelevant. If you want an early warning get a dog or live in your house with the windows/ doors alarmed at all times. Burglars are scum who don't care about you or your family they just want your stuff because they somehow feel that its OK for them to take what ever they see fit.

I'm not missing your point - I'm just saying that if we take your attitude we may as well not lock anything.

If you have glazed openings, people who are willing to make a noise will get in, end of story. If you want to stop people getting in without making a commotion, you fix the primary issues - and two of those happen to be inappropriate locks and windows where the slips retaining the glass are on the outside (or which use putty).

ElKavo

MYOB wrote: »

I'm not missing your point - I'm just saying that if we take your attitude we may as well not lock anything.

If you have glazed openings, people who are willing to make a noise will get in, end of story. If you want to stop people getting in without making a commotion, you fix the primary issues - and two of those happen to be inappropriate locks and windows where the slips retaining the glass are on the outside (or which use putty).

No my attitude isn't don't lock anything. That would be a ridiculous attitude to have. Even if you get your glazing sorted at a reasonable price they could still use a lock pick https://www.sparrowslockpicks.com/product_p/tux1.htm. there cheap and silent and they could just walk through your front door. What I'm trying to say is stuff is stuff and ultimately not important. IMO the best warning system is a dog but even if your house is broken into you have to remember that its just stuff and as long as no one (family) is hurt then that is life and there is always some knacker who will try and take your stuff.

L1011

Lock picking is distinctly unquick and far from easy on modern barrels.

A dog is no deterrent, poor warning and an ongoing cost.

ElKavo

MYOB wrote: »

Lock picking is distinctly unquick and far from easy on modern barrels.

A dog is no deterrent, poor warning and an ongoing cost.

Fitting new super secure windows to your house is a huge cost also and not a deterrent either I'm afraid.

Looks like we'll have to agree to disagree on this one so. :cool:

Plus dogs are cool.

coffeepls

I get all your points above, your home can't be fort knox, and there is no stopping a burglar that wants to break in. But the idea is to have the best deterrent without barricading yourself in.

I want to make life as difficult as possible for a burglar, and the easiest point of access that causes very little disturbance is to 'lock snap'. I have nothing worth stealing (nobody would bother taking my car keys either....old micra *cough*). I can't have a hound of the baskervilles, it's not a possible answer for me.

The bottom line is that the locks that are not 'anti snap' are just ridiculous. You may as well not use the key so they don't damage the rest of the door on their way in...!

SQ2

Heard someone say a few years back that a lock is a good way of keeping the honest thieves out

aristotle25

Yes, snapping lock cylinders is very easy. Our neighbours got broken into that way while they slept upstairs and got cleaned out of all their electronic stuff like laptop, TV etc.

Also, if you have PVC windows check if they are beaded on the outside, they are often easy to pry off and take out the window glass unit.

You cannot turn your home into fort know but the above two ways are the most common ways to break in and for me I want to make sure it is nearly impossible to break-in while I sleep. If someone decides to smash a window to get in while no one is home then there isn't much I can do about that.

MickH503

If anyone is interested I got a couple of new more secure locks from PLS Locksmiths in Celbridge and fitted them in 5 mins.

Hellrazer

MYOB wrote: »

A dog is no deterrent, poor warning and an ongoing cost.

I beg to differ.My last dog caught a little scumbag trying to get in the back door.I let the dog at him and the dog came back in with the leg of a pair of tracksuit bottoms in his mouth

Now I have an 8 stone one of these

http://www.geminorum.com/newfoundland-dog_family_portrait.mvc?Virtuose_+19774

Moonbeam

That dog is adorable and cute and awww.
I mean I definately would stay clear of him;))

Hellrazer

Moonbeam wrote: »

That dog is adorable and cute and awww.
I mean I definately would stay clear of him;))

That's my new baby!!!!Well she's a year now.

L1011

Hellrazer wrote: »

I beg to differ.My last dog caught a little scumbag trying to get in the back door.I let the dog at him and the dog came back in with the leg of a pair of tracksuit bottoms in his mouth

Now I have an 8 stone one of these

http://www.geminorum.com/newfoundland-dog_family_portrait.mvc?Virtuose_+19774

That story doesn't hold together properly

The dog "caught" someone and yet you had to "let" them at them?

Did you catch them or did the dog?

Absolutely nothing is going to convince me that a large dog is a worthwhile investment of time and money as a security device having seen how easily even fairly viscous breeds (that wouldn't be pet-suitable) can be subdued.

If you're a dog lover all well and good, but trying to convince people they're fantastic security systems and (not you) putting down suggestions of actual, cheap, methods of increasing security just to push a dog as an option really makes no sense.

Riskymove

MYOB wrote: »

The dog "caught" someone and yet you had to "let" them at them?

the phrase "the dog caught someone doing x" doesn't have to mean physically caught hold of someone but simply that it was alerted to that happening

he could have opened the door or let go of the dog etc to actually attack

Hellrazer

MYOB wrote: »

That story doesn't hold together properly

The dog "caught" someone and yet you had to "let" them at them?

Did you catch them or did the dog?

I heard a noise at the back door and saw a little scumbag trying to get in.I opened the door.The dog ran at them and caught him at the end of the garden.I left the dog to it.

Absolutely nothing is going to convince me that a large dog is a worthwhile investment of time and money as a security device having seen how easily even fairly viscous breeds (that wouldn't be pet-suitable) can be subdued.

Not if a dog is trained correctly.My dog wont even take food off anyone it doesnt know.Thats how they get around dogs-with the temptation of food.You train a dog not to take food off a stranger and it wont get subdued.

If you're a dog lover all well and good, but trying to convince people they're fantastic security systems and (not you) putting down suggestions of actual, cheap, methods of increasing security just to push a dog as an option really makes no sense.

But youre obviously not a dog lover as youve already made clear.A well trained dog is a better security device than any alarm or lock IMHO.

L1011

They were leaving dog or no dog, quite clearly, due to you and not the dog. Not a warning or a deterrent.

Orion

A cousin worked as a Garda in Finglas. They raided a house and retrieved a lot of stolen goods from burglaries. As part of the haul they found a folder with full address listing of a number of estates and some of them had red Xs beside the address. When they investigated what the Xs were for it was to note which houses had dogs so the burglars could avoid them. Having a dog is a deterrent.

Hellrazer

MYOB wrote: »

They were leaving dog or no dog, quite clearly, due to you and not the dog. Not a warning or a deterrent.

No he wasn't.He didn't run when the light came on,didn't budge when I let a roar out the window.He only took off when I let the dog out the other side door.

L1011

Hellrazer wrote: »

No he wasn't.He didn't run when the light came on,didn't budge when I let a roar out the window.He only took off when I let the dog out the other side door.

I find that extremely, extremely hard to believe. In particular that someone would remaining standing at a door they were trying to gain access to through the entire list of things you've said happened. I have a suspicion you've added positive reinforcements to your recollection of this, really.

Hellrazer

True story whether you choose to believe it or not.

The bloke was a junkie strung out to bits.

BTW this wasn't in Maynooth for anyone worrying about the area.Just making the point that in my opinion a dog can be as good a deterrent as any alarm or lock.

coffeepls

Well - great for all of you guys who can have a dog - but for the rest of us, it's still best to make sure you have decent locks on the doors.