Robbed

[sic0048]

They have to pay for the new Allstate ads...... "Hot Bobby, Hot Bobby....." "Dad Gummit" That is one of the funnier commercials I've seen recently - even for this anti-FSU fan.

 

[Kevin L]

I was with Allstate, and I switched to Liberty Mutual and canceled Allstate. I cut my bill in half and got WAY better coverage. Allstate kept inching my rates up on my cars and homeowners. I'd get these letters listing new policy terms every 3-4 months and they'd raise my rates. Plus, their adjusters would say that hail damage was from people walking on the roof, even though golf ball size hail fell a week previously and destroyed all of the neighbors roofs, and then deny the claim. Interestingly enough, they raised the insurance on my homeowner's and auto, but I never filed claims on those. They left alone the insurance on the rental property, and I filed all sorts of claims on that one.

Allstate has been playing hardball on property insurance in some states. Depending where you live is whether you received increases and product limitations. Your rental property may be in a an area that's not currently affected.

Liberty Mutual has some good homeowners policies, and the are a good company.

Kevin

 

[mdonovan]

Companies do not charge more if you shop less than three months before you renew. There are some auto insurance companies that give advance quote discounts, but they're normally given for a week to ten days in advance. It is a good idea to start early to give yourself time to do a thorough comparison.

Liberty Mutual gave me a discount on Homeowner's for shopping more than 3 months from my policy renewal date.

Interesting. That's the first advanced quote discount for homeowners I've heard. Three months is a long time before renewal. Usually, insurance companies don't like to guarantee rates that far in advance. In FL, for example, many companies won't quote more than 30 days in advance.

I was trying to get across that the insurance companies can't arbitrarily raise rates. They are one of the most regulated industries and must conform to filed rates and rules.

Kevin

I was with Allstate, and I switched to Liberty Mutual and canceled Allstate. I cut my bill in half and got WAY better coverage. Allstate kept inching my rates up on my cars and homeowners. I'd get these letters listing new policy terms every 3-4 months and they'd raise my rates. Plus, their adjusters would say that hail damage was from people walking on the roof, even though golf ball size hail fell a week previously and destroyed all of the neighbors roofs, and then deny the claim. Interestingly enough, they raised the insurance on my homeowner's and auto, but I never filed claims on those. They left alone the insurance on the rental property, and I filed all sorts of claims on that one.

I used to have Travelers and went to Liberty Mutual and that cut my bill to 1/3 of Traveler's price.

 

[Kevin L]

Even though you secure the window panes, what prevents someone kicking in the whole window, just like a door.

Here in FL, they try to sell the film as hurricane protection. However, it provides minimal protection at best. Sure, the glass stays intact, but the whole window get pushed in now. I have impact windows in my home. Besides the triple-pane with a sheet of penetration-resistant plastic sandwiched between the panes, the frames and anchoring are reinforced. The windows cost two to two-and-one-half times a regular windows.

I know nothing will stop a determined crook from getting in. My idea is to delay them long enough to ensure the Elk system detects them and the cameras get a good look at them. I also hope it will just piss them off and they will move on. I watched this demo on youtube, and while that can be staged to promote the mfg's message, I watched enough It Takes a Thief and many times they used the window film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYdVK3BqPfk

Matt

I've seen the same demonstrations, but the window or door frames are usually beefed up. You are correct - whatever makes your home (or auto) more inconvenient or tougher to get into, will often deter a criminal.

Regarding cameras, it's very difficult to get positive ID from them, without spending a lot of money. I have cameras around my home, and even with the megapixel cams, it's tough to get 100% confirmation of id. On the non-megapixels, it's even worse. They are a deterrent, and do let you look in on the house while away. From what I understand, with IR-cameras, it's even tougher to ID someone. I don't have any IR-cams. Instead, motion detectors turn on the lights and the cameras start recording.
A good source for security camera info is CCTV Forum.

Kevin

 

[mdonovan]

Even though you secure the window panes, what prevents someone kicking in the whole window, just like a door.

Here in FL, they try to sell the film as hurricane protection. However, it provides minimal protection at best. Sure, the glass stays intact, but the whole window get pushed in now. I have impact windows in my home. Besides the triple-pane with a sheet of penetration-resistant plastic sandwiched between the panes, the frames and anchoring are reinforced. The windows cost two to two-and-one-half times a regular windows.

I know nothing will stop a determined crook from getting in. My idea is to delay them long enough to ensure the Elk system detects them and the cameras get a good look at them. I also hope it will just piss them off and they will move on. I watched this demo on youtube, and while that can be staged to promote the mfg's message, I watched enough It Takes a Thief and many times they used the window film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYdVK3BqPfk

Matt

I've seen the same demonstrations, but the window or door frames are usually beefed up. You are correct - whatever makes your home (or auto) more inconvenient or tougher to get into, will often deter a criminal.

Regarding cameras, it's very difficult to get positive ID from them, without spending a lot of money. I have cameras around my home, and even with the megapixel cams, it's tough to get 100% confirmation of id. On the non-megapixels, it's even worse. They are a deterrent, and do let you look in on the house while away. From what I understand, with IR-cameras, it's even tougher to ID someone. I don't have any IR-cams. Instead, motion detectors turn on the lights and the cameras start recording.
A good source for security camera info is CCTV Forum.

Kevin

I see your point about the resolution making a good id difficult. Normally I would do about 20 years of research into cameras before I bought, but circumstances dictated I get them sooner. Plus I'll feel better being able to check up on the house and getting email when it detects motion. Same with the Elk emailing me.

Right now I'm still paranoid about the house being vulnerable while I'm not here. I know that will fade with time, but while my motivation is high I'll put in all the protections I've been meaning to do but procrastinated for so long (and paid the price!) Plus now I'll have lots of new geek toys to play with.

Matt

 

[signal15]

I've also got megapixel cams (3MP). Getting license plate numbers is still nearly impossible, and it's difficult to ID anyone. I only have a couple of cams now, but I'm adding a ton more. I don't care so much about resolution anymore, I just want to be able to have a visual if I'm home and I'm alerted to someone outside, or if the alarm goes off so I know in what direction to start pulling the trigger.

 

[brotsten]

I don't have any Megapixel cameras, but a dozen analog ones that I can view anytime on my iPhone.

Really nice to check on false alarms, deliveries, dogs, etc...

I can also review recorded videos, but the app has a bad memory link and crashes after a viewing a few minutes worth. It's still in beta.

Brian

Here is two iPhone screen captures:

 

[zpollock]

Brian - What app are you using for the iPhone viewing?

 

[signal15]

I don't have any Megapixel cameras, but a dozen analog ones that I can view anytime on my iPhone.

Really nice to check on false alarms, deliveries, dogs, etc...

I can also review recorded videos, but the app has a bad memory link and crashes after a viewing a few minutes worth. It's still in beta.

Brian

Here is two iPhone screen captures:

View attachment 2836
View attachment 2837

What are you using for a DVR to get them on the network?

 

[batwater]

See this link...

http://www.cocoontech.com/forums/index.php...st&p=126257

Link to Flickr posting

As was stated above, this is for peace of mind, I live at the end of a street on a cul-de-sac with my property backing up to 20 acres of wooded common ground. I was burglarized a few years ago, the feeling of violation is difficult and takes time to get over. (Police terminology: Burglary - No contact with thief, i.e. no one home. Robbery - thief & you interact, gun, knife point etc)

• I've added cameras, still have a number to go, this is what I have so far, varying cost, qualtity.
• The camera pointed at the cul-de-sac is a crappy $29 unit I picked up at Wal-Mart years ago, it is stuck in night vision mode.
• The rest range in price between $125 and $250
• They are day/night with built in IR. IR at night will only give you an idea, unless you already know who it is, you won't be able to use to identify
• Keep in mind in a rural setting that animals will trigger recordings as will foliage when the wind blows. I've masked some areas.
• Core4 masking allows for multiple cameras to have motion prior to triggering actual recording
• HikVision card that is the foundation for this records in h.264, all recording compression and masking is handled by on board electronics, not PC CPU
• I am able to skin the images off of the CCTV software and populate in CQC.
• I leave the CCTV DVR activity to the "professional" software
• I can hit the CCTV server via heavy client, ActiveX web based component or direct URL

This is a more complicated set up but very flexible. There are also stand alone CCTV DVR solutions that can do the same type of thing.
-Ben

 

[mdonovan]

<snip>
(Police terminology: Burglary - No contact with thief, i.e. no one home. Robbery - thief & you interact, gun, knife point etc)
<snip>

I have wondered what the difference was. Interesting tidbit. I should have made the title Burglarized then.

Matt

 

[Dave X10]

Well, add me to the list of people whose houses have been broken into. I came home from work and backed into the garage like normal.

I still think about your break-in. I've taken to reviewing my own home security. I am sorry for your lost... and I feel bad that it makes me think about my own protection.. but it does.

Although we do have burglaries in the night season (as it's called) around here... and even with people at home. The vast majority of break-in occur in broad daylight. I was wondering... you never actually said.. was in during the day time when you were robbed?

 

[signal15]

Well, add me to the list of people whose houses have been broken into. I came home from work and backed into the garage like normal.

I still think about your break-in. I've taken to reviewing my own home security. I am sorry for your lost... and I feel bad that it makes me think about my own protection.. but it does.

Although we do have burglaries in the night season (as it's called) around here... and even with people at home. The vast majority of break-in occur in broad daylight. I was wondering... you never actually said.. was in during the day time when you were robbed?

Statistically, most burglaries happen at 2pm. Be wary of anyone driving around in a cargo van selling crap door to door.

 

[Dave X10]

Statistically, most burglaries happen at 2pm. Be wary of anyone driving around in a cargo van selling crap door to door.

I know most are daytime. My Dad was a career police officer. Even though Dad pasted away many years ago... very little has changed. I have recently been working on Occupancy Sensing for my Home Automation. I will be making some additions/changes to my setup to capture more daytime pictures and make a Voice Announcement similar to my nighttime one.

I think I can use the Occupancy Sensing to cause additional security outside (day or night) when no one is at home. I already have things setup to automatically arm my alarm when the home is empty... it case we forget.

 

[mdonovan]

Well, add me to the list of people whose houses have been broken into. I came home from work and backed into the garage like normal.

I still think about your break-in. I've taken to reviewing my own home security. I am sorry for your lost... and I feel bad that it makes me think about my own protection.. but it does.

Although we do have burglaries in the night season (as it's called) around here... and even with people at home. The vast majority of break-in occur in broad daylight. I was wondering... you never actually said.. was in during the day time when you were robbed?

It was in the daylight while I was at work.