10 Items I Would Hate to Lose in a Burglary

Submitted by homealarmmonitoring.org/blog from one of their readers

Having been subjected to a burglary once, this should be to some degree an easy subject to write about.  First of all the idea that a stranger had been in my home and ransacked my house was disgusting and frankly sickening.  I did not want to sleep on the disheveled bed, I didn’t want to touch the bureau drawer’s contents that were strewn all over the room, or the closet items scattered through-out the house.  The general mess they left did make me wonder what kind of people they were that would try to destroy our home, yet not hurt our little dog!

My first thought was “Oh my goodness, my groceries are gone!”  I had gone to the grocery store that day for a couple weeks supply of groceries, and for a young growing family, it wasn’t a small amount of cash then and it sure wouldn’t be now.  I hasten to add, none of my groceries were gone, but a few other possessions were.

Now for items I’d hate to lose in a burglary?

1. Electronics
2. Jewelry
3. Cash
4. Tools
5. Collector items
6. Paintings
7. Automobile
8. Fuel from my car
9. Lawn equipment
10. Silverware

To put these in any kind of order would be left up to each individual.  Personally I would hate to start replacing any on the list.

Collectors’ items are just that, items we’ve picked up over the years with thought.  Whether on a vacation, or gifts from others, some collectors have obtained an overall expensive assortment.

Usually if one has cash in the house, it is not much more than loose change thrown on the dresser, or placed in a coffee can for a special golf lesson.  More money than that however would be enough to sit down and cry over.

Some collect paintings.  Whether painted by a friend, someone in the family or a famous artist, paintings are still a treasure we don’t want to part with.

Another thing for an upset stomach is to go outside in the morning to find the car gone.  May as well forget about going to work that day for the job ahead will take priority.  Things like calling the police to make a report, answering endless questions from both the insurance company and the police and beating yourself over the head for not locking the doors as you normally do will take up the greater portion of the day.

An extension to the automobile is having the fuel tank read -E- when we knew we had enough fuel to get to work.  Stealing fuel is not as easy as it once was, but still there are thieves out there who are desperate enough to tear up a tank if they want fuel bad enough.

To have jewelry taken, whether it is a treasured item or costume jewelry is terrible.  One feeling we experience is “why would they want my stuff”.  It may be stuff to us but remember it is our stuff.

One word of caution for all of us is this:  Take precaution before anything does happen.  Make a video recording of all your electronics along with their serial number, make and model.  Anything of value to you whether big or small, should be recorded by video and on paper then given to a family member, put in a safe deposit box, or a fireproof safe.

Believe me being mugged and having my purse taken was bad enough, and then walking into my house late one evening and seeing my home ransacked by thugs, gives me certain sympathy for those who can relate.  It also gives me a desire to warn those to whom it has not happened – so you can have less regrets if it ever should.

In addition to the above, we would suggest that an alarm is fitted that summons appropriate people to deter/identify/capture the perpetrators.  If serious valuables are left in the property, consider security fog - if you can't see it, you can't steal it!