What are the most common items stolen in home burglaries?

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Farrah Nuff

Senior Member
Location
East of the sun, West of the moon
People talk about protecting themselves and their property with the guns they keep in their homes for “protection”. But as it turns out firearms are one of the most often stolen items in a home burglary. Realistically speaking, a gun safe isn’t a bank safe. It’s designed to keep children safe, mainly, I’d think. But I’d a burglar can find a way into your home, then it’s a pretty good bet that said burglar can find a way into your gun safe. And when they take those guns, I doubt that they’re going into hands that will use them for honorable deeds.

You view the link and form your own opinion. But it seems having a gun in your home doesn’t always protect a person or their possessions.

https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/homeowners-insurance/common-items-stolen/
 

Never had an in home burglary. We did have a case when husband was home for he day. He was working in and out of the yard and left the garage door open. He was right there, in the house and they came ran in the garage. Got the air compressor, a water saw and a mikita and various yard tools. Leaf blower, weed eater etc. Luckily, they were caught later in the day with a pick up load of stuff, we got everything back.

After that the garage door was always kept closed even if we were out front. Did not want anyone to see what was in there. We would bring out what we needed and then close the door. I still practice the same things. In addition, I have a big scary dog that barks and patrols the front windows. If they see or hear him I don't think they have a lot of interest in my home.

I will say one other thing, so many have cameras now, and door bell cameras. A camera alone will not stop them. My sister in law lives in a gated community, they still got in the neighborhood. They rang the bell, she could see it was no one she knew. She did not answer the door. They proceeded to come into the backyard and break the back door. She stood there and said I have already called 911, they took off. It could have gone very bad. If someone comes to my door, I go to the front window with big dog and the phone in my hand. If they have no reason to be there, they are gone.
 
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chic said:
Yes, they do take guns. Also electronics, cash if there is any, jewelry, silverware. They also took all the mink coats and stoles when my home was broken into in the early 1970's.
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I doubt that your mink coats and stoles did much damage to others once they were stolen from you. Jewelry and silverware probably the same. But it is unfortunate that you were the victim of a crime. Being affluent isn’t an easy way to live, it seems.
 
I'd posit that anything easily portable, easily exchangeable for money, and difficult to identify as belonging to someone else, might be high on the list.
 
Back in the late 1980's I came home for lunch one day and scared a burglar out the back door as I was coming in the front door.

Apparently he had been there long enough to find our two large suitcases and start filling them with what he wanted to take. Among the items were a jar of video-game tokens, a glow-in-the-dark plastic hockey mask that had been part of a Halloween costume, a broken VCR player, and some of my husband's fishing gear (he had also lined up several of the fishing rods. Also included was a jar of pennies, a bb gun, boxes of bb's and some targets.

Surprisingly enough, the TV and good VCR were still hooked up and on the shelf and my jewelry box was intact. He had, however, pulled my underwear out of the drawer and threw it on the floor and clothes from the closet were strewn across the bedroom (I felt really *violated*).

My late husband was particularly upset about the fishing equipment......HOW DARE HE TOUCH MY FISHING STUFF?????? (The relationship between an angler and his equipment is sacred, y'know?)
 
I was burgled once, years ago when I was a student at LSU. I had no guns or any real valuables.

The one thing I lost that hurt most was a slide projector and my collection of slides (in the box with the projector). I was a rather avid photographer before that, kind of lost interest afterwards. They didn't get my camera, had it with me. Honestly I can't remember what else was taken.

I do remember the damage they did to the apartment turning everything upside down looking for real valuables... Had a locked tool box, it took a real beating before they got it open. They just dumped the tools out and left it all. Guess they were looking for gold or something.

I sure felt violated for a long time...
 
jujube said:
He had, however, pulled my underwear out of the drawer and threw it on the floor and clothes from the closet were strewn across the bedroom (I felt really *violated*).
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I’ve heard before that many people hide money in the drawer that they keep their underwear in. Sounds as though it was a bad day in your home then. I’ve also heard that most home burglars don’t usually carry weapons. They mainly rely on stealth, hoping to not be confronted.
 
Years ago, when my husband was an over the road truck driver in Cleveland, Ohio, I was home alone in our apartment with my infant daughter. I was awakened by someone jimmying the lock on the apartment door. Knowing my husband wouldn't be home until the next day, I knew someone was trying to enter.

I waited patiently, on the other side of the door. When they slowly opened the door to enter, they were greeted with a 12 gauge double barrel shotgun pointed at them! I've never seen two people run away so fast.

That's been the only time anyone has ever tried to break in to our home where ever we have lived.
 
Farrah Nuff said:
You view the link and form your own opinion. But it seems having a gun in your home doesn’t always protect a person or their possessions.

https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/homeowners-insurance/common-items-stolen/
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Well, everyone of us have to leave the house at sometime. And a gun is useless if no one is home to use it. Never saw a gun with autonomy.

The people who leave a gun lying around, deserve ridicule. I've listened to my police scanner, twice there's been an "Officer alert" for a certain vehicle.

Seems the owner left their gun in the glove compartment.
 
I have a "VICIOUS DOG" sign on the door - dogs will charge and ram the door when people come up the front stairs. I tell the "strangers" that I can't control the dogs and they better leave quickly.
 
Farrah Nuff said:
I doubt that your mink coats and stoles did much damage to others once they were stolen from you. Jewelry and silverware probably the same. But it is unfortunate that you were the victim of a crime. Being affluent isn’t an easy way to live, it seems.
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Yes, it is. :giggle: Give me affluence any day. You can replace the stuff more readily except for some antique jewelry they stole from ME. That as irreplacable. The insurance covered everything and all was replaced but my dad never bought another handgun after they stole it.
 
chic said:
Yes, it is. :giggle: Give me affluence any day. You can replace the stuff more readily except for some antique jewelry they stole from ME. That as irreplacable. The insurance covered everything and all was replaced but my dad never bought another handgun after they stole it.
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C’est la vie
 

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