Someone stole something from my house?!

Question

Someone stole my lawnmower from my back yard. It was in a little shed and they stole it probably at night. A month before they took my broken airconditoner that I left on my porch. Yeah, its ridiculous why someone would steal a very old lawnmower that I had since 1994 and a broken aircodnitioner.

Should I report this to the police? What will they do? I dont think they can do much of anything except make a police report and that will be it, which is useless anyways. What measures should I take to make sure it doesnt happen again? buy a lock? I want to get a security system like ADT, but its so expensive, that i can't afford it. So is there any other way to help protect my home and my family?

Answer 1

You should definitely report this to the police.  This way they will investigate the matter and try and figure out who is going into your backyard.  Believe me it is not useless.  A few months ago a person broke into a few cars but did not steal anything in my neighborhood and everyone thought he would get away with it but they caught him the next morning.  Also, it sounds like there is probably a thief that is stealing lots of stuff they think people don't want so it is probably not just you.  This is even more reason to file a police report because they will go along with any other reports filed and if there are complaints from multiple people, they will be more likely to spend time investigating it.  Definitely buy a lock for your shed but I don't think you need a security system if you cannot afford it.  This does not sound like the behavior of a person who would break into your house but just steal things they don't think you need. Criminals that usually commit only non-violent crimes barely ever start committing violent crimes.  However once you can afford a security system get it because you never know what the person is going to do.

Answer 2

Yeah, a lock would be a good idea.

Answer 3

buy a big dog, a guard dog  

Answer 4

If you have any insurance for your property, the police report will help you collect. The report also may help establish a "trend" that police can use to assign people to your area (or not, based on the statistics, which they would be watching, especially in an urban area). Did your shed have a lock that was engaged? How long was the air conditioner sitting on your porch? Air conditioners have copper in them, which is marketable by thieves. A motion detector that turns on an outside light is often an inexpensive deterrent. A sign that states your property is protected by Smith and Wesson may have "some" effect...

Answer 5

Install a bright light with a motion detector.  You can get them in many hardware stores, say HomeDepot and they are cheap.  You can also find some stickers indicating that you have a security system even when you don't.  That should deter some thiefs at least.

Answer 6

Install a motion sensored camera it will catch the theif carefull its probably someone you know? Then you can confront them or call the police and do whatever you want but at least you will know who it is.I wouldnt tell anyone you are putting it there Keep it a secret they sell small hidden cameras very inexpensive too