Cash-for-Gold is very possible considering that's all they took...there are a couple local stores that have those signs outside but I'm guessing it's probably going to end up in an envelope in the mail to some company and not locally traded in.

#17 Meh. While there is certainly a little of that sort of thing out there, usually by the time it hits TV, those that are going to use such methods have already heard via word of mouth. Most burglaries are strictly amateur hour. Most will kick in a door, pick up a rock and smash a window, etc. Get in, carry what you can until your nerves give out or you think you've grabbed the most pawn-able stuff, then split.

Unless, of course, you live in a bank vault, museum, etc. Then you might fall prey to more sophisticated ops.

Check around for local crackheads. Ask Police if any locals have that MO.

Don't count on a dog for protection against breakins. Had a neighbor in the 70's who bought a big K9 trained dog to watch the house. Thieves broke and took everything including the dog. In the 80's a rapist broke in and hid in a neighbor's closet. She woke up tied up. Dog did nothing. Rest was very ugly.

Buy them each a gun, get a carry permits and have them practice a lot. In this day and age, old people are easy targets.

Alarm systems are good, but don't count on them to protect you. A safe room is a good idea. Also a good place to store valuables.

#22 The fact that they show numerous homes out of town as in the case of his parents, nerve does not necc. come into play.Lets face it if your gonna do that kinda crap you've already gotten past certain concerns. IMO

Unfortunately, as stated above, the police weren't a lot of help from what my parents said. They didn't even try to pull any prints, I'm guessing since nobody was harmed it's not worth the time to see if it's anyone they already have on record...sucks but what can you do. The parents don't have any handguns but Dad has several shotguns and rifles that they left behind...that's been the main source of "home security" but it doesn't work if nobody is there standing behind the trigger. At least they didn't take the guns, that'd be a bigger mess to worry about than the jewelry.

If you want an alarm system on the cheep, check out the Mace wireless system sold online by Wal-Mart. Door and window sensors, plus motion detectors, all wireless. The keypad hooks up to your landline, and will call up to 8 phone numbers when the alarm goes off. I really like mine. Simply to install and no monthly monitoring fees. You can even set it to “silent” mode, in the hopes of the police catching the BGs in the act.

You want a good alarm system....landmines.

Landmines - I like that, LOL! Parents have already arranged for an alarm service company to come out and installed a new door with a beefed up frame - whoever got in kicked the old one down (big footprint on the old door). Seems like that's a pretty strong kick, don't think I could do that. Keeps up with my theory that these are some kids who live within walking distance of the house. School was out on Friday, and they took a pillow case to put the jewelry in but didn't take anything big. As I mentioned before they left the shotguns but we noticed today they took the shells they found...shotgun shells and earrings...sounds kinky, lol! This also was the final motivation I needed to pick up a shotgun for my own home defense. Didn't want to break the bank, so I picked up a Mossberg 500 Persuader with the 8 shot capacity...affordable, US made, and should be reliable enough to cut down an intruder. Nice thing is I've taken the next 2 days off work to house sit out here in the country until the alarm company arrives on Tuesday. Should be a nice time to get acquainted with my new friend before I take it back to the city.

Thanks all for listening to my story over the weekend...I feel like I'm finally winding down.

Actually, if they have an enclosed yard, try geese and/or guinea fowl. They will raise hell if anyone comes in yard. The geese may even attack. Geese will stay on the ground but guinea fowl will typically roost in a tree near the house.

Pioneers used guinea fowl to warn of Injuns coming around. A lot of folks living in secluded areas still keep them to warn of varmints, animal and human.

A friend of mine told me his platoon had a goose they carried with them on patrols. At night they kept him on a leash and he would raise cain if any VC came around. Said it saved their bacon more than once.