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IF you are gone a lot, if it were me (and other people dont always think like I do)- I would just put almost everything into storage and then leave the doors and windows open, and then also have a video camera and signs. You'll still need to protect your water heater and wiring etc, but the less you have, the less likely you are to be a target. Either that, or get someone to live there for free- which is also fraught with HUGE potential problems, but you might know someone already that would work out.
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Amazing that Puna police say to get video surveillance, and then when you DO get it, they tell you they have no way to USE it... even if you supply the HD video, the reader program & such...they do not use it... seems it is not the beat responsibility to do computer work & IT dept does not do criminal investigation work.... no one seems to know who is to do what with computer generated evidence....& since these systems now are generating COMPUTER information...NO WAY TO USE IT (save to download it onto an old VHS...or print out flip-chart photos....)
When we had an incidence with our break in at our neighbors, it took 2 weeks for them to figure out HOW to download the info from a flash drive ... beat guys did not even realize what it was...they actually requested we hand over the surveillance hard drive!
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Vacation rentals here will always be a problem. It's too easy to see online which houses are rentals and when they will be occupied. Have you thought about those old school mechanical light timers? Also a decent idea to leave a radio or stereo on. Locking the gate does tell a thief that you a probably out, but then they have to leave their car outside the gate which is suspicious. Unfortunately we do not have a decent vacation rental management company here. The management company should keep an eye on the house but neither of the companies here seems to give a s***. So it's up to you to keep your house secure. There's a good business opportunity here for someone who wants to do vacation rentals right.
With Seven police per shift, a chief who doesn't care, a 20% population increase in 10 years, dirt cheap real estate, and an area larger than Oahu. What do we expect? Remember when the police wouldn't come up past Keaau? That was part of the appeal. I think a lot of people have moved to Puna without fully understanding the area. It's not like it was in the 70s, but there is still plenty of that feeling and add in a poor economy with not much work and kids with nothing to do and there are bound to be problems.
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quote:
Originally posted by dakine
[quote]Originally posted by PaulW
I had this problem on a property in Volcano a number of years ago. I called the police after the first incidence and asked the responding officer about this approach and was told it would not be admissible in court.. nor would the police use it to make an arrest. This was later confirmed by an attorney.
If you have the kind that sends pictures directly to you then you can call the cops to the houseand potentially have them catch the person in the act. Of course with the response time, particularly in Volcano, that may not work either.
Third Gregs ... And damm funny.
The rest are called " malicious intent " As would be rigging a shotgun to the door.
I vote for a live cables criss crossed across the yard < 12" off the ground.
Julie, Would you REALLY just leave your doors and windows open ????? B . S.
O.K. Serious answer,
If alarm / security company not an option.
Personally I would bolt bars + plywood, 2Xs and metal sheet ( to make noise ) over all in/egress points on the INSIDE of the house and then have a secret exit point on roof or under.
aloha,
pog
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Yes, I do all the time accidently now. My three kids are my most valuable possessions. I have three broken computers and three broken tv's. Please, come and take it! My lot in orchidland has no gate, and I am debating even putting up one of those. Now, of course, I dont want the electrical wiring stolen so I have to actually be at the house a lot to prevent this, but I am just talking about basic personal possessions. I dont even own one piece of jewelry. I guess I am a bit outside of the norm. If a thief wants something in your house, they can easily just break a window and walk right in. I guess what I'm saying is, "you either make it like a vault and have dogs, patrolling neighbors, and cameras-- Or you just remove most of what can be stolen". I am just saying I feel that in Hawaii that is the choice you have. It seems there is very little "middle ground".
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I'm wondering... How does one have solar equipment and leave the house knowing that there is 6-8K worth of equipment someone could roll in and a 15 minutes later roll out with some expensive equipment.
I am all for leaving the door unlocked because I have little to steal, but I recently thought about solar and now wondering if that equipment is just a welcome mat for thieves to come take it?
How often does theft occur because of solar? Anyone else wonder about this? While Batteries and Panels would take a while to steal because they are bulky or heavy. But taking a 2K inverter or a 1K charge controller would be pretty easy. Not to mention a 2K dollar honda generator.
Wouldn't be cool at all if you went away for a few weeks and came back to gutted house and had to call helco backup to hook you up to the grid. I wonder if home insurance would cover solar equipment if it was stolen?
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Yes Insurance does cover solar equipment theft as long as you have theft on your policy which most do.
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I have heard that people's solar stuff gets taken constantly. They even took the solar equipment and machines meant to measure the earthquakes up near the volcano.
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Thieves have also stolen the solar panels from the tsunami warning buoys which are a few hundred miles out to sea.
Assume the best and ask questions.
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