I need to vent!

[GoktimusPrime]

As you know, my collection room has locks on the window and door, and my gun Transformers are in a locked display unit; all part of the legal requirements for gun TF ownership, but the lock on the window and door provide additional security for the other Transformers in my room. And of course that's in addition to the regular perimeter security of my home (i.e. all other doors and windows have locks).

Just be mindful to keep everything locked when you're not at home. The mistake I made when I was burgled last time was that I left my small kitchen window open. The window is a bit high up and the window is quite small, but the burglar pushed the wheelie bin right up against the window to climb on, and must have squeezed through to get in. Part of the problem was that even if that window was closed, it didn't have a decent lock... and the back door lock was broken (I literally had to push a chair up against the door knob to keep it closed). But that's because I was renting at the time and my landlord was a tightwad who didn't want to pay to get anything fixed (my ceiling always leaked when it rained, water from the shower would soak into the adjoining room etc.). So I moved out of that house quickly after that burglary!

But yeah, assuming that all your doors and windows have working locks then just remember to lock them. I would follow the guidelines for secured storage for gun Transformers for your collection room, even if you don't own any gun toys. i.e.:
+ Install a lock on your collection room door
+ If your collection room is on the ground floor, install window security (bars or shutters)

Another option is to purchase display units with lockable doors. But this can be a very expensive venture if you have a large collection, or you could simply lock your most valuable toys in that unit and display the rest normally.

You could also buy a "Beware of Dog" sign just as a bluff? Another option (again costly) is to get a house alarm, preferably with back to base (i.e.: the security company will send someone to check your house if the alarm is tripped).

P.S.: Here's a useful link from National Crime Prevention: Lock Burglars Out

Most home burglars are not collectors. They don’t want to own or keep your goods. They just want to take as much out of your house as they can
and sell it as fast as they can, for as much money as they can get.

This is true. When my toys were stolen they only stole toys that were in box. Those original G1s were stolen because they were displayed in their G1 reissue boxes. Sometimes when I buy a reissue I'll "retire" the original G1 toy by keeping it inside the reissue's box. BTA Alert was loose in box and BTA Broadcast was MISB, so they were nicked. All my loose toys were untouched, including all of my convention and e-Hobby exclusives.

Their primary targets are expensive items that are highly portable and easy to dispose of - like television or VCR sets, lap-top computers, cash,
credit cards, handbags, wallets, jewellery, home audio equipment, power tools and garden tools, household electricals, computers, prescription
drugs, bicycles, and clothing - especially brand labels and leather jackets.

I've twice had bicycles stolen and yeah, during my last burglarly I had my DVD/VCR and PS2 nicked. They're looking for anything that they can easily sell off the street for cash.

They’re usually not shy. They’ll not only walk right in if the door’s open, many of them don’t really mind if you’re happily pottering around somewhere else in the house - while they help themselves. According to statistics compiled by the NRMA in New South Wales, more than 30 per cent of home burglaries happen when someone is at home.

While I was living at that dodgy rental house (I was burgled 3 times in that house!) I once had my wallet sitting on the dining table in the back room with the back door open because it was a hot day, but I was in another room on the computer. Someone walked in and took the wallet!

We keep our screen doors locked all the time, even when we're at home.

Now regarding the "Beware of Dog" sign...

They’re not keen on other people’s dogs.

According to recent research in the Australian Capital Territory, burglars prefer not to encounter dogs in the houses they’re breaking into; in fact 75 per cent of burglars questioned in an ACT survey in 1999 said the presence of a dog “puts them off” breaking into a house.

For more information you can also check out www.crimeprevention.gov.au