# So we're at home today, trying to figure out exactly what is missing...
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-at-home-today-trying-to-figure-out-exactly-what-is-missing/467161
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [October 9, 2008, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-at-home-today-trying-to-figure-out-exactly-what-is-missing/467161 "2008-10-09T14:01:01Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2008, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-at-home-today-trying-to-figure-out-exactly-what-is-missing/467161/21 "2008-10-10T00:36:58Z")
> [@Glory](#):
>
> I know it’s a drop in the DVD bucket, but I have a perfectly good absolutely spare copy of Firefly. Throw me a PM and I’ll drop it in the mail for you.
Already have that covered via **Kythereia** , thanks.
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2008, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-at-home-today-trying-to-figure-out-exactly-what-is-missing/467161/22 "2008-10-10T01:43:46Z")
In the midst of all this, I have some good news.
I got a notice from the county today. The homeowner’s grant application I filed a couple months ago has been approved. I’ll have a nice check by 7 December.
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### Author:  [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2008, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-at-home-today-trying-to-figure-out-exactly-what-is-missing/467161/23 "2008-10-10T01:52:47Z")
> [@Marlitharn](#):
>
> Keep an eye on the local pawn shops. Odds are you’ll be able to get most of your original stuff back for a fraction of the original cost. In fact, if you see everything you lost in one pawn shop, it might be worthwhile to drop a dime to the cops; pawn shops require i.d. when you sell them things.
My experience w/pawn shops/stolen stuff is that as soon as they hear “cops/stolen merchandise” is they immediately claim : that??? :smack: gosh, we sold that yesterday. And that’s for stuff w/serial numbers, let alone virtually untraceable shit like DVD s and such. any chance you did something to them that would personalize them?
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2008, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-at-home-today-trying-to-figure-out-exactly-what-is-missing/467161/24 "2008-10-10T01:56:13Z")
> [@wring](#):
>
> any chance you did something to them that would personalize them?
'Fraid not. The creep(s) probably sold them to their friends anyway, and word is the one who was spending nights here has pulled a disappearing act. Then again, we got the word from a known liar.
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### Author:  [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2008, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-at-home-today-trying-to-figure-out-exactly-what-is-missing/467161/25 "2008-10-10T12:48:47Z")
> [@](#):
>
> **Lute Skywatcher** said:
> Just paid the condo fee & mortgage, not sure if the condo association would cover the expense.
Why would you wait? Compared to the value of your property and the hassle involved if the kid comes back with a copied key, locks are cheap.
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### Author:  [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2008, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-at-home-today-trying-to-figure-out-exactly-what-is-missing/467161/26 "2008-10-10T14:04:07Z")
The kid can’t open the dead lock, so it’s not a rush job.
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2008, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-at-home-today-trying-to-figure-out-exactly-what-is-missing/467161/27 "2008-10-10T15:08:57Z")
There was a little misunderstanding when we taking inventory of what’s left. We still have the PotCs.
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#):
>
> The kid can’t open the dead lock, so it’s not a rush job.
Exactly right. And if the known liar’s right, Creep #1 isn’t around at the moment. We’ll ask maintenance keep an eye out for Creep #2’s truck, just in case.
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2008, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-at-home-today-trying-to-figure-out-exactly-what-is-missing/467161/28 "2008-10-28T17:12:26Z")
So, Lute, how about an update?😕
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### Author:  [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2008, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-at-home-today-trying-to-figure-out-exactly-what-is-missing/467161/29 "2008-10-28T17:37:28Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#):
>
> The kid can’t open the dead lock, so it’s not a rush job.
Think so? Have you ever heard of [Lock Bumping?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xkkS2p7SuQ&feature=related) I didn’t know about this until a couple of weeks ago when I went to change the locks on my house.
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### Author:  [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2008, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-at-home-today-trying-to-figure-out-exactly-what-is-missing/467161/30 "2008-10-28T19:29:16Z")
> [@DrDeth](#):
>
> So, Lute, how about an update?😕
When you do, please tell us the kid was dumb enough to use you as a reference on his job applications.
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [November 27, 2008, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-at-home-today-trying-to-figure-out-exactly-what-is-missing/467161/31 "2008-11-27T01:45:51Z")
> [@DrDeth](#):
>
> So, Lute, how about an update?😕
No word from the cops yet but the insurance will pay out a bit more than half of our estimate to replace the DVDs.
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [November 27, 2008, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-at-home-today-trying-to-figure-out-exactly-what-is-missing/467161/32 "2008-11-27T01:53:26Z")
Oh yeah, the maintenance guys have a picture of creep #1 and will have the cops pick him up if they ever see him in the complex. The condo association can’t seem to keep any competent security staff around so they made a deal with the cops back when the last security contract was terminated.
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### Author:  [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2008, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-at-home-today-trying-to-figure-out-exactly-what-is-missing/467161/33 "2008-11-28T18:51:53Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#):
>
> No word from the cops yet but the insurance will pay out a bit more than half of our estimate to replace the DVDs.
Why so little? I thought homeowners’ policies usually paid out replacement value rather than market value.
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2008, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-at-home-today-trying-to-figure-out-exactly-what-is-missing/467161/34 "2008-11-28T18:57:31Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#):
>
> Why so little?
Lack of receipts, probably. All the insurance people had to go on was the say-so from a couple of friends.
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### Author:  [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2008, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-at-home-today-trying-to-figure-out-exactly-what-is-missing/467161/35 "2008-11-28T20:21:28Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#):
>
> I got a notice from the county today. The homeowner’s grant application I filed a couple months ago has been approved. I’ll have a nice check by 7 December.
What’s a homeowner’s grant? I wonder if the give them around here.
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### Author:  [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2008, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-at-home-today-trying-to-figure-out-exactly-what-is-missing/467161/36 "2008-11-28T21:44:14Z")
Sorry for your loss, but…
LOCK YOUR FUCKING DEADBOLT!
Really, not kidding around at all. ALWAYS lock the deadbolt. Hell, locking knob locks are a joke. Crap, half the houses I unlock I don’t need anything but my state issued ID (yeah Alabama finally got around to licensing locksmiths) or a old credit card.
Deadbolts are not the perfect answer they can be bypassed, but they take a little more work than a dinking locking knob lock.
Once again sorry your stuff went poof. Of course, now people know you got stuff, coming back is a possibility, either them or thier friends they talk to.
Lock the dead bolt, is all I am saying. Make the fuckers work a bit more for it.
Osip
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2008, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-at-home-today-trying-to-figure-out-exactly-what-is-missing/467161/37 "2008-12-01T17:07:01Z")
> [@acsenray](#):
>
> What’s a homeowner’s grant?
It’s a program run by the county dept. of human services. Any family living in the county and earning up to $77,407 as of their last federal tax return is entitled to either $300 or $600 (plus $75 for each claimed dependent), depending on income and assets.
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### Author:  [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2008, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-at-home-today-trying-to-figure-out-exactly-what-is-missing/467161/38 "2008-12-01T17:47:59Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#):
>
> Think so? Have you ever heard of [Lock Bumping?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xkkS2p7SuQ&feature=related) I didn’t know about this until a couple of weeks ago when I went to change the locks on my house.
If he can do that, what good is changing the locks? If he can bump the deadbolt, he can bump the deadbolt _and_ the knob.
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### Author:  [@Rapier42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rapier42)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2008, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-at-home-today-trying-to-figure-out-exactly-what-is-missing/467161/39 "2008-12-01T20:57:08Z")
> [@wring](#):
>
> My experience w/pawn shops/stolen stuff is that as soon as they hear “cops/stolen merchandise” is they immediately claim : that??? :smack: gosh, we sold that yesterday. And that’s for stuff w/serial numbers, let alone virtually untraceable shit like DVD s and such. any chance you did something to them that would personalize them?
This. Probably too late for the OP either way, but if anyone else does find themselves perusing pawn shops and the like for missing valuables, _don’t say anything to the pawn shop employees about it_. A friend made that mistake, and all trace of the goods had vanished when the police detective got around to checking it out.
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### Author:  [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2008, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-at-home-today-trying-to-figure-out-exactly-what-is-missing/467161/40 "2008-12-01T23:31:21Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#):
>
> Think so? Have you ever heard of [Lock Bumping?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xkkS2p7SuQ&feature=related) I didn’t know about this until a couple of weeks ago when I went to change the locks on my house.
They also make pick guns that operate on much the same principle and make standard pin tumbler locks pretty much useless. That said, I really doubt picking tools are used in a significant amount of burglaries.
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