I want to have a chance to answer a few of the questions that have come in having to do with the latest break in over at our BOL… Some posts get more questions than others and these break-ins have generated more then normal. I think that the idea of having our hard earned preps stolen out from under us is a subject that commands just about all preppers attention. We work hard to buy, build or otherwise acquire the things that we all believe the world of tomorrow will require and then they ride off in the back of some son of a sumsuckers truck… Not acceptable!

 

   First, I had one direct comment about selling the BOL and several other emails that indicated that person thought it might be a good idea… While I do understand the logic behind this line of thinking and do respect the individuals that brought it up, we won’t be doing that! I say this with complete conviction because the fact is buying and outfitting a true BOL is far harder and more time consuming then it might first appear. I’ve been working on this particular project, in one fashion or the other, for almost 2 decades! Yes, I’m 40 and so this means almost half my life… I share most everything about my BOL and related projects with you but not all the specific details as I don’t like unexpected visitors. Some of the details that have been left out for OPSEC reasons would be hard to replicate at a new location. Other factors like my families having been accepted into a small community that I don’t even live in full time yet, could only be accomplished through the years I’ve spent nurturing neighborly relationships with those around me. Not even money could buy me the good will of a diverse group of neighbors that often don’t even get along that well amongst themselves much less with a weekender family from the city! It takes lots of time to gain others confidence and frankly I don’t see us having another 20 years to try to embed myself in a new community, even if I could sell the property without losing a huge chunk of equity due to the real estate downturn…

 

   Other emailers had asked for specifics on what all I lost… I guess these posts about my misfortune are kind of like driving past a trainwreck and morbid curiosity is getting the best of the inquirers… The following is THE list that I gave to the Sheriffs office for the police report. I have only removed the name and address, as well as removed the VIN #’s for the quads.

 

 

The following are the items that we have determined stolen from our property.

 

 

2000 Kawasaki Prairie – VIN # XXXXXXXXXXX       (Red, 4 wheel drive w/ winch on front w/ black plastic racks front and rear trailer hitch)

 

2003 Kawasaki Bayou – VIN # XXXXXXXXXXX        (Green, 2 wheel drive, gray metal cargo racks on the front and rear w/ trailer hitch)

 

Zenith DVD Player

 

19″ LCD Flat Screen TV –      There was a multiple angle adjustable mounting bracket attached to the back of TV for attaching to wall or cabinet. I believe the brand on the TV was Sanyo

 

Mp3 stereo system –    This was a small stereo system for an IPOD, black in color

 

Police band scanner – Radio shack brand scanner, handheld black in color

 

Icom IC T2A Radio – This was a 2 meter handheld Ham radio. Small black radio with a detachable rubber antenna. This would be of limited use without a HAM radio license.

 

Various Hand tools –   There were multiple 30mm ammunition cans with all sorts of hand tools inside. Manufactures were primarily Craftsman and Proto. These would have included assorted wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers and allen head wrenches. Wood working tools would have included several wood saws, hammers, pry bars and several squares.

 

Power tools –              (1) 18v Dewalt 1/4 impact driver w/ battery and 110v charger

                                    (2) 9.6v Makita Flashlights with 3 batteries and charger

 

Power Inverter –          500 watt – I believe this was made by “Statpower” but I can’t recall for sure?

 

Work Boots -               2 pairs of women’s work/hiking boots. Brand unknown

 

Utility Box –                2′x2′x4′ utility box, covered in black short nap carpeting. Handles on both ends made of nylon rope material. Constructed of plywood

 

Ammo Cans -              These cans are or were empty and in addition to the cans mentioned as holding ammunition or other items. (2) 20mm green steel cans, (1) gray US Navy steel ammunition can. The gray can is unique in that it is manufactured with 6 clamps all around the removable top.

 

“Power Kit”-               20mm Ammo can, painted green and stenciled with the words “Power Kit” in black letter across the detachable lid. Inside the ammo can was a supply of various size rechargeable batteries, I believe they were “Rayovac” brand and had a 110 volt battery charger as well

 

“Medical Kit”-          20mm Ammo can, painted green and stenciled with the words “Medical Kit” in black letters across the detachable lid. Inside were  various first aid supplies. This would have included bandages of various manufactures, over the counter pain relievers and  remedies.

 

Firearm Magazines – There were 10 individually plastic wrapped AK-47 magazines. These were all made by Norinco and would either be marked as “Norinco or Chinese”. All of these magazines were being stored inside a 50 caliber green ammunition can.

 

 

***All ammunition was stored inside of 30 or 50 caliber, olive drab ammunition cans unless specified otherwise. I will attempt to describe this ammunition’s packaging to the best of my recollection as well.

 

(2) cases 1200 rounds each 7.62×39 Norinco ammunition in a wooden manufactures crate, inside the crate the ammunition is in the typical cardboard 20 round ammunition boxes. The 20 round boxes are gray or silver and have the Norinco brand markings

 

(4) cases 1260 rounds each .308, South African manufacture. Each of these cases is a chocolate brown metal case clearly marked as ammunition. Each has a removable matching metal lid. Inside the brown case is 9 individually wrapped plastic cases with 7 20 round boxes inside.

 

(1) case .223, (1020 rounds) this ammunition was manufactured by Israel munitions Inc. – marked IMI and packaged in 30 round square cardboard boxes. This is unique since the norm would be 20 round boxes. Each round has a green painted tip. These were all packed inside a 50mm ammo can and down inside the can were 20-30 loose rounds of tracer ammo, these have an orange painted tip…

 

(1) Package .223 – this ammo was South African manufacture and is packaged similarly to the above mentioned .308. Inside the plastic wrapper would be 15 individual cardboard boxes, total of 300 rounds.

 

.38 –     200 rounds, These were in an ammo can loose, no individual boxes

 

.45 –     6 (50 round) boxes of Winchester ammunition, boxes were almost entirely white with  minimal factory markings. These packed all together inside a 30mm can.

 

9×19 – (1) case – 1000 rounds, 20 boxes of federal brand ammunition. I think it was  marked American Eagle, in red boxes of 50

 

30.06 – 3 boxes, I don’t recall the brand – 2 boxes were full and 1 had 2-3 rounds used and the empty casings should be inside for reloading. I think these were white boxes            with a green manufactures label of some sort on one side.

 

7.62×39 – 25 boxes of 20, ammunition, Norinco brand.

 

 

   As you can see by the list there was quite a haul taken this time and we can’t help but feel the sting! We were pleasantly surprised to find out that our homeowners insurance did cover these items and even though the amount of the insurance settlement was no where near enough to replace the stuff, that money did ease the pain to some degree! I also want to remind everyone that this could have been worse, much worse! There were no firearms stolen and I’m very happy about that fact. Not only do I not want to be arming the enemy, I don’t want to have to start filling in gaps in my recently parred down collection.

 

   Another question was about what additional safeguards have been added to assure that more preps don’t walk away again? Well, lets see…? We added an alarm system to the house and primary outbuildings. Additional extra loud exterior sirens were installed that are pointed right at the closest neighbors house to add to the likelihood they will be heard day or night! We have installed additional heavy duty lock mechanisms to the doors of the cargo containers, these were bolted and welded in place. The locks were positioned so as to be almost undefeatable without a cutting torch! Even with a cutting torch, the alarm will sound as soon as the doors are opened or they gain entry to disturb the motion detector!

 

   It will be a long time before I’ll feel comfortable with my own security there again. Nothing gets left out and all the doors get locked tight before dark and or whenever we leave the property. It’s hard to shake the idea that at anytime there could and probably has been someone in the woods watching the house! I find myself doing random shooting skills excersises much more frequently. I’d like to say that I hope to catch someone trespassing but I really don’t want to, what I really do want is to be left alone!

 

   I have to agree with the folks that commented on the fact that its very difficult to successfully secure a property that isn’t occupied full time! This will eventually take care of itself as we will be making that move in the not to distant future. Until then we will be working towards getting the entire 10 acres fenced with at least a typical barbed wire fence. I don’t have delusions that a barbed wire fence will keep these scumbags out but it will be very difficult to make a case that they didn’t know they were trespassing when or if they are ever caught on the property! I have other additions planned to beef up our security and those will be revealed in future posts as I work out the kinks!

 

   Again, thanks to everyone that emailed me with their sympathies! I do hope that nobody else has to experience this but it comes with the territory and as the economy sinks further into the toilet, I would expect that these occurances would increase. Don’t get complacent and wait until after you get hit by these characters to do what you know in the back of your mind needs to be done, do it now!

 

 

Prepper

 

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