h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

There have been three burglaries in this apartment complex just this month. Eeep! Rather frightening. In every case they jimmied the front door. I'm considering putting on an inexpensive alarm. I'm less likely to get hit because I'm an upper story apartment, and I'm here a lot during the day, but still.

I may give one of my paintings to my niece who lives in a house. She has wanted the painting for a long time, and it might be safer with her. It's not all that valuable in money terms, but it's irreplaceable. But it's also hard to part with even to my niece. What do y'all think? Would it be safer in a house, considering the house is in a pretty good neighborhood? And there is the consideration that it would make the dear girl very happy.

Hi Ellen! I think you should give the painting to your niece. As you say, the house is in a good neighborhood & of course your niece's happines at receiving the painting is(I think)all the more reason.

Gee, I'm concerned about the burglaries though! The alarm might not be a bad idea.

I assume you already have a deadlock on the door and locks on the windows...

Yes, hi Ivan, I do.

Hello Ivan!!

I still got past the locks. *giggles*

me too!

...she came in through the bathroom window...

A few years ago, we were burgled twice in a month. They waited until we'd got a replacement CD player, DVD etc before coming back. The worst of it was...it was our neighbours. We discovered this from the woman upstairs. She had learning difficulties, plus she didn't speak English very well. Because we were always pleasant to her, she eventually let slip that they were her cousins and that they'd threatened her not to tell.

Still, a burglar alarm did the trick. They don't catch burglars...they just make them go next door.

don't look at me, no silver spoon here

If I didn't have a cat, I would get one of those motion sensor alarms that barks like a German Shepard.

You don't need motion sensors. Or even an alarm. All you need is something outside your home that *looks* like an alarm.

Then I would miss out on the fun of making lots of noise.

You could always ask your neice to be a "guardian" of your picture,until the time comes that you feel you can part with it on a permanent basis!
It's not very nice to feel scared in your own home,i think an alarm might be a good idea

OOPs,hello everyone

Yeh, Smurfles, that's what I'm leaning toward -- loaning it to her on a more or less ongoing basis.

Just make sure there's a little sign next to it, like you see in art galleries - 'On permanent loan from the collection of the artist'.

I think it woud be a shame to give it to her if you aren't sure that you want to part with it,but leaving it where it is will be a worry for you.I'm sure she'd feel honoured to be asked to take care of one of your treasured possesions.

Loaning the painting would make your niece happy and I'm sure would take a load off your mind. I don't blame you for not wanting to part with something you worked so hard at that is one-of-a-kind, though. Tough choice.

An alarm would be a good investment. Renter's insurance might be a good idea, too, though if there have already been burglaries in the complex it might be a bit pricey. I've never had renter's insurance till recently, so I have no experience with different rates and stuff.

Alarms, however, as Edward says, are a big deterrent. I don't want to talk about it online, for security reasons, but I'd be happy to discuss the security system situation here with you.

Hi PC! Yeh, shoot me an email when you have time.

That's a whole lot of no fun! It sounds like you definately do need an alarm.