Why Must I Learn Everything The Hard Way?

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Emibub

Emibub

PFG, Picture Framing God
Joined
Nov 2, 2001
Posts
9,246
Loc
Centennial, CO, USA
I got a call from my alarm company at 4AM this morning, my motion detector had gone off and they had dispatched the police. I had no idea what I would find when I got here, my big fear was fire. The pizza place next door has had financial difficulties and his behavior made me nervous enough to have my insurance increased. That was my first thought. It turned out to be a smash and grab. They hit several businesses including mine. I was the only one with an alarm so they probably stopped after mine. They smashed the door and busted my cash register to smithereens and took all my cash, around $600.00.

I have been very lax with cash lately. I haven't made a deposit all week, it has been slow and mostly charge cards. I know better, I've closed stores for years, you remove the cash and leave the drawer open so they don't feel the need to bust your cash register. What a rummy mistake.

It could have been worse, vandalism would have destroyed me as hard as I've worked on this place, same with fire. The scary part is I slept here overnight the other night because I worked really late. That is the last time I do that. I haven't made any money for myself the last 6 months I hope they enjoy my hard earned money.

On the upside at least I know my alarm service was a wise decision. Plus once again I have learned something about running a business.........the hard way. Hope the glass people come soon, it is very cold this morning.

Kathy
Out on a Whim Custom Framing
 
Kathy,

I know the feeling well. And I have some suggestions for you for the future.

I lived about 20 miles west of my gallery location and, shortly after I had my grand opening, I got a call from the Salem Police Dept. telling me that they had a silent alarm call from my gallery. As soon as I hung up I got the same call from my security alarm company.

I jumped in my car, ran way over the speed limit all the way to Salem and got within 2 miles of my gallery before a cop finally pulled me over. I told him the situation and he escorted me to my gallery, lights on, siren blaring, doing 65 in a 35 mile zone, all very exciting and very scary at the same time.

The "culprit" was a large Peace Lily that was given to me as a gift from one of the other businesses here in town. I hadn't had to use the central air until that day and the plant was sitting in close proximity to one of the floor vents and I never gave it a thought as I set the alarm system upon leaving that evening. I guess the A/C kicked on about midnight and the movement of the large leaves on that plant set off one of the motion detectors.

Like you, I was pleased to see that the security system I had installed only a few weeks before really worked and worked quickly. The cops said they arrived within 3 minutes of the alarm going off.

Suggestions:

1. Watch where you place your decorative plants! Big leafed plants WILL trigger a motion detector.

2. Give your local police a key to your building. They can use it in the event of a catastrophe ie., fire, explosion, and they may be able to save much more of your belongings than they would having to wait for you to arrive from how ever far away you live.

Framerguy
 
After p[laying a Sunday round of golf (pre cell phone days) I returned to find 4 messages from my security service and a nasty message from the local fire chief. Mrs. Fay was none too pleased as well.
Seems a moth had laid its eggs on the back of one of the smoke detectors in my shop, and as the little caterpillars hatched they proceeded in turn across the sensor in the smoke detector. The local Fire Company had visited 4 times to my shop in the time it takes to play a round of golf.
I was let off light by having to write a letter of explanation (and apology) and make a promise to be more vigilant in my maintenance of the system.

I have been broken in to 3 times, and I truely believe that the alarm system was effective in preventing major damage/loss.
 
No Dermot I'm not, but I truly believe what doesn't kill you makes you stronger or at least more pissed off.

I actually found a good independent individual to fix my glass. All the other "Big Boys" who claimed 24 hour emergency service didn't even answer the phone. This guy had a small ad and didn't say 24 hour service, I woke him out of bed at 5:00 in the morning and he said he would assemble a team and be there in 2 hours. I was so impressed with him I passed him on to the beauty salon guy and the pizza guy. Isn't that what free enterprise is all about? Somebody robs from me and instead of suffering the lack of service from the "Big Box" people go on down (or up) the food chain and seek out an independent business who is happy to do business with me and who I will more "happily" give my money to. And they in turn will do superior work at a fair price and in a timely manner. That sounds hauntingly familiar. Peace.
Kathy
Out on a Whim Custom Framing
 
We are lucky enough to live close to our store. When we first bought the store, we didn't think about alarms and the previous owner never had one. We got broken into and they only took about $2000 worth of merchandise. (they were stupid too) We always put our cash drawer in a separate place, so we weren't out any cash and there were some funny things that they took, so it was obviously kids. When I think of what someone with some time and lots and lots of tubes of paint could do, my blood runs cold. :eek: Anyway, about a year after the first breakin (after we installed an alarm system) we got the call and met the cops at the door. They sent in a dog who found nothing. The thieves obviously fled as soon as the Alarm To Wake The Dead went off. When we had the glass replaced (they broke a glass door, not one of the big windows) we had them use a break-resistant glass... which I din't know there was. Apparently no one has yet tested it that we know of...
 
Kathy,
Really sorry to hear about your misfortune. I noticed the comment about not taking any money for yourself the last 6 months. Is this a new shop(we've all been there!) or are you a victim of this funky economy? Thanks for the reminder about the cash. We are in a small town with a low crime rate, we don't leave much cash in the register because people hardly ever pay with cash anymore, but you never know. Hope things start to look up soon. By the way, the only thing we ever had stolen was "emergency" cash we had hidden on top of a supply shelf in a closet, and a helper of one of those nice independent roofers had to get in our attic through an access hole right next to the shelf...It took us awhile to realize it was gone....Talk about being mad at myself!!!

Leslie S.
 
We had apartments above the store and one day found out that the police had been watching one of our renters. It was a drug problem, I told them to please call me before they did a drug raid. I said I would like them to use a key rather than break down the door. Nothing ever happened and the renter move out the next week. Had no problem returning their deposit. Also on alarms we have had problems sometimes with the key pad and also my father can not hear to well and forgets the alarm when he goes to the shop, so I do get some calls for that. But I like the alarm for the fire reason makes us feel safe. :D ctc
 
Kathy, my condolences--sorry for your misfortune.
Thanks for the reminder about the system...will call the security people again about an installation. (had called a month ago, and let it drop). BTW- caution about overnighting at the store! Another local business owner returned late to their business about a month ago and got blown away by the intruders he happened upon. Scary enough to make me stop that nasty habit in a hurry!
;) ----on a lighter note--- ;)
the only thing I've had stolen so far was a collection of hand blown marbles. (6 1/2 yrs!? Talk about lucky!) So now when I'm accused of losing my marbles I can honestly say, "Yes, as a matter of fact, they were ruthlessly stolen away from me!"......
shutup.gif
 
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