Until the dollar value gets high enough for a single theft, or thieves are consistently targeting particular high value items, federal law enforcement isn't going to care. They have bigger fish to fry.

As far as the railroads themselves, until the insurance costs due to lost freight exceeds the cost of the lost freight itself, they won't care. It's still a net gain for them.

It literally comes down to counting beans.

Or plasma torch.

This thread:

Screen Shot 2022-10-01 at 9.54.30 PM (resized).png

Not very portable though; requires AC power and compressed air supply.

I guarantee anything you connect to the network is getting pentested. Whether you want it or not.

The guy who sold me my first ADT system told me this:

"You know those 'caper' movies? There's some painting or diamond or something in a museum with a million-dollar security system, and some plucky band of crooks steals it anyway?

If someone wants to break into _your_ house, you can't stop them. _We_ can't stop them. All we can do is make loud noises and call the authorities so they don't stay in your house very long.

But, your average thief just wants to break into _a_ house. They're looking for cash, and jewelry and small electronics they can turn into cash. Make your house more difficult or more risky, and they'll break into the house next door instead.

It's like the old joke about being in the woods with your friends when you all spot a bear. You don't have to outrun the bear - you just have to outrun your friends. We'll make your house a tougher target than the ones on either side, and nature will take its course."

(FYI, the house next door to me, identical to mine but the _one_ on the block with no alarm system, was broken into _twice_ before they got wired up.)

Years ago I was digging around stats in the C Panel on my website. 3/4ths of the views was coming from Russia.

Now I don't think that many views were interested in my arcade. I'd be thinking they were looking for a way in.

LTG : )

All you need is a firearm or two, preferably within easy access....like concealed carry.

They are kinda like pinball machines though. It's hard to stop at 1 or 2.

Boy, ain't _that_ the truth...

We are sufficiently armed for anything less than a platoon, and they're properly located. And, we hope to never use them.

But, as we told a friend the other day: this alarm makes The Brown Noise. Anyone with half a lick of sense will run, _immediately_. If we hear that alarm, and then hear the stairs creak and the bedroom door open, somebody's going to meet Mr. Hollow Point and several of his brothers, from both sides of the bed.

The sound of the slide being racked on a 12 gauge has a way of focusing people.

"(FYI, the house next door to me, identical to mine but the one_ on the block with no alarm system, was broken into twice_ before they got wired up.)"

True. All the cars parked in driveways in my neighborhood were broken into one night a while back...except mine. However, my house was well known to have a 140lb freak of nature Doberman who might be in the yard at any time day or night. If he didn't know you, he did not welcome you warmly to put it mildly.

The fact that my car was skipped, even though it was unlocked and had an expensive radar detector in the windshield leads me to believe that the robber(s) had cased the neighborhood prior to the event and noted our dog. I'm sure they decided it was better to seek out easier pickings elsewhere!

That's a beautiful sound...

I am not a firearm nut and always have had a few hunting rifles, but I took the next step due to the rise of crime and current conditions.

I suppose pinball machines are now quite an attractive lure for thieves, given their ridiculous value. I suggest you really do... bolt them to the floor.

Funny story... but true. At Heighway Pinball, our little factory was broken into, and thieves pretty much had the whole night to do as they please (Andrew was too cheap to invest in proper security). They had a factory full of pinball machines and parts, just lying there. And what did these idiots do? They went after the cooper piping and flooded the place.

Next day, Andrew dug deep into his pocket and fitted shutters to every entrance.

Especially at night in a dark house. Burglars know you don't have to be too accurate with that.

LTG : )

Just remember - do NOT shine a flashlight like you see on TV. Stay stealth. That is a good way to get killed.

Also a good way to kill something you don’t want to die.

Tactical lights are available for most home defense weapons. Use one to be sure of your target.

I was hoping some would add to the pics way above but this is even more funny

This game will show up sooner than later.

Based on current trends pawn shops will pay $300-$1500 for spike 2 machine.

I didn't say shoot in the dark.