Intasure, Safe and Securiy Bars don't Work !

[Sue T]

Really sorry to hear about the break in especially when everything had been done to secure the house and the valuables.
Can confirm the consulate will be able to prepare emergency travel documents to secure return to the UK in time for Friday flight.  Some proof of the situation and photos ready will speed the process, but they will explain exactly what is needed.  Most of the photographers around the centre of town do passport size pics and quite quickly too.
One advice I heard about hiding valuables was even to find a place outside of the house, in a shed outside cupboard etc. especially if you can't secrete a safe somewhere obscure whilst the house is being built. And, I guess' are not regularly observed visiting said place!

[Ovacikpeedoff]

I am not sure that hiding valuables outside in a shed is a good idea. I am fairly certain that this would invalidate any contents insurance that you may possess. It certainly would in the UK as you have not taken reasonable steps to protect your property and I cannot believe that a turkish company would not jump at the chance to invalidate a claim..

[stoop]

Very true above. I guess at least if you have locked the doors and windows the insurance should pay out. However we will definitely make sure we have copies of passports/travel plans etc next time we go abroad.

[gunna]

Just a thought, how about we list all the things that we need to do if it ever happened to us, like who to contact, the HBC, where are they,  like addresses and telephone numbers this should be in addition to our passports and insurance details that we all have but as stoop says should we keep and take copies of passports ..................what do you think??

I know its after the horse has bolted, and this is on the back of someones misfortune but it may help others in the future if it should ever happen

[Jacqui Harvey]

I am really sorry to hear about this Rimms, it's so sad but also so annoying that this should happen to your friends.   We also got a safe that took 4 guys to carry in, but we insisted it went upstairs, which took so long we gave the guys a good tip for doing it, but we hope it would be really difficult to carry downstairs.  We also fitted a burglar alarm last time we were over. It seems there are not a lot of properties that have them, but I suspect a lot more will get them now.  Also a good idea is to put all your cards on this website to keep a personal record  
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cardsgone/    you don't list any details of the cards, just what cards you have, so if anything happens and your cards are stolen you immediately have a list of what cards you have and all the phone numbers you need to ring, it's would be really useful in an emergency and it's totally free.

[Sue T]

quote:Originally posted by Ovacikpeedoff

I am not sure that hiding valuables outside in a shed is a good idea. I am fairly certain that this would invalidate any contents insurance that you may possess.

I am sure you are right, it is just on the practical grounds of where valuables are usually looked for by the thieves, maybe the mop bucket is a better idea!

[Diverbaz 1]

quote:We also got a safe that took 4 guys to carry in, but we insisted it went upstairs, which took so long we gave the guys a good tip for doing it, but we hope it would be really difficult to carry downstairs.

This is not going to stop them, we know of someone who also did this, the thieves threw the safe down the stairs almost demolishing the wall at the bottom of the stairs, probably hoping the safe would open in the fall.

[Rimms]

We give all of our friends and family who visit our place a word documnt that we call 'Useful Tips' it contains everything from buying your entry visa to lost luggage etc. We have just added the following advice :

For the first time in 8 years, in August 2010 we had our first serious break in; the thieves crow bared open the security gates and front door and stole the safe! The poor people there learned some lessons the hard way. We would strongly recommend the following:

1, Take photo copies of your passport and leave them in the villa but not in the safe.

2, Leave a copy of your holiday insurance in the visitors book and not just in the safe.

3, Take with you a list of your credit /debit card numbers along with the lost and stolen telephone numbers.

4, The police told us to consider looking for some ‘imaginative' hiding places for money & passports etc. because the thieves are in and out as quickly as possible, they will concentrate on drawers and the safe. They are less likely to go through the pans or cleaning materials cupboard etc.

A horrible experience that we hope you never suffer, but just in case the tips above will help you get through in the best possible shape.

[kevin b]

You can buy wall socket mini safes in UK that replace a wall plug socket, maybe a good idea to fit one in properties for documents & money, but this may stick out as opposed to turkish socket due to different appearance but I am sure thieves will not be looking at wall sockets.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Alpha-A095BK-Double-Plug-Socket-Wall-Safe_W0QQitemZ220649289015QQcmdZViewItem?rvr_id=122078386748&rvr_id=122078386748&cguid=4275374812a0a0e20491c871ffa92282

[valleyboy]

Just a quick thank you for posting these very helpful suggestions,taking the time and effort to do so after such a traumatic event, I was shocked reading this and amazed at the depths these "people" ? will sink !

I think I speak for all fellow property owners when I say our thoughts are with you and I hope the problems caused by this are soon resolved.