Am I right to worry ?

[Mr Hoppy]

Hi  All,   I'm the proud owner of a Sky-watcher 200mm Newtonian ( the old light-blue type ) on a basic EQ5 mount. I keep it set up, in my small conservatory where at a minutes notice I can open the double doors of my conservatory,  and place my Telescope outside, about 2 meters away onto  3 markers  I've made on the ground, simple.   But there's my Worry.  Its easy for me, but it would also be easy for some Low-Life to come and take my Telescope. The double doors are only bolted. Should I be worried ?.  Is there a Market for stolen telescopes ?. Should I Chain my Telescope up or keep it inside my house ?.  As anyone ever had their Telescope stolen ?.  Any advice please would be much appreciated

[MattJenko]

Totally depends on your neighbourhood really and how easy access to the conservatory is. Telescopes are a little bit specialist in comparison to the other bits of garden equipment and tools found in sheds, which are much easier to swap for cash and as such are more desirable. If you can put a lock on the bolts for your own peace of mind, then do it, otherwise insure it for what they are worth and just enjoy what you have !

[Herbig]

Hi, I think we all worry about the security of our kit. With a large scope like yours I can't think that it would be likely that someone would easily walk off with it.

We had a break in about 4 years ago, he didn't get into the house proper but got into our utility room did a lot of damage trying to get into the house. The was a lot of antique china in the room he got into, and a whole load of bottles of spirits but these were not touched. The scenes of crimes officer said that most thieves are looking for cash watches or jewellery, things they can easily stuff into their pockets that won't easily break and which would sell readily.

It does happen though and it would be wise to keep it out of view if you can. Make sure it's covered on your household insurance too

[Jim Steele]

Crime is a very tricky subject since it depends on many things, such as neighbourhood etc. if someone is determined enough they will take anything.

That said most pretty crime is opportunistic so you can take simple precautions.

How open is the back of your house where you conservatory is, can you erect a taler fence or plant some brambles? Astro kit ain't light and this makes it harder to steel unless there is vehicular access, unlike say expensive bike gear.

Can you throw a dust sheet over the Scope? This makes it less obvious as to whats underneath and thus opportunistic theaves won't nessasarily target you. Install some passive ir lighting (with an override inside the house for when your observing).

Get a dog or alarm system. Deadlock bolts, etc. All pretty common sense stuff really. If all else fails make sure your gear is covered by your home insurance is uv tagged with your postcode and that you k keep photos of your stuff

Hope that helps somewhat

Ben

[Fish]

For the record when we were broke into they walked past my canon 40d with £1500 worth of lenses attached, and my scopes, they attempted to take the TV but found it too heavy. They ended up taking a Xbox and a load of games. When talking to the police they said what has been said before ,they are only after things they can turn into cash quickly . Allways pays to be safe but I think your scope would be pretty low down the list if you were ever broke into....and I hope that you never are...

[Charic]

Mr Hoppy....Hi, I think Jim Steele has made some issues for you to consider, mine are almost the same, but you could get yourself one of these, link below, and their cheap too. The AP08 is about £10-15 no-more! There are  cheaper variants on-line, but as always, you get what you pay for. Either secure your telescope to something solid with a chain, or just attached to the scope would do, or both. Its just a little more piece of mind.

You must trust the bolts on your conservatory, because you live there, and if that's all you have for your security, you must assume its safe. Can you enter through the doors from the outside once their bolted internally. If you think you can, then you need stiffer security. If intruders can enter the conservatory easily, are they now screened from view and noise, making it easier to get access to the main house, again, consider stiffening your security. Dummy alarm boxes can deter thieves, but also can attract them, as some people suspect. But in most modern homes these days, alarms are standard fittings. I've broken into many houses in the past, and without any damage? Thieves want an easy entrance, no noise, and quick exit!

A simple  cover may disguise your telescope a little, but if someone knows what there after, they will do their best to get it, if given the opportunity.

here's the link  (  www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6fLj6ylQG8   )  Oh! and by the way, my break-ins were not of criminal intent, I broke in with the owners permission, who had locked themselves out.

Even banks get robbed? If you feel unsure about your security, you must check and upgrade. If you feel confident about your fittings, then some of the risk is covered. Insurance is ok, but an effort to conclude, and if your fittings were not up to standard in the first place, your insurance will be null and void (probably).  I have good quality ASSA locks. When I had spare keys cut, I needed to show some ID, was told its part of ASSA security? Maybe told a porky, who knows, but ASSA were/are not kite marked to  British standard, so in effect makes my insurance invalid. I've had to install 5-lever mortised dead-locks to all external doors. despite having Alarms, PIR security lighting, prickly fences, the small print in my insurance, If I had not read it, would have protected the insurers, and I may not have received any payout for theft. Also remember, if you see someone trying to run down your street with a 200mm on their back and you try to get your scope back with maybe some force, guess who's in the wrong now. Sleep tight.

[LeeB]

I kept mine in the conservatory for 4 years, and no issues. But area and if anyone can see it is the issue. Lets face it most observatories/sheds  are not that hard to get into either. I was paranoid so reinforced the door and shutterered the window(fixed a motion sensing alarm) , but lets face it a determined thief would get in. However the kit is heavy and finding a buyer would be difficult. You could cover the scope to stop prying eyes. But get it listed on the insurance and lifes to short to worry (I'm trying to convince myself i think)

[Sandraj]

I suppose it depends on how you feel the crime rate is in your area, I leave mine when its dry in an outside porch that doesn't have doors so if its nice, my scope is already cooled and I only have to move a few yards onto the patio to get observing in a a few minutes. 

[timwetherell]

It's impossible to be definite about something like crime, but generally as many have said, scopes are rather a specialist thing and the average thief wouldn't know an Astrophysics refractor from a drainpipe so I don't think scopes are top of their list. They're also big to carry, attract a lot of attention and are hard to dispose of - I've yet to meet an astronomer who would be interested in stolen gear. I think so long as you are covered by insurance and the door is locked the scope probably doesn't present a larger than normal risk

all the best

Tim

[cotterless45]

I try and make sure everything is locked away.

If the Super Moon had got any lower around here ,it would have been nicked ,

Nick.

[Gomtuu]

I find it hard to imagine someone breaking in and doing a runner with my NEQ6 and the counterweights!

Seriously though, I can't see there being a market for stolen telescopes.

[Robp]

Whilst unlikely any thieves will run away with a heavy scope or mount, I'd just make sure it was covered on your content insurance in the case of being stolen and make sure you have some photos.

[glowjet]

This has obviously raised some concerns with you. Those nasty dreams of your precious scope, vanishing down the road over the shoulder of some hooded villain, will be a thing of the past and peace of mind restored, if you provide extra locks to the doors or some form of electronic alarm device. I am sure the Internet is full of reasonably priced units. Even cheaper " Beware Dangerous Dog"  notice, is enough to deter most on the spot thieves

[ChrisLX200]

It's only a couple of months ago someone made away with a pensioner's 10" LX200 plus accessories, the news was posted on here. That scope is no lightweight and would have required a vehicle to move.

ChrisH

[Joseki]

I've yet to meet an astronomer who would be interested in stolen gear

but I've yet to meet an astronomer who's not interested in a bargain (i.e. priced to sell after 5 minutes on google).  I don't think they're theft proof and some people will probably nick anything that looks valuable.  Even a dust sheet over it would probably help.

[void]

The not very nice way of thinking about security is make you house harder to break into than your neighbours.

You should always be looking for ways to make you house harder to burgle. The simple fact of the matter is thieves are looking for a quick smash and grab, aiming for items which hold value and can be off loaded quickly.

A telescope doesn't really appeal partly because of size (ease of get away). Also because it is quite a specialised item.

[Mr Hoppy]

Hi All,  Thanks for the quick replies,  and so much advice to mull over.  I will update my security as suggested ,  if only for my own piece of mind. Throwing a cover or dust sheet over my Telescope to hide it from prying eyes, is so obvious that I should have thought of that myself .( silly me ) Thanks again for taking the time and giving me some useful advice.                                 ( I didn't expect anything less )  

[Jim Steele]

Hi All, Thanks for the quick replies, and so much advice to mull over. I will update my security as suggested , if only for my own piece of mind. Throwing a cover or dust sheet over my Telescope to hide it from prying eyes, is so obvious that I should have thought of that myself .( silly me ) Thanks again for taking the time and giving me some useful advice. ( I didn't expect anything less )

Glad we could help I Should have mentioned earlier to make sure the sheet is breathable not plastic just to let moisture escape. Has the added bonus of keeping dust off your mirror too.

Good luck

[Paul M]

You should never underestimate the spitefulness of some folk, not only the lawless criminal fraternity.

My Fullerscopes MkIII mount once over-wintered under a tarpaulin on my observatory base (that's as far as the observatory got!) at our previous house. The kids from next door made their way in and trashed it

I'm kind of glad I didn't finish (or start!) the observatory because I feel they would have trashed that too and the scope would likely have been in there

Anyway, locks only keep out honest people.

If an intruder goes so far as to try a door handle there is a very high chance they'll go a little further and force it if it's locked. Locks are a minor nuisance to them.

The very best security money can buy is a good dog. They make great companions too! If an intruder sees evidence of a dog they won't stay long enough to do that £500 of damage to the french doors either!

Down side of the dog is remembering to pick up after them in the garden before darkness falls.

So far as conservatories are concerned I'd be more worried about the temperature in there during the day.

At our old house the temperature got so high in the conservatory one day that the plastic picture frames melted. I wouldn't want to subject a mount and optics to that sort of heat!

[timwetherell]

The good thing about a big dog is that he doesn't care about the legal implications of ripping a burglar's liver out and burglars know that. Then again if he does do that, it may come back to haunt you too  

[timwetherell]

but I've yet to meet an astronomer who's not interested in a bargain (i.e. priced to sell after 5 minutes on google).  I don't think they're theft proof and some people will probably nick anything that looks valuable.  Even a dust sheet over it would probably help.

True, but most astronomers are smart people and they know many scopes have serial numbers and distinguishing marks. I sure wouldn't want to be the guy who showed up at a meet with that poor old man's stolen scope. Astronomy is a pretty tight knit community for the most part. But as you say, nothing is completely immune to theft. Especially because most thieves aren't the sharpest tools in the shed

[Paul M]

The good thing about a big dog is that he doesn't care about the legal implications of ripping a burglar's liver out and burglars know that. Then again if he does do that, it may come back to haunt you too

Yuk! 

I'd hate to be haunted by a liver

[Mikea]

If you let us know your address, we can keep an eye on it for you........ 

[LukeSkywatcher]

Last time i was broken into (about 3 yrs ago), the intruders walked past an xbox 360 and a few games,a play station,dvd/BR players,dvds,telescopes,cameras,lens etc. They tried to lift the tv but it was too big. They got away with a few bits of gold,a gold plated HDMI cable and took all the batteries out of all the remotes.

[wuthton]

We once had a cheapo, b&q type garden shed pinched from our nurseries.

Luckily the thieves were considerate enough to empty it first. Leaving behind the couple of grands worth of fertiliser it contained.