So I was burgled last night...

[MMPC]

Found out this morning - as I was heading out for a bike ride - that my garage was broken into last night! :x Now, what's strange is the stuff they took: bike helmets, bike shorts (ew!), cycling gloves, etc. Strange, to say the least. The most expensive thing they took was a large pelican case I use to transport my video production equipment. Thankfully it was empty and the total of what was taken was less than $1,000. I guess I should feel lucky - but I'm still pissed.

I have renter's insurance but by the time my deductible comes out, I'd be filing a claim for less than $500. Don't know if that makes sense or not - what with insurance scores, higher rates, etc. If not, then I have to spend hundreds to replace what was taken. ARGH! :x

Okay, I'm done venting - for now...

[Tray]

Depending on who you have, I'd file the claim anyway.

I know that with State Farm, they don't increase anything unless you file repeated claims. I have filed 3 with them over about a 10 year span, and nothing has happened to my rates.

2 of them were for quite a bit more than you're talking but one was for just over 1,000, and my deductible at the time was 500, so I'd go for it.

[MMPC]

Interesting - thanks for the information, Tray. I have State Farm as well and - while they were willing to accept my claim - the woman I spoke with at my agent's office was discouraging the filing of such a small claim. She said it could negatively impact future insurance underwriting for things like a house, etc. Don't know if that's bullshit or not since I don't work in the insurance industry, but I'd hate to have a less than $500 claim follow me around... :roll:

On the other hand, I'd rather not be out of pocket by more than $500 to replace the stuff. I think that's why one gets insurance in the first place... :?

[mattadams]

wow that sucks but like you said it could have been a lot worse! What with all the bike equipment and high-end video equipment (i.e. your handycam) that occasionally get stored in the garage, it'd really suck to loose a lot of that. Sorry to hear about it though that really blows.

[cory]

thats sucks chris. bike shorts? isnt that like stealing a guys tighty whitey's?

[rino351]

dang, that sucks. My bro has a pelican case for his camera, and yeah, those things are rediculously expensive.

[Heath]

Damn Chris that totally sucks... I can vouch for Tony though... it wasn't him...

[tony1307]

vouch for me?

[RayLCC]

If you were keeping bike shorts in your garage I can only guess it was to dry out the chamois... EWWWW!!!! Don't criminals think about the situation that might put a certain stealable item within reach? Think about it. You are a theif. You break into a garage and start hauling off with whatever is in reach and looks valuable. Of coarse your going to grab the shorts with the wet crotch! :roll: Bummer that it happened to you, but think about it. Maybe karma will kick in and give him a major case of jock itch on his first ride. :lol:

[Heath]

Sorry different Tony... A guy that works with Chris on occasion...

[Walking Eagle]

I'm sorry, it was me. I wanted to see what the bicycle shorts would look like on me.

[MMPC]

LOL, thanks for the amusing posts, everyone - it helps. As for the bike shorts, I have no idea why someone would take those! :shock: They were older shorts I wasn't currently using so they weren't too nasty, but still, that's gross.

Anyway, I'm still in the predicament of whether or not to file a claim for less than $500 with my insurance. The more research I've done, the more I've come to understand that the insurance companies see their customers as the enemy and keep all sorts of records. These records - if you have more than 3 claims in 5 years - can turn into reasons to: 1) raise your premiums; 2) cancel your policy or; 3) refruse you insurance in the future. :roll:

[Heath]

Great... Gotta love that...

[Maranda]

Anyway, I'm still in the predicament of whether or not to file a claim for less than $500 with my insurance. The more research I've done, the more I've come to understand that the insurance companies see their customers as the enemy and keep all sorts of records. These records - if you have more than 3 claims in 5 years - can turn into reasons to: 1) raise your premiums; 2) cancel your policy or; 3) refruse you insurance in the future.

Chris, sorry to hear about that. I had it happen twice when I lived in Littleton--once to the car, once to my apartment. It's pretty unnerving, and I was confused about their choices of my belongings, too.

The stuff you stated about being sort of blacklisted by insurance is the main reason we didn't file a claim when we had the mini-flood. Less than $1K damage/loss just wasn't worth what it could do to us in the future. A lot of our neighbors did not understand that, but you read and hear about it often. We're saving our claims for a real BIG disaster. :roll: