Outsmarting Antiques Thieves

Burglars headed straight for the silver in the late 70s and early 80s. It was easy to bag and fence it. At the time, silver was selling for $30-50 an ounce. But most of it never got melted down, as fences recirculated it to those who sought to replace what was stolen at premium prices.

But the fact remains that burglars, unless they're armed with the latest Kovel's Antique Price Guide, have no idea how much most antiques are worth. In fact, they're not really sure what's an antique and what isn't. Add to that the logistics of removing an 18th-century secretary without being seen and the dangers of antiques robberies lessen. But thieves are smart, shopping around to find out who's going on a cruise, who's going to their cabin in the mountains, or who has the best removable items.

So what can be done to keep antiques in your hands?

Begin by keeping a record of what you own. A simple inventory list, containing a description of the item, date of purchase and purchase price, will do to start. Or you might decide to use some of the simpler shareware software programs that help keep track of collections. Go to http://www.tucows.com or http://www.jumbo.com and search for collection software.

While any camera will do to keep a visual record, the new digital cameras are not only easy and convenient to use, but cost nothing after the initial purchase. You won't need anything special, just a simple point and shoot to make a visual inventory of your collections. The more accurate your inventory, the easier it is to collect on your homeowner's insurance should a part of your collection be stolen and the easier it is for the police to track down your stolen merchandise.

If your collections are valuable, consider installing a home security system.