Break-in scares couple into selling their home — but Dave Ramsey says the husband is being dramatic. What they should do instead

Having your property broken into is never an easy incident to process. It can prompt all kinds of emotions and drive future decisions — even down to selling the property and moving out of the area.

That’s the situation one Birmingham, Alabama couple faces. Ashley, 25, called into The Ramsey Show and explained that she and her husband, 27, are considering this very thing (1).

Ashley bought the house in 2024 and her husband moved in once they got married this past April. But not long after, thieves broke into the couple’s backyard and stole her husband’s lawn equipment. Thankfully, they never broke into the house, she confirmed.

Dave Ramsey acknowledged the loss of peace that can often follow such intrusions. “When you get stolen from, whether it’s out of your yard or out of your closet, it’s emotional … There is a sense of violation that — especially when it’s in your personal residence — that is a big deal.” But he did have some concerns about rushing to sell the home.

“It’s a one-off, weird thing,” said host Dave Ramsey, urging that “If you’re stealing lawnmowers, you’re pretty low on the totem pole of thieves. It sounds almost like teenagers … goofing off.”

Here’s why Ramsey said selling could be an “overreaction” — and what they might want to do instead.

If your property has been broken into, should you move?

Ashley said her husband “feels violated,” and doesn’t think they’re safe anymore.

“But you’re not unsafe based on what you’re telling me,” said Ramsey. “So, he’s not being logical. He’s being a drama queen about his lawnmower getting stolen.”

And it’s worth clarifying: While the caller says she was “robbed,” there actually is an important legal distinction between robbery and burglary.

In Canada, the law distinguishes between theft, burglary and robbery as separate offenses (2). Theft is defined as intentionally depriving someone of their property either temporarily or permanently, and can carry a possible maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison if the property is over $5000, or two years in prison for property under $5000.

Robbery, however, is defined as using the threat of violence or other intimidation tactics during a theft and is a more serious crime. Burglary, known legally as “break and enter” can be charged whether theft is committed or not, and conviction is based on unlawful entry into a property with criminal intent.

While these terms are often mixed up, the legal implications are usually more serious in robberies.

So while undoubtedly awful to experience, the caller’s situation sounds less severe than it might have been. Still, if you’re impacted by something similar, the event is worth careful consideration.

If you’re unsure about how safe your neighbourhood is (or one you’re looking to move into), you can start with some research (3), such as using the Crime Severity Index or neighbourhood mapping from your local police service.

There are also apps that can alert homeowners of crime-related incidents in their neighbourhood such as Citizen, which allows neighbours to share hyper-local safety and crime information in real time.

A good first step is to understand how likely this situation will recur.

Next, you may want to take steps to disincentivise criminals from targeting your home in the future.

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Steps to improve home security

If there’s a high chance you may get experience theft again, moving might be a good call, especially if police that particular crime is common in the area. Otherwise, there are steps you can take before putting a ‘for-sale’ sign up in your front yard.

For example, consider installing security cameras or a monitored home security system — which means if a burglary occurs, the system will automatically contact law enforcement. Place signs or stickers from the security company in prominent places to deter would-be thieves.

One study found that 60% of burglars would look for a new target if they found signs of an alarm and only 13% would continue an attempted burglary if they discovered an alarm (4).

Other tips include installing motion sensor lights around your property and motion sensors on doors and windows (which trigger alerts to your mobile device or a security service if the sensors detect movement). You can also hang a ‘beware of dog’ sign on your front door — even if you don’t have a dog.

If you’re going to be out of town, put your lights on a timer and ask a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on your place (maybe even parking a car there once in a while to make it look like someone is home).

Lastly, don’t overshare on social media; that could alert would-be thieves to the fact you’re away.

Check your insurance policy

For Ashley and her husband, being robbed is a reminder that “you need to know what’s going on with your homeowners insurance,” according to Ramsey.

A standard homeowners policy covers theft under personal property coverage, which typically includes things like furniture, appliances and electronics. If any of those items are stolen, your insurance company would reimburse you for the cost — up to your coverage limit, minus the deductible.

However, there may be limitations for high-value goods, such as jewelry, fine art, antiques or collectibles. In that case, talk to your insurance company about whether you need to get those items appraised. You may need to add a special schedule to your insurance for these items (5).

Another caveat is that if you fail to protect your belongings — such as leaving the door unlocked while you’re away from home — then your claim could potentially be denied.

If you install a home security system, you may be able to get a discount on your homeowners insurance, so long as the system is one approved by your insurer (6). Talk to your insurance company about what discounts they offer for different home security measures.

While insurance might not make you feel physically safer, it may help you feel more financially prepared should you have the misfortune of being targeted by thieves.

Article sources

We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.

YouTube (1); Criminal Law Oshawa (2); Canada Crime Report (3); Canadian Security Professionals (4); Ontario (5); BrokerLink (6)