Please help our Villa in Sosúa getting robbed.

@markwilkinsonappliancerepair

Recommend if available in your area a security monitoring company if available.

Additionally,  is this in a gated community?

Do you have any trusted neighbors or friends that can assist?

Have you filed anytype of Police Report via a trusted friend?

Sadly,  installing another security camera they will potentially just disarm that.

So sorry this has happened to you and best of luck.

Others here may also provide additional recommendations or resources

You are going to need to make a trip here with the keys. No one can just install a system from the outside!  Security systems need the internet and a backup system will require some kind of contract.  Or Skylink or whatever it's called.  You may also need an inverter system for power backup.  That area is known for being targets! I am sorry this is happening. I am not aware of any monitoring company in the Sosua area.

If you know someone who can help you, make a duplicate of keys and send one set via EPS.

@searea55

My guess is if he knew someone who could help he would not be posting in a forum!

@markwilkinsonappliancerepair

I sent you a private message

@markwilkinsonappliancerepair

I know A GREAT person (not local) who did A WONDERFUL job for me.  I so much recommend him!  DM me for his information

@markwilkinsonappliancerepair

I'm sorry this happened to you, and hope you can get your security reestablished very soon.

FOR EVERYONE ELSE: If you are planning to purchase, or even rent long-term, a home or condo in the DR, you need to plan for and actually implement a security system IMMEDIATELY after purchase.  (No, don't wait -- do it ASAP after purchase, same day if possible!!)

I'm not smart enough to tell you which security system or security monitoring firm in the DR is "best." 

However, I've read/heard enough of these stories over the years to know that an empty home or apartment/condo is practically an open invitation to be be robbed. 

1. And as demonstrated by our unfortunate OP in this thread, they won't stop with the televisions and stereos.
2. They'll be back for furniture, appliances, copper wiring/plumbing, electrical fixtures, etc.

Properties inside a gated/guarded complex are at less risk, but NOT zero risk.  YES, I would have a strong security system even if I owned a property inside a gated/guarded complex. 

If your property is empty and unobserved, thieves have the luxury of TIME to analyze/identify/hack your security system.   They have TIME to peer through the windows (whether during the day or at night with flashlights) to surveil your property and determine what goodies you have... or don't have.  They quickly determine whether your place is worth the effort to rob, or not.

1. And if they go for nothing else, getting the appliances & copper wiring alone are more than lucrative enough to justify their effort & risks of robbing you.

So, make a security/risk assessment part of your buying checklist.  Some properties shouldn't even be purchased, IMO, if they will be at high risk of robbery and/or difficult to protect. 

Before even making an offer on a property, drive around the complex and determine what percentage of homes have barred frames over windows and doors.

1. If that percentage is over 50%, you should consider that neighborhood to be very risky for theft, and plan/make (or not make) offers accordingly.
2. Factor your future security needs into the offering prices and/or rent levels. 

s a remote-only security system, which notifies only you, not a local security monitoring firm, adequate??   

1. IMO, only rarely.  Maybe if you're in a gated/guarded complex/suburb with STRONG security, AND your home or apartment is in a fairly-often trafficked area.
2. In most cases, you want a local security firm capable of taking alerts and then taking local action! 
3. Calling the police and/or resetting your security and/or internet is the bare minimum service you need.
4. If you're outside of a gated/guarded complex, having security patrols to dispatch to your home in response to an alarm would be highly desired -- but certainly not cheap.

After you close your purchase, you should be extremely pro-active in protecting your new property.

1. IMMEDIATELY, that day, change and/or re-key ALL of the locks in your home. 
2. I recommend at least commercial-grade door locks, BTW.  High-security versions are worth the money.
3. Don't go cheap here.
4. Seriously consider installing "door jamb armor" on your exterior doors.  These are metal plates of various sizes that protect against kick-in attacks.  Usually, these come with longer (about 3 inches long) screws that will hold much better than the tiny screws that come with most door installation hardware.
5. Readily available at Amazon and eBay, and most US hardware stores -- but I'm not sure of availability in the DR.  Plan ahead. 
6. VERIFY that no windows/doors have been left open or unlocked by the contractor or previous owner.
7. If at all possible, have your own new security system installed THAT VERY DAY, the next day at the latest. 
8. And certainly BEFORE you have any household goods delivered.
9. BTW, CHANGE the pins/passwords/etc. from the factory standard. No, don't delay this.  Change them, write them down in a notebook, and keep that notebook locked up!!!
10. If you are inheriting a previously-installed security system, ENSURE that you received ALL of the security passwords, pins, codes, security duress words or pins, etc., BEFORE you close the deal. 
11. Then, IMMEDIATELY go in and change EVERY.  SINGLE. ONE. of those. 

Finally, if your property is not regularly occupied, you should consider carefully whether you want any truly expensive furniture, appliances or (especially) electronics in the property.  Such things are thief magnets.

Sorry to hijack your thread, OP, but it is better to warn others ASAP. 

1. I was similarly warned back in 2019-20; it was enough to cool our desires to own property in the DR until  such time as we can physically occupy it full-time. 

Best to all, and stay frosty out there,

Jim

@ExpatRusher well sir , compliments on your thought process! That is the best way to protect your unoccupied property. Spend the money up front . Plan for the worst.

@markwilkinsonappliancerepair Sorry this happened to you. Since they have returned several times, I would treat the property as actively targeted and arrange an immediate local response, police report, lock change and review of everyone who knew the villa was vacant.

For the replacement system, consider wired exterior cameras with local NVR recording, cloud backup, UPS protection for the modem, router and cameras, and a secondary internet connection such as Starlink or cellular failover. An NVR is a physical recorder that stores camera footage locally at the property. The system should alert you when power, internet or an individual camera goes offline, not only when it detects motion. Keep the recorder concealed and have someone local who can physically respond to alerts.

I would also use a security installer separate from the people doing general electrical or property management work, then keep the administrator passwords under your own control.