Seriously. I download the game, went through an hour of working with java to get it to work, played 6-7 hours to get a feel for this game. Then some fur wearing little turd came by and tore down my house. I couldn't even attack him! I even toggled crimes on so I could get some revenge. Nope "this would be a crime." What vandalizing my entire property wasn't?!
If you didn't have a claim on it, it wasn't "your" house at all. It was just a house. You're not really meant to have a permanent, secure settlement until you get Yeomanry. Will to Power is a prereq.
Until then - the best you can do to secure your stuff is a lean-to. You can store up to two containers in it, and stealing from that is a crime.
