Home Security

[Manning]

I've been doing some research into various home security systems and other things home security related.

So, what does everyone else use? Tips? Things others might not have thought of to increase home security?

 

[Luke49783]

 

[Manning]

View attachment 372271

Got that part covered.

I'd like to avoid the firearm aspect of home security here in the Barbershop, since that can get a little heated.

 

[Face Bannon]

Oh. Well, there goes my answer.

Plus a dog that barks.

 

[August West]

The Cable Company here has those services if that is what you are looking for. I have heard from neighbors you can control it from your mobile devices. I have a dog and good locks.

 

[k200817]

View attachment 372271

+3

 

[The Accountant]

Security by ADT on all doors; good locks and a Rottweiler / German Shepherd mix. They may get in but probably will not get out!

 

[Manning]

I guess there are 2 home security scenarios. 1. You are home 2. You are not home.

I'm more concerned about keeping my home, including firearms, safe while I'm away than myself while I'm at home.

Although, the other goal would be more warning time to get to a firearm when I am home. With age, I've become much more of a heavy sleeper than when I was younger.

 

[ctr]

Here in the Valley things do happen, but rarely when folks are home. Burglary increases in the months of November and December.

Some basic tips, get to know your neighbors well. They can tell you when strangers have been around the property. Don't leave your garage door up during the day. It's an invitation for others to know what you have. Vary your routines, don't leave your trash can out all day while away at work. Same for the mail and paper when going out of town. Use timers on the lights and a radio. Limit the number of strangers who visit your home. Selling something? Have them come to your place of work, or a club you belong to.

 

[tinashubby]

http://simplisafe.com/

Had it for about two years, quite happy with it.

 

[Toothpick]

Here in the Valley things do happen, but rarely when folks are home. Burglary increases in the months of November and December.

Some basic tips, get to know your neighbors well. They can tell you when strangers have been around the property. Don't leave your garage door up during the day. It's an invitation for others to know what you have. Vary your routines, don't leave your trash can out all day while away at work. Same for the mail and paper when going out of town. Use timers on the lights and a radio. Limit the number of strangers who visit your home. Selling something? Have them come to your place of work, or a club you belong to.

I like this response.

We need to think along the lines of theft deterrent.

Keep your bushes close to your windows trimmed below the windows. Don't leave anything out that could be used to stand on to gain height to get in a window, such as large boulders, lawn chairs, ect.

Don't leave a spare key outside anywhere, no matter where you think it is safe....a burglar knows all the spots. Instead give a spare key to a trusted neighbor.

As was stated, get to know your neighborhood. If you are going to be gone on vacation tell one of your trusted neighbors.

 

[plan80]

We've had a monitored alarm for a couple years. We went with a local company instead of an ADT-like scenario. We had to buy the equipment and pay for install (about $1500), but we pay $8/month for monitoring. I was a police dispatcher (as a part time job) for years, and I learned that burglar/fire/medical monitoring do expedite response. From a litigation standpoint, if I ever have to resort to a "more permanent" form of home/family defense , I think I'll be happy to be able to say an "intruder continued into the home despite a blaring audible alarm advising him that the police had been called".

 

[rxonmymind]

Motion detectors on the porch front and back with very bright lights. Driveway alarm, and IR motion detection devices inside the home. Windows with motion, vibration alarm and long sticks to jam windows for the windows you rarely open. A simple buck knife can jimmy a lock but with that stick in place its impossible to open. Also a dog. My boxer beats the driveway alarm every time. Heck, she hears the neighbors door open across the street! If you make it a hassle from the beginning for would be criminals they will just move to an easier target. My neighbor to my right also has a righteous security system but my neighbor to the left doesn't. Guess who got broken into? Twice. Different occupants as it's a rental. But my point is don't make it easy for them. Have natural defenses that can be beautiful. Very dense rose bushes or other sticky plants that make it unpleasant for them to be "in it" in order to access your windows. Now will all that stop someone that truly wants in your home? No. Only the hardcore criminals that probably have more on the minds than simple burglary. But in the end this is the best I came up with without having to live in a bunker.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002ISVJL6/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1380522323&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX110_SY165

Perfect if you have barns, property, long driveways and so forth. Up to eight will work for one base station and they are weather proof. Use lithium battery if you live in very cold environments. Let's you know who's where.
Also this is a must have.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004RL1IMC/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?qid=1380523485&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX110_SY165

Takes 3 minutes or less to install. The screws go INTO your door frame studs thus the amount of force needed to open that door would be tremendous once locked in place. I have these on exterior(garage) and inside. Also as the add says a child may be able to open a door but with this up around five feet my little escaping monkey couldn't get out. Get it, it's worth it.

 

[Manning]

http://simplisafe.com/

Had it for about two years, quite happy with it.

Ive been looking at that. The no contract is appealing.

 

[Mick]

It starts at the street for me.

I have a 4' tall picket fence around the outside of my house and the entry gate is up the driveway within a few feet of the house. The fence is 4' tall on the inside of the yard but is on top of a 3' retaining wall so it is 7' tall at the sidewalk. Nothing says "not welcome" like a fence that you can't get through because you can't find the gate. The back yard is also fenced by a 6' solid privacy fence with locked gates (key entry on both sides so if you climb over, you climb back over to get out). On every gate is a sign that says "Dog in Yard"

I have lights on the front that are photo electric. On at dusk off at dawn. This illuminates the entire yard and driveway. Motion activated lights around the rest of the house. Nothing says go somewhere else more than being in the spot light. There are no shrubs or bushes between the street and the house so anyone in the yard is obvious and crooks do not like to be obvious.

we own 7 cars so the driveway is always full even when we are away.

Then the door locks. Abloy. 2 per door (key in key out deadbolt and standard knob). These are pick proof, even a locksmith must drill out the cylinder should I lose a key. Door jambs have 1x1 steel angle iron in the jambs with 6" long bolts into the framing and carriage bolts through the jamb front to back. Doors are wrapped with split proof brass around the lock cylinders so a kick in is unlikely. There are steel pins in the hinges that go from door through the jamb so even removing the hinge pins does not let the door come off. All windows are screwed shut with non standard (security style) bolt heads except on the 2nd floor so break a window means break the entire window out of the frame to get through (obvious and crooks don't like to be obvious)

Then the alarm and video system, well marked on the outside of the building and the cameras are high but very obvious (crooks don't like their pic taken.... say cheese)

Security should be a series of layers. Each layer designed to make a potential crook think... maybe next door would be better.

 

[PFP_Dad]

This is my field of expertise and I can say a good alarm will do wonders. Personally, ADT isn't worth having. I currently use ASG for both my home and offices that I have set up and have no complaints with the service, cost, set-up, or response time, but there are several good companies.

My system has monitors at every entrance point, including the garage door and all windows. In addition I have one indoor siren and one outdoor strobe/siren mounted to be visible and audible to the majority of my neighbors. The system also allows for the addition of things such as sensors on A/C units (a favorite for thieves) or liquor cabinets (a favorite of teenagers). In addition I can remotely control my system from my phone and can incorporate cameras, lights, or my thermostat if I so choose.

Should the alarm go off, my wife and I both receive e-mails and text messages, as well as a phone call, though this is all customizable and can be done by individual zone.

If all else fails, two dogs and a .40 wait for those that decide that isn't enough.

Other than that, get in the habit of keeping your doors locked and garage closed unless you're using them.

 

[legrandfromage]

All good information. Add to the tip offs that you are not around: walks and driveways not shoveled or not showing footprints/tire tracks.

 

[AirForceMX]

Doberman, Great Dane, Glock G26, and a Double Barrel Breech Load 12 Gauge. Come and take it!

 

[Lmarkow]

Come on in!

 

[tinashubby]

Dogs and guns are way overated as home security additions.

My house was broken into, 6 dogs (one is a 130 lb. Bullmastiff) watched while the perps stole my guns!