Driveway Security

[xjchief]

I guess I'm living in a bad neighborhood as this morning was the second time in a month that I found the contents of my glove box strewed out on the seat of my Jeep.

I've got motion sensor lights so I guess they're not much of a deterrent. I'm considering a motion activated driveway alarm but would appreciate opinions and suggestions before I go spend any money.

I figure this will also increase our home defense as we would be alerted to someone's presence before they reach the front door.

 

[Mainsail]

I suggest you don't leave any firearms in the glove box. There, now it's at least somewhat related to firearms.

 

[xjchief]

I'd have thought that it would be understood that I would like a warning so that I have a few extra seconds to make a decision on 9mm vs. 45ACP.

 

[Fred Fuller]

The system we use here is
http://www.buy.com/prod/reporter-rwa300r-the-reporter-wireless-alert-system/q/loc/111/90125222.html , it consists of a receiver and one sensor. It's been installed since October last year and we've been happy with it. In fact I just bought another one with three extra sensors to install inside the fence as well.

If you need more sensors (the system will handle up to four):
http://www.buy.com/prod/Reporter_PI...15/Category/Electronics/loc/111/90125215.html

Each wireless sensor has its own code to the receiver, and beeps from one to four times depending on the order of installation. One sensor is installed up our private road about 200 yards away and it still hits the receiver just fine- though it is flat here and there are no intervening trees.

Sensors require 4 AA batteries and are supposed to run for up to two years on a set. The receiver has a 9V backup battery and a wall wart for main power.

It's now called The Chamberlain but the sensors still work with the Reporter system.

lpl/nc

 

[BSlacker]

You will most likely need two cameras one for the general view and one for head shots close ups and the like. Here is a link to some videos taken from my system day and nite. GeoVision 800 system with low light cameras. Come in my driveway and I have a picture of you. Unfortunatly the evidence lockers are full of video of crimes but nobody knows who the perps are. I showed the Red Wall Zombie video to the local PD they had no interest. Catching the perp is not just getting the video it is a lot of factors.
http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j50/BSlacker/?action=view&current=Christheft9.flv

 

[Valkman]

Thanks for that, Lee. Just ordered that system!

 

[scottgun]

Why don't you lock your glove box?

I have a jeep, and nothing is left sitting in the jeep, lock it up or bring it inside.


Cameras will just leave you with a video of the person stealing your stuff.

 

[xjchief]

I should clarify that the Jeeps in question are a WJ and an XJ. They are the only two left and I'd put them in the garage but it's full of my furniture! I'm in the long drawn out process of moving.

 

[Bob F.]

The motion sensor lights can be wireed to set of a buzzer or chime in the house when they kick on. Better have the range & sensitivity to eliminate dogs, skunks, deer, etc. or NO SLEEP!! Might just try a trip wire and whatever!

bob

 

[knockonit]

Harbor freight has a sensor that works, cheap, it'll give you some ideas of where and how then you can go for a better system after working it out.
I use them I have a masonry block wall with two entrances, I put it up about four feet high so the dogs, cats and rabbits don't set it off.
So far my jeep and work trucks have been left alone, but I also have four dogs, and yard lights that are on all night.
Hey good luck, I'd love to hook up some 230volt three phase and fry any thief, but we know that aint gonna happen.
good luck
rj

 

[coloradokevin]

Aside from the other obvious stuff around a home, I once lived in an apartment with these kinds of problems, and there was little I could do to add security features to the place.

As such, I left nothing of value in the car, and left the glove box empty and open. It worked.

And, it sounds cheesy, but by a club if you are worried about theft. Yeah, they can be defeated, but not with the stuff that your average smash-grab car thief carries.

It won't stop someone who is determined (neither will a safe, deadbolts, etc), but it will generally talk the low-life 'bangers into stealing your neighbor's jeep instead of your jeep!

 

[j_slagle]

I've had the reporter driveway monitor system with three transmitters Lee described. It works great but I have had one transmitter fail in 4 years. The alarm output contact is wired to a doorbell.

I also have a video monitor system with a digital recorder. Front door, back door, driveway outside of garage, and the barn and equipment shed.

Jim

 

[JohnBlaze]

J. Slagle, how much did you pay for your setup, and where can I research it online?

 

[Stirling XD]

The best way to keep people from breaking into your vehicle when it's parked in the driveway is to park in the garage. Unless you are storing your furniture in the garage because you are remodeling, just get rid of it. Sell it, donate it, trash it or move it to a storage unit. We store useless junk in our garages and leave our vehicles worth thousands on the street.

If you can't tell, this is a pet peeve of mine.

 

[MiddleAgedKen]

I should clarify that the Jeeps in question are a WJ and an XJ. They are the only two left and I'd put them in the garage but it's full of my furniture! I'm in the long drawn out process of moving.

Perhaps someone else knows this, and is banking on your concluding that additional measures are more trouble than they're worth considering that you're on your way out of the neighborhood.

 

[Girodin]

The best way to keep people from breaking into your vehicle when it's parked in the driveway is to park in the garage.

This is not always possible. I have four vehicles and two spots in the garage plus some space for my motorcycle. Short of moving I am forced to park a couple cars in the drive way.

At one point in time I simply left the car unlocked with nothing of value in it. I live in a nice neighborhood but cars getting broken into and houses being buglarized are the two biggest problems. Much more so the first. I had people rifle through the glove box a couple times but there was nothing to steal. I figured it was better than having the window broken and the glove box pryed open so they could find out there was nothing to steal. I wasn't real worried about the actual car being stolen.

 

[Cyclimus]

The best driveway alarm system is an alert dog (german shepherds, collies, little yippers like JRTs etc) because they're very aware of what's going on inside and out. My dog can hear squirrels running along a fence across the street and she most definitely can hear me (even when I'm being sneaky) creeping down the driveway to test and train her better.