Home Defense Question

[GrandMoffBrandon]

Have any of you read David Brin’s novel, The Postman? Despite some of the criticisms I’ve heard, I enjoyed it and have read it several times. The following quote struck me as fitting very well with my new thinking on home defense.

No fortifications overlooked the river fords. The travelers found the absence puzzling, for this valley was supposed to be where the defense against the Holnist enemy had dug in, and finally held.

Calvin Lewis tried to explain. The wiry, dark-eyed young man had guided Johnny Stevens since his earlier journey to south Oregon. Cal’s hand gestured left and right as he spoke.

“You don’t guard a river by buildin’ strong points,” he told them in the low, lazy, local drawl. “We protect the north bank by crossin’ over ourselves, from time to time, and by knowin’ everything that moves over on the other side. (Brin, p. 209-210)”

I think this can actually be applied to home defense. It would cost me a fortune to make all the weak points in my house into strong points. From my understanding, just getting a good, sturdy door that is really difficult to kick in is expensive. Add the second door and possibly replacement doors for the glass sliding door I have and well…

And when that is all said and done, any BG with half a brain can break a window or find some other way in. Based on what I have been reading, a really secure (as in, harder than heck to break into) home is quite expensive and out of my price range for a long, long time. If, however, I follow the idea behind how the fictional southern Oregonian army protected its border, I might be able to get somewhere.

So, here is what I take that paragraph of the quote to mean: instead of trying to make it nearly impossible for the BG to break in, I instead need to know what’s happening along the defense perimeter, i.e., my yard and the entrances into my house. It seems to me then that I need motion-activated lights on all sides of my house, I need an auto-dialer alarm system with sensors on all doors and windows, I need two small, barky dogs (I’m thinking maybe Jack Russell Terriers). An outdoor security camera system would be nice but is not necessary at first.

Adding all these things together, it is kind of pricy but it can be done piece by piece. And unlike making only one weak point a strong point at a time, which for a BG means he just has to go to the next door or window to break in, each step, by itself, makes for really good home defense. Looking around, it appears like I can put together an alarm system for a few hundred dollars, a security camera system for a similar price, and the motion-activated lights for even less. I have no idea what the price range is for the Jack Russell Terrier puppies but I consider them at the top of my list, along with sm's advice about baby monitors and pea gravel.

So, my real question is, what do you all think about this philosophy/strategy and am I going about setting it up right with my current ideas?

 

[Duke of Doubt]

I'm not sure I understand the nature of the problem. But then, I don't understand most investments in "security."

If intruders broke into my place, chances are I'd simply shoot them all dead. Problem solved.

If it happened when I wasn't around, I don't need alarms and such; I just need insurance.

Fortifying a home makes sense only against hordes of determined marauders. And if you have that many enemies, you need to move.

 

[Bezoar]

there are two ways to the problem. The first is to build something as strong as the french Maginot line, and have if fail when a mobile military force drives circles around you. Its whats the germans did.

The second is deer hunting in the woods. You have to funnel the deer into following a specific series of pathsthat you can cover from a single point that gives you ample cover. Or just think duck hunting from a boat.
Only need one or two hardened points if you follow the second method. Although youd have to set your house up from the start tho.

 

[GrandMoffBrandon]

Fortifying a home makes sense only against hordes of determined marauders. And if you have that many enemies, you need to move.

I’m not talking about fortifying my home. As I said above, that is too expensive. I’m merely talking about taking steps to let me know a BG is on the property or breaking in before he completes the act. That gives me time to call the police, grab my gun, and protect my family.

Although youd have to set your house up from the start tho.

That’s one of the things that concern me. For a few hundred bucks I can setup a lighting system that will light up my house like a Christmas tree if the BG tries to break in, or a decent alarm system that monitors all the doors and windows and wakes me up in time to protect my family.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

If you can have them in your life, good dogs are priceless.

 

[Duke of Doubt]

Tasty, too.

 

[louie19]

The lights and dogs will give you warning that someone is "trying to cross the river."

 

[BayouBocephus]

Motion activated light are a must have, A good loud dog is also the best alarms system...At one time my friends house had been broken into numerous times in different nights while he was in bed. He got a sort of "laser tripwire" that ran along his back fence and when the beam was broken a red light would flash in his room (turned the loud sound off so he could surprise his guests) he met them with a double barrel 12 ga...they were his crackhead neighbors

 

[Noxx]

I prefer a combination of both. My house is pretty hard, but no structure can withstand a determined attack for long, and that's just part of the deal. The place is hard enough that you'd have to REALLY want to get in here, for more than my TV, and you'd make a hell of a ruckus and take some time doing so.

I don't want to wake up and reach for my gun with someone in the house. I'd prefer to get up, arm myself, corral the dogs into the master bedroom, call 911, and be waiting comfortably in there with my SKS covering the door for the ruckus to subside.

If the cops get lost on the way you're welcome to everything in the house on the other side of the master bedroom door, I gots insurance.

 

[Lightninstrike]

Depends on what sort of intruder you are expecting, I would guess. If its a burglar/thief then motion activated lights and alarm system go a long way for deterrence and providing you a warning.

 

[Stirling XD]

I have to agree with that it's easier/cheaper to create an early warning system than it is to make your house impenatrable (if that's even possible). Your ideas for doing that appear to be sound and a dog can be an incredible early warning system.

However, keep in mind that a dog is a big responsibility. Do some research on the breed you want and make sure that you know what you are getting into. If you enjoy the companionship of a dog or two, that's great. But if you get a dog simply for the security aspect and don't intend to put in the time and effort necessary, you could be setting yourself up for a nightmare. I'm sure you already know that, but I always like to remind people anyway. Good Luck.

 

[1814rob]

Home security

I agree with the dogs for warning. I have three and they are free to roam within the house. Having a dog caged or somewhere where they don't feel that they are pack members, will not be of much value. When three large dogs are barking at an entry point; the person(s) outside often leave rapidly, unless they are known to us. Master bedroom is situated well for defending, with high windows and both cell and hard line phones.

 

[punkndisorderly]

I tend to look at the problem this way. There are two parts to home defense:

1) prevention

2) dealing with it in progress

For the first part, as long as you're being picked at random, just make your house the least appealing on the block, and it's likely someone elses house will be the target. Fencing, motion lights, lack of overgrown hedges, alarm system with signs, etc all make the prospective criminal that much more likely to pick another target.

The other part is dealing with it once they've made the decision that your "it". That's where monitored alarm systems, sirens, firearms, etc. Come in. They alert you (and others) that something is wrong so that you or the police can deal with it.

 

[mbt2001]

Amazon.com is a great resource. You can get stand alone motion alarms with key fobs for $20.00. Smarthome.com can also get you some interesting equipment. Done right, you should be able to have a rudementary system set up for not too much extra cash. Motion Lights, stand alone motion sensors, cell phones, neighborhood watches, dog, PLAN PLAN PLAN... Plans are crucial. Better to have a BAD PLAN than no plan.

“Fixed fortifications are monuments to man's stupidity.” General Patton

The key to victory is in mobility. The history of war is the history of those that realize and exploit this fact.

Defending your home is a lot like warfare. Engage to break up the enemy advance and stymie their communication / formation. Fall back to a more easily defendable point, re-engage and then either fall back and evacuate or the re-enforcements arrive.

OR

Setup in a postion and engage using surprise.

Just one thing to keep in mind, Dogs are not fool proof, and take time to mature.

Good luck, stay low.

 

[Ghost Rider1976]

Small barky boston terrier dogs to wake up that 120 lb .weimerainer he dont play.

 

[jaimeshawn3]

Dogs are a great idea: My uncles house was the only one in his neighborhood of SanJose CA never hit, and I think the fact that he had two 80# security systems had a lot to do with it.

Up here in Oregon, my old dog, 35# terrier blend actually stopped a burglary. She came into the master bedroom and woke me up, and then pointed out the young man breaking into my garage. She has plenty of fight for a small dog, and awesome bite strength... Mutt Probably a BlueHeeler/AmericanBullTerrier blend.

Motion detector lights are also a great idea. Only about $10, and instead of a light, the circuit can be used to trigger an alarn outside - or trigger an alarn and lights inside... After my visitor, I wired one up and blinkered it so it wouln't be set off by cats....

 

[chinpokojed]

I'm all for the dogs but I gotta say it...

Make sure you really want the total package of dog ownership, it's a lot of work and a good bit of frustration as you train them..

Do the world a favor and get rescue, there are soooo many dogs out there that need homes, and backyard breeders selling puppies out of the classifieds are making the problem worse! Check out http://www.petfinder.com for dogs in your area.

Remember dogs are much more then an alarm system and will not lead happy lives chained up outside your house, but take them in and make them a member of your pack and you'll have a friend that will protect you with their life!!

Also while a small dog can be a good warning system, I prefer a dog that could legitimately eat a BG

Senna our red Doberman

Moya our Doberman / Lab mix

Needless to say we don't get a lot of people knocking on our door selling crap, and they keep your feet really toasty at night!

 

[mio]

is it the same as the kevin costner movie the postman?

 

[BULLSI]

I highly recommend getting a camera system to see what goes on around your house especially when you are not there.

 

[mercop]

Next time you see an alarm guy around give him $20 and get some stickers. They are worth more than the alarm. Several times why doing search warrants we encountered alarm systems. We were well into our business before the station ever got a call from the communications center.

 

[BULLSI]

You can get those stickers off of ebay