Tell me about your home security setup. I want to improve security for my house. It's got 5 bedrooms, windows in almost every room and 4 sliding glass doors (yes, a security nightmare). I was thinking some motion activated lights around the exterior of the house, and alarms on the windows and sliding doors would be pretty good. Any other suggestions?
Home security systems
- Thread starter Parallax
- Start date
- Status
Uh, no. Concealed means concealed doncha know.
In your case, although it would be fairly expensive, I would consider contacts on every window and door.
Unless they have been greatly improved recently, I'm not a big fan of (interior) motion sensors due to their (IME) lack of reliability wrt sensitivity. But others with more recent experience may be able to refute and educate.
I think what you are considering is an excellent start.
Sawdust
armoredman
Member
Lights, dogs, guns, more guns, more lights, more dogs, you get the picture. Oh, yeah, and a cel phone, in case land lines are cut.
itgoesboom
member
My setup is simple.
A German Shepherd Dog, guns, lights. And awareness.
Somehow nobody who comes to our door notices how small our German Shepherd is, to them, she is the biggest meanest dog on the planet.
I.G.B.
A German Shepherd Dog, guns, lights. And awareness.
Somehow nobody who comes to our door notices how small our German Shepherd is, to them, she is the biggest meanest dog on the planet.
I.G.B.
Bear Gulch
Member
foo gas, concertina,and claymores!
Dionysusigma
Member
1) Dowel rods in the sliding tracks of the doors and windows.
2) A good fence for the back yard.
3) Remove the screws for door hinges and dead-bolt recepticles (whatever they're actually called), and replace with ones that are much stronger and longer as well.
4) Get a yellow Lab, a German Shepard, or English Mastiff. Or a mutt of all three. A big, dutiful, smart dog who loves everyone you do... but will eviscerate and/or scare the bejeebus out of everyone else.
5) Nosy neighbors.
Seriously, get to know yours better.
If you want to splurge, invest in some high-strength glass (since I'm not an expert in this field, I can't give any helpful references).
2) A good fence for the back yard.
3) Remove the screws for door hinges and dead-bolt recepticles (whatever they're actually called), and replace with ones that are much stronger and longer as well.
4) Get a yellow Lab, a German Shepard, or English Mastiff. Or a mutt of all three.
A big, dutiful, smart dog who loves everyone you do... but will eviscerate and/or scare the bejeebus out of everyone else.5) Nosy neighbors.
Seriously, get to know yours better.If you want to splurge, invest in some high-strength glass (since I'm not an expert in this field, I can't give any helpful references).
Parallax, get a monitored alarm and think about whether or not you need the cellular backup in case the landline is cut. Expensive, so you need to figure out if it's worth it for your particular scenario. Merely putting out the stickers/placards and such from a monitored alarm company will most likely divert 98% of break-ins (burlaries, that is). Most smash and grab guys will simply go to another house down the street that doesn't have an alarm. If you need to do it economically, have the contacts done mostly at the side and rear of the house, and skip some of the front windows (if they're clearly visible from the street) since they'll probably avoid being seen from the front. Keep a contact on your front door, harden it with longer bolts and a security screen door if you can. Get double keyed (keys both sides) deadbolts for side entry doors if you have a window near the door where someone can break the window and reach through to open it. There's an interesting Hi-tech window film (can't recall the name of the product) out that is spectacular at resisting breakage. You can hit a window with a bat and it doesn't shatter. Unfortunately, I'm not too sure how this would resist a glass cutter, and then simply popping the window out. Think about glass break devices, and also a couple of interior motion detectors, in case they break out a window. You'd be surprised at how neighbors won't get involved or even investigate a loud noise coming from their neighbor's house. About 5 years ago I had a young man break through my garage door, and then into my kitchen. He was unlocking the front door for an accomplice (across the street) when I drove up in front of the house (3 pm, broad daylight). Someone was looking out for me that day because I left my young son in his car seat and approached the door without carrying him and the babybag. My large front window pane had vibrated strangely when I pulled up and looked over (because of the vaccum created when my kitchen door was burst/kicked through) and saw it. When I got to the porch with keys out the intruder looked through the vertical blinds at me and then ran out the same way he came in. Caught up with him in the backyard, where he took some warning swings at me with a bat he took from my garage. Despite the surging adrenalin, commonsense overcame me and I chose to let him go. LE response was quick, but they never caught him. One retired neighbor told me later that he saw a guy jumping my padlocked side fence (but didn't do a thing about it 
). My son was alright in the car, and the accomplice split when he saw me drive up. The monitored alarm and hardened/solid doors came immediately afterwards.
EricO
). My son was alright in the car, and the accomplice split when he saw me drive up. The monitored alarm and hardened/solid doors came immediately afterwards. EricO
TallPine
Member
Get a dog.
I read a statement by a LEO (here on THR, I think) who said he had never investigated a burglary at a household with a dog.
More importantly, a dog gives you a better chance of waking up in time to respond if you have a night-time home invasion.
I read a statement by a LEO (here on THR, I think) who said he had never investigated a burglary at a household with a dog.
More importantly, a dog gives you a better chance of waking up in time to respond if you have a night-time home invasion.
Get a dog.
Exterior lights on an automatic switch, maybe backed up by lights on a motion sensor.
Six foot high privacy fence around permiter of rear of property. All gates should lock from inside with padlocks.
Garage doors should have provision to padlock the door to the roller frame. Stamped metal slide lock through frame is inadequate and can be defeated with a screwdriver, tire iron or catspaw.
Clear shrubbery and vegetation from your house. Don't give cover to the BG's.
Deadbolt and knob locks on all doors. Deadbolts should require a key from both sides. Train yourself and family to put key in accessible, inobvious place when at home, take keys with you when gone.
Sticks or frame locks on sliding glass doors.
Have monitored alarm type A installed.
Post signs for monitored alarm type B.
Plan your home defense strategy if at home when intrusion takes place. Where are you going to fall back to?
Make certain your fall back position includes a way to alert the authorities. Have a backup, such as a cell phone.
Make certain your fall back position includes a way for you to get out, just in case. (fire, too many BG's, etc.)
Exterior lights on an automatic switch, maybe backed up by lights on a motion sensor.
Six foot high privacy fence around permiter of rear of property. All gates should lock from inside with padlocks.
Garage doors should have provision to padlock the door to the roller frame. Stamped metal slide lock through frame is inadequate and can be defeated with a screwdriver, tire iron or catspaw.
Clear shrubbery and vegetation from your house. Don't give cover to the BG's.
Deadbolt and knob locks on all doors. Deadbolts should require a key from both sides. Train yourself and family to put key in accessible, inobvious place when at home, take keys with you when gone.
Sticks or frame locks on sliding glass doors.
Have monitored alarm type A installed.
Post signs for monitored alarm type B.
Plan your home defense strategy if at home when intrusion takes place. Where are you going to fall back to?
Make certain your fall back position includes a way to alert the authorities. Have a backup, such as a cell phone.
Make certain your fall back position includes a way for you to get out, just in case. (fire, too many BG's, etc.)
Battlespace
Member
GBD (Great Big Dog). Actually we have 5. Some are inside and some outside. They wake me at the slightest out of the ordinary noise. We no longer have a phone line as a cell is cheaper and easier and with cable modem, who needs Ma Bell! One of the pre dials is 911, but by the time the LEO would arrive I would imagine all the excitement would be over.
odysseus
Member
Lot of good advise will be coming in here on this thread. I will avoid the home security systems and locks since that will be covered.
First thing: I would assume you practice good lock up skills, and your family does. There are so many people who grow passive and even don't turn on their big $$$ security systems.
Also - most burglaries, invasions, etc are done by people who know you. That's the statisical fact. It's not even that they had to really know you. Maybe he was at the shop while a plumber who was working a new bathroom at your place or a guy who was cleaning your carpets talked about what you had and all that...
One comment on the clearing of vegetation; clear it so BGs can't cover easily - no dark unvisible areas. However DO place and manage in areas to make it difficult for them to navigate, approach close, and manipulate windows etc. Types of shrubs have been used by security consultants - no BG wants to go trampling around crap and getting stuck in it making a racket.
Dog is good. More than one, even better.
Keep your flashy stuff out of sight. The more you look "money" the more you attract attention. That is if you care about that and feel defensible. Putting that big 50" plasma screen TV right by a front window that can be seen while driving down the street is not really wise...
Drive a nice car? Own your business that is cash based? You deal in jewels and gems? You get my drift... watch to see if you have a tail when you are getting close to your home. You have to maintain a higher level of scrutiny when you are shouting out to the world.
Lighting is good. BG's don't like to be deer caught in headlights. The trick here in even daylight is your level of privacy balanced against the level of making it too easy to sneak into and be also private to wander around. A BG who can hop the fence and feel undetected is not a good thing for you. That's what he is cruising around for.
Here is something that many don't consider. Automated survellience. It is getting cheaper and better. I use Wi-Fi 802.11 cameras that allow me to place cameras all over, use motion detection, and email me clips and pictures to an internet email (and ftp) account when motion is detected - and I can go into them from anywhere on the net and check it out and even pan around. I have been able to track the constant movements and characters in my "sector" (sorry that was fun to say) and now have a baseline. I may have an edge on seeing and capture recording attempts of a BG to interrogate my area. At least if something bad happens - I have it on a server not at home to give to LEO.
First thing: I would assume you practice good lock up skills, and your family does. There are so many people who grow passive and even don't turn on their big $$$ security systems.
Also - most burglaries, invasions, etc are done by people who know you. That's the statisical fact. It's not even that they had to really know you. Maybe he was at the shop while a plumber who was working a new bathroom at your place or a guy who was cleaning your carpets talked about what you had and all that...
One comment on the clearing of vegetation; clear it so BGs can't cover easily - no dark unvisible areas. However DO place and manage in areas to make it difficult for them to navigate, approach close, and manipulate windows etc. Types of shrubs have been used by security consultants - no BG wants to go trampling around crap and getting stuck in it making a racket.
Dog is good. More than one, even better.
Keep your flashy stuff out of sight. The more you look "money" the more you attract attention. That is if you care about that and feel defensible. Putting that big 50" plasma screen TV right by a front window that can be seen while driving down the street is not really wise...
Drive a nice car? Own your business that is cash based? You deal in jewels and gems? You get my drift... watch to see if you have a tail when you are getting close to your home. You have to maintain a higher level of scrutiny when you are shouting out to the world.
Lighting is good. BG's don't like to be deer caught in headlights. The trick here in even daylight is your level of privacy balanced against the level of making it too easy to sneak into and be also private to wander around. A BG who can hop the fence and feel undetected is not a good thing for you. That's what he is cruising around for.
Here is something that many don't consider. Automated survellience. It is getting cheaper and better. I use Wi-Fi 802.11 cameras that allow me to place cameras all over, use motion detection, and email me clips and pictures to an internet email (and ftp) account when motion is detected - and I can go into them from anywhere on the net and check it out and even pan around. I have been able to track the constant movements and characters in my "sector" (sorry that was fun to say) and now have a baseline. I may have an edge on seeing and capture recording attempts of a BG to interrogate my area. At least if something bad happens - I have it on a server not at home to give to LEO.
This sounds like it could be extremely useful, any more info?
Unfortunately, I can't put up a fence because we're not allowed to do things like that in my neighborhood (homeowner's association rules). Does anyone know where I can buy motion activated lights for my driveway/back of my house?
odysseus
Member
I am not going to drop product names or anything - there are many options out there and several new ones coming out pretty often. For everyone, there is someone who loves this or that one and someone who hates it the same. YMMV with them right now. 802.11g is the way to go. Careful selection will also have you being careful of what lux lense it has and that you want as low as you can go for very low light performance.
You need to be fairly technical and/or know someone who can assist. Especially if you want automated clips sent to your Internet FTP or email folder and you want to access it from the internet. You are going to need a wi-fi access point, WEP/WPA on, SSID broadcast off. You may need to have fun tweaking dbi signal strength. This and the fact they are IP wi-fi cameras make them very cool. Also you can record on motion from a simple PC for long times and manage multiple cameras at once. Many also have internal mic's for sound. The lense tech is not as good as say CCTV, but use CCD.
The whole bottomline here is that you can now put good systems in place that are at very small fractions in cost as what business's have been using. Coupled with the motion detection alerting with samples and access to you anywhere in the world, and you got a little more going on than most ever do. You have to like this stuff. Right now it's not for those who don't like the techinical aspects of it.
YammyMonkey
Member
The window film mentioned earlier is made by 3M and called Scotch Shield. Originally developed to protect windows from bomb blasts. Check the 3M website, there's links to the film and you can contact a local distributor. I'd definitely look into it for the sliding glass doors since they're easy to smash and unlock even with the dowel in place. I don't know if it's a do it yourself kind of job, but I don't imagine it would be too hard.
DarkKnight01
Member
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2005
- Messages
- 391
Llumar makes some great products as well, top of the line.
Cosmoline
Member
jamz
Member
Interesting thread. I'm going to be putting some kind of security in my new house in Maine, so I've been looking at stuff like this. All the alarm system companies seem to have "package" systems that include a fixed number off sensors- does anyone know of a really modular system that you cn tailor to an individual house? When I used to install them many moons ago, the systems I did were a) wireless, and b) buildable. Does that stuff still exist?
Also, side question for Parallax- you have a subaru, right?
Also, side question for Parallax- you have a subaru, right?
jamz
Member
Thought so. You, me and pittspilot, as far as I know. A lot different than OT here, eh?
-James
You, me and pittspilot, as far as I know. A lot different than OT here, eh? -James
Andrew Rothman
Member
Aw, c'mon. Drop some names. And tell us about the software, not just the hardware.
Figuring things out through trial and error is good; learning from others' trial and error is much better!
Just a word of warning about the big home security companies. They can do very stupid things and I swear they hire some not very bright people to work in their monitoring centers.
The other evening I got to work and was looking over the day shift daily activity report and I discovered that the big security company that always calms the attractive, distraught young mother in their TV commercials with a comforting "Help is on the way!" had called one of their clients next door neighbors (81 years old and listed by the client as an alternate conatact) and asked him to go across the street and check out a burglar alarm so they would know to call the police. Fortunately there was no break in and the neighbor called the police before he went over there.
I realize that many jurisdictions charge for responding to a false alarm, but this was rather ridiculous.
Jeff
The other evening I got to work and was looking over the day shift daily activity report and I discovered that the big security company that always calms the attractive, distraught young mother in their TV commercials with a comforting "Help is on the way!" had called one of their clients next door neighbors (81 years old and listed by the client as an alternate conatact) and asked him to go across the street and check out a burglar alarm so they would know to call the police. Fortunately there was no break in and the neighbor called the police before he went over there.
I realize that many jurisdictions charge for responding to a false alarm, but this was rather ridiculous.
Jeff
Brat7748
Member
I had a break in at my home a few years ago. They cut the phone line and smashed the outside alarm siren before they broke in. My new system has cell phone back up and all the outside stickers are gone.
If PRO bad guys know you have alarm system they will either pass you by, or if they really want in, the will try to disable it. If KIDS are the problem alarm stickers will scare them off.
My advice would be if you go for an alarm system, put the control panel where it can't be seen from outside, no stickers or signs, hide any outside siren...and have an inside siren. Scare the heck out of them when it goes off and they are not expecting it.
If PRO bad guys know you have alarm system they will either pass you by, or if they really want in, the will try to disable it. If KIDS are the problem alarm stickers will scare them off.
My advice would be if you go for an alarm system, put the control panel where it can't be seen from outside, no stickers or signs, hide any outside siren...and have an inside siren. Scare the heck out of them when it goes off and they are not expecting it.
- Status
Similar threads
