ideas to make home safer in seedy neighborhood?

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I live in a small home in a fairly shady neighborhood. Not the worst, CERTAINLY not the best. Can you guys recommend some ideas for making it safer? Assume the worst right now because I feel fairly unsafe. I'd rather avert a situation that'd call for deadly force before it happens and I'm pretty much at square one.
 
2 dogs
cut back shrubs from against the house
key-through window locks
remote light control for inside and out from the MBR
B&W cameras that display on the monitor
bolt locks on the solid outer doors
a safe room
a couple of BHP's secreated about the house and the mag in your pocket
well defined motion lights outside and sound sensors

--how much $$ do you have to spend on this project?

it sucks when a neighborhood changes;
can you do block watch type actions with some of your good neighbors?
 
Do you have a garage? If so, use it. I never leave vehicles in the drive way and getting to and from my house with "stuff" I do it in the garage. Before I had one, I would always do it at night.

Dont get a dog unless you a) love dogs b) have the time and space for a dog and c) WANT a dog. Stupid idea to just get one for security purposes. They are not alarms, they are pets.

Be "friendly" to your neighbors. Let them know you know they are there, what they look like and who they are. Don't shy away from them. Pay attention to the traffic by your house if you can.

As far as hard security, do as others have said... search this site.

A trick one of the mods taught me here... go to google, do advanced search and put thehighroad.org as the domain to search. Much more reliable then using the onboard search engine.

Good luck and be safe!
 
Dont get a dog unless you a) love dogs b) have the time and space for a dog and c) WANT a dog. Stupid idea to just get one for security purposes. They are not alarms, they are pets.
Click to expand...

Our distant ancestors didn't domesticate canines because they wanted pets. The only reason we have dogs today is that we needed them to help guard encampments. Over time, the "dog as member of family" ethos became the norm, but there's still nothing wrong with employing a dog for security.
 
For under 5 bucks you can:

1. Remove your exterior door casings, shim behind the strike plate and hinges with solid shims;
2. Replace the hinge screws and strike screws with 3 inch coarse galvanized screws. Now your doors are anchored into studs and cannot be "jacked" with a bumper jack or prybar;
3. Secure windows and sliding doors by placing PVC pipe or white-painted strips of wood in theri tracks.

For ten bucks more you can;

4. Get some Smith and Wesson security stickers on Ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110446584085&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
 
I feel your pain.
Having owned my home for over 30 years and as it is paid for and I am closing in fast on retirement age I have zero intentions of leaving this once nice working class mixed race neighborhood that has now taken on the look and sound of a third world nation aka Mexico.
What I have done is place burglar bars on all windows and doors.
I keep my two gates to the back yard padlocked.
I have burglar alarm stickers on all windows.
My dog is in my home as I type this.
Have placed a sign that is easily read on the front door that states "Beware of the Dog...Enter at your own risk".
Increased my home owners liability amount.
I also added a replacement cost to my insurance and let me tell you it's well worth the extra premium because the last time the rotten SOB's broke into my home this made the difference between being able to replace (somewhat) firearms that are no longer in production.
Have bought a reasonably secure Amsec BF 66X36 gun safe to store firearms and other possesions in.

As far as getting to know your neighbors that's a little hard to do in my situation unless you want to learn their language and they and I really dont care to hob nob around with one another.
I tell you the truth when the movie Gran Torino came out I truely could identify with the main character in many ways.
Any way,welcome to the new America.
 
I'm in the same boat and it sucks. I really don't have the money to fortify a rental house. I have two dogs out back that bark at everything and I think that is most likely enough to make any perp move on to the next house. I keep a couple lights on 24/7. And I always keep a shot gun and a pistol close by when I'm home. Most of my neighbors hate me because my dogs bark too much, one next door neighbor likes that the dogs bark and we watch out for each other. I think the ones that are complaining about the dogs might just be up to no good.
 
A very inexpensive deterrent is 4-6 ADT, or some other alarm company's signs around your property. Some other very good suggestions have been given. I don't have a problem with the guard dog approach, but don't mistreat it by leaving it outside in bad weather.
 
I agree with you, Pharmacology, but the sticker makes no such statement. Smith and Wesson markets security systems as well as firearms.
 
Our Dog Friends

Outside dogs offer little security if they live outside. I train my neighbor's outside dogs not to bark at me because I value peace and quiet. Bad guys will train your outside dogs with food.
My dogs live in the house and they are my friends. They alert to the same things I do but only a hundred times better. They only get to go outside for business or security patrols. They are closely monitored when they are out. They get two hours of exercise every day and they don't trust anyone but me.
I sleep like a baby knowing that between them there is always at least one eye and one ear open. I would like to have one of them with me at all times but someone has to hold down the fort.
 
I agree with Sano. I have a yellow lab and great dane and they will bark so loud and run so fast at anyone coming through the front door unannounced that my .45 will probably not even be necessary.
 
Sano Said:
They get two hours of exercise every day
Click to expand...

Right, and you have the time to do such. I live in the country and have two kids who love our dogs... so... for us it is a good idea. Maybe the guy who works all day, lives alone in a seedy neighborhood and maybe doesn't have the ability to walk his dogs should not get one. That is all I am saying.

Shockwave, I do not think it is right to just get an animal to use as a worker and not love it, care for it, walk it, etc... even PD dogs live with their handlers and are a part of their family.

StuartTX Said:
I have a yellow lab and great dane and they will bark so loud and run so fast at anyone coming through the front door unannounced that my .45 will probably not even be necessary.
Click to expand...

I am guessing you too live in an area that is appropriate to have such dogs.

You know, I know it is a losing battle and everyone here feels that home security is more important than a dogs well being but sue me. I feel strongly about it.
 
Agree with the lights and trim the bushes. In fact, no bushes is better. But I don't think that I could convince many to do that.
 
Be nice to your neighbors,... let them know you are concerned for them and about the condition of the neighborhood. A " Lets watch each others Backs" conversation and some kindness may go a long way. Think of it as a informal neighborhood watch.
I hate to use the term "Old School" but; it does apply here. When people watch out for each other crime drops.
 
Hello friends and neighbors // Tough spot

I'd ask local LEO if there is someone willing to come out and give you tips. They may be able to give you a heads up on actual crimes committed in your area or have knowledge of like minded neighbors you can interact with.

At least exchange phone numbers with the neighbors who border you. (unless they are the problem) Offer to alert them to anything unusual,especially the neighbor in back you might not see too often. Hope they do the same for you.

Spending money:
Steel entry doors with storm door
Storm windows
Flood lights in vunerable areas
If not possible buy the wedge shaped alarm that fits under door and in window frame, good for early warning.

Mainly do not look/act like you have anything to steal.

I hope your neighborhood changes again for the better.
 
Get an alarm system for when you're not home and get a dog that barks to give you time to get your gun when you are home...Doesn't have to be a Great Dane, a small dog with a big mouth will do the job.
 
Since I dont care about opening my windows I just got some 1/4" x 3" screws and screwed them into my double hung window frame just above the bottom window. It is anchored into the window stud and should keep out anyone wanting to jimmy the window. I always keep my blinds closed too so it is not even unsightly.

Steel reinforcement on door frames is critical. Make sure all screws in your door frame are at least 3" long so they engage the house framing, that includes the door hinges and strike plates for the knob latch and deadbolts if applicable.
 
I found this out by accident. My father lined the house with a pebbled path. From inside the house, I can hear people walking around the house due to the pebbles and dead leaves.

Yesterday my dog started barking, I've never seen him do this. I ran to the backyard and saw him barking and facing the back corner of the house. He never barks. He stopped within a couple minutes. I've had him since he was a puppy and he is 13 years old. If I had to buy a dog again, I'd probably buy a small and brave watch dog instead of a guard dog. I don't like the liability of a dog biting repairmen, etc. The larger dogs are probably more damage prone. The dog has had a problem with staph infection. But if you take the dog to the vet, he is a cost effective watch guard.
 
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