Layers of home defense security

[dakotasin]

door locks: i have some. don't know if they work or not. haven't seen the house keys in 6 years now. probably on the keyring in my wife's truck. keyring to my truck is simple... the key is attached to the ignition switch of the truck. figure i won't lose the key if it is attached to something that big.

burglar alarm: no. i do have smoke detectors, though. took the batteries out last year because they kept beeping.

motion sensors: nope.

dog: yeah, got 2. absolute experts at getting pheasants up.

high security fence: no. and no privacy fence, either.

flood lights: i have a set for the side of the house, and a set for the back, but haven't replaced the burnt out bulbs.

handgun: yeah, always.

rifle: yep. always w/ me, too.

 

[38SnubFan]

Downsides of a 1-Bedroom apartment

Door/Window Locks? Deadbolt at front door, locks on all windows. Wouldn't trust my life on them though.
Burglar alarm? No. Can't install one either. Landlord says so.
Motion sensors? Again, no. See above reason.
Dog? No. Again, reason under "Burglar Alarm".
High Security Fence? Well, I'm high (and not that way either!). I'm on the 3rd floor of my building.
Exterior flood lights? One on street-side of building (facing main road), and one on parking lot, which isn't working half of the time.
Handgun? One .38 revolver, always loaded, hidden under bed. One .45 Auto, usually in same place at night or on the hip.
Long gun? Eventually, whenever Mrs. SnubFan allows me to have one (need to buy her a car, and oh yeah....THE ENGAGEMENT RING!)

However, if you make it through the door, the neighbors are gonna hear ya too. Even though I can sleep through anything if I'm tired enough, the "better half" cannot, and will be more than happy to show a proper welcome for unbidden guests. We also live in a small town, founded by Benjamin Franklin himself, that until a couple of years ago required all residents to keep a loaded and readied firearm in their homes while occupied.

I guarantee you if you can get away from the homeowner, you probably won't make it very far until reaching the angry towns-folk!

-38SnubFan

 

[Ex-MA Hole]

Terrier mix barks at EVERYTHING.
Lab/ Sheppard mix- backup
Motion lights.
All windows and doors locked, esp on 1st floor.
Few other random toys* floating around the house.


* We have a backup plan in case someone is in the house, or is trying to get in. It involves a cordless phone, a secure loation w/in the house for wife, baby and REVOLVER. MY wife is not a shooter, and does not have the strenth to rack a slide. Also, gets a tad overwhelmed with safeties, etc. The whole "point and pull" of a .38 is conforting.

Her job, as discussed ad neaseum (sp?), is to get the phone and call 911. I get the baby. Then we go to safe area and wait. They can take whatever they want from down stairs. They will not get to us. I hope (and pray) that the dogs are upstairs and safe with us, but will probably be down stairs already.

 

[Blue Jays]

Hi All-

What's with more people reporting use of a handgun before window and door locks for basic home security? Simply locking doors and windows helps unauthorized people to remain honest.

~ Blue Jays ~

 

[HankB]

. . . if someone wanted to get to me at work they would have to get by the multiple ARLIEGH BURKE class guided missile destroyers, and our own self defense systems . . .

Since you've got the same stuff the USS Stark had, you're saying the bad guys will need a small boat and an outboard motor?

 

[CAS700850]

A week since my last post, and still handguns outnumber locks. Shouldn't they be equal?

 

[mmike87]

I am puzzled by the results - shouldn't "door and window locks" be 100%?

Does someone out there have a gun for home defense and NOT lock their door and windows???

 

[Blue Jays]

Hi All-

Guns are still leading locked windows and doors as a primary method for home security!

All we need is for some gun-grabbing, anti-RKBA attorney general with time on his hands to see this thread and say, "See what I mean? Those gunnies are just itchin' to get into a gunfight. More of them turn to guns than they do to locking their doors! We have to make the streets safe again...it's for the children!"

~ Blue Jays ~

 

[TonkinTwentyMil]

What about INTERIOR doors & locks?

The survey question choices seem to suggest EXTERIOR doors and windows as a security option. That's very good, however...

Don't overlook COMPARTMENTALIZING your home's interior -- much like a Navy ship is designed. I'm talking about rugged, solid-core doors with high-security deadbolt locks and strike-plates for restricting the access of an intruder when (a) no one's home, and (b) when the family is asleep.

Consider this approach for:
-- Main-floor-to-basement doors.
-- Garage-to-interior doors
-- Master bedroom doors (the 1st place burglars look for valuables)
-- Up-stairs hallway doors

Some may argue that this interior "compartmentalizing" constitutes a risk for inhabitants in the event of fire. That can be mitigated by (a) multiple-zoned fire/smoke alarms, and (b) single-cylinder deadbolts, or (c) master-keyed interior locks with the keys worn on a neck lanyard or discreetly hidden near the door.

I've learned to appreciate the comfort one gets from sleeping in a locked bedroom... with the basement also firmly locked-off from the main floor. Such an approach requires any intruder to make much more noise, thus complicating his problem.

 

[VMI 1991]

Since you've got the same stuff the USS Stark had, you're saying the bad guys will need a small boat and an outboard motor?

Do you mean COLE?

This ties to the thread in L&P about the Navy trying to develop small boats. The attack on USS COLE certianly pointed to a new threat.

Back to the topic at hand.

My wife, who was not exposed to firearms growing up, has taken an interest in shooting. With me being at sea so much, she is home by herself. So, she wants to be able to use the firearms that I have to defend herself and our 18 month old daughter.

 

[AStone]

Hi All-

Guns are still leading locked windows and doors as a primary method for home security!

To those who don't lock doors & windows, you might want to check out this thead.

TonkinTwentyMil, great suggestions. I'm installing a steel exterior door as an 'interior' door with deadbolt to the private space in my new studio (office, etc, where I spend a lot of time at night, writing, doing business stuff, taking naps.

Nem

 

[odysseus]

To those who don't lock doors & windows, you might want to check out this thead.

Often it is the basics that are never met. Often people just simply forget to be locking doors and windows, keeping expensive things out of easy sight, leaving garage doors unsecured, not keeping caution areas lighted at night, and even spending money on home security systems and not turning it on. As far as burglaries are concerned, many are crimes of opportunity.

There is difference here between that and reaching for a firearm. Also the more an aggressor has to defeat and bypass protections, the more threat they are, and the more reasonable resistive actions can be interepreted.