Making your house harder to break into.

Status
Not open for further replies.
748

748

member
Joined
Feb 24, 2006
Messages
1,285
Location
clovis, NM
We know if they want to get in they will. It just depends on the BG's size, tools and motivation.
What have you done to make your house harder?
Here is most of what I have done so far.
Before I moved into my house some one tried to kick in the back door. They broke the door frame and a 3" dry wall screw on the striker. I guess the people that lived there before were smart enough to use some thing besides the 3/4 screws that come with the door. I took my new door frame and carved a releaf in it to put a 4 screw striker on top of a 2 screw striker. So I have 6, four inch deck screws driven into the 2x4 frame of the house holding the strikers in place.
I also put one of those door knob reinforcement braces on the door. It is a piece of 16 or 18 gauge steel screwed into place that wraps around the door to beef up the part of the door right around the door knob and door catch. It makes the door stand out as not being normal.
We all know those old windows with the cheap latches that use 1/4'' long screws are useless. Any 12 year old with a flat bar could pop one of those latches off. I mean what are they for, keeping the wind from blowing the window open?
I screwed my windows shut with dry wall screws, I know thats a bad Idea if you have to get out through the window so I have started replacing the dry wall screws with metal rods that can be removed. I did the dry wall screw thing before I went on vacation for 2 weeks to make sure the windows stayed shut while I was gone.
I also taught my dog a game where she bites me on my arm or behind my knee. I train her in the front and back yard. Some times I have kids ask me if "He" was a police dog and I all ways say "not any more". They never fail to ask why? I say "Because when he would attack perps and was ordered to heal he would just keep on going so they had to fire "him" after a burglar lost some fingers after being ordered to heal" . We all know kids talk to the bigger kids.
I'm also making a sign that says "trespassers will be violated" :evil: for the back yard.
 
Get an alarm system. Prominently post alarm system signs. Cover garage and garage door windows so they cannot be seen through. Get rid of any front door glass. Add storm doors in front of the front door and porch doors. Add tv cameras, or at least one to the front door. Add exterior motion sensor floodlights to the corners of the house and all doors.
 
I live in an apartment, so I can't really do much. There is a deadbolt on the exterior door, so that isn't too bad.

Most of what I have done is preventative, i.e. I seek not to make myself a target in the first place. I keep my curtains shut so as not to put on display what I have. Whenever I have to move something expensive in or out I do it as quickly and quietly as possible. I chose an apartment on the second floor because its harder to come in through the windows, and I use wooden dowels placed in the window frames to make them harder to get through (they don't have locks). My apartment is also in a very visible portion of the apartment complex, meaning neighbors or people passing by would be more likely to notice a burglary in progress. I'm also on fairly good terms with my neighbors, so I doubt they'd fail to call the cops if they noticed someone breaking in.

I also lock both the door lock and the deadbolt every time I leave the apartment, and have it locked during the night and sometimes during the day.
 
You can reinforce your doors or window locks till the cows come home.

Windows are made of glass.

It is impossible to keep out a determined burglar.

The best defense is to make it appear as difficult to break into as possible so the perp decides to take down your neighbor's house instead.

That includes good locks, keeping your home well lighted and secured as sdescribed above, and even if you don't have an alarm, get some signs from a popular alarm vendor and stick them up. You can get them on eBay.
 
3M makes a film you put on your windows to make them resistant to impact, its used down here in FL alot. You can slam a window with a sledge and it will break but won't give. They also make a film thats makes the glass resistant to bullets.
 
One of the biggest tips is to not look inviting.
The other is to NOT advertise - except what you want advertised. ;)

Yes, some new construction only requires a utility knife to access through a wall.

Not having shrubbery next to the house for someone to use as cover is advised.
Giving the appearance one is "responsible" and and "on the ball", like not leaving newspapers in the yard/ porch and mail in the mailbox
Have arrangements to be stopped, or picked up if out of town.

Never be predictable, punctual and programmed. Meaning, someone is always home, even if it is just the radio, TV and timers turning on lights all through the house.


Do not advertise either by opening your mouth, or by public display of stickers on vehicles, obvious "Logos" of firearms, sacks from Jewelry Stores, Electronics - anything.
Cut up the new box a computer comes in and put inside a trash bag.
Setting this box outside for Ego Boosting to show up the Jones only invites illegal attention.

Put the Gee-Whiz Pistol with logo box and DVD in a backpack, tote bag, duffle bag, and then if you want to strut your stuff among folks you "think" you can trust, knock yourself out.

Software is as much a part of home/business security as the hardware part including alarms, motion detectors , Medaco Locks...

s
 
Some newer homes, one of the easier ways in is through the exterior wall, using nothing but a utility knife.
Click to expand...

WHAT?! Where?

That wouldn't make code down here in South Florida.
 
Depends on codes of course.
Vinyl siding, thin "insulate" , 2x4 framing, drywall and then interior.

-
Oh, the code for having a "turn bolt" on the back kitchen door in case of fire?
The kitchen door with one pane of glass with "grid" to look like panes?
Well...check that out and as soon as the house is inspected, remove that turn bolt, and replace with a dead bolt that requires a key from interior as well.

Put this key, on a key ring that glows in the dark and always kept in the same spot, not in door , and not where unwanted visitors "know".
So if a fire does happen, that key is easily found and exit out back door if need.

Or you could leave the turn bolt, or key in the door and let someone lift out that pane/bust glass, reach in , open door and surprise you. ;)
 
My dog isn't very inviting.
When my dog was not full grown she barked a lot, like all dogs. I didn't want to be that "guy with the damn barking dog that never shuts up". So I trained her to be mostly quiet when out side. She stocks people that get close to the fence and snarls and shows teeth when they face her. Like she is hunting them, I think its cool. It looks like she has problems. When she is inside I trained her to go nuts if some one is out side. When there is a storm and tree branches bump the house it gets kind of old, she grunts and growns. When some one thumps on the door she goes nuts.

"3M makes a film you put on your windows to make them resistant to impact, its used down here in FL alot. You can slam a window with a sledge and it will break but won't give. They also make a film thats makes the glass resistant to bullets."
Where and how much?

I now have a little sheet metal square that says "tresspassers will be violated" mahahahahah! Its gets even better, its 2 sided. The back says "tresspassers will be voilated by dog", every one that meets her thinks she is a he any way, so I might as well.
 
Vinyl siding, thin "insulate" , 2x4 framing, drywall and then interior.
Click to expand...

I think you might be confused. The thin insulation goes over top of a plywood or OSB exterior wall. Without that, the framing wouldn't have the rigidity to support a roof.

I'm a carpenter by trade. I think being able to carve through a wall is a myth.
 
Cut up the new box a computer comes in and put inside a trash bag.
Setting this box outside for Ego Boosting to show up the Jones only invites illegal attention.
Click to expand...

I've got a slightly different bend on this one. I take every box for anything new and cut it into target holders for those sticky "Shoot-N-C" targets. By the time it goes in my trash it's been pretty much punched full of bullet holes. I figure if someone wants to go through my trash it sends a message. :)
 
Just a little info on home defense and burglars.

There are four layers of home defense.

First layer of defense—appearance. Deterrence is the key! Start examining the outside of the home. If it doesn’t look like an easy entry, you will probably be overlooked. Are there any open windows? Are there ladders lying around? Don’t leave things that intruders can use to gain entry to your home!

Second layer of defense – motion detector lights or exterior motion detector alarm system.

Third layer of defense – point of entry. That is, re-enforced doors and windows, security system, dogs, etc.

Fourth layer of defense— execution of your home invasion plan. If it comes down to this, then you have not done your job of properly executing the first three layers of home defense!

There are 3 types of burglars.
a. Opportunist and teens (more than likely they will not be armed!)
i. The opportunist looks for things like doors left open, especially garage doors. They may also be aware of what is in the home because they are friends of yours, or your children. Or, they may be a friend of a friend. Things left out on the porch or yard are very attractive to an opportunist thief.

ii. Items sitting out in the open in a vehicle also attract the opportunist thief.

b. Semi-professional (prowlers)
i. Prowlers are the next step up and more professional. And that makes them more dangerous on a number of levels. While they may still use the smash tactics to gain entrance, they are not about to dash. While there they are going to have a look around and pick and choose as to what they are going to take. More importantly, they know what they can get the most for and that is what they will go for. Unlike opportunist, Prowlers usually have extensive criminal connections to channel stolen goods for the most money.
Semi-pros also tend to be a little more sly about the ways that they gain entry. The higher level ones are who often take measures to disguise their actions by pretending to be delivery or repair people. Prowlers often carry tools. Why make a lot of noise kicking a door in when with a pry bar you can gain entry faster and with less noise? Better yet, just slide an unlocked window open or come in through an unlocked door?

c. Professionals - Snipers and Locusts
i. Snipers: they know what they are after. They are probably part of a larger crime ring. They may have inside contacts at an insurance agency, jewelers, etc. When they break in, they are going straight for what they are after. Such criminals often have informants in insurance agencies so they know the value of insured items and the nature of security systems protecting them. This is why you should always take extra measures that you don't tell the insurance company to protect your possessions. For example, if you have an expensive jewelry collection, tell them about your security system, but don't tell them about the safe. Or if you do, tell them a different and inferior brand name. Don't tell them about the anchors that hold expensive artwork to the wall and require a special tool to take down. Also take the name of anyone who calls you from the insurance company asking if you have updated your security measures, do this before refusing to answer. Then call back and ask if the company authorized such an inquiry.

ii. Locusts: They tend to be a part of a larger ring and use informants. Locusts could be someone who comes into your home such as a painter, carpet cleaner, plumber, etc. They will act as a “point man” for their criminal partners. This is another reason why, when dealing with contract services, you need to make sure the service is licensed and bonded. Although more expensive bonded companies do background check on workers. Also, even if a company is licensed make sure that they don't subcontract work out to other unlicensed and unbonded contractors. As many companies do this in order to save employee costs and increase their profit margin. The van that pulls up to do the job should have the company name on it and NOT just a plain white work truck.
_______________________________________________
Brian K. LaMaster - Instructor
 
There was a post somewhere a while back that listed unfriendly decorative plants you could put underneath windows or other possible entry points to deter criminals.
 
I think being able to carve through a wall is a myth.[/QUOTE

In all due respect, it was a framer and carpenter that pointed out a new construction area to me and the wife at the time.
This framer and carpenter came highly recommended, and we had seen his houses from framing, to finished stages.


He was the one that pointed out a new community being built , with "affordable" housing for young couples.
These homes met code, still one could access from outside.

Matching sheds in back yard [covenant ] even easier to cut into.

Folks using these sheds lost tools, lawnmowers and the like. Take a butcher knife and access these storage buildings.


Which is another thing, take a look at OLD do-it-yourself metal portable buildings versus those today.
Take a look at some of today's wooden "barns" for storage as compared to older ones.

Lawnmowers , weed eaters, and other lawn and garden tools are not cheap today.
Easy to steal, easy to get money fast!
Click to expand...
 
Unfriendly plants?

That may have been one of my posts. The show "It takes a thief" once recommended "Leatherleaf lahonia" as being a normal looking but tough and prickly plant good for under the windows.
 
Placing nasty plants under windows is great, as is laminating them. My motion detectors for the outdoor lighting also turn on my sprinklers, even goblins hate getting wet in the middle of the night, anything to make it less inviting to em.

If you're relatively handy, it's not a big deal to pull the framing and drywall from around your exterior doors and reinforce the frames. Thicker wooden frames make a door a pain to kick in. Adding a strip of 1/8" flat stock steel on each side, drilled for hinge and components, in conjunction with insanely long hinge hardware and a long throw deadbolt, make it nearly impossible without some serious tools.

Sliding bar locks that mate with the concrete make your garage door inaccessible via the remote. It also makes your garage door a little less convenient for you, matter of choice there. Personally, I have the remote control function of my door opener disabled. Yeah I have to walk around to open the door from the button inside, but no radio-shack schmuck is getting in my garage either.

And of course, dogs. I have a pit/rott mix, and a pit/boxer mix. Both are harmless, but if you bang on the door at night, the rott will bang on it from his side, loudly enough to dissuade anyone with a little common sense. In fact, he sounds a bit like a wrecking ball with teeth. Big teeth.
 
I support the plants and the fake alarm signs - I have Agave's (large sharp plants) heavy shrubs, and some vine like vegatation that is pretty hard to get through. And ADT stickers on the windows- I think I am going to add the sign about being violated though :)
 
Screw eye bolts into the studs on either side of exterior and bedroom doors. You can slide a length of rebar in it and that will make it very hard to kick it in.
 
The show It Takes A Thief was a wonderful teacher on what to do.

Don't draw attention to your house in ways that make it attractive to the wrong sorts of folks. Leave the Porshe in the driveway or put it out of sight in the garage? Garage. Leave the JetSki in the driveway or pull it into the back yard? Back yard. Garage doors open or closed? Closed. Kids toys all put neatly away or visible in the yard? Leave these out. Little doghouse for "Smoochie" the dachshund visible from the front walk or big doghouse for Bruno the dachshund? Big dog house.

White picket fence around whole front yard? Yep. Nothing says "Not your property!" like a visible demarcation of a fence.

Motion sensor lights? Yes. Inexpensive motion sensor sprinklers? Sure.

Inexpensive "eyeball" cameras on the doors? Sure. Intercom to talk to whoever is at the door without having to come to the door? Sure. (You can get wireless intercom systems that use the wire to your doorbell to power them or battery power.)

Shrubs near the house? No. shrubs that bear thorns that would tear the flesh off a rhino? Sure.

Steel or fiberglass doors or standard ornamental? Steel or fiberglass.

Locks and door frames have been discussed. Alarms have been discussed. Dogs have been discussed. Window protection has been discussed. All of this keeps the BG out so that you don't have to resort to defending yourself.
 
Last edited:
Almost every report I've seen shows there is a VERY low rate of break-ins through double pane window glass, it is almost always through a door or by opening a window somehow.

Find out what the statistics and trends are from your police department, mine publishes monthly reports with statistics on number and types of crimes so you can be extra aware. Watch the news for reports of home invasions or robberies. Secure important property inside the house as well inside safes or otherwise lock them down.

Finally have good insurance, both the kind that will save your life and the the kind that will replace your property. The primary goal for my fortifications aren't to keep someone out while I'm away, but to slow them down enough for me to be ready to protect my family.
 
"I'm a carpenter by trade. I think being able to carve through a wall is a myth."

I dont know what new construction they mean, but no one would be entering through my walls with a knife. An 18v sawz-all maybe, but breaking a window is a lot less work. I suppose the cheapest possible new construction in some state with codes that allow real junk to be built, I dont know, but vinal siding, 3/4 inch plywood, insulation, drywall, studs 14" on center is typical code for many states. Given enough time, you can cut through a safe with a spoon, but time wise you might as well break the window.

Speaking of windows, code in my area is double pane low E glass now. I had two extra old (though modern) windows left over after adding an addition, so I decided to see what it would be like. I can tell you breaking the newer double pane windows takes a lot more work and makes a lot of noise compared to those old windows we all grew up with. They are quite tough. I broke one totally to see what it would be like to try and make a big enough whole to crawl through, and the other I broke trying to focus on the two locks inside the window to get a hand in and open the locks. Eiether is noisy and harder than you might think and a good chance of slicing yourself open. I have more faith in the newer high quality double pane windows with good locks you can't reach from the outside (as you could with old windows) than I did before. I can only imagine what it would take to get into a good triple pane window in terms of time, noise, and avoiding slicing yourself up.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

N
  • Locked
Being probed for a break in
2
Replies
43
Views
2K
crewzer
C
T
  • Locked
How would you "board-up" a door/window?
2
Replies
26
Views
2K
reality
R
9
  • Locked
Hardening the perimeter
2
Replies
25
Views
1K
mortablunt
M
J
  • Locked
Physical Security
Replies
20
Views
928
Sheepdog1968
S
A
  • Locked
prevent door kick-in & secure shotgun
2 3
Replies
68
Views
5K
mbt2001
M
Back
Top