"So My Alarm Goes Off at 0330."

Status
Not open for further replies.
N

nainc

Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2006
Messages
86
Location
Ft. Worth, TX
My security system lost it's mind on Sunday morning at about 3:30 am. I still haven't figured out what caused the false alarm, and I probably won't ever find out either. Here's some things I learned while clearing the house.

1. The loaded gun in my nightstand was a S&W 2" loaded with 38 +p's. This really sucks, due to the fact that my xd .45 was locked and unloaded in my closet (I'd been carrying the snubbie earlier that day). Five shots seems like plenty when reviewing shooting statistics and the way handguns are employed in home defense situations. Off paper, the only thing I could think about was that stupid unloaded 13 rd. magazine and big black handgun with the big exhaust pipe in my closet.

2. I think I'll invest in a weapon light for the aforementioned xd. I had a Sure Fire Z3 combat light on me Sunday morning. It functioned great until I ran into my nemesis...a little invention I like to call...doorknobs. I never thought about the fact that I'd have to temporarily give up either gun or light while opening closed doors! Duh!!

3. The best tactical clothing in the world... the birthday suit! I can only imagine that me, naked would leave them staring way longer than the highest wattage lamp I could shine in any intruders face. Shoot 'em while they're laughing! That is one tactic I've never thought of, but I bet you any money it would work!

Comments or suggestions appreciated... How's Springfields mini light?
 
+1 on the birthday suit,

At my last appartment, upon hearing something go bump in the night (sounded like someone sneaking around the side yard) I jumped to my feet sans cloating, snatched up my 1911 and started checking the house. Only to make it through the lower floor, heading up the stairs (to look out the windows) when what should i notice, but my roomate buck naked holding his 1911 sweaping the house in the oposite direction.

We just glanced at eachother and finished up the sweep. It makes a funny story looking back on it.

In hindsight, the birthday suit actually aided recognition in the low light environment. No burgler is going to be patroling your house nekkid, at least I hope not, if he is you've got some real worries.
 
My security system will....

give you a short blast of the horn if the power is interrupted. The cats come off the floor about 3 feet when it happens. I can expect to be clawed in return sometime later in the day for "doing that to them"..........chris3
 
Yeah, this was a wierd false alarm. When I punched off the siren, the zone it showed there was trouble with was the back door, which is on a 30 second entry delay; I don't really understand why the siren would have immediately gone off without first getting the puny entry alarm.
 
Naked at O'dark 30

I was laughing pretty hard when I read that...the mental picture was priceless, mostly 'cause I've been there, but in a different (off-topic) circumstance.

One time, in the early morning, one of my German Shepherds woke me up, indicating that she REALLY wanted to go outside...It was still dark, but probably about 6 a.m. (when some people might be rising, to get ready for work. This becomes important later.

So I stumble down the stairs with the dog (I am NOT a morning person), and open the door. Didn't bother to put my glasses on, so I can't see very well. Before I can shut the door I see a grey flash go by, out into the fenced yard. ^%$%^ cat has escaped. So I follow out into the yard, stark naked, the dog has done her business, so I'm now telling her one of the most important things I taught her. I'm walking (yes, naked, and pretty much blindly) around the back yard, calling "Get the kitty, Get the kitty".

Later I thought about what any of the neighbors would have thought had they looked out their windows at that moment.

BTW, the dog DID find the stupid cat for me, I took him back inside and went back to bed.
 
Is it a two magnetic contacts or is it a pressure button in the door jam? Withe the magnetic contacts I had a problems with my back door expanding and contracting setting off the alarm?

Another possible reason, and you are going to hate me for this, Does anyone have a key to that door. If there was no sign of forced entry, someone with a key could have opened the door, then realized your alarm was activated and about ready to go off, backed out and locked the door. Sorry if I make you paranoid:uhoh:

I have a 30 second delay on some of my doors too, at 3:30am I'll admit I might sleep thru the initial "pings"
 
Lonestar,

It's Magnetic contacts, it's not a keyed knob/deadbolt from the outside so literally the only way to open the door from the outside if it's locked is with a hammer and prybar. I thought about the whole expansion/contraction thing, and possibly even a spider or something crawling between the contacts. I'm pretty sure I didn't sleep through the initial buzzer, as I had a dog and cat and wife in bed that didn't hear it either. As far as paranoia is concerned, it's not your fault. It's those damn government mind control satellites.
 
The false alarm might be a good thing. I had a false alarm one night. - And was I ever ready! -Flashlight and revolver on my night table. (Just let 'em try and break into MY house!) :neener:

Anyway, I was CONVINCED that someone was in my living room moving about at around 2:30am. (I was living alone at the time.) I was really amazed that I never heard them enter.

Thinking a had only a couple of seconds, I grabbed for my gun. Actually I knocked the flashlight over and then "pushed" the gun away from me. I grabbed for it three times until I eventually knocked it off the night table. I didn't want to take my eyes off the door where I was certain that someone was about to enter! :what:

(Turned out to be BRIGHT lights shining in from outside. I suspect it was a police spotlight from about 150 yards away but still am not sure. Everything was quiet when I finally checked things out.)

Anyway, I just wanted to say that the "false alarm" might sometimes be good to test your preparedness.

My gun won't scoot away from me anymore and if I don't get my flashlight, my gun now has one attached.

Murphy seems to work overtime when you are under pressure!
 
I FORGOT THE BEST PART!!!

I never got a phone call from ADT. They only apparently call on false alarms during daylight hours on weekdays.
 
FWIW, I have had a magnetic reed switch die in my system. It was on a window. Initial symptoms were 'random' opening of the NC circuit causing false alarms. That zone monitored 5 windows & I had trouble tracing the problem because everything seemed to work ok when I tested it.

After a couple of false triggers over a few months, I noticed that one window would give the 'just opened' or 'just closed' beep (when the system is disarmed) after a slight delay following the actual opening or closing of the window. Replaced the magnetic switch on that window and my problem went away.
 
Quote:
No burgler is going to be patroling your house nekkid..

Funny this has come up. On Maximum Exposure last night, some dude had his house broken into. After calling the cops he turned on his personal camera and filmed the guy SLEEPING ON HIS COUCH IN THE NUDE!!! He kicks the guy. The dude is obviously drunk/high. He gets up after a second kick. He then either tries to make a move or says something unruly (hard to tell b/c guy has layed camera down) and the home owner knocks him down with a right cross. The cop then shows up.
 
After reading Massad Ayoob's advice about the psychological disadvantage of being caught BA, I now sleep in shorts with pockets and wear a dark t-shirt.

If you're in the house, why is there a delay on the alarm? I set mine to instant when I'm home and not planning on going out. Thirty seconds is a long time for an intruder to wander around a house.

I also keep a snubby on my night stand, but next to it is a 12 ga. pump.
 
+1 on the shotgun by the bed. The only reasons for using an underpowered tool like a pistol for defense is concealment and portability...when you've got the lattitude, a carbine or shotgun with a 16+ inch barrel makes a much better choice.
 
I'm walking (yes, naked, and pretty much blindly) around the back yard, calling "Get the kitty, Get the kitty".
Click to expand...

Hmm sounds like you were playing some kind of kinky sex game to me LOL!!!!
 
Here's some things I learned while clearing the house.
Click to expand...

I'll be the first old grump :rolleyes: to point out that house clearing is best left to the pros and that a homeowner should fort up and wait for the cavalry instead of venturing out into the unknown with hostiles possibly present.

Do you have a control panel in your bedroom that would have allowed you to check the affected zone and turned the noise makers off? A cell phone on charge so you could call out if the land lines were down? Best to stay put, secure the smallest part of the house that absolutely has to be secured and call the cops and wait for them to check the doors for signs of entry. Then and only then would I have headed out.
 
Thanks for all of the advice folks! I totally agree with and I am a big fan of my 870. With my size house, however (small), maneuverability would heavily suck in the corners and small rooms. Again, those stupid doorknobs come into play, even more so with a long barelled shotgun.

I also agree that holing up in the bedroom wouldn't be a bad idea, but I lack a panel in the BR. I really don't think I'm mentally prepared to sit in my BR for 15 minutes listening to the siren until the cops show up.

Have a good weekend!
 
Check with the alarm company and find out if they can install a remote panel. Integrated wireless systems are part of add-ons now when system expansion is needed and they may have a remote panel that's wireless.
 
I put of these (http://www.smarthome.com/79916.html) on my bedroom door and lock the door. This means that someone would literaly have to break the door down to get in. I imgaine it would hold up to a few kicks. I also have an alarm system.

Anyway, you guys might want to think about it. Obviously, if you have kids then it might not be an option. In that case get a dog that barks. Terriers will work well, dachsaunds (no idea how to spell that... the wiener dogs).

Alarms can be fooled. Dogs are another layer of redundancy.
 
I can only imagine that me, naked would leave them staring way longer than the highest wattage lamp I could shine in any intruders face.
Click to expand...

"Hey, dude. Nice tats! Where'd you get them done?"::cool:

zastros
 
Because of the nocturnal "no pockets" problem, I keep a belt with holster, spare mags and LED light next to my S&W 669 9mm in the nightstand. The light can go in the holster if necessary (or between the teeth, if I'm not carrying my Bowie there) :)

I'm currently doing exercses to enable me to turn the flashlight on with my tongue ;)

C

__________________
Seeking Knowledge, Hoping for Wisdom
 
Flashlights

You can avoid the whole flashlight juggling exercise by installing a Z-Wave or X-10 module on one lamp in each room in the house, and putting a lamp controller by your bedside. The controller has an "All Lights On" button. When you press it, all the lights that are plugged into remote control modules turn on, instantly.

Great for when things go bump in the night. One button and everything's lit up. If you got a bad guy in the house, he may (surprise!) discover there's no cover of darkness anymore and decide to leave. If he decides to stick around, you've got a well illuminated target.

If you think the bad guy might cut the power before breaking in, you could put a small inexpensive UPS (battery backup) on key strategic lamps. You'd still be able to light up the place.

Smarthome.com and other vendors sell Z-Wave or X-10 modules and controllers, take your pick. You could put a basic Z-Wave system together for a couple hundred bucks max (depending on the size of your house) and set it up yourself in about 30 minutes. Plug-n-play, no wiring. X-10 would be even cheaper and just as easy to set up.

A side benefit is that the controllers usually incorporate a timer function so you can preset various lights to come on at the times of day when you need them to, and so when you go out of town there's one less masquerade to deploy. Your house already has that lived-in look.
 
That's a nice system Lowracer but:

To my mind, it takes away your element of surprise. And the perp will not be illuminated for long: if he does not flee, he will seek ambush concealment, and YOU will be illuminated.

You could take the controller with you, to turn on if you encounter the perp. But then you have to fumble THAT thing.

C
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top