Your Home Protection Strategy?

[el Godfather]

Dear THR:

What is your home protection strategy if any that you care to share with fellow THR members. I have a few since due to the nature of my profession and social circumstances I have to maintain 3 homes and each has different geographic concerns.

I would imagine that most people's concern would be break in and theft. May be there are few of us who may have threat to their life from some personal rogue element.

I would think it will be interesting and educating to read what sort strategies different folks employ; and how many may have personal threats. Post from those of us who may have personals concerns would be most interesting to read since their concerns are more immediate and directed at their person rather than at their property.

I always keep a .45 pistol and one automatic weapon near by all the time at night when I am out in the country, but it changes in metropolis and other places.

Another issue, I used to live in a joint family house (a huge house) where kids (not mine) would wreck any security plan by leaving doors open etc. Did anyone experience that? If so, how did you deal with it.

Thank you.

 

[bikerdoc]

El G,
While armed is good prepared and aware is better.
In the home.
think layered defense, rings of protection if you will.

Lights. motion detectors, alarms, dogs, choke points, heardening doors and windows, communication and training with family.

Out and about,
Situational awareness, blend in, vary routes, avoid.

Vehicle entry and exit are the most vunerable. Dont try to get the first space, have a field of view. I circle a 360 at least one vehicle away before entry. On the road think exit space if stopping in traffic.

Personal threats? I moved seven states away after I retired from Law enforcement, so revenge is remote, Im more concerned with the garden variety knucklehead who wants what I have. "Rogue elements" is polite way of saying criminal, no matter the motivation.

Seaching S&T on some of the above may give insight.

due to the nature of my profession and social circumstances

Which leads me to believe you have some professional advice available, ask, heed, and implement.

Good luck and stay safe.

 

[Kleanbore]

I suggest reading Post #2 very carefully and committing it to memory and to action.

 

[Kingcreek]

I feel very secure at home.
Without going into detail, I have 2 big dogs, adequate alarm and convenient small arms, and also a menopausal wife with her own guns and the ability to use them well.

 

[el Godfather]

Yes very sound advice.

I need to reinforce the window glass with film to stop bullet.

Rest i made my house on very solid and secure.

 

[sidheshooter]

As is often the case, biker doc layed it out. To his post, I will only add:

Remember to only sleep with people you are committed to, and encourage the same in all those around you;
Avoid allowing any member of your household to engage in vice (e.g. drug trade, gambling, etc.; as either provider or consumer);
Avoid appearing on TV, or the covers of newpapers or magazines;
Try your best to keep the extended people in proximity to each house from knowing that you have other residences elsewhere.
Avoid "fringe areas" where you and yours could be found by dedicated people, without other people around to witness/help.

Please make no mistake; I am in no way implying that you, yours, or anyone else here for that matter, engages in an unruly lifestyle!

I am just pointing out some issues I have seen with regard to compromises in safety that *can* occur around people of means, or people with higher public profiles-including members of their family, their service workers or friends/entourages.

Take it with a grain; again, I'm only bringing this up because of the fairly unique (by THR standards) nature of the original post.

As well, one doesn't have to be particularly well-heeled to invite unwanted attention: Being active in local charities, events, or entertainment endeavors can land a person in the papers or on TV. In my experience, extra attention from a higher public profile falls on the classic bell curve, with some small portion being quite fun, most extra recognition being fine, and a fraction of new attention becoming a major unwanted annoyance.

Just some thoughts.

ps. Does anyone here remember these quizzes?

http://www.rateyourrisk.org/

If you all haven't done these yet, it might be entertaining food for thought, for what it's worth.

 

[JustinJ]

Its a matter of balance for me. I aim for the lower cost solutions, and i dont just mean financially, so that i can have a reasonable degree of security with minimal impact to my preferred way of life. Its a matter of balancing risk potential against cost of measures. One of the key components to my home security plan is the dogs as they both alert and go further if needed.

 

[The Man With No Name]

I'm in law enforcement and purposefully live in the city I work in. It is a statement to those I have to deal with. I have had numerous death threats over the years but who hasn't that has worked for a long time and/or deals with drug threats, gangs, and high threat criminals. My strategy is simple. I keep all but one of my weapons in a safe. I don't even leave guns in my patrol vehicle. No matter what I'm doing (even in the bathroom) I have a gun at hand. My safe room is a one window bedroom. That one window is has moveable 4 inch hardwood with some old body armor of mine in front of the window. In the safe room I have secured extra weapons, my police radio, and ammo.

 

[bikerdoc]

sidheshooter makes a good point about about those you come in contact with compromising the security plan.
Also be aware of repair men and contractors.

No one comes into my house unless vetted by someone I trust.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Most burglaries happen one of two ways, random, you place was unlocked and they walk in, OR targeted, someone knows what you have, and hence they come and take it, which one is it. first is done by physical security, second is done by Intel security, as in, who you let see what, let in etc. Best security system is easy to overcome if they have your code.

 

[The Man With No Name]

Easily more than half the burglaries I deal with end up being committed by a family member. Make that 8 to 9 out of 10 if you just want to say someone that is a friend, ex bf, or ex gf. When it comes to alarms I highly recommend testing the response time of various systems if you can. Contact your local pd if you must and ask if any of the officers have an opinion. Locally for me one of the most recognized names nationally has the worse time to notify. Twice I've come up on a active audible alarm where the burglar was still on scene. From my time on scene the notification to our dispatch took over 30 minutes. Both times with one particular company. Let's just say they are often known by initial. First initial is an "A". Last initial is a "T".

 

[jeepnik]

My strategy is very, very simple. Keep them outside. If I do that, the odds of having to resort to any sort of violence is reduced greatly.

 

[jimbo555]

Bikerdoc covered it well. I think a dog is very important,thieves will pass by a house with a dog barking.

 

[Old Guy]

Good thinking, I would think the only real threat you did not mention, consider? Fire.

So getting out of your safe room in a fire, in a hurray, a consideration.

Response time to a radio call? Ten minutes?

 

[Old Guy]

My own wee plan, only one vehicle, a Jeep, we back in, no vehicle ever outside.

Glock 19 with me always. Other guns in safe, alarm on and off via remote on belt.

All glass covered with Hurricane film, low crime area.

 

[foghornl]

House on 1 side has 5 various dogs (Lady of the House is a groomer & "mutt rescue" person)

House on other side has 2 of those little yappy things

House across back fence has 2 beagles.

When they all tune up at once..NOBODY sleeps!

Motion detector lights on back yard, storage 'barn' and side of house with walk-through garage door. Walk-through door has lock, dead bolt, and 2 of theose little 'flappers'. Also parked against door is my Honda Rancher 4x4 with snow-plow, blade down, 1st gear and brakes locked.

Springfield Armory "GI-45" on my belt or bedside table, Maverick 88 under the bed.

 

[RoosterUSMC]

I live in a neighborhood that fire is a major concern. Make sure your fire escape options work.. (ie bars on windows will release from the inside,especially on the second floor)
Barred windows are a must in my neighborhood. It's like living in a jail.

 

[Armored farmer]

I have a farm shop to look out for.
I have 2 bird dogs, son has 3 coon hounds. (penned)
We have lights.
We have locks.
We pull keys from vehicles.
A seven shot .357 Taurus Tracker for the mrs, and my Blackhawk 4 5/8 .357 for myself locked in the nightstand....I can strap my western gunbelt around my waist and buckle it on while wearing just my Hanes... My 20" bbl 12 ga 870 w/o plug is only steps away, 5rds of #4 buck on the shelf, and 5 rds in the ammo sleeve. I feel like a 48yo, slightly overweight, farmer wearing an ivory gripped Blackhawk in a quickdraw rig over a pair of Hanes while shouldering an 870 should be a deterrent for anyone.
....Hey, I didn't say it was a great plan....but it is a plan!

Meth and those that make it is quickly encroaching our rural community. Backroads and abandoned farmsteads are favorite "lab" sites. We have discovered 2 of those labs within the last 6 mos.
Since we store some of our seasonal machinery at some of the outlying farms that are uninhabited, I have began to rethink my "truck-gun" too

 

[76shuvlinoff]

At home: lights, dogs, 870, .357 carbine, .45, .357 an .38 revolvers.... pretty much in that order.

Not much of a plan but it's a start.

 

[steelhawk]

I have a good, alert dog, motion lights, hardened doors and I always have a gun on my hip.

 

[A Pause for the Coz]

Dogs, Locked doors, Outdoor lighting, 45ACP next to bed, 357 mag in book case, 327mag in wife's night stand, 12ga w/ 00 buck next to front door in closet.
never more than 15 feet from a weapon.

 

[jmorris]

When I lived in the city we had IR sensors outside the house that dinged the door bell once a person (used "pet lenses" on the sensors) was 3' off the pavement and inside the yard. Scare the poop out of the pizza guy when he is almost hitting the button and you open the door.

Where we live now I use a similar setup to my game radios (works the same as above) as it is much further to the house so it is wireless. CCTV cameras offer a view of what the "alert" is. Coyotes and coons set it off a bit but still not to shabby. In any case distance and knowlege is your friend when it comes to bad things.

 

[Trent]

First time I've felt a twinge of uncomfort revealing specifics on here.

Usually I live a very open, wide open life. I don't keep secrets.

Except for security.

Something to consider. Once you establish your plan, contingencies, and strategy - keep it to yourself.

Add multi-camera DVR to the list. Doesn't take a technology degree to install modern systems.

I don't like not knowing what's going on outside at night before I myself step out the door.

I also like to know who is knocking at the door, so I know what I should bring with me when I open it.

Multiple communications options. Even simple things like "power" become relevant. Cell phone is a great tool, can't cut the cord, but will only be useful if it's charged.

Don't tell people - ANYONE - that you're on vacation or away from your home. Save ANY information until AFTER you are back. Post your pictures of the fun family vacation once you get home. Not straight off your phone while sitting on a beach a thousand miles away.

If programmable, set your alarm system to call you FIRST, then the police / monitoring agency. When our office alarm goes off (bug in the wiring tripped it three times last year before being fixed), if I'm nearby, I beat the cops to the office and had checked and cleared it before they even arrived. IDENTIFY yourself immediately as the owner and don't brandish a weapon if you arrive first before they do.

When leaving the house / car, identify CLOSE things first, then scan further away. I'm more interested in the bad guy behind the bush 5 feet away than I am a bad guy two blocks away. Don't edge up on blind spots when walking around corners. Walk AROUND the outside enough to be out of arms reach. Even if you're just heading around the corner of the garage.

When using loud tools outside (lawn mower, weed eater, etc), remember to keep situational awareness up. You can't hear a bad guy coming up from behind.

Don't turn your back on open entrances. If you're working in the garage, shut the garage door, or work facing it.

Check doors before going to bed, make sure they are locked. If a door is NOT locked that should be, check the immediate interior - closets, etc. Just to be sure.

Dogs make decent alarms, they don't make decent defense. Count on them - MAYBE - to be an early warning indicator, in the best case scenario. Even dogs sleep heavy sometimes. They are not a reliable primary source of intelligence, even if they are your bestest buddy.

Train children to ALWAYS lock doors. My children know to lock doors behind them when they come in the house. Inconvenient? Sometimes. But not a bad habit to practice.

Lock your car. Unlocked cars are invitations to theft. Bad guys seem to sense the damn things are unlocked. Usually by trying the handle.

Position your furniture so you are not with your back to a window or entrance, if possible. If not possible use an obstruction. Well placed bookshelf works great. Most people won't even recognize such obstacles it as an obstruction / defensive measure if done in good taste.

Make sure your paths of movement are clear EVERY night for EVERY family member. Our kids pick up all their toys, every night. Period. Or they go in the trash. Being a hard-ass about this once, means you don't have to be a hard-ass about it twice. Kids know what it means when you get the garbage bag out.

Teach your kids to yell and retreat if they have chores at night (garbage, taking the dogs out). Screaming FIRE is an effective way of getting EVERY adult's attention in the immediate vicinity. It works much better than HELP, which kids have a tendency to scream when they are being tickled. FIRE is the de-facto "I need help right now" signal.

If my kid goes outside and I hear "FIRE!" I'm running outside a different entrance than they used, with an assault rifle, not a fire extinguisher. (that's revealing almost an uncomfortable level here, but worth mentioning - if you HAVE another exit you can use to assist a family member, it will keep you from getting bushwhacked the moment you step through the same door the family member just went out).

Eliminate blind spots and hidey holes. Got a niche a body could fit in that you can't see when you come in the door? Fill it with a piece of furniture with glass doors and shelves. Put some nice plates in it for your wife, she'll reward you. If a bad guy makes it through your (sturdy, reinforced) door at night, you aren't hiding anymore. You are hunting. Don't give THEM a place to hide. To succeed in a fight you have to be aggressive. Not passive. Passive people get their asses kicked. Aggressive people take home the prom queen. (State of mind, not a statement of fact)

Fire extinguishers on every level, in every garage (if you have more than one). Smoke alarms with fresh batteries. Smoke will kill you in your sleep.

Fresh battery backups - always - for your security system. Auto battery low "call the cops mode" helps. Power goes out you want that baby up and running 24, 48 hours minimum. Otherwise a bad guy can see you are on vacation, cut the power to your place, wait a day or two, and kick in the front door without raising the alarm. Having the alarm system call the police (and YOU) prior to the battery dying will ensure someone is there, on the ground, to investigate WHY you don't have power. If your power is tampered with, you know you are going to get hit.

Cell phone primary or back up dialer on security system. No exceptions, no excuses for land line dialers these days.

Internet lines can be cut easily. Don't rely on internet-based alerts or alarms. That works great for monitoring your HVAC or setting your DVR from somewhere. Not so great as a primary line of security.

ALWAYS keep your "go to gun" in the SAME spot, SAME position. Don't put a handgun in the cabinet one week, go shooting, and decide to put it in the drawer of your desk the next. ALWAYS THE SAME PLACE EVERY TIME. You don't want ANY indecision or second guessing if three bad guys kick in the door with ski masks and you have exactly 5 steps (or whatever) between you and them before the knife the lead guy has plunges in to your heart.

MAKE SURE You can reach your firearm BEFORE the bad guy can reach YOU. This means the firearm must be closer to YOU, than the nearest ENTRANCE point. As I type this I have a high powered rifle 2 feet away from me, butt up, so I can grab and go. Am I paranoid? Not one bit. Ready does not equal paranoid.

That's about all I got for now.

 

[Trent]

Oh, and train your family on EXACTLY, PRECISELY what to do if you yell your "get the *** down" phrase in the middle of the night. You want to know, that THEY know, EXACTLY what spot they are supposed to go to.

Otherwise you have no idea what your fields of fire truly are.

PRACTICE THIS.

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

Just the two of us and the dog. I do not answer the door for any unexpected visitors. I have made exceptions, but went armed.

All doors are locked unless we are using them, outside lights at night. We have a two story house, safe room with land line and cell phone upstairs where we can see downward in many directions. Anyone coming upstairs will be looking at the muzzle of a Mossberg 500 loaded up with 00 and rifled slugs.