home security concerns

[jednp]

Seeing how lots of us own guns not just for the joy of shooting, but also for protection I think this is something else to think about.

I have been reading a series of stories posted on a link in another post on here and it's mostly got one thing in common with lots of the home self defense stories. People breaking into houses.

Look at how much some of us spend on our toys, guns, cars, etc. We are so worried about protecting ourselves talking about how we can shoot our guns and will defend ourselves. For a small investment compared to the amount of money spent on everything else in our lives, we could purchase locks for our windows, new heavier deadbolt and locking mechanisms for doors. Even replacing weak doors that can be easily kicked down, with heavier mounted doors. Install a security system with glass breakage sensors, motion detectors. There is so much to be learned from others mistakes.

If we just do our best to keep people out of our houses to begin with it would be much easier than having to think of using our guns. As stated before in another post I watch the show called "it takes a thief" on the discovery channel. It has two ex burglers who now go to a persons house, one talks to them about their security concerns and the owners agree to have his buddy break into the house and rob them. They get to see how easy it is for someone to gain entry to their house they thought was safe.

After it's all said and done, they get their property returned and have all the security stuff installed such as window locks, new door locks, doors, alarm, etc. I just thought this topic needed it's own post for us to discuss. It's much better to go to extra lengths to keep someone out in the first place. If the worst case scenerio came about and someone did get in, then the gun comes into play. But a good alarm might chase someone right back out that window. Just something to think about since we are all worried about ever having to defend ourselves or families. Go on the offensive with security first and be less of a target for break ins.

[Corey G]

Something somone told me a long time ago Locks keep honest people Honest. Its always been my thoughts if someone breacks into your home when its clear you are home cars in the drive way etc etc, they mean to do you harm alarm or none.

[jednp]

That's true, but that's only IF they break in. I'd be willing to bet that the majority of people who break into homes don't do it with the priority of harming a person, but end up doing so after being caught. And I'd be willing to bet that most people if met with resistance to enter a house will just leave.

Now someone that wants to do YOU harm, because it is YOU and not just any person they want to try to hurt breaks in, that's a different story and you're right.. they will probably do it regardless of an alarm going off. But I think most cases of having to use self defense in your house are due to a burglary. There is no 100 % way to safeguard yourself in your house, but if you can even protect yourself from 90 % of those out there who would turn away with resistance to enter the house to begin with, then I think that's a good thing.

But in all honesty, how many of us are ever going to have someone wanting to come after us to kill us, because they want us dead? It's going to be a rare occasion if it ever happens.

Rapists and burglers can all do us harm, and they are the ones we most have to worry about, and they are also the ones who go for easiest targets.. open windows, old weak locks on doors, poorly lit areas, no motion lights or anything.

[jdavionic]

I grew up in a fairly rough area and have to say that locks are not a real deterent. If someone wants in, they can just break a window. With that said though, I consider locks an added layer of security since someone working to bypass or pick them will be making noise.

An alarm is another good layer in security. It doesn't necessarily need to be tied to an alarm service or monitoring company. IMO, I consider it a waste of money to pay for a monitoring service. Perhaps, a woman that lives alone or has a husband on the road a lot may find more value in it. There's probably other valid reasons for a monitoring service too. But for me, it's the noise factor that I'm looking for.

It would also be nice to know that someone was even approaching your house. Security lights, etc. Heck, I'd use trip wires and flares if my wife & neighbors wouldn't object.

Just a couple of comments to add -
If someone breaks into a home at night with cars in the driveway or garage, they are a different breed of criminal versus the common burgular hoping to get a quick take. This person knows that you are likely home and has some plan for dealing with you.

While locks won't prevent either from getting in your house, they will help give you some notice that someone is trying to get in. However for home defense, you should know that this stuff happens extremely fast. If you keep you firearm locked up in the other room, you have a low probability of getting to it in time - with or without locks & with or without an alarm.

[ichy_trigger]

Unfortunately, home invasions are becomeing more and more common place. Locks keep the honest people out and are only as strong as the glass in the windows. I keep my doors deadbolted and my windows locked. If they break a window then at least one of my 2 large dogs will be barking and one of them will be tearing into them. I am very aware of my families security and I go to extra lengths to be totaly aware. I'm not anal but I know that most people that get attacked, robbed, etc.. Never saw it coming and didn't think it would happen to them. When my dogs bark in the night, I grab my cell phone and gun and follow my dogs upstairs to see if I need to make a call to 911. My bedroom is in my basement and my kids sleep upstairs. Probably not the best arrangement but that just how my home has to be laid out.

Here in Dayton, just the other night, 3 men burst into a home, shot the husband in the head and ductaped and pistol whipped the wife as the other robbed them.

It happens and all we can do is our best to be aware. Those that feel TOTALY secure behind alarms and locks are forgetting that some people just don't care about deterents. You better have a plan to protect yourself should someone come in anyways.

[beardman2]

I can't remember where I heard this but essentially the only way to be secure is for thing being hidden has to be worth less (to the bad guy) than it would cost him (energy, money whatever) to get it.

Obviously if someone REALLY wants something or someone there is a way to get it not matter what you put in the way.

I agree there should be better locks on doors and windows as well as alarms if you can afford them. But as others have said its only as impenetrable as your most fragile window. Now you can do stuff to deter that as well like plant roses or cacti (In AZ etc) below windows so someone is less likely to get in.

I'm keeping my "protection" just in case all of those fail though!

[Brickboy240]

Yep home defense is more than getting a gun with a laser sight or night sites. It is a combination of things. Lighting, locks, accessibility ot windows that are on the sides and back of the house, a dog, an alarm, a large safe that cannot be moved by 1-2 people.

I have a combination of all of these things, along with a few guns (a 38 revolver and a 12 gauge pump) located in not-so ordinary places in the house. We also have hidden some valuables in places most thieves would never guess ) false electrical switch plates, air vents, etc. and have a pretty sophisitcated alarm system - glass breakage detectors, motion sensors, lights and a cellular back-up.

We have thorny bushes around the back and side windows that would give anyone a hell of a sticky time, trying to jimmy the windows open. We have certain lights on timers, so that if we are not home before dark, the house appears like somebody is home. We also live on a fairly busy corner with neighbors that are older and retired and very nosey. One is a retired US Marshal. Hard to get anything by these folks during the day, while we're at work. We bought this house because of its location and the neighbors, not just the fact that its a nice neighborhood.

Sure, anything could happen and we COULD be robbed, but they will really have to work for it and when your neighbors largely do not have this type of an alarm system, dogs or lighting and a big safe, why bother with our house, when there are much easier targets?

Yep , its all got to work together, not just guns and gun training. It will also take you some time to gather all of this together...it sure has for us. Yes, anyhting CAN happen, even in good neighborhoods, what you have to do is make sure YOUR house will be much more difficult than your neighbor's places, then they'll move on and not bother. Crooks like easy...not hard targets.

- Brickboy240

[jednp]

I know one thing, I won't ever trust my security to any dog.. ever. On that show I can't tell you how many times busting a window, kicking a door in didn't even get the dog worked up. Once in the guy just talks nice to the dog and gives it some food.. not once did the dogs bark.. they were friendly to the person.

Glass can be broken, true. But in doors there are doors you can purchase that don't have one large single piece of glass, and the locks have a removeable cylinder that even if someone were to break a section of the glass they can't reach in and unlock the door.. also making sure that door is extra hard to kick down.

I don't think ALL robbers, or people who want to do harm to you will go through too much added effort to get into your house.. granted some might. But locks, lights, alarm, and anything else that can be used to deter or keep someone from getting into a window or even breaking the glass.. i'm willing to put my faith in that first of all and hope that if anyone ever comes around that they are the average criminal and will most likely be chased off. I don't want to beat this to death, and everyone has valid points that anyone can get into a house.. but analysing your house and ways to keep people out, and taking the steps to correct things is the first line of defense.

[NevJohn]

Dont get a Golden Retriever,as they are so friendly, they'll show the BG where everything is!!

[Gem1n1]

Originally Posted by Brickboy240

Yep home defense is more than getting a gun with a laser sight or night sites. It is a combination of things. Lighting, locks, accessibility ot windows that are on the sides and back of the house, a dog, an alarm, a large safe that cannot be moved by 1-2 people.

Another thing that works if you can't afford or don't have a security system. Print out a couple ADT logos and sandwich them to a post/stick and place a few around your yard. Hell...you could even buy some adhesive back paper and print some little decals to stick on your windows.