Home Security

[Johansen8]

Motion sensor lighting is a good start...my security system ignores my two 35 lbs dogs.

A dog would help as well. Also, make your home uninviting to robbers, including planting spiney bushes right under your windows, don't advertise your home to robbers by leaving curtains open or valuables out, remove spare keys if left outside the house (under a mat, in a fake rock).

A creative idea would to glue a fake Sydney Funnel Web to each window. That should make them think twice about going in that way.

[misscas]

A dog pays for its upkeep.

[PepperSprayking]

A Wireless Security Camera Home Security System

You have alarms, now how about some extra watchful eyes to guard you? A wireless camera home security system monitors you

home with video surveillance that can capture any unsavory activity that can be used in court or used to protect your family

from activities that may have otherwise gone unnoticed.

Benefits of a Wireless Security Camera Home Security System

(1) Easy to set up home security system
(2) Cost efficient personal surveillance system

(3) Transportable, can move from room to room or house to house
(4) Send signals through walls and floors

A wireless security camera makes video surveillance easy, portable, and cost effective. Have your eyes peeled all the time

with a wireless security camera.

Check out all we have in wireless security camera technology.

[HighGrace]

Get a dog. A big one. Next best thing, a tape-recording of a dog keyed to a motion detector. Burglars like their legs intact. :-)

Or move to a small town. We know all of our burglars--they live the next street over. :0

G.

[rabidpotatochip]

A would-be criminal becomes a criminal when the perceived reward exceeds the chance of getting caught and the effort involved. Whatever you do for security, keep in mind that it will be more of a deterrent than a solution.

I knew an old farmer that had a light and a horn on his shed. They were connected to a cable that ran into the ground and wasn't connected to anything. He did it one day because he got fed up with people stealing his tools. Since he installed his "security system" he never had a problem. That day definitely made me a believer in having the appearance of a security system.

I'm a big fan of just getting some alarm stickers and putting them in strategic locations. You can usually find them on Ebay or sometimes through local security companies if they're friendly.

[blackjoeq]

"Professional" burglars will be able to tell the alarm system or the cameras are fake. I'd prefer having a proper home security system installed. There are companies that make non standard instalations which are more difficult to be disactivated or broken. Look for some.

[trustno1]

There are basically two types of burglars...amateurs(kids) and "pros". No security system is 100% secure. If a burglar wants entry, they will find a way. Remember, a pro does this for a living, and they get good at their "career", just like the rest of us.
Things like alarm stickers only help a thief know which type of alarm code he must use to disable it. They know all the "tricks".

"Make it easier to go someplace else"
The key is not trying to "stop" them. The goal is to make their job difficult. Difficult enough to make them go someplace else that is easier for them. Burglars avoid noise, light, and time consuming activity. The more "layers" you install, the more you reduce your chances of becoming a "target".

"Quit Helping Them!"
-many of those door-door folks with clipboards are "casing" your house, not selling/surveying.
-How much info are you telling those "repairmen" and their "helpers"? If it is more than your name/address and path to the broken appliance, it is Way too much!
-Do you have a "routine"? Yes, everybody does. These guys rarely pick at random. They chart your routine first. They may be crooks, but they are not stupid. Vary your routine.
-Do you answer your door when the bell rings? Why? Were you expecting somebody? Probably not. Try this...put a small card on the front door that reads.."We only answer the door for people we know". Now if you were a burglar ringing the bell to see if the occupants were "gone", how would you know if they were?
-do you leave your drapes/blinds open during the day? Do you park in the garage (without windows)so that it is difficult to know if you home or gone?
-do you put out your trash the night before pick-up, so all of your personal information can be stolen? Your entire routine is in those cans. Once you set it out, it is free for anybody to take.

Renting?
For less than $100, you can make your house a burglar's nightmare. Yes, it will not leave a mark, and you can take it all with you when you move.

I can list some specifics if you are interested. I do not want to make a novel of my first post...lol.

Yes, I am good at it. No, I am not trying to sell anybody anything.

Never let the bad guys win...

[kifl1981]

Originally Posted by Bernadette

Dogs, big or small. (But only if you love them for other reasons, of course. To get a dog just to be a burglar alarm would be a terrible thing.)

Oh, that reminds me -- a recording of a dog barking that's triggered by a motion sensor outside a window or a door could work, too.

I will echo this as well. I have a beagle, which is a smallish sized dog, but her bark sounds like that of something much bigger. Burglars don't want to have to deal with dogs.

I live in a not-so-great part of town, and I feel very safe having my dog in the house. We eventually want to get the yard fenced so we can get her a larger companion and let them play outside all day. She is our pet first, but she makes a great guard dog.

[iboost79]

I used to work in home security for a brief time. Next time you see a ADT or Brinks truck, ask to buy some stickers or yard signs. I would say that 99% of installers will sell it to you without hesitation for about $20 cash. They don't keep inventory of that kind of stuff. If you live in a house, then have your car keys next to you at all times. If you hear some noise, press the panic button and your car horn will go off indefinitely. This will most likely scare off the thief. Buy yourself a decent safe. Store all of your irreplaceable valuables in there. Most items in your house can be replaced. I would only recommend an alarm system for fire and flood purposes.

[trustno1]

Originally Posted by rainysparadigm

Hi,

If anyone has tips, frugal preferred but in general, I would greatly appreciate them.

Thanks!

//R

Regarding the "frugal" approach...

Don't pack away those Christmas bells you use for decoration. Tie them together using a single length of yarn or cord, leaving an inch or two space between bells. Tie a loop at the top and hang them on the inside door handles of your entrances.

if you buy a dog, get a smaller one (a "kickmee", lol). Remember, "size doesn't matter" hehe, it is the "yappyness" factor that is effective. Generally speaking, small dogs have perfected the art of obnoxiously barking at anything that moves, lol.

IMO, firearms are a poor choice for protection. You just end up with somebody shooting a relative, friend or themselves. Plus, there is a big difference between what you think you are capable of, and the reality of pointing a weapon at a human...and actually being able to pull the trigger.