Home Security Suggestions

Captain

Captain

Final Approach
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some from the SZ may know my home got robbed yesterday. Nobody home and only lost small items so we think it was kids or a junky looking for quick cash...

Anyway, as you can imagine my wife and I feel sorta creeped out at the idea of some stranger rummaging through our stuff and would like to take measures to prevent another occurrence.

$$ is tight right now and I'd like to stay south of 4 digits. I'm also thinking some sort of video survalance with backup (secure onsite or offsite (my preference)) would be nice. We live in a large home with 3 main entry points plus a bunch of windows.

I know I can't lock the place down and make it impossible to enter, if they really want in they'll get in...but I'd like to have deterrence and recourse if they do get in.

Looking for suggestions for diy or services y'all may have had experience with. What are the common pitfalls?

Thanks in advance...
 
Move to a better neighborhood. Get a small yappy dog. Everything else is just theatre.
 
Monitored alarm systems for me. Cell phone based with battery backup. Smart phone user controls. Reasonable contract costs. A SWAT cop living next door doesn't hurt, either.
 
I've had my home broken into before, shy of someone being home or living somewhere better, I'd say a properly trained dog is the best bet.

Security systems are kinda a joke.
 
At the very least set out dog bowls and make it look like a large dog lives there.

Invest in a large, very heavy safe.
 
A good alarm system with remote monitor. A German Shepard is not a bad idea to go with the alarm.
 
Camera system, at least then youll have a better chance at getting the suspects identified. Get a good HD camera setup with both hsrd drive and cloud storage. Like you said, if they want in then they will get in. Alarms are a joke, especially if you live in a rural area where patrol cars are few and far between.
 
Cameras are a joke, because most agencies won't put an resources on a burglary if the criminals aren't caught in the act. Monitored alarms also include screechers so anyone nearby will know something's amiss. My monitored alarms have worked well, especially when traveling. Just make sure to leave a key or door code with a friend.
 
Cameras and monitoring systems are a joke, IMO. The cops will not arrive fast enough to help, and are not going to invest the time to ID suspects from video.

Alarm signs (fake), a loud dog, and an audible alarm are your best bets, IMO.
 
I second the Dog suggestion.

These have a great reputation.
 

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There are some very good DVR cameras that will read license plates, email alerts based on motion detection, capture video, allow for remote viewing over the net both live and archive search, etc.
Look up q-see DVR's. They offer free lifetime online access to your system. Just connect the system to your home internet and anywhere you have an internet connected laptop you can see live feeds from your home.
Sure, a DVR will not prevent a theft, but it just may tell you who the thief was. I have 1 camera pointed out at the sky in front of my home and will occasionally use it as part of my preflight weather briefing. After I had my roofer do some work at my house, I showed him a pic of his worker peeing in the yard behind a tree.
 
As for alarms being a 'joke'. The main thing they do is to reduce the time a burglar will be in the property. Damage is higher if the burglar has time to go through the entire property. If you want to keep out burglars, laminated glass on the first floor and commercial doors with Abloy cylinders may slow someone down for it to be not worth it. Someone with time and tools will get in eventually. If you have things of value, get a safe. Not the $399 high volume special at costco but something that is properly rated, is bolted down against concrete and hooked into the home security system.

As for alarms 'not working'. I had a breakin at the office and prompt dispatch of a nearby sheriffs deputy allowed them to catch the perp in the act. He spent 18 months as guest of the county (apparently it didn't properly reform him, 3 months after he got out he got caught again and now he is doing 7 years in the state pen).
 
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An alarm system without a detailed plan for specific security requirements is a minor deterrent by making noise.

We have one but it's part of a specific plan that includes other things.

I would recommend using a local company that is well established and protects things far greater than your most valuable things, and not a national chain selling only an alarm system.

They'll ask you a lot of questions and tailor a solution that will be likely to work. Or you'll find out it's it worth doing.

We have an alarm, but it is there for a specific purpose in a bigger plan. And honestly, it's not very good at that piece. It's just the best option.

We keep it more for the monitored smoke detectors that probably came close to saving our lives once, than the "security" aspect.

An alarm by itself, even a monitored one, even with cameras and a DVR, isn't going to protect anything in a typical residential structure. Windows are the main security problem.

The alarm will only be a minor deterrent to someone willing to risk the response time versus something they saw inside that they want.

Start with insurance. Then a plan by a local security company. Only go DIY if you're good at thinking like a thief. Even installing security doors or bars on windows an be done totally wrong and render the work done, useless.

As far as recourse goes? Good luck. Deterrent is about as good as it gets for residential burglary.
 
Put me squarely in the camp that feels security systems are a waste of good money.

And, Captian...picking a nit...you weren't robbed, you were burglarized.
 
timwinters said:
Put me squarely in the camp that feels security systems are a waste of good money.

And, Captian...picking a nit...you weren't robbed, you were burglarized.
Click to expand...

Lol, it went down like this...

...I was burgurlized....burggled...beurguerlized....burgerized....


Screw it...I was robbed.
 
denverpilot said:
An alarm system without a detailed plan for specific security requirements is a minor deterrent by making noise.

We have one but it's part of a specific plan that includes other things.

I would recommend using a local company that is well established and protects things far greater than your most valuable things, and not a national chain selling only an alarm system.

They'll ask you a lot of questions and tailor a solution that will be likely to work. Or you'll find out it's it worth doing.

We have an alarm, but it is there for a specific purpose in a bigger plan. And honestly, it's not very good at that piece. It's just the best option.

We keep it more for the monitored smoke detectors that probably came close to saving our lives once, than the "security" aspect.

An alarm by itself, even a monitored one, even with cameras and a DVR, isn't going to protect anything in a typical residential structure. Windows are the main security problem.

The alarm will only be a minor deterrent to someone willing to risk the response time versus something they saw inside that they want.

Start with insurance. Then a plan by a local security company. Only go DIY if you're good at thinking like a thief. Even installing security doors or bars on windows an be done totally wrong and render the work done, useless.

As far as recourse goes? Good luck. Deterrent is about as good as it gets for residential burglary.
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What Nate said. Psychology is part of it. Even the attitude of "I only need to be less attractive than the neighbors" only goes so far. There needs to be a bigger plan.
 
Ok, I know this was somehow the cops' fault, but I'll throw in my 2 cents anyway...

1) security system with an external audible alarm. Have the sign out front and use the alarm. The vast majority of burglaries I worked were unalarmed houses.

2). No, even with the alarm, we won't get there before the burglar leaves.

3). Cameras are ok, but you can get the best picture of the guy p
On the planet and if I don't know the guy, it doesn't help. Somebody please tell me how I'm supposed to id the guy from a photo...

4). Dogs are fine, but get a dog because you want a dog, not because you want a security system. And despite the media perception, a pitbull is about the worst guard dog out there. They were a bred to fight other dogs. The
Hey LIKE people.

5). The object of the game is not to make your house impossible to break into. It's to make YOUR house harder to break into than the NEIGHBOR'S house,

6) a big safe is worth it's weight in gold. I have two...

Good luck
 
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kyleb said:
Cameras and monitoring systems are a joke, IMO. The cops will not arrive fast enough to help, and are not going to invest the time to ID suspects from video.

Alarm signs (fake), a loud dog, and an audible alarm are your best bets, IMO.
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Tell them you lost 10, AR-15's and 10,000 rounds of Armor Piercing ammo that ventilates body armor.....

They will try a bit harder in following through with the investigation...:rolleyes:..:idea:
 
Alarm systems don't always stop them from coming in but it sure as hell makes their time in the house a lot shorter and will make most look for an easier target.
 
You don't have to be impossible to rob. Just be less convenient to rob than your neighbors. When we lived in a rough neighborhood we put some bars on the low windows, blocked the windows with wood to keep them from being pried open and got a dog. ...and the neighbor got robbed. Kind of same scenario. A couple small things. We believe it was neighbor kids, but it wasn't us...
 
Your security expenses will rise along with your net worth.

Insurance companies demand it.

Op said keep it under four figures I assume he meant under $1000.00 so some IP HD cameras would be the way to go I think. No fee's, no other costs, just the system.
 
N801BH said:
Tell them you lost 10, AR-15's and 10,000 rounds of Armor Piercing ammo that ventilates body armor.....

They will try a bit harder in following through with the investigation...:rolleyes:..:idea:
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In that case the cameras would work against you. ;)
 
I used SafeMart which is a sort of DIY system that uses GE/Interlogix equipment and ALARM.COM monitoring (which I also have from a traditional alarm company at my other house). Couldn't have been easier. They walk you through every step of the installation which isn't particularly hard to figure out even without their assistance.

The monitoring is half the price I pay in the other house.

Let me know if you go that way (I get a free month for a referral).
 
Saving money is a good point. I provide a copy of my monitoring contract to State Farm and they reduce my homeowner insurance rates.
 
Look into SimpliSafe. Comes in pieces, so you can start small (couple hundred bucks) and expand if/when you can/want to. Can be unmonitored (no fees) or monitored (~$25/mo.). Cancel any time. Key fob remote or phone app operates system, and you can monitor status with cell phone. Includes fire alerts. System event alerts can be texted and/or emailed to you. Won't stop a determined burglar (nothing will), but the alarm is loud, neighbors will know, you'll know about it right away from a text message. I've been happy with it for the past year or so that I've had it. Get good neighbors if you can, or, if you can't get good neighbors, get neighbors who make better targets. ;-)
 
I decided that car alarms and home alarms were ineffective for lots of reasons as voiced here. One could simply get a home lighting motion sensor and hook it up to power a very loud stereo system. Cranked up to 120 db inside the residence and powering several dispersed speakers this would deter a thief from spending anymore time inside the home because it hurts their ears. I doubt when assaulted by NPR at that volume they would do anything but flee. The neighbors would lodge a noise complaint and the police would arrive to arrest you, but begrudgingly have to do their job and arrest the thief. (if he happened to be deaf)
 
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My wife and I have had ADT for a while.. pretty happy with them
 
We've got that too. It doesn't break the bank and does make the Mrs. feel better. Won't keep them out but the noise will probably make them boogey pretty quick. It'll call the cops, and the fire dept if I'm away and there's a blaze.
 
Dang, I was hoping to get some good suggestions from this thread from knowledgeable people.

Dad has a 20 year-old system that he paid a fortune for back then. I know the quality has improved exponentially since then while the prices have dropped like a brick. Ideally, I'd like one to cover 4 entrances, the garage interior and 3 other interior areas. The cameras wouldn't have to be completely hidden, but I wouldn't want them to be super-ugly either. And I'd promise my wife I wouldn't secretly put one in the bedroom.
 
Captain said:
some from the SZ may know my home got robbed yesterday. Nobody home and only lost small items so we think it was kids or a junky looking for quick cash...

Anyway, as you can imagine my wife and I feel sorta creeped out at the idea of some stranger rummaging through our stuff and would like to take measures to prevent another occurrence.

$$ is tight right now and I'd like to stay south of 4 digits. I'm also thinking some sort of video survalance with backup (secure onsite or offsite (my preference)) would be nice. We live in a large home with 3 main entry points plus a bunch of windows.

I know I can't lock the place down and make it impossible to enter, if they really want in they'll get in...but I'd like to have deterrence and recourse if they do get in.

Looking for suggestions for diy or services y'all may have had experience with. What are the common pitfalls?

Thanks in advance...
Click to expand...
Avoid the ADT systems, they are overpriced monthly dues for the same service you will get from your local security shop. You pay more up front for a lower monthly contract and a shorter contract from the little guys. Saves you HUNDREDS over the course of the contract.
 
Whoops, just noticed I made an error in my post. I MEANT to say " the vast majority if the residential burglaries I worked involved UNalarmed houses".

Alarms DO work in my experience, which pardon me for saying so, outweighs the residential burglary experience of anyone else that posted to this thread...
 
JCranford said:
Alarms DO work in my experience, which pardon me for saying so, outweighs the residential burglary experience of anyone else that posted to this thread...
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Bah. You've got nothing on me.

I've broken into hundreds of homes, never been caught. The last one was an easy target, some airline guy who wasn't home. Nice house, but lots of junk everywhere, nothing valuable except a Glock I think I'll keep. I almost felt sorry for the poor bastard.
 
Here is your answer.

Go to home depot and get a couple of those motion sensors for 40 bucks that turn on indoor outlets.

Plug an AM radio or some other device that makes noise into the outlet.

Dude walks by and he can hear talk radio (Aka talking inside).
Also plug a lamp into one.

Dude walks by and it looks like someone just flipped on an interior light.

Keep them out before they get in.
The security system only works after they have gotten in.
 
Gerhardt said:
Bah. You've got nothing on me.

I've broken into hundreds of homes, never been caught. The last one was an easy target, some airline guy who wasn't home. Nice house, but lots of junk everywhere, nothing valuable except a Glock I think I'll keep. I almost felt sorry for the poor bastard.
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:rofl::rofl::rofl: Well played, Sir
 
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