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I assume your actual goal is to prevent being burglarized. Security tech is largely reactive. Why not work on proactive security first? It's not about building

by runjake 13y ago

I assume your actual goal is to prevent being burglarized. Security tech is largely reactive. Why not work on proactive security first? It's not about building an impenetrable fortress, it's about not being the easiest mark in your neighborhood. - Lock your windows and doors at all times. - Trim back foliage that obscure windows and doors from the sidewalk. - Ensure you have proper exterior lighting. Shadows = bad. - Don't leave stuff like tools lying around the outsides of a house. Brooms or longish poles are great for reaching through a cat door and jimmying interior latches and deadbolts open. It's very, very easy with some practice. - Get a dog that barks. A big dog, a little dog, whatever. Just make sure it barks (proactive alerting & will let the burglar know you aren't the "slowest in the herd"). - Get a (legitimate actual alarm company) yard sign and place it in your yard. - If you're a gun person, avoid NRA/Glock/I'm a gun-toting bad ass stickers on your vehicles, house, etc. That suddenly makes you a more lucrative target worthy of greater risk. - Don't leave the boxes for your new plasma TV, Mac, etc out front, visible. Maybe don't have Apple stickers on your car. That lets me know you like to spend money on gadgets that fetch high resale value. - Get to know your neighbors. Arrange an agreement with a trusted one to keep an eye out for each other when the other is away. - Case your own property as a burglar would. Pretend you forgot your keys. Then, after you take care of the preventative, start looking at reactive solutions. Source: I may or may not have been a miscreant in my youth.

ericb 13y ago
I'm not sure I understand the nra/glock reasoning, but other than that, makes sense.
- FurrBall 13y ago
  Same reason you wouldn't advertise you have a stash of gold in the house.
  - ericb 13y ago
    The only people I know with guns are poor (possibly a coincidence). Are the guns themselves valuable enough to make confronting a gun wielding home owner worthwhile? Does saying you have a gun imply wealth? That's the part I'm not following? What is the actual reasoning?
    - FurrBall 13y ago
      The wealth of an individual has no bearing on the value of an item. Guns themselves are high value items. Easy to sell for several hundred dollars depending on the model. High end guns can be sold for several thousand dollars. More value and liquidity than a TV.
      - FurrBall 13y ago
        Not to mention ammunition is extremely liquid. It's used as currency in some countries.
- ubercore 13y ago
  Possessing a gun not licensed to them is a highly desirable thing for criminals.
- runjake 13y ago
  Guns are quick turnover and good cash value.
caw 13y ago
I'd add - Locking pins for windows, if you don't mind drilling them out (Check your warranty if you have new windows). Someone I know had their house broken into by just using a pry-bar on the window. It snapped the (15 year old) window lock and locking pin. If you have them, check to make sure they're in good condition. The point about trimming foliage is true, but some people are brazen/stupid enough to go in the front window at like 3pm in the afternoon in clear view of the street (what happened to the people I know). - Switch to keyed locks where there's glass nearby. A lot of exterior doors have glass, and if you smash the glass you can reach in and turn the lock. A keyed lock on the inside will stop that. You could also exchange your window locks for keyed window locks if you really want to, but the locking pins should be fine to deter most people.
wikwocket 13y ago
These are all excellent points. You can Google for more basic home security, but here are a few more off the top of my head: - Ensure all doors and windows have locks. Patio doors should have wooden bars in the tracks preventing opening. Garage door should be treated like an exterior door. - The strike plates for door bolts/deadbolts should be anchored with long wood screws, not the cheap screws you get in the kit. Otherwise a good kick can knock the whole plate out of the door frame. - Have curtains or sheers in windows (esp. first floor) to prevent people from peeping/seeing valuables. - Do not store valuables (electronics, jewelry) in plain site. If you have lots of them, get a good fireproof, waterproof safe that can be mounted in a closet (not picked up and carried away). - If you have small windows in your doors or next to them (that could be smashed out and reached through to unlock the door), cover them with security film to prevent breakage. An alternative is a door lock that requires a key from the inside as well, but this can be a fire hazard. - Have good home/renters insurance, that covers all your possessions, with an updated list of your major possessions. The basic idea is that it's not practical nor really 100% possible to make your house into an impenetrable fortress, but you can make your home difficult and unappealing to break in to (at least compared to the neighbors!). This works because many breakins are quick smash-and-grabs, attacks of opportunity or desperation. People who can plan elaborate heists are naturally applying their trade to more sophisticated felonies!

by runjake 13y ago

ericb 13y ago

I'm not sure I understand the nra/glock reasoning, but other than that, makes sense.

FurrBall 13y ago
Same reason you wouldn't advertise you have a stash of gold in the house.
- ericb 13y ago
  The only people I know with guns are poor (possibly a coincidence). Are the guns themselves valuable enough to make confronting a gun wielding home owner worthwhile? Does saying you have a gun imply wealth? That's the part I'm not following? What is the actual reasoning?
  - FurrBall 13y ago
    The wealth of an individual has no bearing on the value of an item. Guns themselves are high value items. Easy to sell for several hundred dollars depending on the model. High end guns can be sold for several thousand dollars. More value and liquidity than a TV.
    - FurrBall 13y ago
      Not to mention ammunition is extremely liquid. It's used as currency in some countries.
ubercore 13y ago
Possessing a gun not licensed to them is a highly desirable thing for criminals.
runjake 13y ago
Guns are quick turnover and good cash value.

caw 13y ago

I'd add - Locking pins for windows, if you don't mind drilling them out (Check your warranty if you have new windows). Someone I know had their house broken into by just using a pry-bar on the window. It snapped the (15 year old) window lock and locking pin. If you have them, check to make sure they're in good condition. The point about trimming foliage is true, but some people are brazen/stupid enough to go in the front window at like 3pm in the afternoon in clear view of the street (what happened to the people I know). - Switch to keyed locks where there's glass nearby. A lot of exterior doors have glass, and if you smash the glass you can reach in and turn the lock. A keyed lock on the inside will stop that. You could also exchange your window locks for keyed window locks if you really want to, but the locking pins should be fine to deter most people.

wikwocket 13y ago

These are all excellent points. You can Google for more basic home security, but here are a few more off the top of my head: - Ensure all doors and windows have locks. Patio doors should have wooden bars in the tracks preventing opening. Garage door should be treated like an exterior door. - The strike plates for door bolts/deadbolts should be anchored with long wood screws, not the cheap screws you get in the kit. Otherwise a good kick can knock the whole plate out of the door frame. - Have curtains or sheers in windows (esp. first floor) to prevent people from peeping/seeing valuables. - Do not store valuables (electronics, jewelry) in plain site. If you have lots of them, get a good fireproof, waterproof safe that can be mounted in a closet (not picked up and carried away). - If you have small windows in your doors or next to them (that could be smashed out and reached through to unlock the door), cover them with security film to prevent breakage. An alternative is a door lock that requires a key from the inside as well, but this can be a fire hazard. - Have good home/renters insurance, that covers all your possessions, with an updated list of your major possessions. The basic idea is that it's not practical nor really 100% possible to make your house into an impenetrable fortress, but you can make your home difficult and unappealing to break in to (at least compared to the neighbors!). This works because many breakins are quick smash-and-grabs, attacks of opportunity or desperation. People who can plan elaborate heists are naturally applying their trade to more sophisticated felonies!