First break in experience

pres589 wrote: What else, anyone have some cool door security ideas? Maybe some other methods to deter people? Is there anything, you know, useful going to be shared?

Alarm w/ monitoring that is set every time we are not at home. I like knowing that a) no one is in my house when my wife gets home and I'm not there b) bored kids can't come in and trash the place for hours on end--small town, fast police response

Stickers that say said alarm is in place.

Double-locked doors

Still have to install a motion light over my garage

Very nosy retired neighbor for daytime surveillance

2 cats that will look down upon intruders and make them feel inadequate

I like security lighting for night time. It does a good job of keeping unwanted folks away from the house.

I've heard you can get motion detects that have a delay, so it basically allows someone to "think" that you're not home, then suddenly the light comes on.

That would probably work pretty well for "Bell Ringers" who like to test to see if your home or not. They'd ring the bell, run away, and see the light come on.

I think in most cases perps don't want a confrontation, unless somebody has a problem with you, in which case you've got more issues than a break in.

In reply to gamby:

Yeah, I've been looking at lights, right now things are pretty basic but I'm thinking something like this;

http://www.lithonia.com/commercial/2-head+led+floodlight+with+motion+sensor.html#.Uq9w1vRDscA

LED, motion & daylight detecting, and something I learned from the last break-in; once the light is set up, I'm putting a lock over the switch. Last time the door was kicked in and the flood light was switched off, which I never left off, but with the switch right next to the door it wasn't hard for them to figure out how to make it harder to be seen.

I'll probably combine something like that on the garage pointing down the driveway with a simple daylight detecting non-motion light at the side door that opens to the driveway.

I forgot to mention--I keep some lamps on timers so they come on when we're not around, making it look like someone is home. Cheap and simple.

My wife has been bugging me about a driveway motion light. I need to get on that. At least if they're stealing the next car (likely it will be its wheels if I get a Fit Sport), they'll be illuminated while doing so. That car will get an alarm with proximity sensor, though.

I have posted this before.

Two monitors, a DVR, and 10 cameras. Sales people don't even stop by my house any more. It's also good for a discount on your insurance.

Probably wouldn't help with a drunk, but at least you would have proof of the stupidity and it would make a great Youtube video.

In reply to Toyman01:

That's badass.

i have a dog. her bark is impressive. she got past me one day when i opened the door for a sales pitch. she sniffed his shoe, backed up, and barked some more. dude said "man, i ain't afraid of her!" i said "she's not here to scare you. she's here to tell me to get my gun."

pres589 wrote: LED, motion & daylight detecting, and something I learned from the last break-in; once the light is set up, I'm putting a lock over the switch. Last time the door was kicked in and the flood light was switched off, which I never left off, but with the switch right next to the door it wasn't hard for them to figure out how to make it harder to be seen.

Hardwire it to the breaker.

In reply to Kenny_McCormic:

Not a bad idea, and easy to do at the switch; let them play with the light switches for a while trying to figure out which one it is while it stays on anyway.

Cone_Junkie wrote: In this thread there were 5 stories of either drunk people trying to get in the house or "thieves" being chased away as soon as the owner's presence is made. So with the logic being argued here, that would be five dead people, innocent or not, that did not need to die.

Here's your error: Just as having a cellphone in those situations does not mean posting the event on Facebook, playing Sudoku, or calling 911, having a firearm available does not mean shooting, or even letting anyone else know it's there. It does mean having options.

Answering a door with a cellphone and an out-of-sight weapon available is not unreasonable, especially when you can see that it's not someone you know.

Be part of the community, keep your eyes open, make your place a little less attractive to the bad guys, and make it harder, louder, and slower to get into. Have redundant means of sending for the boys in blue. And have fall-back plans when those steps aren't enough.

TRoglodyte wrote: Louisville Slugger by the door, "BATTER UP"

After my house got broken into while we were fixing it up and not staying there at the time, that's what I did a few times.I had my dad drop me off so there was no car there, turned off all the lights and say there with an aluminum baseball bat. Of course no one came those nights..... And I wasn't going to hit him in the head or anything, just problly the knees.

nepa03focus wrote: ..... And I wasn't going to hit him in the head or anything, just problly the knees.

"I wasn't gonna kill ya... I was just gonna cut ya."

Cone_Junkie wrote: In this thread there were 5 stories of either drunk people trying to get in the house or "thieves" being chased away as soon as the owner's presence is made. So with the logic being argued here, that would be five dead people, innocent or not, that did not need to die.

so … where do you come up with innocent folk ?

the drunks, that don't know any better … which is BS, I used to be a drunk … a real one … falling down most nights drunk … but I still knew which was my house

or the thieves … when did they become innocent ? when they ran away without any of your property ? that just means they're charged with attempted robbery … nothing innocent about that

slantvaliant wrote:

Cone_Junkie wrote: In this thread there were 5 stories of either drunk people trying to get in the house or "thieves" being chased away as soon as the owner's presence is made. So with the logic being argued here, that would be five dead people, innocent or not, that did not need to die.

Here's your error: Just as having a cellphone in those situations does not mean posting the event on Facebook, playing Sudoku, or calling 911, having a firearm available does not mean shooting, or even letting anyone else know it's there. It does mean having options. Answering a door with a cellphone and an out-of-sight weapon available is not unreasonable, especially when you can see that it's not someone you know. Be part of the community, keep your eyes open, make your place a little less attractive to the bad guys, and make it harder, louder, and slower to get into. Have redundant means of sending for the boys in blue. And have fall-back plans when those steps aren't enough.

Don't you know? Firearm ownership means you open fire first in every case. DUH! Every moron knows that.

Honestly, a large dog (or one that has a large bark) is a great option for a lot of people in situations like the OP's (and subsequent stories). They

A.) let you know someone is up to no good,

2.) will deter some people that were originally intent on being up to no good and

iii.) Are great companions.

AngryCorvair wrote: i have a dog. her bark is impressive. she got past me one day when i opened the door for a sales pitch. she sniffed his shoe, backed up, and barked some more. dude said "man, i ain't afraid of her!" i said "she's not here to scare you. she's here to tell me to get my gun."

+1

Gertrude is not an especially threatening dog. (too small for that....only around 40 lbs.) She barks often, but it's different when there's a real threat. Lower, with more of a growl mixed in. I've only heard it a few times......one was about two years ago, late at night.

She was making the low growl/bark at the front door, hackles raised. I went up to the door with my mossy pump gun and racked it once. Within a minute or two she had calmed right down, almost as though the threatening thing on the other side of the door had gone away.

I am not certain that there was a threat, but I felt a lot better. (Police response to an attempted home invasion at my dad's house a few years ago took 21 minutes.)

JoeyM wrote: (Police response to an attempted home invasion at my dad's house a few years ago took 21 minutes.)

thinking that the police are there to keep you safe is not the best way to keep you safe … there aren't enough of them and they can't be everywhere all the time (at least for those of us that live in rural America)

wbjones wrote:

JoeyM wrote: (Police response to an attempted home invasion at my dad's house a few years ago took 21 minutes.)

thinking that the police are there to keep you safe is not the best way to keep you safe … there aren't enough of them and they can't be everywhere all the time (at least for those of us that live in rural America)

Indeed. I was at my dad's house when it happened. The poor response time was my deer-in-the-headlights conversion moment when I learned that police are second responders, and that I am ultimately responsible for my own safety.

JoeyM wrote:

wbjones wrote:

JoeyM wrote: (Police response to an attempted home invasion at my dad's house a few years ago took 21 minutes.)

thinking that the police are there to keep you safe is not the best way to keep you safe … there aren't enough of them and they can't be everywhere all the time (at least for those of us that live in rural America)

Indeed. I was at my dad's house when it happened. The poor response time was my deer-in-the-headlights conversion moment when I learned that police are second responders, and that I am ultimately responsible for my own safety.

Absolutely. When you live in Rural America it gets longer. Wife had asked about an alarm on our house. I told her it was pointless because response time for any law enforcement official is 15-20 minutes on a good day. Whatever was going to happen already has.

Bobzilla wrote:

slantvaliant wrote:

Cone_Junkie wrote: In this thread there were 5 stories of either drunk people trying to get in the house or "thieves" being chased away as soon as the owner's presence is made. So with the logic being argued here, that would be five dead people, innocent or not, that did not need to die.

Here's your error: Just as having a cellphone in those situations does not mean posting the event on Facebook, playing Sudoku, or calling 911, having a firearm available does not mean shooting, or even letting anyone else know it's there. It does mean having options. Answering a door with a cellphone and an out-of-sight weapon available is not unreasonable, especially when you can see that it's not someone you know. Be part of the community, keep your eyes open, make your place a little less attractive to the bad guys, and make it harder, louder, and slower to get into. Have redundant means of sending for the boys in blue. And have fall-back plans when those steps aren't enough.

Don't you know? Firearm ownership means you open fire first in every case. DUH! Every moron knows that. Honestly, a large dog (or one that has a large bark) is a great option for a lot of people in situations like the OP's (and subsequent stories). They A.) let you know someone is up to no good, 2.) will deter some people that were originally intent on being up to no good and iii.) Are great companions.

This is what I was talking about Bob. You cannot post without being condescending, yet you are the first to WHINE about it when it's someone else.

I only made a point that in the situations posted in this thread that a gun would do nothing to help the situation. Stop trolling my posts.

Then of course you post a point that agrees with what I said, a gun was not needed in those situations. This gets really old and just spurs up negative responses.

SWMBO's dog is rather large and impressive and scares the crap out of most people who come to the door who don't know about him and are expecting him. Of course, what appears to be aggression to the uninformed is in fact just the he wants to be friends with EVERYONE and, being part Boxer, expresses that by trying to jump up on you and lick your face. And when prevented from doing this, he'll bark up a storm in complaint. Most people who see an 85-lb Boxer/Pit mix dog doing this tend to decide to be someplace else.

Like the last person who came to the door handing out religious propoganda when it was just me at home- scared her white (well, whiter) and she put the pamphet down in the doorway and beat a hasty retreat while I held the dog back. Being the good dog that he is, he snatches up the paper in his mouth, trots back to the couch proudly, and proceeds to shred it into tiny pieces. I laughed my ass off about that for a while.

On the other hand, SWMBO does NOT like guns, and was a bit flustered when she learned I owned two (.22LR bolt action rifles for target shooting). I doubt she'll ever be comfortable with my getting a handgun for home protection, which somewhat amazes me given the crazy/dangerous neighbors she's had over the last few years who are the reason her place has an alarm system.

Honestly though, I'm pretty content with my old bokken and an aluminum bat near the bed- anyone breaking in who is still coming after Marley starts barking up a storm is most likely going to be preoccupied dealing with him for long enough for me to put them in a world of hurt with either the bokken or the bat while SWMBO hits the panic button on the alarm system.

Toyman01 wrote: I have posted this before. Two monitors, a DVR, and 10 cameras. Sales people don't even stop by my house any more. It's also good for a discount on your insurance. Probably wouldn't help with a drunk, but at least you would have proof of the stupidity and it would make a great Youtube video.

I keep thinking about something like this. Was it a pain in the ass to install?

Cone_Junkie wrote:

Bobzilla wrote:

slantvaliant wrote:

Cone_Junkie wrote: In this thread there were 5 stories of either drunk people trying to get in the house or "thieves" being chased away as soon as the owner's presence is made. So with the logic being argued here, that would be five dead people, innocent or not, that did not need to die.

Here's your error: Just as having a cellphone in those situations does not mean posting the event on Facebook, playing Sudoku, or calling 911, having a firearm available does not mean shooting, or even letting anyone else know it's there. It does mean having options. Answering a door with a cellphone and an out-of-sight weapon available is not unreasonable, especially when you can see that it's not someone you know. Be part of the community, keep your eyes open, make your place a little less attractive to the bad guys, and make it harder, louder, and slower to get into. Have redundant means of sending for the boys in blue. And have fall-back plans when those steps aren't enough.

Don't you know? Firearm ownership means you open fire first in every case. DUH! Every moron knows that. Honestly, a large dog (or one that has a large bark) is a great option for a lot of people in situations like the OP's (and subsequent stories). They A.) let you know someone is up to no good, 2.) will deter some people that were originally intent on being up to no good and iii.) Are great companions.

This is what I was talking about Bob. You cannot post without being condescending, yet you are the first to WHINE about it when it's someone else. I only made a point that in the situations posted in this thread that a gun would do nothing to help the situation. Stop trolling my posts. Then of course you post a point that agrees with what I said, a gun was not needed in those situations. This gets really old and just spurs up negative responses.

do you need some cheese? That's an awful lot of whine there.

As for dogs scaring religious peoples... I remember many many moons ago when I was 21 or 22. I was working 3rd shifts getting home from work at 8am and sleeping through the day. One moring about 10am the dog is going to town barking up a storm. We'd had a bunch of wild dogs/coyotes/crossbreeds in the area eating cats and such. I figured it was one of them. So I reached over, grabbed my jeans and slapped them on. Picked up the .40 I had at the time got one step outside the bedroom and though, I might want the shotgun for this, so I absent mindedly (in my sleepy haze) stuffed the .40 into my wasteband a,d grab the mossberg and head for the door she's barking like mad at.

I get to the door, slip on some shoes and open it. What I see are a pair of eyes that are the size of saucers staring back at me, and then turn and runs off towards the car at the end of the driveway. I see a pamplet sitting on the ground and realize what happened.

Now, to be honest I can understand the fright. At the time I was working at the steel mill. I was as lean and muscular as I've ever been. I was about 195lbs and muscle. Standing there shirtless, with my hair wild ass red bed hair, a .40 in my waistband and a black mossberg 12ga pump in my hand and a dog barking her head off beside me.

Mom and Dad didn't have any Jehovah's witness visitors for 10 years after that!

it's been 25+ yrs since any Jehovah's Witnesses have knocked on my door …

A: my house is hard to get to … long steep driveway

and (this only stopped the ones at the door) can't really say it has anything to do with none showing up now

B: told them that I was having a beer … would prefer not to drink alone … told them that I'd be happy to have come in and talk to me if they wanted to … one requirement … they had to have a beer AND actually drink it while we talked …

they tried to decline and still talk to me … I kept telling them to have a beer and we'd talk … finally they got tired of a: me not listening … and b: me continuing to insist they join me … and left

wbjones wrote: it's been 25+ yrs since any Jehovah's Witnesses have knocked on my door … A: my house is hard to get to … long steep driveway and (this only stopped the ones at the door) can't really say it has anything to do with none showing up now B: told them that I was having a beer … would prefer not to drink alone … told them that I'd be happy to have come in and talk to me if they wanted to … one requirement … they had to have a beer AND actually drink it while we talked … they tried to decline and still talk to me … I kept telling them to have a beer and we'd talk … finally they got tired of a: me not listening … and b: me continuing to insist they join me … and left

Things that can help deter them from attempting to get into your house: Any dog that barks at noises, good exterior lighting, cameras, and security systems.

Things that can help prevent them from gaining access to your house: Securely closing doors with high quality locks, modern windows with thicker glass panes and good locks. Keep all doors and windows, closed and locked any time you are not home.

As for guns, even as a last resort they're not for everybody. However, pepper spray can be a great alternative for people uncomfortable with guns or who would be unable/unwilling to kill another person even in self-defense. Of everybody I've met who has voluntarily been both pepper sprayed and tazered in the course of their job training...There is pretty much universal agreement that they would rather be tazed every day of the week and twice on sunday before they would be pepper sprayed again. It also has a much lower threshold for justified use in self-defense. As my CPL instructor said, if more people got pepper sprayed for their actions we would have a much more polite society. As with any method of self-defense, practice is still crucial to maintaining competency. Many manufacturers even make training canisters that spray exactly like the regular product, so that people can become intimately familiar with the operational characteristics and limitations of it.