Home security suggestions???

6BangBronk

6BangBronk

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2005
Location
Durham
OK, so my house got busted into yesterday while we were at work and bastards took maybe $300 worth of TV's. Basically that was all we had to steal that was worth anything. But the feeling of being raped and living 4 miles from Durham slums is worrysome knowing it could very well happen again. I keep a gun on me and working on one for my wife now but that does nothing while we're away. So many ideas has come to my head but wondering what ya'll had to offer.

Points to ponder...
1. Wife found out she has alergies so we can't have an inside dog. We do have them inside chain fence outside from front of house back. Durham has a "leash law" where they have to be behind a fence. Can't be tethered either.
2. Security systems through a company cost more than what we lost. (Average $30-40 / mo). We could better afford new doors every year for neither of us even watch TV much and don't plan on buying another one anytime soon now. I think the feeling of security is all we could really gain?
3. I live in the boonies and have no neighbors.
4. Bars over the windows is not an option although I got 2 windows in front that are easily accessible.

Just wondering what everybody else who live in the sticks have / do? Cameras hooked to cel phone? Systems that are very loud? Security sign in the yard? Solid metal doors? Bars over the windows. :)

Police pointed out we had nothing to deter to begin with and how so many ways we're so open for another incident. Especially since I've worked my ass off and our house looks like a million bucks now from the front although we're poor folk inside.

Buddy at work suggests bolting tv's fiercely to studs in walls and onto the TV stands with weird hex holts or something if we want another tv.

Thanks...
 
If you bolt stuff down too good and they'll just tear it up out of spite.

I have a local security company @ $25/month. I am thinking of going to one of the national's.... 8.95 at alarmrelay.com Biggest value of the monitoring is the stickers they give you.

Read up on security systems at DIY Security forum http://www.diysecurityforum.com

Camera systems are cheap, I also run cameras...and one in shop is set up to text me if it detects motion (dog in the house, so won't work there).

Put a big dog bowl and a giant chew toy on the front porch.
 
Also...aside from the stickers...value in alarm system is the siren....theifs don't like noise. I am 1st/2nd on several alarm system call lists for friends and family. I get a call every few months. (almost always a false alarm of course, last time a dog pushed open a door from his non-monitored area). I have beat the city cops or SD there every time (without driving fast to get there)...usually by 5-10 minutes.

Do you have a home phone (and not depending on cell only?). You can put in an autodialer to call your cell...then have a neighbor/whatever close to be sure the house is secure. ...your neighbors/cops wouldn't like it if you had a siren going off for 8 hours before you came home...

I imagine in Durham an alarm callout would be among the lowest priority for the cops to respond do.
 
I haven't used it, but but I believe @shawn (sorry wanted to try the new feature) posted this in a thread a few months ago:

http://www.canary.is/

I like the idea of a system like this. The OL says we HAVE to have a security system when we move in to our house. I'm of the opinion that once the system goes off, it's already too late. To me they give a false sense of security, but at least it keeps your stuff monitored. Anyway, I'll be purchasing the canary system when I move in.
 
how about a proximty sensor that when someone comes close to the door or a window it plays a recording of a big dog bark. surely someone has invented that.

Or, decals/signs in window that read "Forget the Dog, Beware of armed home owner!"
 
I like the Canary, too bad it won't be available until mid-year at earliest. I just knew the technology HAD to be of age to buy something to download an AP and monitor from a cel phone.

I was also thinking hidden cameras pointed to catch car tags while pulling in and out of the driveway???

Yea, my closest neighbor down the road has a sound-out security system that drives me bonkers...

On side note but...
Best security we found while gutting foreclosed vandalized homes and apartments in downtown Durham was to hang a snake skin up and post a note stating "snake spotted alive". Worked lika a charm.
 
Also considered purchasing one of the old police cars from State Surplus just to sit in the driveway. That would bring on some nervousness...
 
6BangBronk said:
I like the Canary, too bad it won't be available until mid-year at earliest. I just knew the technology HAD to be of age to buy something to download an AP and monitor from a cel phone.
Click to expand...

Yeah...I've still got a little time to work with...so it works for me. If there's one, there's probably more. Quick search pulled iSmartAlarm too...same kinda deal. No experience with any of them, but I like what they have to offer.
 
Every so often, News channel, will do a drive through neighborhood, with a top home burglar, from prison. They all tend to say, security signs, will make them think, before they act; but a "Dog", they won't stop!
I'd be running that fence around the house! With Invisible Fence, you can't tell if the dogs are loose, or not.
 
check out the simon wireless security system. It's from GE. I have one in my machinery shed and I put one in for my dad. Mine is older and a simon 3 I think, his is a simon XL or something like that. Check online, many places sell them. You can get a siren and whatever motion or door/window sensors you wish. It dials the phone. You set it up just like the professional systems to take over your phone when tripped. You can get a monitoring service if you want but I have ours set up to call my home, my cell, my dad cell and my work number. It just goes down the line until you answer. You can decide to respond yourself, call the police or just shut it off from the end of the call you receive. You should be able to set one up for 2-500 depending on if you find one on ebay or new and depending on the package of sensors you can find. Trivial to set up, also has a batt backup. If they cut the phone line your hosed but cutting the phone line really ratchets up the penalties should they get caught. Anyway, just look it up and see what you think. I like both our systems, both have sirens and make a hell of a racket.
 
rodney eppes said:
Every so often, News channel, will do a drive through neighborhood, with a top home burglar, from prison. They all tend to say, security signs, will make them think, before they act; but a "Dog", they won't stop!
I'd be running that fence around the house! With Invisible Fence, you can't tell if the dogs are loose, or not.
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There's absolutely nothing wrong with this unless your dogs are big and have dug the entire back yard up to clay. Hard to get clay stains off.
 
Welp, 2 more break ins just down the road. And I have the biggest piece of evidence which points 95% certain of the individual. He was either 8 years old or he was the tiniest freak of a man I know that I've had run-ins with since I moved in. Dude's less than 4' tall and drives a van with no windows and weird (lives behind my shop for those that remember my past run-ins). We done a meet-and-greet with all the neighbors down the road and everyone declares he's worthless as well. Investigators are on him.

"Operation Fort Knox" went into effect over the weekend. 4 Cameras are now installed pointing to both driveways able to see plum to the road and at both doors. Went with a $300 DVR system off of Ebay and it seems flawless so far but learning curve is massive on this thing. Also has sound capabilities but I haven't ran a mic yet. Decided to put system in my pump house so I can lock it up if they decide to try to destroy it for it will be padlocked with massiveness (eye bolts through door and wall seems to work best for me) and the door faces the front. Brought home a solid oak front door last night to hopefully get up this next weekend. Plan on reinforcing the jam with maybe 1/8" angle iron embedded in the door frame connected to studs with lag screws. Rear door to follow suit. I also purchased motion detector lights to be installed throughout. Spent over $1,000 this past week so my wallet is sore...

The way I look at this... 10 years from now+ will only be worse (the rate we're going). Police may not even have time to respond due to larger matters. So making the house un-break-in-able seems the ticket.

Working on shop as well. I absolutely HATE a worthless thief...

Thanks for all the good advice!
 
6BangBronk said:
Welp, 2 more break ins just down the road. And I have the biggest piece of evidence which points 95% certain of the individual. He was either 8 years old or he was the tiniest freak of a man I know that I've had run-ins with since I moved in. Dude's less than 4' tall and drives a van with no windows and weird (lives behind my shop for those that remember my past run-ins). We done a meet-and-greet with all the neighbors down the road and everyone declares he's worthless as well. Investigators are on him.

"Operation Fort Knox" went into effect over the weekend. 4 Cameras are now installed pointing to both driveways able to see plum to the road and at both doors. Went with a $300 DVR system off of Ebay and it seems flawless so far but learning curve is massive on this thing. Also has sound capabilities but I haven't ran a mic yet. Decided to put system in my pump house so I can lock it up if they decide to try to destroy it for it will be padlocked with massiveness (eye bolts through door and wall seems to work best for me) and the door faces the front. Brought home a solid oak front door last night to hopefully get up this next weekend. Plan on reinforcing the jam with maybe 1/8" angle iron embedded in the door frame connected to studs with lag screws. Rear door to follow suit. I also purchased motion detector lights to be installed throughout. Spent over $1,000 this past week so my wallet is sore...

The way I look at this... 10 years from now+ will only be worse (the rate we're going). Police may not even have time to respond due to larger matters. So making the house un-break-in-able seems the ticket.

Working on shop as well. I absolutely HATE a worthless thief...

Thanks for all the good advice!
Click to expand...
Its unfortunate that you have to spend that much time and effort to protect yourself and your things when for less than a dollar of lead, powder, and brass, the problem could be solved.
 
Buy a Rottweiler or two...
 
jeepinmatt said:
Its unfortunate that you have to spend that much time and effort to protect yourself and your things when for less than a dollar of lead, powder, and brass, the problem could be solved.
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That's fine if your house is occupied ALL THE TIME, but unfortunately the rest of the world has to leave their homes once in a while. :)
 
Sorry, I am going to sound insensitive here.

But I could give two shits if someone breaks in my house if no one is there, unless they hurt my dogs (or the kids turtles, fish, rabbits, birds, liard, dragon...etc.) the rest is just stuff and I have homowner's insurance for.

There is not a single material thing in this world I have that cant be replaced EXCEPT a few heirlooms, those are in a safe that costs no more than what you are spending to fortify your home. If they steal my 1,400 lb safe that is bolted to the concrete floor they can have it.

BTW make sure the pump house is climate controlled or that DVR will be trash
 
Ron said:
Sorry, I am going to sound insensitive here.

But I could give two shits if someone breaks in my house if no one is there, unless they hurt my dogs (or the kids turtles, fish, rabbits, birds, liard, dragon...etc.) the rest is just stuff and I have homowner's insurance for.

There is not a single material thing in this world I have that cant be replaced EXCEPT a few heirlooms, those are in a safe that costs no more than what you are spending to fortify your home. If they steal my 1,400 lb safe that is bolted to the concrete floor they can have it.

BTW make sure the pump house is climate controlled or that DVR will be trash
Click to expand...

Exactly, thought I posted that??? Guess not but my thoughts exactly from beginning. I've told everybody else though. No one was hurt and the material price was nothing to me. We lost total $1500 max if that. Insurance deductible is $1000 so not wasting my time there. Chalking up as material loss...

I keep the 100w bulb on continuously and pump house faces due South with wind blockers on both sides of door. There's an abandoned well inside that reaches 96 feet in the ground that acts like a stabilizer at underground temperature. Can't remember but something like 67 year round underground? The walls are insulated heavily plus I placed a plastic fridge shelf over the DVR to sort of seal it into the shelf. About the best I can do. Thanks for the advice!!!!
 
6BangBronk said:
Exactly, thought I posted that??? Guess not but my thoughts exactly from beginning. I've told everybody else though. No one was hurt and the material price was nothing to me. We lost total $1500 max if that. Insurance deductible is $1000 so not wasting my time there. Chalking up as material loss...

I keep the 100w bulb on continuously and pump house faces due South with wind blockers on both sides of door. There's an abandoned well inside that reaches 96 feet in the ground that acts like a stabilizer at underground temperature. Can't remember but something like 67 year round underground? The walls are insulated heavily plus I placed a plastic fridge shelf over the DVR to sort of seal it into the shelf. About the best I can do. Thanks for the advice!!!!
Click to expand...

What about summer? Thats when the DVR will melt.

Everyone reaches their own peace point. All I am saying is I wouldnt spend money on a security system at all. If Im not there they can have it.

And before someone pings me about the safe, it was bought for fire protection of photo albums, firearms, hard drives etc. the ability to lock it, when used, is secondary
 
As said, small area mostly block and very insulated with 55 - 57 degrees being radiated upward consistantly year round from the abandoned well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_sheltering

So Ron, you're not married I take it? No children? And if so, your at home 24/7 to defend them from crackheads... And if married, your wife's belongings have never been voilated? She's never witnessed her clothes scattered and bursted into tears. could have been SOOOO much worse. You might as well go ahead and tell us your wife would open the door without you at home and let them in and offer them a drink and sandwich...o_O

I "liked" your 1'st post but TOTALLY disagree with ya now...

The 175# solid oak front door is only my beginning. I hope they come back and kick it til they limp the rest of their life. And if crackheads even peak in my windows, I want to know who they are for sake of not me, but my wife's safety.:cool:
 
Here's what I want to know:

What options are out there for good, high-quality IP cameras? Actually, I take that back: It doesn't have to be an IP camera, but that seems to make more sense. I've got back-end options. Can the cameras produce a legible image of a license plate from 50ft under all lighting conditions? If the camera is a free-standing system, is it capable of understanding "home" and "not home" settings and sending email alerts accordingly?
 
I'm all new so far Shawn and haven't had time to figure mine out yet but I can tell you I am amazed so far for I pulled my truck around just to see and I could read my tag at around 50-60 feet max. Looking into the sunset killed mine though. Glare is overpowering at my house this time of year until the pine forests around me mature some more. Haven't got my lights up yet either to see what night time does...
Mine has a tremendous lot of settings including sensitivity??? Besides that, I'm stupid so far... Haven't even figured out the record yet.

Hopefully I'll be up and running this weekend to give my full opinion. I just mainly wanted to get mine up for intimidation purposes until I get my new door up. One step at a time....
 
Ron said:
Sorry, I am going to sound insensitive here.

But I could give two shits if someone breaks in my house if no one is there, unless they hurt my dogs (or the kids turtles, fish, rabbits, birds, liard, dragon...etc.) the rest is just stuff and I have homowner's insurance for.
Click to expand...

I've never had a house broken into, but I've had cars broken into and a previous business I worked for broken into. There was one thing in common in all of them - the thieves didn't care about taking things in a neat and orderly fashion. I've seen stuff ripped out of the wall which damaged the wall and the object they were stealing when all they really NEEDED to do was take a quick look and unhook some connectors to remove it cleanly. Homeowners insurance is a joke. Yes, you will get your stuff replaced, less a deductible (which are usually VERY high nowadays), and the insurance company will then jack your rates enough to get back what they just paid out.

If your kids are like mine, the biggest impact of a break-in will come when they disrupt something in THEIR room. Take a way a kid's sense of security in their own home and you will have a kid sleeping on your floor (or in your bed) for months.
 
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