Just had a low-life crawl through my son’s window, and go through the whole house grabbing small items.
What a “fun” experince. Fortunatly everyone was gone at the time, so nobody was hurt.
A couple of points:
1: I’m in central California, and this area can get up to 105F in the summer but mostly just hangs around 95. We don’t have AC, and at night we leave all the windows open to cool the house down. This way with fans, the inside of the house only gets up to a max of 80F.
The wife wants to put bars on the windows but I am kinda concerned about fire eggress and looks.
Can some of you lead me toward a product or a Idea that would add security and still let the breezes flow, yet wouldn’t look to bad. (the house is a one story ranch style that needs paint this summer)
Adam
Replies
Adam,
Been looking into this myself. No solid recommendations, but lots of new wireless security stuff out there, and up and coming, all designed to work with your PC.
Google it, and you will find ton's.
Jon
Yeah, I've been looking at that type of stuff but mostly the "security devices" that are out there fall into a couple of areas.
Keep them from getting in things, bars, barb wire, armed gaurds,....
get them to run out fast after they got in, loud alarms, lights, Man with large gun inside the house.....
and catch them after they come and go... camera's ....
and yes some do cross over into other areas...
Personally I think that the best way is a head on a pike, but, it's just not feasable in this day and age.
I am thinking about the alarms, light but what I really am looking for is some way to make it really, really hard to get in the house.
Adam
Put a "key-only" deadbolt on all exterior doors. This does double duty, as theieves who break in through a window have to load out through a window. That is how a friend was saved, as neighbors noticed two guys trying to get a TV out a window. Hmmmm? Places like HD will usually have an entire box of locks that are keyed alike. The packages are coded.
Also put locks on all interior closets and bedroom doors. When you go on vacation, lock them. Drives a thief nuts to have to spend time trying to open anything, much less a dozen locked doors.
For windows, the double hungs can be drilled to accept a nail which then holds the window open at a prefixed height, say 6", which allows ventilation but is too small for a body. You can also mount a second alarm magnet at the specified opened height so you can have an open window and an alarm.
On doors, see if the screw holes on the hinge mate when closed. If so, then put in a longer screw on one and leave it sticking out about a half inch. Clip the head, and then remove the screw on the other side so that the extended screw shaft will go into the vacant hole. This will keep someone from popping the hinge pin to remove a door as the two hinge halves are locked together.
For basement windows, I've gone to covering them with 1/2" mesh that allows ventilation but is also pretty transparent during the daytime from the inside.
This topic has reminded me of what a friend did for his gun safe. First, he put a shelf near the top and uses it to store lead shot, usually a dozen 25 lb bags. Then he brazed on a bunch of large marlin hooks. Oooh, that would be fun. Trying to move a top heavy safe with big flesh ripping barbed hooks. ;-)
The "key-only" deadbolts and the mesh on the basement windows are both effective burglar deterrents, but they give me a twitch with regard to egress in case of a fire. I don't know what the odds are. I've had more burglaries than fires at my house, but on the other hand, fires are probably fatal more often than burglaries.
Key only deadbolts should be illegal for a residential dwelling. They create a dangerous condition if you were to have a fire in the middle of the night.
Couldnt agree more with your statement. I've been in areas that it was against code.
Hell I dont care if they use the door to carry the stuff out, thats what I got insurance for. Plus I'm more concerened about keeping them out in the first place.
Doug
I use key-only in particular because I have original front and rear doors with glass. A standard twist-knob inside is not a viable security option for me IMHO. A near-by key is recommended in this case, and for a solid door, actually putting the key in the door at night is preferred.
Interestingly, this was touched on by today's "Ask this old House." They mentioned that the twist-knob style was not good for doors with glass, showed a dual key model, and then proceeded to install a twist-knob style on a solid door without ever really addressing the issue of what to use on a door with glass.
I agree that it is a potential dangerous situation, but does anyone have real numbers of how many deaths are caused by key-only deadbolts in a fire each year? I will ask my fire-fighter friend next time I see him in person. he will be one of the people they interview about the Mt Hood accident two years ago which is being rebroadcast on Dateline tomorrow night as a result of the recent Hood and Ranier accidents.
Our local police unit refered us to a security lock/door/window company started by a retired officer. One of their feauture products is installing lexan sheeting over the inside of existing windows and doors with glass in or near them. If the doors/windows are painted and the interior trim is done well, you just can't tell and the windows are better insulated. It would be DIY for most people here. For high-end homes they do windows and doors that are very secure and include shatterproof glass, etc, and still look great.
Advice from several sources was unanymous. Security systems have their place but don't make them your first line of defence. Spend whatever it takes to physically secure the most accessible points of entry, and wherever the crook will be able to work unobserved.
In shopping around, we also found add-on window sash pins and locks that don't look horrible and permit you to better secure windows closed or open a bit for ventilation.
I came across this recently and agree with most of it.
http://real-estate-agents.com/tips/security/guide.shtml
For myself I wouldnt be concerned. In a fire I could jump out the nearest window. I have small children and their grandmother sleeps over occasionally. That means that in a fire I have to run around the house getting everyone out. Maybe in a smoke filled house in the dark. What I dont need is to have to find a key to get out. Every second counts when you are holding your breath.
Maybe the reason TOH did not address the issue is because they dont want to suggest such a scenario. I think a simple keyless latch on the inside out of view would be sufficient.
If someone is determined to get into your house they will. Deadbolt or not.
i laugh sometimes about security( no im not a burglar) but if you know how to put them together you and a couple of cordless tools can fer sure take the most secure ones apart.i know on the beach in nc quite a few built in safes that can be taken with a hammer and flat bar etc .got an electrician buddy? hahah face it you only can keep the honest thieves out as my old boss used to say
Your right. Locks only keep the honest people honest and the lazy thieves out. In most cases you could roll up with a white van, you could even print up a fictitious company name on cheap stock, and park out front. Guys come out in Blue coveralls and hard hats. Proceed to chainsaw through the wall.
A plank is placed between the back of the van, van is backed up to cover it license tag, and the hole and the guys proceed to empty the goodies. A full two minutes to cut the hole and remove the plug and another three to loot the house and everyone is out. Ramp is tossed in the back and the crew is down the road in five or six minutes.
Even if someone sees this the general appearance of these being legitimate workmen will delay any negative response. With it going this quick a person calling as the truck first arrive would not be quick enough to get police on the scene to stop them. The nondescript truck, outfits and gloves prevents identification.
Thing is that any thief smart and coordinated enough to plan and carry out such a thing would easily keep and hold down a job making similar money at a lot less risk. Which goes a long way to explaining why most thieves are stupid, lazy and fairly easy to deter.
Adam, the first line of security for the home is the doors and windows. If your windows are open, you can still use inside motion detectors for security system. You did not mention the kind of windows you have. I have a ranch with mostly sliders, and I put a 1x1 board in the bottom track to limit window opening to ~3 inch which helps.
Another thing I did (after I saw 2 low-lifes busting into my neighbor's one morning during breakfast) was to put a fence in the back yard and a bunch of motion detectors around the perimeter of the house. Another great help is to leave the TV or radio on loud. Put a mail slot in the garage door instead of having a mail box - noone can see you are gone. Couple timer lights help too. If you have teenage kids, believe it or not, often their "friends" will see something they like and come back to take it. Keep in touch with your neighbors.
To me, security is not just an alarm, it's a whole bunch of things working together. If someone wants in, they will get in, but I like to make it easier for them to go elsewhere. Walk around your yard and "think like a thief" What do you see and what can you do to stop it?
Adam, the first line of security for the home is the doors and windows.
Yes, I agree completly, but then now I don't get any comments when I go around and close the windows before leaving...
You did not mention the kind of windows you have. Sorry, sliders in back and double hung in the front.
All good ideas, I'am moving the mail box this weekend. I have walnut and maple which one should I make it out of do you think? :-)
You may want to look around at suppliers in cities, I haven't seen any in the burbs or even here in Boston (though I admit I haven't really looked hard) but back in NYC every first floor apt had bars on the windows with a lock/gadget/device that could only be opened only from inside, very secure and the good ones were not hard to open. Actually, I know window iron is traditonal in SW architecture, you could try Phoenix? Where u at?
That's what I was thinking... something kinda unobtrusive that a burglar would just walk away from, any ideas on suppliers?
Bars would work, be sure to get a dark color. What the paint folks call bronze, a dark brownish dun, is good as it recedes and is less obvious than black. Of course this is the hard approach.
I have read that anything that blocks views into the house is a great help. Most thieves hesitate to make a move when there is any chance they are observed. Running into someone tends to ruin their day. Something as simple as properly set, angled up so anyone outside can see very little, venetian blind can do wonders.
I have mulled a similar issue and concluded a set of oversized shutters, sized to cover the window with some substantial overlap, put together and suspended about six inches in front of the window would allow ventilation both through and around the shutter while providing a physical barrier. A barrier that would be time consuming or noisy to remove and behind which a resident may be hidden behind.
In the event of a fire a resident could easily kick it out of the way. A firefighter, always enthusiastically and gratuitously destructive, would not be delayed by such a diaphanous impediment. A grab and yank would do it if one was not worried about noise. If this might be an issue a simple alarm would be easily rigged to go off if the shutter was disturbed.
hmmmm, This would run a close first along with the bars.
I've always liked the look of shutters. Does anyone have an idea if they would good on a ranch style house?
Adam
I have double hung windows. I have a 1 x 1/2" stick hanging from the top of the upper sash cut about 5" shorter than the upper sash to allow raising the bottom sash the 5 inches. To open the window all the way simply swivel the stick out of the way.
Great, idea!
I'll do that this weekend.
Maybe I'll laminate a couple of different types of wood together and cut the pieces out of them.
Adam
A couple of BIG Dogs!
Seriously, According to burglers Dogs are the best detterent.
It is VERRRY hard to burgal when you got a pair of 150# rotties chewing on your asss!
Mr T
Happiness is a cold wet nose
Life is is never to busy to stop and pet the Doggies!!
It is VERRRY hard to burgal when you got a pair of 150# rotties chewing on your asss!
I would agree with you. When I was a lot younger the dog that we had them ripped a guys pants off as he was casing the place... the police thought that, that was pretty cool as the guys wallet was in them....
THe only problem is that the lot this place is on is to small for a small dog, much less a larg one.
Adam
Been in security for 30 plus years, so here is mho.
A. Dog but this has other issues especially if it is big and mean. If the scum gets eaten you could wish he stole the stereo and got away.
B. Motion sense lights around the perimiter
C. Motion sensors inside hooked to loud siren with timer. Forget about calling the police, they won't catch em and won't particularly care.
D. 90% of false alarms are because of operator error.
E. Don't keep expensive jewlry and cash even hidden, cause they will find it. Lock it up.
As an aside and this won't console anybody who has been burgled but I have wondered for years if the amount of money spent of all forms of security is acutally less than the losses experienced. I know deterent is a factor but one wonders. But if there weren't bad guys I would be out of a job...or better yet, retired!!;-)
With a name like "GSTRINGE" I would of though you did something else for a living!
I did like the advice though.
Yes that miniker has followed me for 60+ years and back in kid days it was pretty racy but now usually just a chuckle.
A. Dog but this has other issues especially if it is big and mean. If the scum gets eaten you could wish he stole the stereo and got away.
True but then it's just not personal enouph, I like the one good swing with a crowbar concept.
C. Motion sensors inside hooked to loud siren with timer. Forget about calling the police, they won't catch em and won't particularly care.
yep.
E. Don't keep expensive jewlry and cash even hidden, cause they will find it. Lock it up.
Not a problem... It's gone.
Adam
Happened to us in Hawaii. Scumbags removed jalousie window slats before I became smart on how to keep that from happening. It's a significant intrusion and violation -- my wife was most affected, almost like rape. They took her high school ring and other gold, including a locket I gave her years before. Somehow got the locket back, but she won't wear it now. Also took a gun, which made me feel very, very bad. That also was recovered, thank God, before it was used on someone. Key is what you've already read. Had I had the very popular Hawaiian pit bull dog then, the burglars wouldn't have come in, but I also had two beautiful 8 and 14 year old girls. A pit bull around them? To get bored and take off their faces? I'm convinced that these two burglars would have not entered my house had they encountered any reasonable difficulty, as time was not on their side (jail escapees). Most domestic burglaries are slap-dash druggie intrusions, and the perps are desperate and aren't very smart, anyway. Put up a few barriers, be smart about when you're gone, don't leave the back door unlocked when you're mowing the front yard (they can time that one), etc. But most of all, be considerate about how this has affected your wife. Your practical male sense of such as probability of not happening again or your measures taken to prevent it will not convince her it won't, so see to her needs.
most of all, be considerate about how this has affected your wife. Your practical male sense of such as probability of not happening again or your measures taken to prevent it will not convince her it won't, so see to her needs.
True, but then it's a good thing DW was gone at the time as a 4th level black belt in karate doesn't react well to suprises......
and yeah lots of reaserance all around..... Thats why I am still up now... 20hrs later.
Adam
One could get some really prickly bushes to go under those windows if you want to leave them open. We do draw air through one window, so I made a custom sized piece of plywood to hold one of those horizontal twofan units. Once wedged in it is nearly impossible to remove from the outside, but pulling a shim on the inside frees it up quickly.
Security should be designed in layers, each which takes time, since time is the thiefs worst enemy. First thing, keep them off your property. Unlisted phone number keeps them from checking on you, and caller ID lets you know where calls are coming from. Visible perimeter cameras is a nice way of saying "go elsewhere." For those who want to come onto your property, make it hard to get in the house. Gates across the driveway and front entrance with no solicitor signs. Once in the house, make sure Mr Alarm is screaming at top volume the entire time. 2-4000 watts of alarm triggered X-10 lighting makes your place seem really unattractive. I get to experience this periodically when my 1 yo hits "all lights on" on a mini controller. Get creative with motion lights. Place a hidden detector outside which is connected to an upstairs lamp.
Next week, silencers and Claymores for the persistent vermin. ;-)
Holly bushes......... check
Claymores...... hmmmmm
Adam
I've been robbed 3 times in the last year - 1 time a lawn mower left in the back yard in plainview too long, 2nd two times from job sites, last one just two weeks ago.
The one a couple weeks ago was from "secure" job site storage container. It ended up being a fifteen year old kid that lived two houses down. Container was on the job site about four weeks.
I agree with comments written, this is kind of an observation. I renovate run-down rental property, and have a constant problem with kicked-in doors in vacant buildings. But if I put a board of 1/4" plywood with drywall screws over the door opening, it is generally secure as fort knox. Even though I can punch through the plywood with a bare fist and a phillips screwdriver would defeat my plan.
Kind of amazing. I don't get too torqued over thiefs. Of course something serious could come out of it, but most garden-variety b&e's are drug addicts and at a very low point in their lives. Or maybe habitual but a thief has no self-esteem. I have more left after he takes from me than he has at all, even if he got everything I own.
remodeler
Look very hard at your neighborhood. Is it upscale and private or a little down at the heels and looking a bit worn? How common is crime? Are you near things that bring crime into your neighborhood? Maybe your neighbohood is a crossing area where cars are constantly crossing it going to and from.... Do a lot of home have renters or are they almost all privately owned.. neighborhoods withmiddle aged and older families tend to be less of a crime area..
Few criminals work in areas with dead ends and winding twisting roads. The fear of getting lost is probably the number one deterant to crime. Criminals are not typically rocket scientists and the idea of a cop chasing them while they look desperately for a way out will keep most puunks away..
There are realestate web sites. Go to one and type in your zip code and check on the crime rate.. then check on the crime rate in other cities nearby..
Also don't underestimate the effectiveness of neighbors. Neighborhood watches may help but a simple understanding among folks is often better, A standing rule that if anything looks odd each of you will go out and ask with an assurance that such checking will not be seen as nosy or unwelcome.
If a person I have't seen before goes to my neighbors house without going directly to the door or if they tarry after ringing the doorbell I get out, walk over and ask them in a cheery manner if I can help them. My next door neighbors water softener man, greeted my in a friendly manner and is now a known quantity.
The shady looking character with shifty eyes mumbled an answer about 'looking for someone'. I firmly stated that the person who they were looking for wasn't there and made a point of standing my ground and following at a distance. He slinked off and looked persecuted. I made a note, on paper, of his height weight, general description and the licence plate of the car he got into. Wish I had my camera. My neighbor told me she knew no one matching the description.
Maybe it was an innocent visit by a guy who was lost. Maybe he will tell his friends that he came here and noticed that the people seemed friendly but observant. Either way no harm was done and the word might get out not to mess around in this area. I do the same thing with the Jehovah's Witnesses after pointing out that the neighborhood is clearly marked with a 'no solicitation' sign. I don't care if they are on a 'mission from God'. My neighbor agrees.
I have a general understanding with most people around my place and I have seen them do the same when they thought I wasn't home. I'm not sure if this always works but people who come around know that they are watched, that unusual vehicles and people will be noted and that people care about their neighbors property. I have also been told, by the police, that this area has a lower rate of break ins.
Perhaps a bit more socialistic than some would like but such community efforts at mutual defence seem to have an effect.
" Wish I had my camera. My neighbor told me she knew no one matching the description."
4Lorn1,
Good words of advice. IMO, criminally minded people commit crimes in places they are familiar with, and feel "safe". Keep them away, and you're OK for the most part.
I find myself now carrying my digi cam with me quite often (as you can probably tell from how many pics I post here) You never know when it will come in handy.
Jon
That comes from being friendly with your neighbors. Sure it's not as neat sounding as a neighborhood watch but it's every bit as effective.. perhaps more so.
I wouldn't call that socialistic. Socialistic is where you expect "the state" to protect you and no one else.
Reminded me of something as we were getting the new water line put in out at the meter. Middle aged guy rides by on a bike with a newspaper bag over his shoulder. About 15 minutes later, he rides by again. This time, the plumbers assistant steps towards the street and says to him, "How ya doin?" Guy looks up startked and rides off. About 5 minutes later, a light comes on in my head, and I say to the assistant, "I wonder if that guy was casing the neighborhood." The assistant replies, "He was, and he won't be coming down this street for awhile." It had suddenly occured to me that it was a Thursday and the little freebie food section of the newspaper comes on Wednesdays.
In talking to my neighbors, it seems my camera system has caused quite a stir. One neighbor overheard a person from the end of the block instruct the person caring for her dog not to let the dog use my yard "cause he has cameras." It will be interesting to see if break-ins on the street come to a stop, since most IMHO are done by people familiar with the area.