Home Security

[Drago]

Fit a safe, then hide all your valuables in the freeze. A double bluff.

 

[Electric_Andy]

Same thing happened to us 6 years ago. They got in through the back door which was an old wooden one with a glass window. They just broke the window and climbed through.

If your external doors are all UPVC and the windows the same, then there's not much else to do in terms of actually preventing access.

To deter access in the first place, I'd recommend an alarm and either a real or a good fake CCTV camera in full view. Most crims may not care about the camera though, as they'd likely break in the back and cover their faces, knowing that "jeans and a black T-shirt" would not be evidence enough to convict them if caught.

Regarding the alarm, you can place the sensors where you want but we have to tape over the ones in the main house else the cat sets it off. The ones in the lounge are active and we shut the door so the cat can't get in. The front door also activates the alarm but the back does not.

Re: insurance. Check with your insurers, but luckily all our stuff was replaced like for like, even £40 cash we had on the fireplace. If we couldn't find receipts for our goods, they were happy with photos or even original packaging. EDIT: at the time of the burglary, our house alarm was inactive. We promptly got it fixed after the incident!

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Alarms, even monitored ones, aren't a deterrent as they don't care as they'll be out long before the police get there and know nobody walking passed will do anything.

Put yourself in a burglar's shoes You are on edge and crapping yourself anyway, the last thing you want is to take a stupid risk. So you see the house has an alarm but the two either side don't, which would you break into?

Same as Krooklocks on cars, they can be defeated but why waste valuable time when there are ten other motors nearby with nothing?

 

[Markymark]

Put yourself in a burglar's shoes You are on edge and crapping yourself anyway, the last thing you want is to take a stupid risk. So you see the house has an alarm but the two either side don't, which would you break into?

Same as Krooklocks on cars, they can be defeated but why waste valuable time when there are ten other motors nearby with nothing?

Put yourself in my shoes - broken into 3 times within 6 months, always had a monitored (police) alarm who came out after they'd legged it. Other houses nearby have no alarms They were clearly more interested on the cars they were looking for keys for and ease of access. Dealt with it with gates and smartwater and now had no issue for several years.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

You either had something they wanted or were unlucky. It is still safer to have a deterrent than not.

 

[Markymark]

You either had something they wanted or were unlucky. It is still safer to have a deterrent than not.

I think other factors player a bigger role in which house they target and can distract from the best deterrents.

 

[vickster]

I think other factors player a bigger role in which house they target and can distract from the best deterrents.

Well if you will live in Essex and own a souped up max powaaaa motor

 

[raleighnut]

Put yourself in my shoes - broken into 3 times within 6 months, always had a monitored (police) alarm who came out after they'd legged it. Other houses nearby have no alarms They were clearly more interested on the cars they were looking for keys for and ease of access. Dealt with it with gates and smartwater and now had no issue for several years.

Or my theory is if you have an alarm then you've got stuff worth nicking.

You either had something they wanted or were unlucky. It is still safer to have a deterrent than not.

For me the best alarm would have nothing visible outside but a 120db siren inside on a 60sec delay but with no 'beeps'

Lets see if they soil their undercrackers after that.

 

[classic33]

Or my theory is if you have an alarm then you've got stuff worth nicking.



For me the best alarm would have nothing visible outside but a 120db siren inside on a 60sec delay but with no 'beeps'

Lets see if they soil their undercrackers after that.

Sonic Grenade!!

 

[NorthernDave]

This is quite true. But as I understand it, smaller, more excitable dogs are a bigger deterrent. It's the noise - and the possibility it will attract attention - that puts burglars off.

We have a Jack Russell and he alerted us to a break in across the road. As soon as he started barking and I put the light on the burglars scarpered.

I agree - you need one of these:

Louder than any alarm, can detect the crunch of gravel underfoot 2 streets away and seems to be under the strange misapprehension that he's an Alsatian...

On a serious note, if you feel the need to upgrade your security then go for it but don't let what sounds like an unfortunate and isolated incident unjustly impact on your peace of mind.
We've got good quality locks on good quality composite doors and an alarm. If they're going to get past that lot and the Attack Terrier then there's probably not much else that can be done to stop them.

Just make sure your bikes are well secured...

 

[Drago]

I think I'd take my chances with a terrier over my daughters 55kg rottweiler. Most of the burglars I've met draw the line at animals higher up the food chain that they are.