What are the best ways to protect your home?

[NashvilleLefty]

I know some people will answer "gun". But there are several things to consider here:

-most break-ins occur when no one is home, a gun can is only useful when someone is there to use it.
-homeowner guns are not very useful, despite the false sense of security. Many people have been killed by their own guns during break-ins.
-keeping a gun is dangerous. It is highly likely that if you keep a gun "handy", then a child or other member of your family will find it and use it to seriously injure or kill another member of your family.
-if you follow proper safety procedures such as keeping your gun locked up and keeping the ammo separate, then it will take you longer to access your gun and render it "useful" than for the burglar to render the whole point moot.

So, basically, the whole meme of "I keep a gun to protect my family" is rendered moot. Especially since there are so many better options available. Here are my preferences and/or ideas. Please present more!


Dog - I love having a dog, and I got him for the love he provides me. But, he is also the perfect guard. When I am not home, I don't have to worry because I know my dog protects the house for me. When I am home and even when he is sleeping in the same bed with me, I have no worries because he has much better hearing and other senses than me. He is not only the perfect early warning system, but he neutralizes any threat. Plus, he is my best friend.

Home Security Systems - Expensive, but worth it for the peace of mind (if you don't like dogs). Just the sound of an alarm going off will cause a would-be attacker to run away.

Home Security System Signs - even if you don't subscribe to the high monthly fees, just having a sign in your yard that you do could be a major deterrent when someone is deciding whether or not to burglarize your home.

Landscaping - this could be as simple as adding "landscape lighting" to your property. This has the double duty of making your property "look" pretty, but also discourages anyone who prefers working in the dark. Also and probably more importantly, there are a lot of decorative bushes that serve double-duty as thorn bushes that when planted below windows, keep any potential burglars from entrance.

Bottom line - there are much better, safer, and more effective methods of "protecting your property" than keeping a gun. Anyone who claims that they "need" a gun for home protection is - IMHO - just plain "stupid" and are only looking for excuses.

EDIT to add - I originally meant this for other suggestions for home protection, sorry that it became more of a "rant"
What would YOU suggest to increase Home Security?

[Panasonic]

1. My SBD.

After I let my Thunder after him.

That's all.

[kentauros]

2. Another member suggested one of these devices:

Fake TV

It's supposed to simulate the light-variances of a TV in use.

I may consider getting one for my apartment and put it on a timer

[IDemo]

13. It may be more interesting to watch, as well. n/t

[kentauros]

15. Perhaps with the proper substances, yes

[uponit7771]

32. +1

[arthritisR_US]

3. I've always found locks useful.

[kentauros]

9. That depends on how you use them.

They are quite useful both locked and unlocked.

[arthritisR_US]

30. That they are!

[rrneck]

4. Lock doors and windows.

You can harden doors and windows by beefing up locks. If somebody really wants in very few things will stop them, but hardening the perimeter will slow them down and make a lot of noise. That will give you time to call the cops and get to your next layer of defense what ever that is be it a gun or a safe room. Preferably both.

If you make him fight his way into the house, you will have time to get ready for him and hopefully time for the police to arrive.

[annabanana]

5. pilings

[Cleita]

6. Good suggestions.

I'll add surveillance cameras to that. Easy to get at Radio Shack. My gate is blind, like I can't see who's there from a window, so I have a camera trained on it for anyone who tries to get in. My family also has cameras at their entrances as they are a distance from the actual house. Of course our dogs sound the warning for anyone who approaches so we have plenty of time to see who they are, what they are up to and with time to call 9-11 and put other security precautions in place before they can get close.

[TheBlackAdder]

18. Don't go to Radio Shack. You need professional grade cameras for a guaranteed conviction.

The good kind of cameras are about $200-$250 each and have night capabilities. Of course, if you are living in an area that gets cold, you might need an enclosure or install the cameras in gable vents or shining out an interior window.

Proximity detectors are nice. X-10 sells some really cheap ones that let you know if someone is in your driveway, mailbox or walking around your house. They can also be used to trip a DVR. Internet recording is safe if done properly, where your images are stored off-site so if someone steals your gear or damages it, you have the recordings elsewhere.

Dog and the mandatory Beware of Dog signs. In my state, you need No Trespassing signs or else quasi-public trespassing can occur.

[Rex]

7. NOT a gun.

Lighting. Automatic timers etc..

[ManiacJoe]

8. You have a good start on the first half of the problem.

First half: how to keep the Bad Guys out of you home.

What are your defenses for the second half of the problem: what to do when the Bad Guys enter your home? Having a gun is one option, but not the only option.

[Cleita]

10. If they have had to push their way through good security systems, you

have had enough time to leave. Let the police and their guns handle it from there.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

19. A good security system slows them down not at all

Locks and other hardening about 30 seconds.

Cameras just let you know whom to expect.

[Cleita]

20. Well, they've kept our family safe for eighteen years now and we live in the county

where there are no street lights. Another thing that really keeps us safe are nosy neighbors. Whenever there are suspicious characters around every telephone on our streets ring.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

21. Situational awareness is key and neighbors are part of that.

The technical whistles and bells may determine an amateur/neighborhood kid, but they won't deter a serious burglar or determined home invader.

I have the most sophisticated security system I know. It covers acres, has video, OHV detection and all can be remotely monitored. The joy of being a geek with some unusual security needs. When people have come on the property at night, I know they are coming, but that is about it. When I am not there, I can call the cops, who sometimes get there, sometimes not.

In the past I have had to regularly deal with trespassers. The tech told me there were there, the cops and the cougars changed their minds most of the time. However, there were times when the sidearm or rifle convinced them to change their minds.

[Cleita]

22. Sure they did. n/t

[ProgressiveProfessor]

23. I have posted for some time about where I live, makes where you are look like Times Square

No other building for miles and backs onto BLM land. Major solar cell installation and even a gun range.

Out here you carry a sidearm at minimum most of the time. Snakes are a real problem, some times the big cats are too. I open carry a revolver so I can select the right round when needed.

I used to have regular problems with trespassers setting up their RVs in my " front yard". Nothing like coming home to find a couple of toy haulers in your yard with the owners either gone, or there and drunk as skunks. I used to get them towed, but the country sheriff "strongly suggested" that I stop that because they were afraid of a major incident. On several occasions the now homeless ATV riders were quite aggressive, but the presence of a sidearm slowed them down. I am 30 minutes from the cop shop on a good day.

A few times I have had people walk on...its a helluva hike. Security system lets me know they are there, the camera lets me verify they are human and not another cougar. I call the cops, but if they are starting to damage things, I will intervene. In all cases they ran like hell. One ran the wrong way and the cops had to find him lest he die out there.

I now have the Mother Of All Gates. Remote controlled and monitored. That stops a lot of the traffic. The audio and visual can route to my cell phone. Keeps a lot of the problems out, though some idiots are most insistent. Riding up on the ATV with a lever action rifle in the scabbard and the revolver in holster, tends to get them to back off.

The presence of working guns (vice ARs or AKs) seems to convince people that the problems (cats, snakes, or coyotes) are real and I am not some sort of gun nut.

I also have been known to infer that I was the caretaker, not the owner. It plays to many people's internal racism. I told more than one infuriated ATV rider whose rig was towed to the opposite side of the country that the owner had called the tow trucks. It cooled them off towards me.

I could argue that many of those were Defensive Gun Uses...the unaccounted metric in much of this debate.

[Major Nikon]

33. Much of what you post makes me chuckle, 'professor'

"snakes are a real problem"

I grew up on a farm which was every bit as remote as what you describe. I never once thought I needed a "sidearm" for "snakes" (or anything else) and we had copperheads, cottonmouths, rattlesnakes, and less frequently coral snakes. In other words, just about every type of poisonous snake found in North America. For over a decade I worked on the tops of mountains all over the west where we had rattlesnakes under just about every building and never once did I think I needed a gun. Cats, coyotes, and ATV riders are even a more laughable excuse.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

41. I am sure you handled those snakes you found quite well

And your time must have been in the civilized parts. I can light up wildlife eyes every night. Some of the interlopers have lost their dogs out here. I see cat tracks most days.

I chose to kill the snakes with a shot shell...at my age I know better than to dance with them.

[Major Nikon]

62. As I said, 'professor' it was just as remote as what you describe

If you'd ever spent any time in rural west Texas you'd know exactly how "civilized" it is. It's as remote as any area in the lower 48.
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=7052

I can light up "wildlife eyes" in suburbia every night in my back yard. If that's what scares you, I seriously doubt you've spent much of any time outside urban areas. If you let your dogs run loose, some of them are going to come up missing. That's just the way it is. Smaller ones get taken by coyotes and others get shot. Cougars are nocturnal and are rarely ever seen by humans. Even more rarely are people ever attacked by them. You have a far bigger risk of drowning in your bathtub. Even mentioning cougars as a threat proves just how little you know. Snakes are extremely effective at keeping rodent populations down which you actually should be worried about. Only city slickers and idiots shoot snakes. Clear the immediate area around your home of rodent habitat, wear boots, and you'll rarely ever have to worry about snakes. The vast majority of people who are bitten by snakes are messing with them. So by trying to kill them, you are "dancing" with them and putting yourself at more risk than if you'd just let them be.

If you feel the need to shoot at eyes in the dark out of irrational fear, more power to you. Just don't try to pass it off as a necessity because there are those of us here who know better and are going to call BS. The more you post the more you reveal just how little you know about living in less than "civilized" areas.

[NashvilleLefty]

64. Well said! nt

[NashvilleLefty]

63. Sorry, but everything you say makes me believe

differently.

I live in the woods, and my property borders a wildlife preserve. I admit that I have a shotgun, and I have used it exactly twice - once on a timber rattler, and once on a copperhead. But only because both of them decided to make a home too close to my house. I have dealt with copperheads in many other situations and either ignored them or managed to persuade them to "move on".

Your repeated suggestion of "cat" tracks simply does not make sense. Now, I do own a shotgun and I would suggest it if I had seen cat tracks just to "be sure", but your other statements simply make no sense.

For one thing, cats avoid the scent of humans at all costs, unless there is some other reason such as chickens to attract them. Further, cats avoid the scent of dogs at all costs. I would pit a pack of dogs against a cat any day.

So, I would keep a "barn gun" available if I were you. But none of that justifies having a pistol for "protection".

Plus, if you live where you say you do, then you most likely own a pack of dogs and none of this I am saying is necessary. I don't know anyone who lives in a remote area with lots of critters around who doesn't own at least one dog.

[datasuspect]

11. five or six former Russian Navy dudes

they are pretty badass.

or some drunk bosnians.

[Cleita]

12. Israeli ex-special forces dudes can be pretty bad ass too. n/t

[kentauros]

14. So can oilfield workers

and survey crews

[Kennah]

47. Railroad workers!

[kentauros]

70. There ya go!

Also, machinists, welders, pipefitters, riggers, steelworkers, loggers,...

Maybe better to just hire a bouncer or two, with clipboards and a list!

[safeinOhio]

16. Motion lights around the house.

Add 3 inch screws to all door hinges and strikers.
On the internet, I found a phone that looks like a normal cord phone. It also is motion activated and will call my cell phone if anyone comes in while I'm not home. I can listen to what they are doing. I have the PD on speed dial, not 911 as I might be out of state. It is called the spy phone and can be found for around $50.
Google "window security films".
Turn a walkin closet into a safe room.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

17. Depends heavily on where you are

Dogs are free food to the critters where I live, where the neighborhood kitties are cougars. In less extreme environments, dogs rarely attack, and can be easily defeated.

Alarm sirens are low value, and after a few false alarms will get disconnected at the request/demand of neighbors or police. Easily bypassed/defeated as is the phone line. Most alarms are still monitored over the phone.

Security signs are a bad joked foisted off on the population by the low end trunk slammers. Best use for them would be as a club instead of a baseball bat (more sharp edges)

Landscape and outdoor lighting helps, but check to see if daylight or night burglaries are the most common.

===============================

Best approach is actually layers that use all/some of your list.

1) Dogs notify you. A good thing. That means they have to be a house pet. Noise deterrent only while the residence is occupied.

2) Alarm. Useful only if not obvious. Some jurisdictions require the alarm permit be displayed, hide yours anyway. Use cell phone tech for central station comms, with an internet link as a backup. Avoid the big chains and go with a local installer who can do some interesting things. Alternatively, it you can run wire do it yourself and self monitor. Save $$$ every month. Refuse the yard sign, its just free advertising to the installing company. Expect it to be several thousands of dollars if done right. The free systems with a monitoring contract are a waste.

3) Landscaping and outdoor lighting is a minor change with not a lot of value. Do keep your garage door area clear.

4) Good locks on the doors and windows. It will stop a kid, but not a serious burglar or determined home invader.

The key thing for safety is an attitude of situational awareness. Know your home, know when things are not right, and have a plan. Even the best alarm system is worthless is you don't have a clue about what you are going to do.

A long long time ago, we did some modeling of burglaries based on police stats available at the time. They don't like occupied residences most of all. If you are not there, make it hard to get to important stuff and have insurance to cover the TVs, computers, and game consoles. The alarm will call the cops to chase them off and minimize the losses.

If you are there and have an alarm system, manually trigger it. That gets a much faster response than "the alarm went off and they are away". That takes about 10 seconds, much faster than 9/11 call (call them too). Then execute your plan, whether its a semi automatic handgun (best response) or a can of beans (a stupid response)

[TheMadMonk]

24. If you're up against that a determined burgular, just wtf...

...are you keeping in your home.

The sort of people you're talking about there are not after consumer electronics that might nett a grand or so.

If they're keep coming against even a lightly layered defence, YOU HAVE SOMETHING THEY WANT.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

25. Sometime the determination is chemically augmented and not rational (meth...)

There are also examples of gang members attacking a home for vengeance. Its not always what you have, its what they think you have.

When doing that just in case planning, everything from a drunk neighbor trying to get into your home by mistake to something quite serious should be covered. Most people do not have that many options anyway.
- Bail from the house
- Retreat to an enclosed space
The latter is the most common, since one is rarely dressed to bug out in the middle of the night.

This is all a straight forward threat/risk analysis that individuals need to do regardless of where they live.

[former-republican]

35. If you are there then it's a pretty good bet it's probably not a burglary.

And you better have a firearm.

[jeff47]

46. The idea is to be the least attractive target

Thus, you want that alarm sign very visible. It's not there to catch the burglar. It's there to convince the burglar to hit a different house.

If you've made your house unattractive as a target with plants, yard signs, dog, etc and they come in anyway, they're not after your stuff. And they're quite prepared for your defenses. Your gun may make you feel better, but isn't going to do much good in that situation.

[NashvilleLefty]

54. Cougars tend to avoid dogs. Even just the smell.

I've read several of your posts now, and I tend to not believe anything you say because so many of your statements are simply not true.

I do agree with some of your statements., but not all of them. For instance, a semi-auto handgun is the worst response, not the best. As I stated earlier, there are many dangers equated with a handgun and by meeting these dangers you are eliminating the effectiveness of it.

[sarisataka]

26. Some ideas

Good locks, dogs are good- noisy is more important than big, adequate lighting, remove potential hiding places.

Security system signs do as much as the actual system. They help deter those looking for targets of opportunity.

Keep your garages closed. I find it amazing how many attached garages seem to be open 24/7.

Have lights on timers, TVs too.

Often overlooked- know your neighbors and learn which are trustworthy to help watch your stuff when you cannot.

[loli phabay]

27. all good ideas but when it comes to protecting your person a twelve gauge works best

An aside for the get dogs thinking. I enter a lot of homes when no one is home and the majority of dogs just follow you around as you search all the rooms even a lot of the so called vicious breeds.

[former-republican]

28. If you're home the best protection is a gun

If you're not home , nothing else matters really.

If they want to smash and grab they are in a home 10 minutes tops.
A home alarm will be useless.

If you have a couple of dogs barking when they knock on your door .Usually they will pick an easier house to burglarize when the
homeowner is absent.

Nothing works like a gun when you're home.

[dionysus]

31. if you have it on you, loaded.. perhaps. if you're sound asleep and your gun is secured safely

in a different room, unloaded, it won't be of much use if someone gets the drop on you

[former-republican]

34. Why would you have your home defense weapon like that?

That makes no sense if you're home.
Even with a child in the home you can have it secured in a small finger print recognizable safe for fast access.

Bolt it right to your dresser by the bed.

[dionysus]

67. do you have a biometric safe in every room for those times you're at the dinner table, basement,

taking a shit, ect?

not that having a piece is a bad idea.. just that it doesn't mean it will help you at all times unless you're paranoid enough to be packing at the dinner table. even then...

[NashvilleLefty]

56. A gun is the WORST idea!

Again, most home invasions happen when no one is home. Plus, the disadvantages of owning a gun and the potential dangers far out-weigh the perceived advantages in the unlikely event that you are actually home and can access the gun and ammo. Plus, the chances are that the gun will be used against you.

Everyone likes to think that they are Rambo - but you're not. Deal with it.

[Cronkite]

29. Loud dogs are my best idea......

I do own a gun in case the dogs do not discourage intruders. I am rural and calling a person with a gun to protect me isn't realistic so I have my own to do the job. I have been trained by the USMC to handle firearms properly so why do I need to ask others to defend?

[flvegan]

36. Yes, landscaping is much better than a gun.

You can't ask for greater stupidity.

[GobBluth]

37. Can I ask how you make your Dog

the Perfect Guard?

As far as I can tell, our rescue dog is a Rottie mix. He won't bark for anything, except when our cats get outside or there is a snake. I am hard of hearing/deaf, and would LOVE if I could teach him to bark when someone is at our door/window, general area. When someone comes to the door, if I don't notice, then he WILL pace back and forth between me and the door. I do have some faith that he could attack if needed. When play fighting with my kids he gets very anxious and actually snipped at me once. Don't fuck with my kids is the attitude I get from him, but other than that, it is, rub my belly please!

[jeff47]

45. Step 1: Teach the dog to "speak"

Much like you'd teach the dog any other trick - reward 'em with something when they do what you command them to do. May require help from those kids in that you can reward the kids for barking on command to give the dog the idea of what you want.

Next, have someone else knock on the door, then tell your dog "speak". Reward. Repeat until the dog barks at knocking.

And so on.

[NashvilleLefty]

57. Don't fuck with my kids -

That's all you need. Let someone actually threaten your kids, and watch that "rub my belly" stuff disappear quickly.

Dogs that don't bark are oftentimes the best guardians.

[RomneyLies]

38. Best way to protect your home? A well financed local police department.

Outside that, you are more likely to kill a loved one than to prevent any sort of crime.

[ErikJ]

39. Small dogs best deterrent

Oprah had a security expert on her show who was an ex-burglar and he said that a samll dog is their worst enemy because they are most likely to bark at the intruders.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

40. Motion lighting, quality doors/frames/locks, a dog, and a shotgun.

If you want to get a little more expensive then add 3M security Film on the windows, security system, outdoor motion cameras, and upgrade to a Bushmaster .223

Most criminals steal shit because they are too lazy to earn a real living. They're lazy and will look for easy targets. The goal is simply to not be one of the easiest targets on your block. Often good locks, lights, and a loud dog will make you a tougher target than someone else. The goal is not build a crime-proof house... just make other target look easier. Don't be the low-hanging fruit.

[Starry Messenger]

42. Avoid men who say they like to have sex with passed out drunk girls.

[LeftyMom]

59. +1

[Undismayed]

43. There's nothing in my home worth killing over.

I'd rather have all my stuff taken then have to kill a misguided soul.

[ManiacJoe]

65. The Bad Guys don't always agree.

> There's nothing in my home worth killing over.
Only the Bad Guys know if there is going to be a gun fight or not.

[HiPointDem]

66. I got car burgled twice. once they didn't get anything but ruined the car trying to pry out an

old radio with a crowbar. the next time they got a bag of candybars.

people are strange. you never know what they'll do.

[XemaSab]

44. Making friends with the neighbors

I know that's not always possible everywhere, but a simple "Hey, are you Erin's friend?" in the right direction could send someone fleeing.

[Rex]

61. Wait...

PEOPLE live in those other buildings? Dam, now when did that start?

[Kennah]

48. Has no one considered moats and alligators?

[Kennah]

49. 1/3 of all burglaries are through unlocked doors/windows

That doesn't mean if you lock your doors and windows that every burglar will automatically move along to look for an unlocked home, but it will deter some of them.

[Zorra]

50. i suspect that a deep, wide

moat full of hungry piranhas and crocodiles would be fairly effective in most cases.

[Recursion]

51. Elect Democrats to state, local, and federal government (nt)

[JReed]

52. How do you protect against

closures from banksters?

[Scootaloo]

53. Cooking adobo every night.

No one will want to come into your house

[jberryhill]

55. Alligator Moat

[bhikkhu]

60. We have good neighbors

and a dog, and not much that would be worth stealing.

[Speck Tater]

68. Hardened doors and windows...

that give me time to get myself well hidden. I'd rather the guy gives up trying to break in because the doors are too hard to get through, but if he does get in I'd rather he thought I wasn't at home. That's why my safe room should be well hidden. It would be nice to have HD cameras capturing the whole event so I'll have something to give the police if they don't arrive in time to catch the guys in the act. But that's secondary.

Because...

What I want most of all is to never, ever, under any circumstances, come face to face with the person or people breaking in. I don't want them to see me. I don't want them to know I'm there. Let them take the stuff and run, as long as they leave me the hell alone. The truth is I don't have a damn thing worth stealing anyway, and I certainly don't have a damn thing worth dying for.

That works for me because I live alone. My kids are grown, my wife passed away a long time ago. This obviously wouldn't work for a family with kids. But I wouldn't want a gun in the same house with kids either. Especially since when I'm scared shitless in the middle of the night I could very well end up shooting my kid instead of the burglar.

No, I don't want a dog. If I had had a dog for home protection I would already have fed him for almost 70 years and he never would have had the opportunity to save me from anything, because in 67 years I've never been robbed or invaded. That's a hell of a lot of money wasted on dog food! And 67 years wasted on walking the dog and picking up his poop!

[SheilaT]

69. My defense is to maintain my home in a condition

so that if someone were to break in, he'd say "Dammit! Someone else was just here!" and turn around and go away.

(I once told cops at a neighborhood watch meeting my theory of housekeeping and they laughed and said, It just might work.)

In reality, while my housekeeping standards aren't very high, I also do not own a TV. A break-in person might notice the computer I'm using to post this, and would maybe take it, which would by quite annoying. Maybe they'd find my laptop, maybe not. My front door is far too open to the neighbors to be a desirable point of break-in, and to get through the back side of this house you'd have to climb at least two walls, which means others here are far easier to get into.

In short, I feel as safe as anyone can realistically feel. I don't have a lot of stuff to take and I'm not that hard to break into. I personally have absolutely no need or desire for a gun, but that certainly has a lot to do with where exactly I'm located.