DIY Home Security

[BenGrimm]

In general burglars hate dogs. And I don't even necessarily mean a dog that's likely to tear their throat out. If a dog starts going berserk as they try to jimmy a lock or jack open a window "most" will take off if they think there's any chance of the house being occupied...the whole element of surprise is lost.

Having said that a dog that is not only an alarm but an actual physical threat to them is even more dissuasive.

My dog barks when the doorbell rings but it's really just a woof..

I've also got two small children (3 in January) so I'm not getting an aggressive dogs anytime soon.

 

[Toujours Pret]

What about when you are not home?

Easy, don't leave your house. Hide in a closet with MRE's and a poop bucket.

 

[hndog609]

My dog barks when the doorbell rings but it's really just a woof..

I've also got two small children (3 in January) so I'm not getting an aggressive dogs anytime soon.

As I stated a dog need not be an actual physical threat to a burglar but ideally one that will make noise if given cause. Think "alarm dog" vs "guard dog". My sister had a little squirrel of a dog that probably couldn't have bit through a pair of jeans if it's life depended on it but the damn thing had nearly Jedi powers about when someone came near the house. It would have been useless in active protection but there was no way you were getting inside without that little hairball going off.

OTOH some people simply don't want a yappy little dog regardless so there's that.

 

[Coug]

It's a wired system. Chimes on the Doors and windows plus a couple of motion detectors that we don't even arm because our cats have set them off in the past. It was already in the house when we bought it and we just activated it. I've looked into other companies taking it over but after activation fees and crap I haven't found the value. The only upgrade I would really like is arming/disarming from my phone.

In all honesty I only have it for my wife. When she first moved out of her parents her apartment was broken into while she was asleep.in her bedroom. She's been scared of intruders ever since.

You can't use a phone app to control your home security panel without a cellular module inside the control panel. Unless your control panel is already cellular compatible, which is unlikely, you'd have to upgrade the panel with one that is(2gig go, Simon XTI, etc). You'd then need to purchase a cellular module if the control panel you bought didn't come with one. You'd still be paying anywhere between $15 to $30 monthly for use of the cellular+app capability.

In general burglars hate dogs. And I don't even necessarily mean a dog that's likely to tear their throat out. If a dog starts going berserk as they try to jimmy a lock or jack open a window "most" will take off if they think there's any chance of the house being occupied...the whole element of surprise is lost.

Having said that a dog that is not only an alarm but an actual physical threat to them is even more dissuasive.

Friend had his house broken into here in Knoxville and he had two small dogs. They were found in the closet unharmed when they got home.

 

[Sandvol]

I did my own home security from Live Watch. Very easy.

 

[vol_in_ar]

You can't use a phone app to control your home security panel without a cellular module inside the control panel. Unless your control panel is already cellular compatible, which is unlikely, you'd have to upgrade the panel with one that is(2gig go, Simon XTI, etc). You'd then need to purchase a cellular module if the control panel you bought didn't come with one. You'd still be paying anywhere between $15 to $30 monthly for use of the cellular+app capability.



Friend had his house broken into here in Knoxville and he had two small dogs. They were found in the closet unharmed when they got home.

high probability that someone that knew the family and dogs broke in

 

[ETV]

Install a DIY surveillance system in your home. Acquire an SBR with frangible rounds (very sufficient for close proximity defense).

Oh, and a dog.

 

[Coug]

The security signs have in fact been known to work. Just lighting alone can be a huge deterrent for thieves. A well lit house is something they try and avoid. Invest in some LED flood lights and swap out all your incandescent bulbs. This will allow you to leave them on through the night and only burn a fraction of the electricity. There's is also a very good chance that will be the last time you have to climb that ladder to change those bulbs. This will also help protect those cars in the driveway.

The neighborhood I live in is very dark at night and several years back every car that was parked in the cul-de-sac at the top of the hill was broken into, something like 6 cars. The cops even mentioned that it's really dark there and the cars were in the street so it makes them easy targets. I've hear similar stories about houses.