Home security options (non-tech related) ?

IrishCannon

IrishCannon

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What are some home improvements you all have made to make your home less appealing to ragamuffin ne'er-do-wells?

Just bought a house and plan on doing some improvements like reinforced door frames (Door Armor Max), shrubs around the main floor windows, zip tie the emergency pull on the garage door, and I'd like to upgrade the back door. Looking for some other suggestions.
 
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Inexpensive drive-way alarms. I have a few attached to trees and painted to match the tree bark. Almost impossible to see. Monitor is in the house and everything is battery operated.
Three dogs in the house. Between the alarms going off and the dogs raising hell it's near impossible to get near the place.

I know you mentioned non-tech but they are very low tech, as are motion lights.
As far as shrubbery goes plant some pyracantha bushes at strategic places that you do not want anyone to be or hide in. They are nasty. Now if I could just figure out how to get ground wasps to build a hive where I wanted. ;)
 
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solar charged battery powered automatic gate opener

inexpensive wireless driveway alarms

500 lumen dimmable bulbs for the car port motion light

solar charged dusk to dawn light over the shop door, normally dim, full bright on motion detected

Dog
 
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Good suggestions so far.

I have storm doors for both the front and rear door. Leave the glass in there year round and lock them at night. Intruders need to break them before they can attempt the main doors (both reinforced). Also have a dead bolt on the door to the garage.

Exterior lights are also effective. I turn the flood lights on as part of my lock up routine. And the lights at my front door, back doors and over the garage have motion sensors, so they handle duty between dusk and bed time.
 
post some of these up and you'll have nothing to worry about...

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in all seriousness: Dogs, Motion Lights, bushes and reenforcing the doors and windows are all solid steps to take. Once you're in the home, see if you can jimmy the doors and windows and where the weak points are. Congrats on your new home!
 
Dog,
Same reason people will run from police but not a dog. Good chance the police won’t shoot. 100% chance the dog will eat your ass up.
Great thread. Watching with it if interest.
 
Instead of doing the door armor you could run 2 inch screws into your door strike plate.

Some type of alarm system like SimpliSafe
 
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amnesia said:
Instead of doing the door armor you could run 2 inch screws into your door strike plate.

Some type of alarm system like SimpliSafe
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The video of the dude running a battering ram into a door with the Door Armor Max kinda sold me. - I've read up on just using longer screws but that kit comes with all that and includes frame and hinge reinforcement plates. Looks pretty nice.

I would love to have a dog but that's going to have to wait. I have enough things that poop right now.
 
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When we made some changes I reframed the doorways and added extra studs on either side of the openings. I have 3 2x4's on either side of the doorframe. Hinges are held by 4 inch tempered screws. Striker plate and deadbolt the same. Doors are reinforced. Not getting in with a ram quickly. Det cord yes but if that's who is coming in I'm screwed anyway.

3 dogs; 2 quiet big ones and one hypersensitive yapper. Little one sounds the alarm; big ones provide delay while I respond.

Second the recommendation for pyrocanthia bushes to keep people away from areas or funnel them where you want them. Fresh growth is only a little more tough than average; but mature branches I prune with tin snips. The thorns are razor sharp and tough also.

There is a film system you can armor window glass with; don't remember the product name.
 
@Downeast

Can you tell me the brand of motion sensor you use?

Also, distance from house and battery life?
 
I'm one of the few on my block that has front and back porch lights on all night in timers. Nest camera on front porch and CPI Security alarm.
 
what has worked for us (so far):

1. dogs.
2. multiple motion detector lights. some are battery-powered.
3. good neighbors. maybe this should be #1. get to know your new neighbors.
 
Lighting and lack of “hiding” places. Good outdoor lights that pretty much cover your immediate yard are a deterrent. Next keep shrubbery and such at a size and situation where they do not offer nice cover for “hiding” out of sight. That sad also the type of shrubs can also keep … thorny sticky stuff encourages people to not get to close.

Inside … your doors can be reenforced in the jams and such pretty easy with simply longer screws. I also love the Door Club … https://www.homedepot.com/p/Winner-International-Brass-Door-Club-20ca/202373849 … which ain’t goin’ nowhere short of a couple big dudes pushing on it for at least a minute or two after they breach the deadbolt. Also inside setup your lighting where if someone does make it in you are on the dark side of the lighting and he is lit or backlit. Simple nightlight in the hallway or such that allow you to see him without him being able to see you.
 
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I have motion sensor lights at all four corners of the house. Plus around my shop.

then two large dogs do the rest of the work for us...the lab does the barking but I am pretty sure the aussie would be the one that would bite you..
 
Car0linab0y said:
There is a film system you can armor window glass with; don't remember the product name.
Click to expand...
3m makes a window film that will make it so that they can’t break the windows. The rep I was talking to said that while it’s not rated as such, it’s pretty much ballistic proof. Wasn’t terribly expensive either, but the company said they do the installation to ensure it’s right rather than just selling the material. When I looked at it for my wife’s shop, it was only a few hundred dollars if I recall correctly.
 
noway2 said:
3m makes a window film that will make it so that they can’t break the windows. The rep I was talking to said that while it’s not rated as such, it’s pretty much ballistic proof. Wasn’t terribly expensive either, but the company said they do the installation to ensure it’s right rather than just selling the material. When I looked at it for my wife’s shop, it was only a few hundred dollars if I recall correctly.
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What were you quoted per sq ft? I actually requested a quote from a company to install that stuff and I have no idea what to expect. I'm debating whether to do just the main floor or both. Less concern about security of the second floor, that would be more to avoid UV/heat getting through.
 
IrishCannon said:
What were you quoted per sq ft? I actually requested a quote from a company to install that stuff and I have no idea what to expect. I'm debating whether to do just the main floor or both. Less concern about security of the second floor, that would be more to avoid UV/heat getting through.
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It’s been so long ago that I honestly don’t remember. I do remember being surprised, however, at how cheap it was.
 
noway2 said:
It’s been so long ago that I honestly don’t remember. I do remember being surprised, however, at how cheap it was.
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I'm assuming that was in the before time. - my butt is puckering waiting for a quote post COVID. I contacted two companies this weekend.
 
Majicmike said:
Dog,
Same reason people will run from police but not a dog. Good chance the police won’t shoot. 100% chance the dog will eat your ass up.
Great thread. Watching with it if interest.
Click to expand...


Not really 100%. Wifes uncle had a nice riding lawn mower stolen from his shop in the middle of the night 40 years ago. Was talking with him about about it and asked why the dog (outside dog) didn't bark at them. He said "Rusty probably helped them load it up".
 
As dogs go I swear the little inside dogs “supplement” security way beyond their size. If you have one that does not bark at a leaf blowing across the porch or such they are pretty much a non-power sensitive alarm system. They may not be able to do any real attacking but their early warning system helps out a lot.

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I know dog is good option, but I don't need anything else that craps and I'm not fond of vacuuming an entire house twice per day.
 
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