Home security

[Brandwin]

We are buying our first home and I am wanting some idea's on home security.

I am wondering about certain alarm systems, motion sensor lights for the outside, alarms on the windows etc...

The way the house is built, my daughters bed room is towards the front of the house while the master bedroom is on the side. The house isn't huge, but I am still curious about putting something on her window since she is at the front of the house (its a good area, but you never know) I know they sell some that make beeping noises if the window is raised that makes someone think it's an alarm. Is there anything you can put on the window to stop them from being raised, so at night we could place them on there.

any tips you guys can give, I would appreciate it.

[p_rushing]

Re: Home security

I would have an alarm system installed. You can then set it where if any door/window that has a contact on it is opened, the alarm will sound. I usually turn the instant on and the motion detector off so if you walk around, it won't go off.

Also you could put motion sensor lights at the corners of your house and the front door area. I have them at my front door and garage door.

[McLite]

Re: Home security

My recommendations:

Alarm - I have ADT and pay $35 a month but get $10 off my home insurance each month because of it.

Motion Lights - Cheap to buy and easy to install. I got mine from Home Depot and installed them in about 15-20 minutes...and I have absolutely no Bob Villa talent. I have them in the driveway, backyard, and side of the house.

Security Door - I got mine from Lowe's. Total cost plus installation about $300 and well worth it. Not only does it look nice and very secure, but I can keep the main door open in the spring/fall and don't have a thing to worry about.

PVC Pipe - Buy it cheap and cut it into pieces that fit your windows/sliding doors. Easy to take in and out and almost impossible for somebody to pry open a door/window with them in there.

Lock your gate - If you have a gate to your backyard just buy a simple lock for it. I have a small 3 combo Master Lock that is easy to take off and put on...but keeps the gate secured.

I have all these things plus a nice big German Shepherd. I'm a little paranoid I suppose but I see a lot of burglaries and other crazy stuff at work...so I want my home as secure as I can make it. Using all the above creates "target hardening." A bad guy looking to get in and out quick with little hassle will skip a house with the above in hopes of finding an easier one. Bad guys just don't like light, noise, jumping walls/gates because they attract unwanted attention.

*EDIT* If you are going to get a F/A I just bought one of these. It's a Smith and Wesson .38 special +P Airweight.

http://www.imfdb.org/images/thumb/6/69/S&W642Airweight.jpg/300px-S&W642Airweight.jpg

This has been hashed over before but a shotgun is not a home defense weapon IMO unless you are experienced and comfortable with them. It's too unwieldy and w/ children around you can't really secure it anywhere. A revolver will almost never fail and can be stored on a high shelf or in a closet away from the prying eyes/hands of kids. Some people don't like firearms so that is why I didn't originally include them.

[stewaat]

Re: Home security

Shotgun in the bedroom. They are easy to shoot and will get the job done.

[McLite]

Re: Home security

I know this thread died pretty quick but I forgot one thing.

Strike plates - Buy them at Home Depot. They replace the plates that the latch/deadbolt secure into. Instead of the normal plate with two crappy little screws these bad boys comes with four 2 inch long screws that secure the plate into the door frame. Makes it hard to kick.

[WazzuRC]

Re: Home security

I have motion lights outside, PVC pipe in my windows, an aluminum baseball bat under my bed, and a firearm in my closet.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Home security

We are buying our first home and I am wanting some idea's on home security.

I am wondering about certain alarm systems, motion sensor lights for the outside, alarms on the windows etc...

The way the house is built, my daughters bed room is towards the front of the house while the master bedroom is on the side. The house isn't huge, but I am still curious about putting something on her window since she is at the front of the house (its a good area, but you never know) I know they sell some that make beeping noises if the window is raised that makes someone think it's an alarm. Is there anything you can put on the window to stop them from being raised, so at night we could place them on there.

any tips you guys can give, I would appreciate it.

I used to work for ADT(contractor for them who did 90% of ADT's Installs) so I can give you some ideas/tips/recommendations on things to think about.

When I was working there, we used to offer customers different types of sensors, security equipment such as Motion Detectors, Shock Sensors, Glass Break Sensors, Door/Window Sensor(Depending which ever you program it on)and also people were also looking at Carbon Monoxide Detectors.

Motion Detector: Your typical sensor that has a radius of up to 20 or 25 Feet. Mostly good for having in areas where there isn't much activity in at night such as Basement. Not something I would recommend getting in like a hallway or Dining Room area or an area where someone would pass through late at night(in your case your daughter going downstairs getting something to eat or whatever)because once it's armed and someone walks thru it's path, the alarm will go off.

Door/Window Sensor: Basically a sensor that you hang(screw)into a Door or a Window and then you have a magnet placed like a few centimeters away from it. Negative about this is if you place it on a window, it only prevents a burglar from opening the window, meaning if the burglar were to lift open the window the alarm would go off because of the magnet being separated from the sensor but if they were to simply break the window, the alarm would not go off. Good to have on like your main doorway where you walk in/out regularly.

Shock Sensor: It's basically an upgrade from the basic Door Window Sensor. It does the same thing as a D/W Sensor except it detects the shock. Example: If you place a sensor on a window and somebody were to either try and lift the window open or try to break through the glass, the sensor would trip and set the alarm off. Definitely would recommend placing these on your windows that can be opened.

Glass Break Sensor: It's about the size of a small brick just not as heavy and it detects the sound of glass breaking. Good for a room with alot of windows that CAN'T be opened.

Carbon Monoxide Detector: Typical Carbon Monoxide Detector that detects....well Carbon Monoxide lol.




Took me a minute to try and remember each of those off the top of my head lol.

[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: Home security

What is the use of pvc pipe on the window?

Be carefull about leaving stuff that can be blown around if you turn on the motion detectors. When we went on vacation we left our fans on, and one of the fans made a newspaper flap and that set the motion sensor off.

[Scottdau]

Re: Home security

I know this thread died pretty quick but I forgot one thing.

Strike plates - Buy them at Home Depot. They replace the plates that the latch/deadbolt secure into. Instead of the normal plate with two crappy little screws these bad boys comes with 4 inch long screws that secure the plate into the door frame. Makes it hard to kick.

My gosh man! He is not a drug dealer. Though I do have that on my front door.

[mkharsh33]

Re: Home security

make sure you ask questions...

we bought a home back in may...the previous owner had a company install it, so the company we hired (Vector) said, "oh, you'll have this..and this..and that..blah, blah, blah" - but we did NOT get it in writing.

long story short: they screwed us. the previous homeowner had no home phone line used (all cell phones and no land lines) and their system was entirely different and i come to find out that for the first 3 months ours wasn't even working properly (the windows weren't tied into it - we never open them because we live in florida and typically just run our air cond.). they didn't want to help out (the local installer) so i had to call the main company and get a manager on and complain to him.

we got locked into a 3 year deal...sucks. it's about $37 a month...no smoke detectors in the system (like they promised) - but it was a "verbal" agreement and the sales guy conveniently "forgot" about ever saying that to us.

and our homeowners insurance break for the ENTIRE year was only $30+ dollars - so it was a total waste on our end. as soon as my contract is up we're getting out of this. we'll still have the double-beep on the doors so if our kids are outside we'll hear, but i really could care less about the system. i'll just leave the sign up in front of the house and hope that our cat will sick 'em...

just make sure you ask plenty of questions and get it in writing in the contract...

[McLite]

Re: Home security

My gosh man! He is not a drug dealer. Though I do have that on my front door.

It's the drug buyers you gotta worry about these days. Door kicks are the easiest way to gain entry into a house...just makes it a little harder.

[McLite]

Re: Home security

What is the use of pvc pipe on the window?

Cut a length that fits the slide portion and just lay it in there (or stand it if it's vertical). It works really well for glass sliding doors. It's not too hard to pry them open with a pry bar and just snap or knock the lock out of place, but with a piece of pipe in the door it's next to impossible to open it.

Yes they can always just break the window/door...but that usually makes a lot more noise and they hate noise.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Home security

You'd be surprised as to the lengths Burglars will go thru to get inside the house.

[Brandwin]

Re: Home security

just make sure you ask plenty of questions and get it in writing in the contract...

Are you saying make sure we get it in writing on the contract with the house or with the people we get an alarm through? The seller of the house is not throwing in an alarm system. So I wasn't sure.

Thanks for all the tips guys.

[mkharsh33]

Re: Home security

Are you saying make sure we get it in writing on the contract with the house or with the people we get an alarm through? The seller of the house is not throwing in an alarm system. So I wasn't sure.

Thanks for all the tips guys.

the ALARM SYSTEM company...

ask them if they do a brand new wiring and installation or go with the existing (if the previous homeowner had a system installed). the ways our worked, we had a salesman come out and do the contract (and his yitty explanations, we later found out) and then ANOTHER guy came out and installed it.

do NOT let him leave until you have checked every door and window and be certain that it works 100% before anyone leaves your place and don't sign anything until you are pleased with the job.

they will kiss your arse to get the contract, then act like they never spoke to you once they get your signature.

(sorry to paint a negative picture, but i was really p!ssed at those people because they took advantage of my wife and i - we should have NEVER told them neither of us had ever had a security system before...it must have put "sucker" right on our foreheads...)