I hope no one has the idea that by advocating "taking your keys to bed" with you that I'm anti-gun, or that I'm in any way suggesting a car horn as a replacement for a HD weapon, or that I"m a pantywaist who is not willing to to protect my family by any means neccesary. I assure you I'm not. But theres a place for an activated electronic security system, and for motion-activated lights around the house, and for deadbolt locks on the door, and for a good watchdog that'll eat your a$$ up on command, as well as for a 45 revolver on the beside table loaded with 255 grain SWC's and a 12 guage automatic shotgun in the corner loaded with 00 Buckshot - and I have all of the above. I just see the ability to start my car horn blaring as another possible way to scare a bad guy off before I have to risk my life and my family's lives and my neighbors lives in a shootout that I might have avoided by doing this simple thing. Because here's the bottom line folks: regardless how many guns you have and how bada$$ you think you are, you are not bulletproof. Neither are your wife and kids. When the lead starts flying in the dark, one of the BG's bullets may just have your name or one of your family members names on it. Better to scare that intruder off f(if you can) before the shooting starts and let the police find him later. But, hey! if all those deterrents don't work and I'm faced with a worse case scenario, well I got something for the SOB.
Another good tool in the home defense arsenal
- Thread starter DG45
- Start date
Just be sure it even works. Between simple physical distance to the car, and several walls between my bedroom and it, my key fob doesn't even work from the bedroom. These things have very limited range, so I'd guess that in many homes, they simple will be too far away from the vehicle or there will be too much impedance between them and the receiver in the form of walls, floors and such.
alarm company responses, patrol service companies...
I'm not sure if it was TFL or another well known message board but I read about how some US law enforcement agencies will not, by formal policy respond to home security alarms unless it is confirmed or has a seperate verification. A home alarm security company ad made this same point too.
With cutbacks and major budget issues, many PDs lack the resources to scramble around all day & night. I can see the point they have.
About 3 years ago, I worked briefly for a armed security patrol service owned & run by a guy who claimed to be retired from the RCMP(Royal Canadian Mounted Police). The patrol service had about 12-18 different condo/apt/re properties in each of the 2/3 sectors. Each property had between 100-200 units. The company sectors had only 2 or 3 armed mobile patrol officers to answer ALL the resident calls for service. It was very stressful and agrevatiing to zip around town taking calls for barking dogs or loud noise complaints by tenants who thought the officers were at their beck & call.
In theory, I see the benefit of armed private security patrols but the contract security companies need supervisors or dispatchers to review & route the calls for service. Many small private patrol firms do not run that way.
CF
ps; Id add for board members that question response times for private security patrols, that these armed security officers or guards are not sworn LEOs and can not run code 3 all over. Most security officers must follow all speed limits & traffic laws too.
I'm not sure if it was TFL or another well known message board but I read about how some US law enforcement agencies will not, by formal policy respond to home security alarms unless it is confirmed or has a seperate verification. A home alarm security company ad made this same point too.
With cutbacks and major budget issues, many PDs lack the resources to scramble around all day & night. I can see the point they have.
About 3 years ago, I worked briefly for a armed security patrol service owned & run by a guy who claimed to be retired from the RCMP(Royal Canadian Mounted Police). The patrol service had about 12-18 different condo/apt/re properties in each of the 2/3 sectors. Each property had between 100-200 units. The company sectors had only 2 or 3 armed mobile patrol officers to answer ALL the resident calls for service. It was very stressful and agrevatiing to zip around town taking calls for barking dogs or loud noise complaints by tenants who thought the officers were at their beck & call.
In theory, I see the benefit of armed private security patrols but the contract security companies need supervisors or dispatchers to review & route the calls for service. Many small private patrol firms do not run that way.
CF
ps; Id add for board members that question response times for private security patrols, that these armed security officers or guards are not sworn LEOs and can not run code 3 all over. Most security officers must follow all speed limits & traffic laws too.
make sure that if you activate it that it will actually have the range to set the horn off. I live in a third floor apartment and can see my truck from my apartment however pushing the buttons won't always work the lights or locks so it is doubtful that it will work the horn every time. the battery maybe weak after 6 years but it wouldn't do it new either.
rwilson452
New member
It works, under ideal conditions its good for a mile. Its not your ordinary alarm system.
rwilson452
New member
It's similar to this but an older model.
http://www.viper.com/P-5702V/Viper-...de-Sst-2-way-Security-And-Remote-Start-System.
The founder of the company is a US congress critter named Issa. Yes I have met him and worked on one of is campaigns. Ah, but that was a long time ago.
http://www.viper.com/P-5702V/Viper-...de-Sst-2-way-Security-And-Remote-Start-System.
The founder of the company is a US congress critter named Issa. Yes I have met him and worked on one of is campaigns. Ah, but that was a long time ago.
There's an easy test. Just push the button on your key fob and see what happens. My Ford Expedition is parked in my garage. I guesstimate that it's 12 feet from my bed with two sheetrock walls and insulation in between. I've laid on my bed and tried using the panic button on my standard Ford key fob and it does activate my cars horn in the garage. The horn doesn't stop blowing until I push the panic button again. So far it's worked every time I've tried it. (I'm sure it would eventually kill the fob battery though.). But right now it works. Try yours. Maybe yours will work satisfactorily too. If not, maybe you can get your key fob battery checked and if its bad get a new one - or if your bedroom is just too far away from where your car is parked, maybe the upgraded system that was mentioned above is your answer. However, if you live in a big city and your car is parked in a parking deck, I agree this probably won't help you. A car horn blowing in the parking deck isn't going to scare away an intruder on the 12th floor.
kodiakbeer
Moderator
I don't really picture the guy running away - he might, but I thinks it's more likely to just distract him and give you an edge. Maybe just wait until you're about to confront him before pressing the button.
Double Naught Spy
New member
All right, how many of us here, after hearing a neighbor's car alarm, have gone over to the neighbor's house to see if the neighbor is okay or if s/he is being attacked by a home intruder after the car alarm went off in the driveway...that was probably by the wind, cats, etc.?
We can see that nothing is wrong with the car, after all...
We can see that nothing is wrong with the car, after all...
The car alarm trick has been around for years; yet as I see it there are two main problems with this, as others have said car alarms sounding are so common most of us myself included ignore them and, secondly the range from your keys to your car is to far for the signal to be received by the alarm.
Best home defense tools live in a good area, good locks, and common sense.
Have a good and a safe Memorial Day all.
Best home defense tools live in a good area, good locks, and common sense.
Have a good and a safe Memorial Day all.
I guess I just disagree with the idea that criminals are such stalwart dudes that they will ALWAYS ignore a blasting car horn in your garage or driveway while they complete their robbery, rape or murder attempt.
Because if they won't ALWAYS ignore it, then its obviously worth a try.
Because if they won't ALWAYS ignore it, then its obviously worth a try.
2cooltoolz
New member
It's not everything
but it's something.
but it's something.
Rich Miranda
New member
I'm in the "If it might possibly work for someone, then it's worth a shot" camp 
I look at it this way: any distraction or interruption for the intruder is a good thing. If YOU set off the alarm, you know that you did it, and you don't have to worry about it. But he doesn't know that, so that one little detail might work to your advantage.
Also, if you have 911 on the way to your home, the alarm is a good way to pinpoint your location. Many times I have seen cops drive down a street very fast, pass the house in question, then have to back up and look for an address on the curb or house. Those precious seconds could make a difference. Even if your address is well-marked, the car alarm is easier to find.
Of course, like any HD tool, this should be checked to see if it works first (range, location, etc).
I look at it this way: any distraction or interruption for the intruder is a good thing. If YOU set off the alarm, you know that you did it, and you don't have to worry about it. But he doesn't know that, so that one little detail might work to your advantage.
Also, if you have 911 on the way to your home, the alarm is a good way to pinpoint your location. Many times I have seen cops drive down a street very fast, pass the house in question, then have to back up and look for an address on the curb or house. Those precious seconds could make a difference. Even if your address is well-marked, the car alarm is easier to find.
Of course, like any HD tool, this should be checked to see if it works first (range, location, etc).
I'll ditto the "it's worth a try" group. Our cars are in the garage, the neighbors aren't likely to respond to it for a while. The BG, however, might get irritated and distracted by it, might look over his shoulder. If the BG house alarm goes off as well, followed by the phone ringing (we have a monitored set up), the level of response might be enough to discourage him. If that plus the dog doesn't discourage him, he still will have to face Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson if he decides to pop into the bedroom.
I would point out that especially nowadays being a good neighbor is something to be proud of. I try to look out my window and also will go outside my house to see what is going on at the neighbers house if the alarm is going off.
If the local thugs know that there is nobody that will call the cops or turn on their lights to look what is going on then they have a whole bunch of victims at their hands.
This does not mean that you have to go to that person door and see if they are OK, one would not want to be shot by mistake. You mark the time and maybe call the police. They will usually come out and investigate and that is what they are paid for.
You could also keep an eye on the home for a few minutes after the alarm stops just in case there is some suspicious person that appears later. This does not have to be a vigil but just a a few minutes. this will make you feel better as there maybe more than one BG out there.
If people are just going to stay in their homes, don't find out who their neighbors are and make a good effort when they do hear car alarms or other odd character in the neighborhood, than the BG have won.
The idea of using the car alarm is good and could work. like the poster stated he still has his gun, is ready and willing to protect his family. It will be much better for him and his family if lethal force was not needed.
It is sad that there was a negative response to this post, as it appeared that some just where not worried about what is going on outside their homes like car alarms.
I have been burglarized in the past and the neighbors would say that they heard the car alarm but did not bother to look out to see what was going on. Once there were some kids playing right where I had parked, but did not see anything, neither did the adults. How odd.
Another time there was a whole bunch of banging, like the three apartment doors that the BG broke down and nobody again called the police.
I have moved into a better neighborhood and know my neighbors and what goes around me. We all visit with each other at times and this makes you feel much more secure, and these are just friendly neighbor to neighbor meetings, no investigative stuff.
Like I said the BG wins every time when we stop being vigilant about our surroundings and the welfare of the neighborhood.
Anything that makes a thread go away before getting to your own should be encouraged and not looked down upon. I agrree taht the questions regarding the ability to make the alarms go off where valid and needs to be investigated. As all security devices, if not practiced and tried out, they are good for nothing, even guns.
Also everybody needs to look out for their neighbor, as they may return this favor to you, even the ones you don't like too much. I have a couple of those too.
Remember the ones that have died in battle for this country today.
Thanks also goes out to the troops, my father ( Army) and brother (Navy) for their service for our nation.
If the local thugs know that there is nobody that will call the cops or turn on their lights to look what is going on then they have a whole bunch of victims at their hands.
This does not mean that you have to go to that person door and see if they are OK, one would not want to be shot by mistake. You mark the time and maybe call the police. They will usually come out and investigate and that is what they are paid for.
You could also keep an eye on the home for a few minutes after the alarm stops just in case there is some suspicious person that appears later. This does not have to be a vigil but just a a few minutes. this will make you feel better as there maybe more than one BG out there.
If people are just going to stay in their homes, don't find out who their neighbors are and make a good effort when they do hear car alarms or other odd character in the neighborhood, than the BG have won.
The idea of using the car alarm is good and could work. like the poster stated he still has his gun, is ready and willing to protect his family. It will be much better for him and his family if lethal force was not needed.
It is sad that there was a negative response to this post, as it appeared that some just where not worried about what is going on outside their homes like car alarms.
I have been burglarized in the past and the neighbors would say that they heard the car alarm but did not bother to look out to see what was going on. Once there were some kids playing right where I had parked, but did not see anything, neither did the adults. How odd.
Another time there was a whole bunch of banging, like the three apartment doors that the BG broke down and nobody again called the police.
I have moved into a better neighborhood and know my neighbors and what goes around me. We all visit with each other at times and this makes you feel much more secure, and these are just friendly neighbor to neighbor meetings, no investigative stuff.
Like I said the BG wins every time when we stop being vigilant about our surroundings and the welfare of the neighborhood.
Anything that makes a thread go away before getting to your own should be encouraged and not looked down upon. I agrree taht the questions regarding the ability to make the alarms go off where valid and needs to be investigated. As all security devices, if not practiced and tried out, they are good for nothing, even guns.
Also everybody needs to look out for their neighbor, as they may return this favor to you, even the ones you don't like too much. I have a couple of those too.
Remember the ones that have died in battle for this country today.
Thanks also goes out to the troops, my father ( Army) and brother (Navy) for their service for our nation.
.Keys? Give me a Doberman or Airedale
Howdy,
I respectfully disagree with the original poster. Most folks ignore car alarms. We prefer the security of a young Doberman Pinscher (He's still just 14 months, give him some time) and an elderly Airedale Terrier.
Nobody sneaks up on my wife when she has a smoke on our front patio at night..and a year ago somebody tried. Our Airedale startled my lovely wife by snarling and snapping through our Iron gate, and my wife heard a gasp, followed by the sound of running footsteps fading into the Louisiana night. She didn't bring her trusty Model 10 S&W, but the Airedale did her job!
Larry C.
Howdy,
I respectfully disagree with the original poster. Most folks ignore car alarms. We prefer the security of a young Doberman Pinscher (He's still just 14 months, give him some time) and an elderly Airedale Terrier.
Nobody sneaks up on my wife when she has a smoke on our front patio at night..and a year ago somebody tried. Our Airedale startled my lovely wife by snarling and snapping through our Iron gate, and my wife heard a gasp, followed by the sound of running footsteps fading into the Louisiana night. She didn't bring her trusty Model 10 S&W, but the Airedale did her job!
Larry C.