I think I’ve seen that first part in a movie too. It’s called Home Alone.
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What makes a house safe?
- Thread starter Brit
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I think I’ve seen that first part in a movie too. It’s called Home Alone.
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Agree, "boobies traps" are illegal in most jurisdictions. If an innocent party (utility worker, government employee, inspector, appraiser, child, etc) is injured by one, it would be near impossible to avoid conviction.
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peacefulgary
New member
I currently live in a rather "blue collar" apartment complex.
My apartment is on the 3rd floor.
Thieves are too lazy to climb up 2 flights of stairs (and it makes a thief a better target walking down 2 flights of stairs, while carrying stolen goods).
Most thieves will stick to the 1st floor.
There are a couple of prostitutes that hang around my building (mostly good gals but who have drug addictions and little income) and they let me know if any bad stuff is likely.
And there are a few drug dealers who are seemingly always in the courtyard (doing business I suppose) and they keep the petty thugs away, as it brings unwanted attention from law enforcement.
It sounds crazy, but in a place with known crime, it's fairly safe.
I also might mention that I think the local criminals believe that I am a hitman or enforcer for some criminal element.
Which is definitely NOT the case.
My apartment is on the 3rd floor.
Thieves are too lazy to climb up 2 flights of stairs (and it makes a thief a better target walking down 2 flights of stairs, while carrying stolen goods).
Most thieves will stick to the 1st floor.
There are a couple of prostitutes that hang around my building (mostly good gals but who have drug addictions and little income) and they let me know if any bad stuff is likely.
And there are a few drug dealers who are seemingly always in the courtyard (doing business I suppose) and they keep the petty thugs away, as it brings unwanted attention from law enforcement.
It sounds crazy, but in a place with known crime, it's fairly safe.
I also might mention that I think the local criminals believe that I am a hitman or enforcer for some criminal element.
Which is definitely NOT the case.
"6 am, not a sound from outside. House closed up tight, great life this retirement!"
That's best best time to be OUTSIDE, enjoying your morning coffee, sitting in your yard listening to the birds. Tuck your Glock in your waistband and get outdoors, enjoy the Florida sunrise.
That's best best time to be OUTSIDE, enjoying your morning coffee, sitting in your yard listening to the birds. Tuck your Glock in your waistband and get outdoors, enjoy the Florida sunrise.
My Son owns a good Security Company. My Jeep is wearing his company's colours very bright reflective hews. I carry my Glock 19 4th gen Pistol, always. Plus a spare G17 mag! and a razor sharp folding Benchmade knife. I must say the belt carried items I have, flash light (Surefire) is one of the most used. I I have pointed pistols at people 3 times in my travels. One of these incidents it was a Colt 45 L-weight Commander, not my normal Glock 19. That was a funny afternoon in Rochester NY.
I've lived in that Florida Sunshine. For me, around 6 A.M. is about the only time I can tolerate that Florida Sunshine. Otherwise, I agree with your statement. 6 A.M. is a beautiful time to sit out on the deck or in the gazebo and enjoy my coffee, listening to the birds. And yes, the .45 is with me.
So one item I have not seen mentioned here: https://www.armorconcepts.com/shop/product/max-combo-set-973
I feel it gives valuable time to prepare as it will take longer to kick in the doors. I have this on every external door.
After that it is two dogs along with my wife and I along with our guns.
Security system will notify the police but we all know it will be 10 mins at least before they arrive. That along with the interior/exterior cameras will be good for the police report...but that's about it.
I feel it gives valuable time to prepare as it will take longer to kick in the doors. I have this on every external door.
After that it is two dogs along with my wife and I along with our guns.
Security system will notify the police but we all know it will be 10 mins at least before they arrive. That along with the interior/exterior cameras will be good for the police report...but that's about it.
The short answer: pretty safe.
In a more or less "normal" scenario, my place is very unattractive to a break-in. I have an outward opening steel security door at each entrance. All first floor windows have security bars. There's a motion light at each entrance as well. Until a couple of years ago, the local homeless shelter was just a little over a mile away, so I wanted to make the place look like a lot of work to gain entrance.
Now, I have no illusions about a chaotic "without rule of law" situation, where criminals could range free w/o fear of law enforcement intervening. A couple of individuals with crowbars could gain entrance in just a few minutes, but it'd be a noisy job. Noisy enough that they'd be greeted with hot lead.
PocketCamera
Moderator
the safest house, is the one that has a homocidal maniac in the attic playing with a lawn mower blade.
No place is "safe" if the attacker is determined to get in.
what helps is:
A) paying attention.
B) Bars on windows and security gates with REAL locks not kwickset types that are easy to open with a screw driver. If you are worried about someone picking a lock, More like Multi-lock and or security box double sided (key) locks.
Keep everything locked as often as possible, double check often ( hard for us Americans, but you can train yourself).
C) a good fence you can see through, preferably topped with electric or razor wire.
D) Alarm with armed response.
E) Mindset to do what is needed to protect your family ( and self), and the available legal means to do so.
F) do not open the door/ gate/ or even fence to strangers, if you need to collect a package then lock at least one gate behind you to protect the others.
E) as the OP has a double story house, you should have at least one solid steel gate that can close off the upstairs while you sleep...or in case of an emergency.
G) Train all persons living with you what to do in case of a home invasion...do practice dry runs.
I am kind of stuck in South Africa at the moment, and this is just a few tips.
what helps is:
A) paying attention.
B) Bars on windows and security gates with REAL locks not kwickset types that are easy to open with a screw driver. If you are worried about someone picking a lock, More like Multi-lock and or security box double sided (key) locks.
Keep everything locked as often as possible, double check often ( hard for us Americans, but you can train yourself).
C) a good fence you can see through, preferably topped with electric or razor wire.
D) Alarm with armed response.
E) Mindset to do what is needed to protect your family ( and self), and the available legal means to do so.
F) do not open the door/ gate/ or even fence to strangers, if you need to collect a package then lock at least one gate behind you to protect the others.
E) as the OP has a double story house, you should have at least one solid steel gate that can close off the upstairs while you sleep...or in case of an emergency.
G) Train all persons living with you what to do in case of a home invasion...do practice dry runs.
I am kind of stuck in South Africa at the moment, and this is just a few tips.
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My "Welcome" to Norfolk Virginia was a 2 a.m. wake up call where a lady across the street was screming like a banchee. I saw the home invader crawl back out of her upstairs window, and climb down the ladder he used to get up there. That time the police came pretty quick, and with dogs ( they did not find him).
She got lucky in that the guy was not determined to do her harm.
Obviously do not leave ANY tools that could be used against you lying around, but also note that upstairs windows can be vulnerable.
stephen426
New member
Unless you have impact windows (and doors) or bars over your windows, your idea of safety is somewhat limited. I have been pushing the wife to get impact windows since we live in South Florida. Even the fire department requires specialized tools to get through impact windows. We were broken into right after we got married. This was all the way inside of a gated community. All it took was a brick through a sliding glass door, and that house had a LOT of sliding glass doors. While it provided great views of the water, they weren’t very good at keeping people out. Unfortunately we had some work done to the house and some alarm wires were damaged.
We moved shortly afterwards since the police really didn’t seem to care, even though there was a rash of burglaries in that area. I laid out the alarm system in the new house and we had a big dog out back. I felt very secure in that house.
Back to impact windows and doors... In my current house, we have a solid wood double door. That doesn’t mean that much if it is just a deadbolt and latch. My wife found out hard way when I was traveling overseas for work and we had a hurricane come through. The wind blowing past the covered entrance almost sucked the doors open. Windows and sliding glass doors are very easy access points unless they are impact resistant. If you are not a light sleeper, you may never even hear it. An alarm system might not even pick up the intruder since few people have glass break sensors anymore. Motion sensors are normally set to off when occupied. This is when four-legged friends help to serve as an early warning “device” and possibly much more, if they are of the larger breed.
Make sure your house is well lit and does not have areas where bad guys can hide. I added cameras as well, which can be a deterrent, but most “ring videos” show the bad guys covered up.
All of the guns and weapons are useless if you are soundly asleep or taken by surprise. Make yourself less of a target and harden points of entry.
We moved shortly afterwards since the police really didn’t seem to care, even though there was a rash of burglaries in that area. I laid out the alarm system in the new house and we had a big dog out back. I felt very secure in that house.
Back to impact windows and doors... In my current house, we have a solid wood double door. That doesn’t mean that much if it is just a deadbolt and latch. My wife found out hard way when I was traveling overseas for work and we had a hurricane come through. The wind blowing past the covered entrance almost sucked the doors open. Windows and sliding glass doors are very easy access points unless they are impact resistant. If you are not a light sleeper, you may never even hear it. An alarm system might not even pick up the intruder since few people have glass break sensors anymore. Motion sensors are normally set to off when occupied. This is when four-legged friends help to serve as an early warning “device” and possibly much more, if they are of the larger breed.
Make sure your house is well lit and does not have areas where bad guys can hide. I added cameras as well, which can be a deterrent, but most “ring videos” show the bad guys covered up.
All of the guns and weapons are useless if you are soundly asleep or taken by surprise. Make yourself less of a target and harden points of entry.
raddadmike
Inactive
Honestly, I give in a gated community now and I still felt safer than when I didn't. Maybe it's because I'm not necessarily used to the level of class around me and feel somewhat uncomfortable. Things are growing on me but still...