What makes a house safe?

I live in a good neighborhood, but it is accessible to anyone and it's not far off a major commercial corridor. Due to a burglary years ago when we lived in another house, the backyard is open to viewing from the street (we live on a corner). There's a street light across the street from our backyard and one in front of our house. We have three sets of motion-activated lights and a monitored alarm system (complete with a sign announcing that). None of this guarantees security, but it is enough to encourage the average burglar to go somewhere else. And, I don't advertise that I own guns. My family and a couple of friends know I own guns and that's it. No reason to waive a flag.

When gone, we don't have a fake TV, but we do have timers on some of our lights.
 
I think a good monitored alarm system is worth the $30.00 a month. A couple of false alarms had a Deputy here in around 10 minutes both times.
The young attractive female deputy was attracted to my accent! And after we talked a bit on Glocks, dropped the charge.
A couple of reasonably sized signs from the alarm company adorn the lawn.
 
Double K said:
This is not my video but it's illustrative of what Rat terriers are like, there just big enough to really raise hell and still be somewhat harmless, 2-4 of them will command the full attention of several strangers without a doubt. I like to hunt deer with a bow, a couple of them can find a wounded or dead deer in a matter of minutes usually.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQQMVwnkvzc
Click to expand...
I will second Double K on rat terriers. We had one for 11 years. He was the most neurotic dog we've ever owned, but he was protective of the house. He wasn't much of a barker unless somebody was actually at the door, but if somebody passed near his hackles were up and he growled. He was also my heart dog - slept by the door while I was on the road.
Now we have a corgi/cattle dog mix. He's more of a barker, but sleeps in the bedroom with us and doesn't get up unless there is something untoward outside.
 
Some dogs are. I had a classmate who told me a story of when he was a boy and watched a man grab his grandmother by the throat and force his way into the house. The german shepherd leaped up and grabbed the man by the throat until the police came. Exception of course. I think alarms and dogs are limited. Dogs can be shot. The police can ignore alarms. With technology, you can video monitor your house so you can phone the police or your 2nd Amendment supporting friends. Too bad there isn't a service called 1-800-My-THUGS. You phone them and they'll take care of the burglar. My younger brother had a friend who stole parts from cars until he was caught by the owner and beat up. He never stole again.
 
Nothing makes any place “safe”. There is risk mitigation and deterrence. Change procedures. Harden your home visibly. Change the door screws and install steel plating on the lock side of the frame. Improve the locks. Your local PD can do an assessment and has advice on their website. Add software that sends messages to your phone. Add exterior cameras.

Next, you should do what Jeff Cooper did and install a steel door with widely spaced bars that you can shoot through. He put his at the entrance to his bedroom at the end of a hallway. You may want to put one in a similar location. The rear glass patio door is essentially an open door. A simple wood dowel in the channel makes it more difficult to open, but the material is breakable. Change it to an impact resistant material and upgrade the lock. Thorny bushes should be laced under ground floor windows.

Finally, never open the door for people you do not know! Engage them through a side door, window or intercomm. Add a steel storm security door and keep it locked! Even if you do open the door, you still have a barrier.
 
Wondering at what point does my home stop being a home and start being some sort of fortress? Residential neighborhood I figure make my home more difficult of as target than the other 19 homes on the block. I see too many inner city homes which with all the bars on windows and doors become more like a fortress than a home. I have no desire to live in a fortress. When I feel that unsafe in my own home I figure it's time to move.

Ron
 
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