Home Dfense Tricks

[Semper Vigilans]

Here are a few ideas, but I'm by no means giving out ALL my tricks.

Doors
- Start with a good solid wood door, or steel framed door.
- A GOOD ( read:commercial grade ) double-cylinder deadbolt ( or two, if you want to be a complete bastard ) on each entry door, including doors to garages/laundry rooms
- Reinforce the strike plate with a heavy duty plate, and at least 3" screws
- 3" screws in every hinge
- Night latch at night
- Pull up the door molding, get a piece of plate steel about 3 feet long and almost as wide as the molding. Drill several staggered holes in it, where the screws you place in those holes will be in alternately the stud next to the door, and the door frame. Drill plate to stud and frame with it centered over where your deadbolt goes. Chisel out enough wood from the underside of the molding to fit over the plate. This will make kicking your door down like kicking a wall.
- Reinforce the door edges where the deadbolt is, to prevent separation.
- Keep in mind that doors that can't easily be seen are the ones most likely to fall under attack, plan accordingly.
- Interior ( read:bedroom ) doors can be reinforced the same way, to create a sort of "safe room"

Windows
- Plant short, thorny bushes close under windows
- In windows that won't need opening in an emergency, drill a small pilot hole through both frames ( but not all the way through ) in the upper corners, then insert a finishing nail of the appropriate size.
- Smash-resistant window film on most vulnerable windows, and bedroom windows
- If you have window-unit AC, make sure it can't be pulled out or pushed in.

Lighting
- Use a 120v ( not solar, not enough juice ) high-pressure or HID light, aim appropriately, and leave on all night. Motion-sensor lights breed complacence.
- Keep in mind that lights do NOTHING during the day

Alarm system
- Install a high-quality alarm system, with glass-breaks AND infrared motion detectors. Monitoring is recommended as well
- If your budget is tight, you can get stand-alone glass break sensors and door alarms

Fire
- Purchase a quality fire-extinguisher for the kitchen, living room, and master bedroom. Kid's bedrooms aren't a bad idea either. Check periodically for proper charge
- Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Check periodically for operation

Visibility
- Keep expensive items out of sight of windows
- Purchase a good fire safe or gun safe and BOLT it to the floor, for added security, reinforce the closet door where the gun safe is stored the same as an entry door
- Don't sit in your den with your nice flat screen at night while your windows are open

Keep in mind that 99.9% of thieves aren't after YOUR stuff, if your security makes it a pain in the ass to break in, they are likely to go to your neighbor's house, which is likely to be less secure. Build your security around your house like an onion, several layers.


That's all for now, I might think of some more later.

[Dieseler]

Originally Posted by Semper Vigilans

Here are a few ideas, but I'm by no means giving out ALL my tricks.
That's all for now, I might think of some more later.

Excellent post.
Thanks.

[specsaregood]

Originally Posted by GBurr

This stuff isn't as good as barbed wire but it also won't attract the attention.

An option to barbed wire if you have a non-chainlink fence/wall is broken bottles and glass pieces cemented/glued to the top of the wall or whatever surface you want to prevent people from scaling. Very common in some countries.

[mollymae]

Originally Posted by Todd

Own dogs. Best deterrent there is.

Only if you have badass dogs and not fat lazy ones like mine

This is a good thread btw.

[Icymudpuppy]

Leave the least secure access to your house soooooo cluttered that a person would have to fly to get through it silently.

[Mini-Me]

Originally Posted by pcosmar

Presently
security by obscurity.
I am remote, and far from the road. Low crime area.
SHTF, security will be enhanced, Will not advertise.
Likely not considered legal.

I love you, pcosmar, and sometimes I read your posts in my head with a Rorschach voice.

[Semper Vigilans]

Originally Posted by mollymae

Only if you have badass dogs and not fat lazy ones like mine

This is a good thread btw.

Dogs are only good for actual defense if they are bulletproof. Otherwise, they are just a four-legged alarm ( albeit a good one )

Originally Posted by Mini-Me

I love you, pcosmar, and sometimes I read your posts in my head with a Rorschach voice.

I'm glad I'm not the only one.

[pcosmar]

Originally Posted by Mini-Me

I love you, pcosmar, and sometimes I read your posts in my head with a Rorschach voice.

I had to look that up to get the reference. Maybe I do, when I have a cold.

None of you seem to understand. I'm not locked in here with you. You're locked in here with *ME*!