Making a house 'lock up & leave' ?
Discussion
One thing I'm looking to do is to have single sided locks (ie inside only) on our rear doors. PVC doors are pretty tough, but the locks are easily bumped or snaped. You can get better locks, but if you never unlock the rear doors from the outside, then just having a single sided lock means it can't be defeated so easily.
I don't believe PVC doors are particularly tough, unless you specify doors that are PAS 24 certified. (Most doors aren't.)
98elise said:
One thing I'm looking to do is to have single sided locks (ie inside only) on our rear doors. PVC doors are pretty tough, but the locks are easily bumped or snaped. You can get better locks, but if you never unlock the rear doors from the outside, then just having a single sided lock means it can't be defeated so easily.
Good quality ones are ok, not going to be picked and tbh I have never once seen a lock picked by a burglar. Seen plenty drilled or smashed though.
One question might be; if you know that you can be away for a month at a time, up to three or four times a year; do you even bother going for a traditional semi-detached or detached home; or is it just a matter of time?
I'm struggling to come to terms with the place my partner and I will be in; I love the house but can't see how it fits with our travel. I feel like it's asking for trouble, as it will quite obviously be empty. It's on a relatively busy back road and I can go to town on security; but something tells me that, even the fact I'm having to think about all of this is a bad sign. Previously, we were in a large apartment on a private gated road; and we could just close the door, lock and leave. A great feeling. But that type of set up had its own problems; namely, feeling like an old peoples home and people having issues with our small dog despite her not making a noise; just having an issue for the sake of having an issue; so nowhere is perfect I guess. Before getting with my partner, I was in apartments and again, I could lock the door and leave. It felt extremely safe.
A house that anyone can wake up to / walk around, will never be that safe I suppose. If we didn't go away at all; I would probably not be thinking like this; but I know it will be left for considerable chunks of time.
I'm struggling to come to terms with the place my partner and I will be in; I love the house but can't see how it fits with our travel. I feel like it's asking for trouble, as it will quite obviously be empty. It's on a relatively busy back road and I can go to town on security; but something tells me that, even the fact I'm having to think about all of this is a bad sign. Previously, we were in a large apartment on a private gated road; and we could just close the door, lock and leave. A great feeling. But that type of set up had its own problems; namely, feeling like an old peoples home and people having issues with our small dog despite her not making a noise; just having an issue for the sake of having an issue; so nowhere is perfect I guess. Before getting with my partner, I was in apartments and again, I could lock the door and leave. It felt extremely safe.
A house that anyone can wake up to / walk around, will never be that safe I suppose. If we didn't go away at all; I would probably not be thinking like this; but I know it will be left for considerable chunks of time.
LDN said:
One question might be; if you know that you can be away for a month at a time, up to three or four times a year; do you even bother going for a traditional semi-detached or detached home; or is it just a matter of time?
I'm struggling to come to terms with the place my partner and I will be in; I love the house but can't see how it fits with our travel. I feel like it's asking for trouble, as it will quite obviously be empty. It's on a relatively busy back road and I can go to town on security; but something tells me that, even the fact I'm having to think about all of this is a bad sign. Previously, we were in a large apartment on a private gated road; and we could just close the door, lock and leave. A great feeling. But that type of set up had its own problems; namely, feeling like an old peoples home and people having issues with our small dog despite her not making a noise; just having an issue for the sake of having an issue; so nowhere is perfect I guess. Before getting with my partner, I was in apartments and again, I could lock the door and leave. It felt extremely safe.
A house that anyone can wake up to / walk around, will never be that safe I suppose. If we didn't go away at all; I would probably not be thinking like this; but I know it will be left for considerable chunks of time.
I am in a similar position - I leave my home for months on end for similar reasons - I have found a monitored alarm and CCTV gives great peace of mind. If someone comes in to the garden the monitoring station are notified and view the CCTV. I have external speakers which the monitoring station can then use to tell them to leave.I'm struggling to come to terms with the place my partner and I will be in; I love the house but can't see how it fits with our travel. I feel like it's asking for trouble, as it will quite obviously be empty. It's on a relatively busy back road and I can go to town on security; but something tells me that, even the fact I'm having to think about all of this is a bad sign. Previously, we were in a large apartment on a private gated road; and we could just close the door, lock and leave. A great feeling. But that type of set up had its own problems; namely, feeling like an old peoples home and people having issues with our small dog despite her not making a noise; just having an issue for the sake of having an issue; so nowhere is perfect I guess. Before getting with my partner, I was in apartments and again, I could lock the door and leave. It felt extremely safe.
A house that anyone can wake up to / walk around, will never be that safe I suppose. If we didn't go away at all; I would probably not be thinking like this; but I know it will be left for considerable chunks of time.
It's only been used in anger once but the two scrotes in the back garden didn't hang around.
I can supply details if you want to contact me.
NorthDave said:
I am in a similar position - I leave my home for months on end for similar reasons - I have found a monitored alarm and CCTV gives great peace of mind. If someone comes in to the garden the monitoring station are notified and view the CCTV. I have external speakers which the monitoring station can then use to tell them to leave.
It's only been used in anger once but the two scrotes in the back garden didn't hang around.
I can supply details if you want to contact me.
I think you'd have to give serious consideration to this. Mate of mine was recently burgled....wife forgot to set the alarm. Despite having a 50kg dog going nuts int he kitchen they smashed a double glazed window in with a sledgehammer and made off with the loot. It's only been used in anger once but the two scrotes in the back garden didn't hang around.
I can supply details if you want to contact me.
Made me think about our security and have had the zone changed on our alarm because of the dog. Bloke who came round told my wife even if a dog is in the house and has free rain typically what they do is either have a dog of their own or someone at a window taunting the dog. Dog stands at window going loopy whilst other burglars are trawling the house.
RichB said:
98elise said:
... if you never unlock the rear doors from the outside, then just having a single sided lock means it can't be defeated so easily.
Don't those mortise bolts with the splined key top an bottom have the same effect?I have 3 rear doors, 2 UPVC doors and a hardwood traditional door. The hardwood door has two of those splined bolts that only operate from the inside. Even if the glass is broken you would struggle to get to the bottom one.
The UPVC doors have all manner or bolts into the frame, but have locks worth about £2. I'm going to replace them, but rather than put just good locks in, I'm going to fit one sided locks so that there is nothing to pick, break, or drill on the outside.
OP, to be honest, you are reading into this too much and getting yourself into a panic.
You’ve lived in gated apartment in London for a few years and got used to the security that offers, back in the real world, people don’t go to town with shutters, anti kick doors, monitored alarm and CCTV systems etc for a reason, it's not really needed.
We are talking about a semi detached house in surbia here, all you need to do is make the house look lived in and make it less attractive to a thief than next door.
Visible alarm system
PIR outdoor lights
a couple of lamps on timers
Car on drive
Post collected and curtains moved by neighbour
That’s all you need!
You’ve lived in gated apartment in London for a few years and got used to the security that offers, back in the real world, people don’t go to town with shutters, anti kick doors, monitored alarm and CCTV systems etc for a reason, it's not really needed.
We are talking about a semi detached house in surbia here, all you need to do is make the house look lived in and make it less attractive to a thief than next door.
Visible alarm system
PIR outdoor lights
a couple of lamps on timers
Car on drive
Post collected and curtains moved by neighbour
That’s all you need!
Update: got the keys for the house... been doing it up over the last fortnight. So far, got PIR lights, viper locks, new alarm system, cheapo CCTV cameras / smart phone enabled... now I'm looking at the big stuff:
- Window security shutters for the front (internal)
- Window and door security shutters for the rear (possibly external)
- The hurricane film for the glass, that someone here mentioned
The outside security doors; I'm quite settled on... the interior 'cage' type / concertina type shutters; I'm still flummoxed. Does anyone make a fully detachable interior shutter that doesn't have to live on the wall / in the recess????
- Window security shutters for the front (internal)
- Window and door security shutters for the rear (possibly external)
- The hurricane film for the glass, that someone here mentioned
The outside security doors; I'm quite settled on... the interior 'cage' type / concertina type shutters; I'm still flummoxed. Does anyone make a fully detachable interior shutter that doesn't have to live on the wall / in the recess????
All this stuff to me just makes a house that screams that there is something inside worth having. Or that you're into pharmaceutical supply which is basically the same thing.
Low key is much better.
Decent locks, getting any mail cleared and having the garden maintained is plenty to keep the place at a normal day to day level of risk.
Certainly worked OK for me for a few years when I'd only visit every 6 months.
Grills and shutters and all the rest is really going way way too far.
Low key is much better.
Decent locks, getting any mail cleared and having the garden maintained is plenty to keep the place at a normal day to day level of risk.
Certainly worked OK for me for a few years when I'd only visit every 6 months.
Grills and shutters and all the rest is really going way way too far.
Jonesy23 said:
All this stuff to me just makes a house that screams that there is something inside worth having. Or that you're into pharmaceutical supply which is basically the same thing.
Low key is much better.
Decent locks, getting any mail cleared and having the garden maintained is plenty to keep the place at a normal day to day level of risk.
Certainly worked OK for me for a few years when I'd only visit every 6 months.
Grills and shutters and all the rest is really going way way too far.
That’s what I said above ^Low key is much better.
Decent locks, getting any mail cleared and having the garden maintained is plenty to keep the place at a normal day to day level of risk.
Certainly worked OK for me for a few years when I'd only visit every 6 months.
Grills and shutters and all the rest is really going way way too far.
To be honest, it seems like the OP just wants to buy toys and play castles.
"I SHALL BUILD AN IMPREGNABLE FORTRESS"
A bit like a prepper, unnecessary and over the top but they like the fantasy of it all.
The funny thing is, like you said he is making himself MORE of a target, and nothing will stop someone determined enough.
Where the hell do you live that you need all that? My parents spend 6 months in the the UK and 6 months in Florida, big detached houses in both countries. All they do is cancel the milk, hold the post, turn off the water and lock the doors. They have camera's up at both so they can watch if they want but I'm not sure they ever do.
No burglar watches houses to see if lights go on and off regularly or spend weeks casing a house to see if the owners are away unless they're professionals - who will get in no matter what you do, most are just scrotes who see an oportunity when they're out and about and break in. They're just as likely to break in if you're away for the evening. Putting obvious high security things like shutters only advertises that you're definately away and have something worth nicking.
Get a decent alarm and decent locks and hopefully they'll go next door rather than try yours.
No burglar watches houses to see if lights go on and off regularly or spend weeks casing a house to see if the owners are away unless they're professionals - who will get in no matter what you do, most are just scrotes who see an oportunity when they're out and about and break in. They're just as likely to break in if you're away for the evening. Putting obvious high security things like shutters only advertises that you're definately away and have something worth nicking.
Get a decent alarm and decent locks and hopefully they'll go next door rather than try yours.
Edited by 4Q on Friday 24th February 09:30
Thanks for feedback. I'm aware of how things could look and that's why internal shutters on the front will be used; that will exist behind blinds / plantation shutters - and therefore will be invisible. From the front; it will look normal with nothing that screams 'we are away'. From the back; it will be more obvious, admittedly.
To paint a better picture... I will have a home recording studio in the basement and the value of all the kit is... let's just say is a lot. Enough to make me nervous leaving it for weeks / months on end. Yes it's all insured but insurance does little to give actual peace of mind. Peace of mind comes from knowing that anyone that tries to get in will struggle...
I'm most certainly aware of how things will look and a neighbour will be parking his car on the drive whilst we're away - he's thankful for the extra parking spaces! And so I'm getting there. All in all, I'm glad we went through with the purchase as I much prefer the house, to the lock and leave apartment we had planned to stay in.
I suppose I really just want some internal security for windows, that's subtle and unobtrusive.
To paint a better picture... I will have a home recording studio in the basement and the value of all the kit is... let's just say is a lot. Enough to make me nervous leaving it for weeks / months on end. Yes it's all insured but insurance does little to give actual peace of mind. Peace of mind comes from knowing that anyone that tries to get in will struggle...
I'm most certainly aware of how things will look and a neighbour will be parking his car on the drive whilst we're away - he's thankful for the extra parking spaces! And so I'm getting there. All in all, I'm glad we went through with the purchase as I much prefer the house, to the lock and leave apartment we had planned to stay in.
I suppose I really just want some internal security for windows, that's subtle and unobtrusive.
The obvious answer is to secure the basement but don't make it obvious to attract their interest. A decent steel core internal security door could look like a normal door but be very difficult to break into without specialist tools and lots of noise.
You also need to balance cost vs risk - is it worth spending £20k to protect £5k worth of stuff? Especially is its insured anyway?
You also need to balance cost vs risk - is it worth spending £20k to protect £5k worth of stuff? Especially is its insured anyway?
4Q said:
The obvious answer is to secure the basement but don't make it obvious to attract their interest. A decent steel core internal security door could look like a normal door but be very difficult to break into without specialist tools and lots of noise.
You also need to balance cost vs risk - is it worth spending £20k to protect £5k worth of stuff? Especially is its insured anyway?
£5k might be the value of one microphone! The value of everything down there will be large enough to warrant extreme security. I appreciate everyone's feedback and am now thinking of only securing the basement door in such an extreme way; whilst sticking to more standard security for the back door and windows - so that it doesn't look so obvious.You also need to balance cost vs risk - is it worth spending £20k to protect £5k worth of stuff? Especially is its insured anyway?
LDN said:
£5k might be the value of one microphone! The value of everything down there will be large enough to warrant extreme security. I appreciate everyone's feedback and am now thinking of only securing the basement door in such an extreme way; whilst sticking to more standard security for the back door and windows - so that it doesn't look so obvious.
Out of interest, where was the recording studio going to be situated in the apartment?Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff