Attempted Break in - Time to beef up the security

[Turkish91]

http://www.windowsecuritydirect.co.uk/sash-jammer-...

I have two of these on my front door, top and bottom. Obviously it won't suit every application but for my UPVC door it is spot on, best £10 I've ever spent! Obviously this is only useful for when you're in the house at night time but it doesn't half give me peace of mind that any would be thieves will struggle to get through.

[SamR380]

These are vibration sensors not open switches, sorry I forgot to say. It looked like someone had stuck the frame once but obviously set off the alarm and ran.

SystemParanoia said:

SamR380 said:

I've got some hardwired sensors on the windows and doors round the back of my house, I'm pretty convinced they've prevented at least one break in. They set off the alarm before they get in, a much more comfortable solution than pressure pads.

the pads aren't "instead of" but "as well as"

they could set off the alarm before the scrotes get a change to jimmy your doors or windows, only to find they're securely locked anyway causing damage you then have to repair.

[ThunderGuts]

Turkish91 said:

http://www.windowsecuritydirect.co.uk/sash-jammer-...

I have two of these on my front door, top and bottom. Obviously it won't suit every application but for my UPVC door it is spot on, best £10 I've ever spent! Obviously this is only useful for when you're in the house at night time but it doesn't half give me peace of mind that any would be thieves will struggle to get through.

I have some of those on the back of the house, seem surprisingly strong (especially when I try and come in the back door, forgetting they're 'locked'!)

[Dog Star]

SamR380 said:

I've got some hardwired sensors on the windows and doors round the back of my house, I'm pretty convinced they've prevented at least one break in. They set off the alarm before they get in, a much more comfortable solution than pressure pads.

I use these - I even have them on my garage doors (I have a separate, full alarm system for the garage).

I always go for proper hard-wired stuff and a decent alarm system (in my case Texecom). Get it set up right and you can ringfence the property so you can move around in it, open inaccessible windows but yet keep the downstairs and external windows alarmed. And install a panic button or two.

[EireEng]

SystemParanoia said:

Make sure you secure those IP CCTV cameras, or you will expose your home to even more security threats than you'll be able to protect it from!

https://blog.sucuri.net/2016/06/large-cctv-botnet-...

You really dont want these guys having full unrestricted access to your home network and all the devices on it!

Edited by SystemParanoia on Tuesday 10th January 15:27

I though CCTV stood for closed-circuit TV, i.e. the entire system was on a closed circuit and isolated from any external attacks by virtue of being independent? I'd argue that IoT cameras shouldn't be called CCTV.
I've heard of IoT kettles, coffee machines, etc being used for these ddos attacks. Major effort has to go in to the security of these IMO

[Spare tyre]

Steve Campbell said:

We have PIR floodlights that are linked to alarm box. If any are triggered, it sets off a single loud beep in the house (you can hear it from outside). Each time it's triggered, it beeps. A cat will give 1 beep if at all, a human multiple beeps. The sensors aren't pointed high into the garden, but at the potential risk areas e.g. Patio doors, side of house etc with relatively narrow field of vision. So hardly ever set off by night time feline prowlers.

Seen similar, any details on yours?

[SystemParanoia]

EireEng said:

I though CCTV stood for closed-circuit TV, i.e. the entire system was on a closed circuit and isolated from any external attacks by virtue of being independent? I'd argue that IoT cameras shouldn't be called CCTV.
I've heard of IoT kettles, coffee machines, etc being used for these ddos attacks. Major effort has to go in to the security of these IMO

Yes, the main issue with these cheap mass produced chinese devices, are that they have hardcoded credentials that you cannot change, and are unable to further secure unless you put some effort in using VPN's or SSL tunnels or just blocking their mac address on your firewall.

https://www.hackread.com/mirai-botnet-hacks-survei...

this guy on twitter had his camera hacked within 98 seconds of it getting a network connection

[motco]

iambigred said:

What sort of vibration sensors were you looking at? Cheap standalone ones that attach to each window, or something that attaches to your existing alarm system?

Personally I would install a CCTV system capable of creating an alarm upon motion detection. This could alert you even prior to any attempted intrusion into your premises and also capture evidence. You can get a 4 camera setup for around £150. The cameras themselves may even be a deterrent.

Do you speak spider lingo? Of not forget video motion sensing.

[RichB]

SamR380 said:

I've got some hardwired sensors on the windows and doors round the back of my house, I'm pretty convinced they've prevented at least one break in. They set off the alarm before they get in, a much more comfortable solution than pressure pads.

I've got Vipers fitted to all my lower windows and the garage doors, seem very reliable.

[motco]

RichB said:

I've got Vipers fitted to all my lower windows and the garage doors, seem very reliable.

Vipers have been around since the 1980s and should have had all their snags ironed out long since. As they have survived all that time, I'd certainly look at them. I have a few US devices in a box in my garage - GlassGard I think they are called - but they are N/O and therefore less secure than N/C or end-of-line.

[AJB88]

ThunderGuts said:

I have some of those on the back of the house, seem surprisingly strong (especially when I try and come in the back door, forgetting they're 'locked'!)

I have these also and yes they work well.

[FlipFlopGriff]

Keep the keys somewhere secure and out of sight/reach (ie through a letterbox) - obvious I know. If they got in and demanded them you could get a spare key to give them which wouldn't work so you could alert the Police before they realise?
Someone nearby got broken into and beaten badly, spent weeks in hospital. All they wanted was his RS4 keys.
FFG

[SystemParanoia]

FlipFlopGriff said:

Keep the keys somewhere secure and out of sight/reach (ie through a letterbox) - obvious I know. If they got in and demanded them you could get a spare key to give them which wouldn't work so you could alert the Police before they realise?
Someone nearby got broken into and beaten badly, spent weeks in hospital. All they wanted was his RS4 keys.
FFG

Keep the service / Valet key downstairs in an easy to reach place ( wall hook? ), but like you said, out of reach of the letter box.

Its better they quickly find it and leave than come up and slit your entire family's throats as they sleep before waking you and demanding the keys.

[BL Fanboy]

I thought about a CCTV system but I'm put off by the idea that simply opening the meter box outside and pulling the house fuse would at least shut the PVR recorder and cameras off before any usable footage internal has been obtained. The alarm would go on to battery back up I suppose.

You'd have to hide the PVR as well to save that being nicked.

I guess an uninterruptible power supply would solve this but I would be another expense and also bulky.

For an average domestic house I would think a dummy camera might be no less useful.

[CAPP0]

DarylB90 said:

I already have a dog so OK on that one.

What breed, and where was it at the time?

I know the pros will feed and/or drug dogs sometimes, but I think your average crim would be put off by the right dog.

Our two (GSD & GSD X) are pretty protective of us (and each other), if required, and very protective of the house. They go bananas if there is anyone even at the top of the drive. I have seen friends who have met the dogs before back away even when we are holding the dogs. We have to manage it, but they have to be told to stop rather than told to start, if you see what I mean, and I must say it does give a level of comfort security-wise.

[motco]

The trouble with dogs is that they aren't there when you go on holiday. 240v on the door knobs works better!

[arun1uk]

This has been worrying me lately and glad it was just an attempt, OP.

Does anyone have a recommendation on a home safe? I'm in two minds about it, as if someone finds it they'll know it contains valuables, and could just take the whole unit (if not secured), or wait and get some to open it for them (i.e. US!). On the other hand, it is a deterrent to speculators who break in looking for keys/money/jewellery etc.

Any thoughts? I'd definitely anchor it to a solid floor/wall.

[Red Leader]

Dummy Keys! If you think they may be after the cars get dummy keys and place them near the door (out of sight from the letterbox of course)

Jonny burglar breaks in house for car keys and see's keys on table and thinks "great, lets go". Gets outside and key doesn't work but by this time house alarm is going off/you are awake/dog barking/neighbours are looking/police on way! and so he will probably not bother coming back into the house.

This also helps avoid said burglar from ransacking your home (which is the worse thing in a burglary)

I give this advice to my all my clients.

[SystemParanoia]

or he comes back in with his friend stabby joe

[Steve Campbell]

Spare tyre said:

Steve Campbell said:

We have PIR floodlights that are linked to alarm box. If any are triggered, it sets off a single loud beep in the house (you can hear it from outside). Each time it's triggered, it beeps. A cat will give 1 beep if at all, a human multiple beeps. The sensors aren't pointed high into the garden, but at the potential risk areas e.g. Patio doors, side of house etc with relatively narrow field of vision. So hardly ever set off by night time feline prowlers.

Seen similar, any details on yours?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Solitaire-1-5kw-Zone-Lighting-Controller/dp/B004XHAFN8
This one. Ours was in when we moved in so is at least 10 years old. Probably new models by now !
It's separate to the alarm but under the same maintenance contract. Allows 2 areas (front and back) with 3 zones per area. You can have lights set as off, on, PIR light comes on with no sound, or PIR light comes on with sound.
Works well as a deterrent as there is no way someone can sneak up to the house when we are in and us not know about it. Also helps to tell if someone is coming to the front door before the doorbell goes :-)

Edited by Steve Campbell on Thursday 12th January 17:49