Home Security - our neighbour was broken into
Discussion
Spot the two big mistakes there.
(hopefully they are locked away now).The bike lock around the door handles is very secure and will do the job better than anything else, but doesn't look too good.
As Lofty said, Laminated glass in the doors will stop them breaking it, but it's V heavy and may cause the doors to sag if not fitted very carefully. It'll certainly slow them down even with the pile of bricks and loose paving slabs you've left them to use.
I don't think the trellising is worth jack, they'll just rip it off if the want to get in and probably use the fence (and step ladders!) to stand on to get onto the flat roof and get in there.
My job many years ago was as an emergency callout security/board up service for the Fire and Police after people had their houses broken into or been on fire, so I saw quite a lot of different methods of entry. Personally I would work harder on not letting them through the perimeter in the first place. CCTV aside, Once they are in the garden they can do what they like.
Edited by 226bhp on Friday 26th December 11:14
SVS said:
Security film can be DIYed, but it's a pain to fit without bubbles. Some suppliers will also fit the film for you; you could look for one of these.
HTH
Yes I did - great advice thanks, I will take a look. Unfortunately sash jammers won't work as the doors all open outwards. But the other things I can do. Well, when I can afford the locks - at £30+ a pop, and needing four just for the conservatory doors (internal and external ones) I think it might bankrupt me!!HTH
Edited by SVS on Friday 26th December 08:30
Doh just realised Sash Jammers will work. I'm a muppet.
Edited by Pheo on Friday 26th December 13:22
unfortunately the garage (and cladding!) actually belong to the neighbour so I can't improve the look or anything. I only have shared driveway plus gate access.
re the ladders yeah that was while we were having the extension done, they are locked away now. However its easy to get on the flat roof regardless, to be honest.
re the ladders yeah that was while we were having the extension done, they are locked away now. However its easy to get on the flat roof regardless, to be honest.
fuzzymonkey said:
Perhaps some carpet tack strips on the gate and fence would help?
Plod takes a very dim view of homeowners doing that.Expect to have a rather uncomfortable conversation with them about it.
And of course the Human Rights Lawyer defending the poor innocent burglar against the evil, vicious, nasty homeowner.
MajorProblem said:
The policeman who lives two doors down from me has spiked his garden wall all the way around.
Depends what type of spikes.. many are legal... Many are not.A good read of this is what you need.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/3/content...
FWIW - I will be putting rubberised spikes all around my gaff.
Troubleatmill said:
A good read of this is what you need.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/3/content...
^ Otherwise you could end up here ...http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/3/content...
Crime Prevention Website said:
"Broken glass set into mortar on top of walls will require signs warning of the specific danger and I would not recommend its use below 2.4m. Frankly, I wouldn’t recommend it anyway as it looks horrible and you run the risk of falling foul of the Occupiers’ Liability Acts should someone get injured. A burglar, a blanket and a hammer can usually put pay to a bit of glass in short order. (See Occupiers’ Liability Act 1984 and Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 in The UK Law concerning fences, walls and gates and the true story below.)
True story
I was casually walking the beat one day when a bin man came running up to me clutching a profusely bleeding wrist. I got out the ‘just-in-case’ bandage and carted him off to hospital for some stitches. He’d cut his wrist as he threw a new black bin bag over a side gate of a house on his round. He hadn’t noticed the glass on top of the gate put there the week before by the householder. The gate was only 2m high and there was no warning sign to indicate the danger. With the help of his trade union he successfully sued the householder for compensation for his injuries.
Manufactured spikes
There are various types including systems with very long angled spikes designed for use around commercial or government buildings and a 15mm high plastic type designed specifically to sit on domestic garden walls and fences. I’ve seen the latter and I think it will be quite effective against the unprepared opportunist thief. They come in strips that can be nailed, screwed or glued to the top of the fence or wall. You’ll need to check with the local highways authority before you buy it to see at what height they would allow its use if the fence or wall borders the pubic highway or other land to which the pubic have access. It all rather depends on how they interpret its injurious status in respect to the Highways Act. The use of warning signs specific to the product is recommended. (See Highways Act 1980 Section 164 and Occupiers’ Liability Act 1984 and Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 in The UK Law concerning fences, walls and gates.)"
True story
I was casually walking the beat one day when a bin man came running up to me clutching a profusely bleeding wrist. I got out the ‘just-in-case’ bandage and carted him off to hospital for some stitches. He’d cut his wrist as he threw a new black bin bag over a side gate of a house on his round. He hadn’t noticed the glass on top of the gate put there the week before by the householder. The gate was only 2m high and there was no warning sign to indicate the danger. With the help of his trade union he successfully sued the householder for compensation for his injuries.
Manufactured spikes
There are various types including systems with very long angled spikes designed for use around commercial or government buildings and a 15mm high plastic type designed specifically to sit on domestic garden walls and fences. I’ve seen the latter and I think it will be quite effective against the unprepared opportunist thief. They come in strips that can be nailed, screwed or glued to the top of the fence or wall. You’ll need to check with the local highways authority before you buy it to see at what height they would allow its use if the fence or wall borders the pubic highway or other land to which the pubic have access. It all rather depends on how they interpret its injurious status in respect to the Highways Act. The use of warning signs specific to the product is recommended. (See Highways Act 1980 Section 164 and Occupiers’ Liability Act 1984 and Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 in The UK Law concerning fences, walls and gates.)"
Spare tyre said:
I have an amazing led flood light that operates at 6w during dusk to dawn, then brightens to 12w when motion is detected
Wanted some more but they don't seem to sell anything like it
Here is a link to where you can buy these hi-lo security lights. Not cheap, but they are amazing lights and top quality Wanted some more but they don't seem to sell anything like it
with all the advantages of both motion-activated and dawn-till-dusk lighting. Highly recommended.I was in my local lock suppliers the other day there and i noticed they have started selling an item called a 'patlock'. Its a device which is put over the 2 handles of joining patio doors which stops the handles from being pressed down. So even if you have a crap lock in your patio doors there is still no way of opening the door with this device fitted. 
ETA
Sorry but no adverts in the forums.
ETA
Sorry but no adverts in the forums.
Edited by Big Al. on Sunday 27th December 10:20
I bought a 'Patlock' earlier this year. Seems to be fairly well made gives me some feeling of security.
I also have, on the same door , a long shackle padlock .... The patlock does a good jog of hiding that from the inside.
Security is a constant concern and selfish as it is I try to shift the problem elsewhere.
I also have, on the same door , a long shackle padlock .... The patlock does a good jog of hiding that from the inside.
Security is a constant concern and selfish as it is I try to shift the problem elsewhere.
NiceCupOfTea said:
What is it with people joining the forums just to drag up old threads to plug their own business with fake recommendations!?
Was he actually plugging his own business though? from what I can see he is just an emergency lock smith, he doesn't have any kind of on line store or anything. maybe I missed it but from what I can see was just offering advice.
I'll mention the robotic PIR floodlight CCTV units we have, they follow you about which is their USP, quite neat & only 7w LED but pretty bright. They have fairly low res video stored on an SD card but that is a not their main aim. They can also be set to make a noise from a recording etc.
Also means we only need two units to cover our entire area where otherwise we would need 4 or 5.
These things, called Nightwatchers
Also means we only need two units to cover our entire area where otherwise we would need 4 or 5.
These things, called Nightwatchers
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