Attempted Break in - Time to beef up the security

Attempted Break in - Time to beef up the security

Author
Discussion

DarylB90

Original Poster:

150 posts

112 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
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Hi all,

Had an attempted break in Friday night.
Convinced they were after the car so time to beef up the security a bit.
I already have a house alarm that works off a motion sensor in the hallway.
What I want though is vibration sensors on all windows and doors so the alarm goes off before they get in.
Complete novice with this sort of thing so looking for any advice if any other members have gone down a similar route or is there something more I can do that would be more effective?

Cheers

iambigred

192 posts

126 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
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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.

brrapp

3,701 posts

163 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
quotequote all
It depends a bit on where you are and how your house is situated, but the key is to make your house look more difficult and risky and less profitable to break into than the others in the area.
If you live on a street of identical houses, the burglars won't choose the one with visible alarm, obvious dog, average car. If you live in a nice house on it's own in a quiet area with a Range Rover in the drive then you've got a harder job.
There is no such thing as an unburglarable house, all you can do is make it look difficult to get into and get away from without getting caught. As the old story goes, it's not about being able to outrun the bear, only about being able to outrun your friends.

SystemParanoia

14,343 posts

199 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
quotequote all
may as well get a few of these considering the price

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/pressure-mat-yb91y

Pressure mats under every door and window.. could even fit them outside your doors and windows to give early warning so-to-speak


SamR380

725 posts

121 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
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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.


Whoozit

3,615 posts

270 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
quotequote all
brrapp said:
There is no such thing as an unburglarable house, all you can do is make it look difficult to get into and get away from without getting caught. As the old story goes, it's not about being able to outrun the bear, only about being able to outrun your friends.
End of terrace house here. As well as some of the measures already mentioned, I have security lights at the back, permanent nighttime lighting at the front, and Smartwater stickers in front window and back door to show the easily liftable stuff is marked. As you say, it's not about being the safest house on the block, just the more challenging one.




Edited by Whoozit on Tuesday 10th January 15:11

SystemParanoia

14,343 posts

199 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
quotequote all
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.

amancalledrob

1,248 posts

135 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
quotequote all
How about retractable posts in the driveway entrance (there must be a better way to describe those, sorry) - the car will look a lot less attractive if they can't get it out.

Also how long before someone mentions dominating the stairs

SystemParanoia

14,343 posts

199 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
quotequote all
amancalledrob said:
How about retractable posts in the driveway entrance (there must be a better way to describe those, sorry) - the car will look a lot less attractive if they can't get it out.

Also how long before someone mentions dominating the stairs
Yeah, but thy can just crash your cars into them to spite you

FourWheelDrift

88,612 posts

285 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
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SystemParanoia

14,343 posts

199 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
quotequote all
FourWheelDrift said:
OP tomorrow:



geeks

9,207 posts

140 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
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A couple of well positioned IP CCTV Cams
A Yale house alarm in the workshop and shed that has door, window and motion sensors
Security light with motion sensor
Mortice lock on front gate that gets locked at night
Dog

Seems to do the trick for us!

Should add that all of this (except the dog) was installed a couple of years back following an actual break in. We haven't had issues since, however the neighbors have but we have been left untouched so seems to be sufficient.

Like has already been said its not about being totally secure (security is a journey not a destination) but more secure than the guy next door!

SystemParanoia

14,343 posts

199 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
quotequote all
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

DarylB90

Original Poster:

150 posts

112 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies guys.
I already have a dog so OK on that one.
Good point on the motion sensor CCTV cameras but wouldn't they be going off every time a cat or fox walked across the garden?
I also thought about posts in the drives but a friend told me had them and they rammed them over to get the car off the drive.
I'd be looking at hooking the vibration sensors up to my existing alarm system, anyone got an idea on rough costs?
Downstairs we have a front door, side door and patio doors at the back.
There is also the kitchen window, living room window and dining room window (each has two opening windows if that makes sense)

SystemParanoia

14,343 posts

199 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
quotequote all
DarylB90 said:
Thanks for the replies guys.
I also thought about posts in the drives but a friend told me had them and they rammed them over to get the car off the drive.
Dont get st ones laugh

V8RX7

26,921 posts

264 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
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Have you already got :

PIR floodlight
Fake CCTV cameras

If you have a drive I'd recommend a bollard too - way before window sensors which seem pointless if you have a dog

You can also get driveway alarms - cheap PIR jobs or decent twin beam type £20+

Craikeybaby

10,433 posts

226 months

Wednesday 11th January 2017
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Also upgrading locks/handles on your doors.

hyphen

26,262 posts

91 months

Wednesday 11th January 2017
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Have you got a pic of the property from all sides you could post(or a similar property off the net)?

RC1807

12,556 posts

169 months

Wednesday 11th January 2017
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hyphen said:
Have you got a pic of the property from all sides you could post(or a similar property off the net)?
There are more subtle ways to case a place! wink

Steve Campbell

2,141 posts

169 months

Wednesday 11th January 2017
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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.