Burglar deterrent, friend’s plan for elderly mum
Discussion
My friend’s mum is recently widowed in her 70’s and lives alone in a largish house
He has some concerns for her safety and wants to improve the security of her home.
The idea he has come up with to make the home look more occupied and deter potential burglars, is to buy an old car from the local paper, and park it outside her house on the drive. Something in the £100-£200 range
I’m not really convinced this will be as effective a deterrent as more traditional measures like CCTV, LED floodlights or better locks. If it worked surely houses with cars wouldn’t be burgles?
My friend isn’t sure whether his mum needs or would want these though
Nether of us are security experts and would appreciate some advice on the merits of either route
If you are in the police or have any experience in security could you say so too so we can correctly weight the views from PH
Many thanks
He has some concerns for her safety and wants to improve the security of her home.
The idea he has come up with to make the home look more occupied and deter potential burglars, is to buy an old car from the local paper, and park it outside her house on the drive. Something in the £100-£200 range
I’m not really convinced this will be as effective a deterrent as more traditional measures like CCTV, LED floodlights or better locks. If it worked surely houses with cars wouldn’t be burgles?
My friend isn’t sure whether his mum needs or would want these though
Nether of us are security experts and would appreciate some advice on the merits of either route
If you are in the police or have any experience in security could you say so too so we can correctly weight the views from PH
Many thanks
The £100 to £200 on a car would go a fair way on some sensible pir out door lights - with chime if possible, programmable timer light switch to existing lights or simple timer lights in different rooms at random times.
Many modern tv's have a turn on at set time and turn off at set time function, use this.
One of the dog bark pir detectors may be a good idea
CCTV - yes but not 100% necessary
Many modern tv's have a turn on at set time and turn off at set time function, use this.
One of the dog bark pir detectors may be a good idea
CCTV - yes but not 100% necessary
Edited by richs2891 on Tuesday 19th February 19:51
You could take the pretence one stage further and park a second hand van with your/another family members mobile stickered on the side against a fictional business that suggests an able bodied business owner lives or is working there. House maintenance, garden care, window cleaner etc..
Add 'and Sons' and you suggest at least two other males living there.
Or, a young persons car, like a Corsa complete with the full Halfords options pack.
There's always the beware of the dog Alsatian or Rottweiler signs option on the front gate.
Add 'and Sons' and you suggest at least two other males living there.
Or, a young persons car, like a Corsa complete with the full Halfords options pack.
There's always the beware of the dog Alsatian or Rottweiler signs option on the front gate.
Edited by Hol on Tuesday 19th February 08:24
No to car - won't be used so will end up covered in leaves moss and mildew and make the house look even more abandoned.
Yes to PIR ie motion sensitive lights - can also get motion sensitive dog bark recordings (check reviews as convincingness varies). Plus lights on timers in different rooms to come on at night.
Yes to PIR ie motion sensitive lights - can also get motion sensitive dog bark recordings (check reviews as convincingness varies). Plus lights on timers in different rooms to come on at night.
You can get a pack of timer switches from Argos for about £12. Plug a few lamps in and they turn on and off. The £12 ones even let you set different times for different days.
I had a pretty heavy security overhaul last year. I asked for the sensor lights. But the company I used said they are not the recommended any more. Apparently the dusk TIL dawn ones that are always on our burglars off more. No idea if this is true, but they keep everything lit to a low level and might be good with your mother as she ages. They also work better with cctv as the camera is already adjusted rather than having to adjust after the light comes on.
I’m going to get them put up at my dads, they were only £20 each. I had an electrician install them, but I think you can do them yourself.
You can also get yale diy alarms for reasonable prices.
I had a pretty heavy security overhaul last year. I asked for the sensor lights. But the company I used said they are not the recommended any more. Apparently the dusk TIL dawn ones that are always on our burglars off more. No idea if this is true, but they keep everything lit to a low level and might be good with your mother as she ages. They also work better with cctv as the camera is already adjusted rather than having to adjust after the light comes on.
I’m going to get them put up at my dads, they were only £20 each. I had an electrician install them, but I think you can do them yourself.
You can also get yale diy alarms for reasonable prices.
Hol said:
You could take the pretence one stage further and park a second hand van with your/another family members mobile stickered on the side against a fictional business that suggests an able bodied business owner lives or is working there. House maintenance, garden care, window cleaner etc..
Add 'and Sons' and you suggest at least two other males living there.
Or, a young persons car, like a Corsa complete with the full Halfords options pack.
There's always the beware of the dog Alsatian or Rottweiler signs option on the front gate.
What about a van with a ‘boxercise’ or ‘O’Donovan’s Fighting School’ or ‘Smashers Steroids’ or something? Add 'and Sons' and you suggest at least two other males living there.
Or, a young persons car, like a Corsa complete with the full Halfords options pack.
There's always the beware of the dog Alsatian or Rottweiler signs option on the front gate.
Edited by Hol on Tuesday 19th February 08:24
jakesmith said:
My friend’s mum is recently widowed in her 70’s and lives alone in a largish house
He has some concerns for her safety and wants to improve the security of her home.
The idea he has come up with to make the home look more occupied and deter potential burglars, is to buy an old car from the local paper, and park it outside her house on the drive. Something in the £100-£200 range
I’m not really convinced this will be as effective a deterrent as more traditional measures like CCTV, LED floodlights or better locks. If it worked surely houses with cars wouldn’t be burgles?
My friend isn’t sure whether his mum needs or would want these though
Nether of us are security experts and would appreciate some advice on the merits of either route
If you are in the police or have any experience in security could you say so too so we can correctly weight the views from PH
Many thanks
Can a neighbour use the drive? We sometimes do this when someone's going on holiday round here, makes the place look more occupied.He has some concerns for her safety and wants to improve the security of her home.
The idea he has come up with to make the home look more occupied and deter potential burglars, is to buy an old car from the local paper, and park it outside her house on the drive. Something in the £100-£200 range
I’m not really convinced this will be as effective a deterrent as more traditional measures like CCTV, LED floodlights or better locks. If it worked surely houses with cars wouldn’t be burgles?
My friend isn’t sure whether his mum needs or would want these though
Nether of us are security experts and would appreciate some advice on the merits of either route
If you are in the police or have any experience in security could you say so too so we can correctly weight the views from PH
Many thanks
There's a device with regards remote answering of doorbells. It can come through to your mobile. This will deter those who come to the front door and even if they are not put off, then you will be able to tell them to go away.
I had a mock CCTV camera set up in my house. As the PIR light came on, it also showed the camera. A little red led came on the camera.
As regards someone coming in from some other route, then there is a problem. There's a saying in crime prevention circles that fences only keep out those who don't really want to get in. It is true.
One way is to speak with neighbours if she is friendly with them. Get them to keep an eye open. That's what we did with our mum when she refused to leave her flat, and this in her middle 70s. Each year we gave the neighbour a gift as a thank-you. She was really nosy and was better than a guard dog, and more ferocious. A couple of times she challenged callers who then walked off.
There are a lot of digital systems, seemingly new ones every month. Some must be effective.
My mother had hearing problems and we put the bell outside the front door so that when someone rang, everyone knew.
I had a mock CCTV camera set up in my house. As the PIR light came on, it also showed the camera. A little red led came on the camera.
As regards someone coming in from some other route, then there is a problem. There's a saying in crime prevention circles that fences only keep out those who don't really want to get in. It is true.
One way is to speak with neighbours if she is friendly with them. Get them to keep an eye open. That's what we did with our mum when she refused to leave her flat, and this in her middle 70s. Each year we gave the neighbour a gift as a thank-you. She was really nosy and was better than a guard dog, and more ferocious. A couple of times she challenged callers who then walked off.
There are a lot of digital systems, seemingly new ones every month. Some must be effective.
My mother had hearing problems and we put the bell outside the front door so that when someone rang, everyone knew.
Derek Smith said:
One way is to speak with neighbours if she is friendly with them. Get them to keep an eye open. That's what we did with our mum when she refused to leave her flat, and this in her middle 70s. Each year we gave the neighbour a gift as a thank-you. She was really nosy and was better than a guard dog, and more ferocious. A couple of times she challenged callers who then walked off.
good idea. OP its going to be a combination of things that all add up to doing what you can.
motco said:
A large motorcycle would imply the presence of a yoof with a very short fuse.
They'll just nick that.Hol said:
You could take the pretence one stage further and park a second hand van with your/another family members mobile stickered on the side against a fictional business that suggests an able bodied business owner lives or is working there. House maintenance, garden care, window cleaner etc..
Might as well put a sign on it saying FREE TOOLS INSIDE...
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Gravel driveway. Not being able to get to the house without going on gravel. Burglers hate gravel more than anything, it's just too noisy. They avoid it like the plague.
+1. You want to make harder than your neighbours. If you have a gravel drive and they don't, chances are they'll go for next door. Flood lights are good. Brighter the better. CCTV I'm not too sure about...most will wear something to cover their face. I like the idea of renting the drive out. Maybe offer it up to neighbours if they have friends/family over? When ours go on holiday they allow us to park on their drive. Another works shifts and lets another neighbour park hers on there.
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