Turning a house into a fortress
Discussion
I've been pondering this for some time - probably the anxiety of getting old combined with the imminent zombie threat 
- but the thread in the Lounge about coming home to find burglars inside has prompted this thread.
How do I turn my home into something which is secure from 'invaders' when I'm inside and asleep, and also when its empty during the day, or I'm on holiday?
In Europe, metal shutters over doors and windows are commonplace, so I've actively considered this solution. It just strikes me that they are so unusual in the UK, that I'd actually be drawing attention to my property.
My house is reasonably 'normal': detached, double-glazed windows (13 years old), several French windows of the same age (effectively three back doors!)
Really interested in the latest solutions, whether large/significant items or little/detail changes which can be made.
- but the thread in the Lounge about coming home to find burglars inside has prompted this thread.How do I turn my home into something which is secure from 'invaders' when I'm inside and asleep, and also when its empty during the day, or I'm on holiday?
In Europe, metal shutters over doors and windows are commonplace, so I've actively considered this solution. It just strikes me that they are so unusual in the UK, that I'd actually be drawing attention to my property.
My house is reasonably 'normal': detached, double-glazed windows (13 years old), several French windows of the same age (effectively three back doors!)
Really interested in the latest solutions, whether large/significant items or little/detail changes which can be made.
This site has loads of good ideas:
https://thecrimepreventionwebsite.com/home-securit...
A lot will depend on where you are, and how easy parts of your house are to get to..
https://thecrimepreventionwebsite.com/home-securit...
A lot will depend on where you are, and how easy parts of your house are to get to..
V8mate said:
In Europe, metal shutters over doors and windows are commonplace, so I've actively considered this solution. It just strikes me that they are so unusual in the UK, that I'd actually be drawing attention to my property.
Blast resistant glazing would be a less obtrusive solution and is increasingly available for the domestic market. It stops the 'lump of concrete through the French door glass scenario' which is often the default mode of entry for the thief if they encounter secure locks and composite doors. I don't know the cost though. You need to change your frames as well so best done when they are ready to be swapped anyway.I've lived in Germany and France and have always been surprised that those roller shutters over doors and windows that are everywhere there aren't more popular over here. They work really well for protection against the elements as well as undesirables, and if they're designed-in they look very unobtrusive. I guess adding them 'after-market' is a clunky solution, but they're worth considering.
BR7 or ER4 glass will pretty much stop everything short of a rocket launcher and looks no different from the outside.
http://www.blastandballistics.com/products/securit...
Lots of cheaper grades available which will stop most random thiefs dead in their tracks.
Ones installed into the windows of say jewelers or museums is normally attack proof glass and will take 50 hits with a sledgehammer before anything gets through, coupled with a steel reinforced door, you will effectively become a bank safe.
http://www.blastandballistics.com/products/securit...
Lots of cheaper grades available which will stop most random thiefs dead in their tracks.
Ones installed into the windows of say jewelers or museums is normally attack proof glass and will take 50 hits with a sledgehammer before anything gets through, coupled with a steel reinforced door, you will effectively become a bank safe.
Edited by p1stonhead on Friday 2nd February 14:35
We secured our internal doors so that if someone got into the down stairs loo or got in through the kitchen window they were essentially locked into that room. Whilst they could probably get through the internal door they would make a lot of noise doing so. I felt a bit easier after we had a break in, until it dawned on me that my family and I were more in danger of locking ourselves into a burning house.....
It was useful to lock the internal doors (we used mortice door bolt locks at the top and bottom of the doors) when we went away as an extra layer of security.
I'm not sure I'd be steel shuttering my house. Keep your valuables somewhere safe and make sure you're well insured.
It was useful to lock the internal doors (we used mortice door bolt locks at the top and bottom of the doors) when we went away as an extra layer of security.
I'm not sure I'd be steel shuttering my house. Keep your valuables somewhere safe and make sure you're well insured.
Hang On said:
Blast resistant glazing would be a less obtrusive solution and is increasingly available for the domestic market. It stops the 'lump of concrete through the French door glass scenario' which is often the default mode of entry for the thief if they encounter secure locks and composite doors. I don't know the cost though. You need to change your frames as well so best done when they are ready to be swapped anyway.
Good idea in theory, but doesnt stop the tea leaf from jamming a garden spade in the frame and levering out the glazing.
I think you need to define what level of attack you want to be resistant to, I'm thinking something less than a bunker buster or orbital kinetic strike? Stand up to someone trying to open up the house with a JCB?
We have anti-ramraid posts etc. at work and an internal cell with steel reinforced concrete walls.
We have anti-ramraid posts etc. at work and an internal cell with steel reinforced concrete walls.
The more obviously secure your house, the more it looks like you're really trying to protect something. I'm not saying don't secure your house, but if yours is the only house in the neighbourhood with steel shutters on your doors and windows, there's a fair chance someone will smash a transit van through the wall, to find out what you're protecting.
p1stonhead said:
BR7 or ER4 glass will pretty much stop everything short of a rocket launcher and looks no different from the outside.
http://www.blastandballistics.com/products/securit...
Lots of cheaper grades available which will stop most random thiefs dead in their tracks.
Ones installed into the windows of say jewelers or museums is normally attack proof glass and will take 50 hits with a sledgehammer before anything gets through, coupled with a steel reinforced door, you will effectively become a bank safe.
Are the bricks and mortar RPG proof though?http://www.blastandballistics.com/products/securit...
Lots of cheaper grades available which will stop most random thiefs dead in their tracks.
Ones installed into the windows of say jewelers or museums is normally attack proof glass and will take 50 hits with a sledgehammer before anything gets through, coupled with a steel reinforced door, you will effectively become a bank safe.
Edited by p1stonhead on Friday 2nd February 14:35
Our neighbours were burgled a couple of years back, in a small spate of 3 or 4 burglaries in our road over the course of 10 days. Police crime prevention visited every house in the street, and the advice we had was.
1) Don't leave the house completely unlit at night.
2) If possible have a car parked on the drive. When on holiday encourage neighbours to park on your driveway.
3) Dog ownership. One of the most significant factors. Dogs are unpredictable and most casual burglars would rather just move onto to another house.
4) Fit a burglar alarm, and USE it
If you have all four of the above then your chances of being burgled (in our area at least) are very low.
1) Don't leave the house completely unlit at night.
2) If possible have a car parked on the drive. When on holiday encourage neighbours to park on your driveway.
3) Dog ownership. One of the most significant factors. Dogs are unpredictable and most casual burglars would rather just move onto to another house.
4) Fit a burglar alarm, and USE it
If you have all four of the above then your chances of being burgled (in our area at least) are very low.
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