Turning a house into a fortress

[Badda]

p1esk said:

Maybe so, but my complaint still stands. I don't suppose many people would go to the extent of deploying electrified fences and / or razor wire. That is quite extreme, but we can see from what's being posted here that some people feel the need to spend considerable sums of money and take elaborate measures to protect themselves from something that shouldn't be happening in the first place.

If we were to get our priorities right and have a proper system of law and order, those normal decent people wouldn't need to do so much of this stuff; and even when they've spent the money and taken all the precautions, they're still left with some degree of worry in case it all proves inadequate.

It seems odd to me that you're attacking my stance (that is what you're doing, isn't it?) when what I'm actually doing is advocating action that would help to relieve these normal decent people of worries that they ought not to have.

With all due respect, I must say I'm bound to wonder just whose side you are on?

Whose side? You think I'm pro-burglar?

You sound in favour of a sharia type law or huge terms in prison like the US. Hint, neither system works. You're advocating a fascist utopia and I don't like that.

[ghost83]

Tell you what I’ve done


Both external doors don’t have letterboxes and I bought them reinforced with mortise locks instead of the flat keys

All glass has safety film on it apart from upstairs windows (in case of fire) this includes front windows front door glass rear door glass rear windows and French doors

All interior doors are locked one way on a night with a Chubb key

So if someone gets in the dining room they’re faced with a locked door into kitchen same scenario into the living room then they would be able to in Chubb the dining room and kitchen BUT wouldn’t be able to get through to go upstairs as that’s locked from the stairs side

If there’s a fire then we can go straight out through the front door from upstairs OR out the bedroom windows onto the roof

We also have a monitored alarm that they send the police out if need be, when my son fell and hit his head she triggered the alarm n got a ambulance sent immediately and it arrived promptly we have Also had the police arrive within 2 minutes so it’s extremely good

My next jobs are cctv inside and out and security lights as ours have packed up

Shortly I will also have a sliding electric gate (pillars just built) and a security post too my exterior wall is also getting rebuilt

[Badda]

ghost83 said:

Tell you what I’ve done


Both external doors don’t have letterboxes and I bought them reinforced with mortise locks instead of the flat keys

All glass has safety film on it apart from upstairs windows (in case of fire) this includes front windows front door glass rear door glass rear windows and French doors

All interior doors are locked one way on a night with a Chubb key

So if someone gets in the dining room they’re faced with a locked door into kitchen same scenario into the living room then they would be able to in Chubb the dining room and kitchen BUT wouldn’t be able to get through to go upstairs as that’s locked from the stairs side

If there’s a fire then we can go straight out through the front door from upstairs OR out the bedroom windows onto the roof

We also have a monitored alarm that they send the police out if need be, when my son fell and hit his head she triggered the alarm n got a ambulance sent immediately and it arrived promptly we have Also had the police arrive within 2 minutes so it’s extremely good

My next jobs are cctv inside and out and security lights as ours have packed up

Shortly I will also have a sliding electric gate (pillars just built) and a security post too my exterior wall is also getting rebuilt

Sounds homely.

[ghost83]

Badda said:

Sounds homely.

It’s very homely unless you’re looking u wouldn’t see the security measures and that’s exactly what we want

[Spare tyre]

Defensive parking - crappest car blocks in my trailers and better car

Fake tv thing in my office - costs pence a year to run but looks like someone is up watching tv

Cctv - handy for checking what's going on, use it for other things like seeing if the bin man has been, but most importantly keeping an eye on my mischievous dog

Alarm linked to my phone, notifies me and various people by text

I have sensors on my gates that beep in the house - this is clever as each different gate makes a different noise, the dog knows which chime relates to which gate

Dog

I was thinking about a sign telling callers that I'm hard of hearing so be patient if I don't hear the bell the first time (I am hard of hearing). This would spook them as they could make all the noise in the world, but they still ni you could be inside

Lots of dusk till dawn lights and extra security lights

Chime on my shed

[V8RX7]

The folding internal metal shutters sound like your thing - however they do tend to advertise the fact that you are away and that you probably have stuff worth stealing.

After he was car jacked, a friend fitted wrought iron "bars" to the landing and a wrought iron gate at the top of the stairs - they were a decorative design but I found it oppressive but he couldn't sleep without them.

Personally I have dogs, alarm etc and fire doors with locks on.

[anonymous-user]

I can’t emphasise enough how much of a deterrent a dog is. They’re a big commitment but if you invest time and effort in training then most of your common and garden burglars will simply go somewhere else.
They protect you and your family if your not around and while out and about.

Get as much light as you possibly can around the outside of your home.

Timers on sockets for lamps and radios if you’re out or going away.

CCTV.

Security posts on the drive.

Thick thorny hedges around the side and rear of the garden offer natural protection.

Solid gate at the rear with tacks/small spike strip across the top.

Protection film for all windows, If you’ve a conservatory you can have film fitted that has a mirrored finish on the rear so no easy view inside and this is also good for the summer and privacy.

Composite front and rear doors.

Always ensure things like outside furniture and ladders are put away rather than left out when not in use. Same goes for any tools or spades etc....

Good relationship with neighbours for when your away or out for the day so they know there’s no one due to visit.

And for if the st ever hits the fan, take pictures of all your valuables and also of the receipts and serial numbers. Security mark everything.

Even if the police don’t catch who it is, all makes, models and serial numbers along with a description go on to the pnc. It’s not as uncommon as you think for someone to be lifted several months after a burglary due to their home being searched for another matter and an officer doing a pnc check on serial numbers finds a stolen item. May not be the offender but it’s a lead.

Police linked burglar alarm system.

Use Royal Mail keepsafe for Mail while you’re away to save Mail building up on in the hallway.
www.royalmail.com/personal/receiving-mail/keepsafe...

[V8mate]

Faz50 said:

Use Royal Mail keepsafe for Mail while you’re away to save Mail building up on in the hallway.
www.royalmail.com/personal/receiving-mail/keepsafe...

That's a great service. I always think that the ne'er do wells who ignore my 'no leaflets' sticker and insist on sticking a pizza menu into my letterbox (and notice the stack of uncleared regular mail) are most likely to know the local Russian mafia house-breaking team.

[S6PNJ]

shakotan said:

C0ffin D0dger said:

Big fence all the way round topped with razor wire. Could even electrify it

You're not allowed to do either of those things.

Just in the process of installing electric fencing! UK as well

[Chrisgr31]

ghost83 said:

Tell you what I’ve done


Both external doors don’t have letterboxes and I bought them reinforced with mortise locks instead of the flat keys

All glass has safety film on it apart from upstairs windows (in case of fire) this includes front windows front door glass rear door glass rear windows and French doors

All interior doors are locked one way on a night with a Chubb key

So if someone gets in the dining room they’re faced with a locked door into kitchen same scenario into the living room then they would be able to in Chubb the dining room and kitchen BUT wouldn’t be able to get through to go upstairs as that’s locked from the stairs side

If there’s a fire then we can go straight out through the front door from upstairs OR out the bedroom windows onto the roof

We also have a monitored alarm that they send the police out if need be, when my son fell and hit his head she triggered the alarm n got a ambulance sent immediately and it arrived promptly we have Also had the police arrive within 2 minutes so it’s extremely good

My next jobs are cctv inside and out and security lights as ours have packed up

Shortly I will also have a sliding electric gate (pillars just built) and a security post too my exterior wall is also getting rebuilt

Where do you live that you need all this security?

Relatively frequently we manage to go out and leave the back door unlocked, and before marriage I went away for the weekend and left the front door open!. In most areas in the UK your chances of being burgled are very low.

[anonymous-user]

justinio said:

Good idea in theory, but doesnt stop the tea leaf from jamming a garden spade in the frame and levering out the glazing.

Wrong.

[anonymous-user]

p1esk said:

I'd never heard of blast resistant glazing, but would it give protection against those who might use a glass cutter to gain entry?

Yes it would (although I doubt that is a common mode of entry with double / triple glazing systems). Laminated blast resistant glass can't be sliced from the external side only; you'd have to have internal access already to cut a piece off in all practical scenarios.

[ghost83]

Chrisgr31 said:

Where do you live that you need all this security?

Relatively frequently we manage to go out and leave the back door unlocked, and before marriage I went away for the weekend and left the front door open!. In most areas in the UK your chances of being burgled are very low.

I live in Wakefield West Yorkshire it’s not that bad round here imo and we have gone out a few times and left the house unlocked

BUT my wife since kids has suffered with anxiety to the point that when she goes upstairs on a day she will lock all the doors! It’s like bloody Fort Knox but that’s what anxiety does to you! She’s more terrified of something happening to the kids and scared it would scare the kids if they knew someone had been in

[Spoon Burner]

I was burgled about 3 months ago, they came in whilst I was in bed by smashing in through the conservatory and then the kitchen window. The one had a knife and they took my car.

The forensics team and the police on the whole were great. The forensics team told me the bar none the best deterrent and the only thing that will truly make burglars think twice is a big dog.

I'm now moving house because of what happened as I still can't sleep properly at night, wouldn't wish it on anyone.

If I didn't have the option of moving I'd be investing in a family protection trained Italian mastiff from these guys (watch from 1m10s)...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=75&amp...

[CAPP0]

Camoradi said:

1) Don't leave the house completely unlit at night.

Does that mean have a light on all night, or have PIR lights?

[bristolracer]

The Selfish Gene said:

Was thinking broken glass glued to top of fence............

Carpet gripper

[227bhp]

p1esk said:

227bhp said:

p1esk said:

I'd never heard of blast resistant glazing, but would it give protection against those who might use a glass cutter to gain entry?

You've been watching too many films.

Maybe so, but do burglars not do the glass cutting trick?

As you can tell, this is not my primary area of expertise.

Indeed No it doesn't really happen like that in real life.

[mikeiow]

ghost83 said:

I live in Wakefield West Yorkshire it’s not that bad round here imo and we have gone out a few times and left the house unlocked

BUT my wife since kids has suffered with anxiety to the point that when she goes upstairs on a day she will lock all the doors! It’s like bloody Fort Knox but that’s what anxiety does to you! She’s more terrified of something happening to the kids and scared it would scare the kids if they knew someone had been in

Crikey, sounds horrifying!
I've left a garage door wide open a few times....wife came home once & I'd managed to leave the front door open.....maybe Leicestershire is a safer area!

Don't get me wrong.....we generally make sure doors are closed and locked (!).....try not to leave things out (about 15-20 years back we had a spade disappear!), but not much else. Original house alarm failed too many times so isn't used: I keep meaning to sort but can't face replacing batteries every couple of years, and to get someone in would involve....effort....

Be sure to keep the means to dominate the stairs, that ought to do it......

[ghost83]

mikeiow said:

Crikey, sounds horrifying!
I've left a garage door wide open a few times....wife came home once & I'd managed to leave the front door open.....maybe Leicestershire is a safer area!

Don't get me wrong.....we generally make sure doors are closed and locked (!).....try not to leave things out (about 15-20 years back we had a spade disappear!), but not much else. Original house alarm failed too many times so isn't used: I keep meaning to sort but can't face replacing batteries every couple of years, and to get someone in would involve....effort....

Be sure to keep the means to dominate the stairs, that ought to do it......

Oh the area isn’t bad tbh just the wife’s anxieties I woke up other day and my car was unlocked and nothing had been touched I’ve also left my van unlocked for days on end and not been touched she just always overthinks things and stresses about things! Nevee was a problem until we had kids

[eliot]

Re. Dogs
When you are out walking the dog or on holiday with the dog - who’s looking afer the house?

There’s plenty of measures you can take without getting a dog - i’m not going to spell them
out in public for obvious reasons.