Home Security

[Manc]

Crime seems to be on the rise in my area, so I need to invest in some home security.

Currently I have an alarm that is out of action in addition to a busted flood light. Is it worthwhile getting around a company like ADT/Yale to sort it, or is a ring doorbell sufficient?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Depends what you think the specific risk is. My parents have a biggish house in a busy area and have had ADT for years, seems to have served them well.

Conversely, I take a homeopathy / natural remedies approach to home security. 6 of Surrey Police's finest couldn't get in without a battering ram, and the road is a hidden cul de sac with very little footfall, so I just leave it be. Don't even lock my front door at night as I consider a fire to be more likely than a break-in, and the front door is the only way out.

[Foe]

Depends what you think the specific risk is. My parents have a biggish house in a busy area and have had ADT for years, seems to have served them well.

Conversely, I take a homeopathy / natural remedies approach to home security. 6 of Surrey Police's finest couldn't get in without a battering ram, and the road is a hidden cul de sac with very little footfall, so I just leave it be. Don't even lock my front door at night as I consider a fire to be more likely than a break-in, and the front door is the only way out.

Not heard that one before. Seems a bit mental.

I live on the second floor of a block of flats which means I’m less concerned about this than I probably should be. A few years ago did catch a junkie climbing the balconies to mine in broad daylight to try and steal my then flatmates road bike he had left out there. Whipped my phone out and just started taking pictures rather than actually trying to run downstairs to catch him. Worked as he abandoned the bike and left.

[Spikey M]

Jimmy lives far to close to Croydon for that insanity

[Pepe]

https://www.retayusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GPSFLD-28.png

[Danny]

https://www.retayusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GPSFLD-28.png

:D I do need to consider supplementing the cameras with one of those.

We have a ring camera on the front door, cameras around the outside and ring sensors on the windows.

Like Jim we live in a cul de sac in a nice area with little going on but nice to have peace of mind.

[Lofty]

Jim is mental and any insurance he has will lol at any claim.

Ultimately, if someone wants to take your stuff unless you live in some kind of fortified bunker they will be able to, so it's all about deterrent and making it look like a pain in the arse. Unfortunately, the nicer your stuff the more effort you have to spend. As the police told my mate after his third break in at his Stockport flat that his yellow top of the line Mustang and latterly super sporty VW Golf were parked outside: 'ever consider getting a more boring car?'.

I have a ring door bell, I have an outside light that isn't motion activated but I can switch on via my phone if needed. I keep our car keys in a Faraday pouch at night so the signal can't be relayed. We have a chain on the door, nothing major but just a little extra inconvenience for a chancer. I keep the door locked at all times, for security and to prevent inadvertent pet escapes. At night I check all doors and windows are secured as part of my routine anyway, I press lock on the car keys before putting them away just in case and check the front door is locked, then move both sets of keys away from the door.

I also have a large metal security torch, the beam on it is blindingly bright and it has enough heft I reckon it would fracture a skull if swung with any venom. If I had a nice car, especially a car high on the stolen models list, I'd get a decent steering lock. Yes they can be defeated but again it's making a thief think is it worth spending extra minutes when there are easier pickings elsewhere.

The biggest security thing in my eyes is locking up. Unless you are openly flaunting wealth then it's unlikely you will be specifically targeted, so burglars are often opportunists. I know someone had their laptop stolen because they were on the loo and their front door was unlocked. My next door neighbour had his car keys stolen because he absentmindedly left them in the door for 2 minutes and some passing chav took them. I have seen it on more than one occasion when someone 'accidentally' walks into the wrong house.

My friend used to live in a house that was directly opposite a back street often used as a shortcut. They kept their front door locked but the handle was tried at least once a week. I managed to drill it into my parents to keep their door locked, they were too reliant on their old deaf dog. The same when my wife shared a house with her brother and his girlfriend, door unlocked and car keys right next to it.

Obviously the US is a different proposition but the basics for me are just discourage the cunts from ever coming in. Once they are in it's a nightmare even if they don't get anything, my aforementioned mate asked police why they boiled the kettle (which had woke him up) and they said to throw over him if he investigated the noise. Look at that poor old fella a few years back, caught them in his house, one of them dies in the scuffle and ends up with 100 gypsies camped outside his house wanting 'justice'.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't think I'm mental at all. Let's say there's a fire in the night (there are 3 other properties in the same building as mine so I'm only in control of 1/4 of the fire starting), the front door is the only way out - windows don't open and the only way out would be through the locked front door. If I can't find the key to unlock the door in the moment, or it's beyond a burning area, then I'm toast.

I'd rather have some piece of crap nicked than burn to death. The only things of value in the house are TV and laptop and they can be replaced.

As for any other time I'm out of the house, the door is locked and as I found out before, almost impossible to break through without a huge team of people and pro equipment. So I'm safe.

[SvN]

Why not just install a thumb turn on the inside?

[niko_cee]

I never used to lock anything, and would leave my keys inside my car [so I wouldn't lose them] 95% of the time.

I'm less blasé about things now but I think the trick is living somewhere that isn't a complete shithole full of thieving bastards.

[Pepe]

Didn't know owning a Golf was considered flaunting your wealth over there.

[niko_cee]

A high spec one probably outs you as the sort of person likely to have other high spec stuff worth stealing. Or as an old person who has just been sold the most expensive model of the car they are interested in.

Lofty putting his car keys in a Faraday pouch [wtf?] sounds a bit OTT.

[Ben]

Although I don't have a Faraday pouch myself, I wouldn't consider it OTT at all. Apparently it's incredibly easy to intercept the signal of motors like Range Rovers and Fiesta ST (which is why they're the most commonly stolen cars despite not being a Ferrari).

[Lofty]

A high spec one probably outs you as the sort of person likely to have other high spec stuff worth stealing. Or as an old person who has just been sold the most expensive model of the car they are interested in.

Lofty putting his car keys in a Faraday pouch [wtf?] sounds a bit OTT.

Relay theft is massive round here.

[SvN]

I looked into it, but apparently my car key doesn't transmit a signal if it's been motionless for 30 minutes.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Keeks has a 15 man security team.

[Pepe]

*15 men and women.

[Lewis]

Jim is mental and any insurance he has will lol at any claim.

Ultimately, if someone wants to take your stuff unless you live in some kind of fortified bunker they will be able to, so it's all about deterrent and making it look like a pain in the arse. Unfortunately, the nicer your stuff the more effort you have to spend. As the police told my mate after his third break in at his Stockport flat that his yellow top of the line Mustang and latterly super sporty VW Golf were parked outside: 'ever consider getting a more boring car?'.

I have a ring door bell, I have an outside light that isn't motion activated but I can switch on via my phone if needed. I keep our car keys in a Faraday pouch at night so the signal can't be relayed. We have a chain on the door, nothing major but just a little extra inconvenience for a chancer. I keep the door locked at all times, for security and to prevent inadvertent pet escapes. At night I check all doors and windows are secured as part of my routine anyway, I press lock on the car keys before putting them away just in case and check the front door is locked, then move both sets of keys away from the door.

I also have a large metal security torch, the beam on it is blindingly bright and it has enough heft I reckon it would fracture a skull if swung with any venom. If I had a nice car, especially a car high on the stolen models list, I'd get a decent steering lock. Yes they can be defeated but again it's making a thief think is it worth spending extra minutes when there are easier pickings elsewhere.

The biggest security thing in my eyes is locking up. Unless you are openly flaunting wealth then it's unlikely you will be specifically targeted, so burglars are often opportunists. I know someone had their laptop stolen because they were on the loo and their front door was unlocked. My next door neighbour had his car keys stolen because he absentmindedly left them in the door for 2 minutes and some passing chav took them. I have seen it on more than one occasion when someone 'accidentally' walks into the wrong house.

My friend used to live in a house that was directly opposite a back street often used as a shortcut. They kept their front door locked but the handle was tried at least once a week. I managed to drill it into my parents to keep their door locked, they were too reliant on their old deaf dog. The same when my wife shared a house with her brother and his girlfriend, door unlocked and car keys right next to it.

Obviously the US is a different proposition but the basics for me are just discourage the cunts from ever coming in. Once they are in it's a nightmare even if they don't get anything, my aforementioned mate asked police why they boiled the kettle (which had woke him up) and they said to throw over him if he investigated the noise. Look at that poor old fella a few years back, caught them in his house, one of them dies in the scuffle and ends up with 100 gypsies camped outside his house wanting 'justice'.

Plus haven't you got a massive mong freak in your house?

[Lofty]

Mongo takes no prisoners.