An easy and highly effective way of diverting a criminal's attention to your neighbor
Posted on 01/09/2012 3:23:41 PM PST by fightinJAG
If you missed this thread of a few days ago on a 14-year-old boy shooting an intruder in N.C., or if you didn't see all the responses, it's definitely worth checking out. The thread is also linked at the "read more" button below.
On that thread, I asked for freepers' thoughts on whether there were things that made some homes more vulnerable to home invasion than others. (It seems like it would be obvious that a more rural or remote home would be more vulnerable, but news reports in my area do not substantiate that assumption at all. Homes in crowded suburban neighbors get hit, too.)
Also, it's clear that, for various reasons, not every person in a household is going to be able to use a gun, even if one is available. I asked about ideas and discussion on ways that might deter invasions in the first place, although it goes without saying that nothing is foolproof and no one wants to live in a total fortress environment.
A poster suggested I make my questions into a stand-alone thread, and I decided to do so. Reading reports of several local home invasions in today's news, as well as a rash of "smash and grab" buglaries, had nothing to do with reminding me of the topic. Right.
So, yes, we know about guns and dogs (and tips regarding those are always still welcome). But what other things might be unobtrusively effective in deterring home invasions or allowing them to have a "happy" ending (dead perp)?
In the comments on our local crime stories, I saw that some people were using baby monitors to be alerted to noises around their back doors, etc. Thus, allowing them more time to investigate or prepare if a break-in developed.
(Excerpt) Read more at freerepublic.com ...
“Those with alarm buttons on their car keys should keep one close to bedside so it can be activated if someone breaks in while you are sleeping.”
Brilliant idea. Having a screaming alarm will scare the bad guy and may cause the neighbor the call the pigs (as OWS calls them).
I painted the window on my garage back door (nobody can see it anyway).
How about that “frost” stuff in a can for Christmas? You might still be able to find some on sale - I wonder if that would frost the windows enough to prevent seeing through, but still let some sunlight in. Kind of like the frosted glass in my bathroom window?
Or - if you have the bucks - replace them with frosted glass.
“If you didn’t call ahead, then you are uninvited and I am not answering the door unless you do call.”
Answering the door for strangers, for me, pretty much ended in the 1970s. It was nice to be able to do that - but, like you, you’re simply too exposed (unless a spouse literally has your back covered).
“They walk/drive right by the ones with alarm system signs out front.”
Which brings up the concept of having phoney alarm warning signs. This works - it’s a bit unethical, especially if your signs call out a company that’s not linked to your house. But what the heck, all’s fair in love and war.
I've used it and it works fine, but if a curtain or hands are bumping the window a lot, then it wears off, it is excellent for someone who wants to try the idea first.
If one does not have a dog and puts out the Beware Of Dog sign, a large dog bone left out in the driveway adds to the ambiance you want to achieve.
““...I do not want to put giant curtains over this window...
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Then you do not want to take your security seriously.”
I’m with you, Repeal, you cannot let others know of your status regardless of what the misses thinks. You must secure yourself as much as possible. To go a bit further, I have a large number of cars, and a large number of garage stalls to put them in. But even so, I INTENTIONALLY leave some out, just so the bad guys think there’s someone here.
ping
An easy and highly effective way of diverting a criminal's attention to your neighbor
Get a HUGE dog bowl. Paint the name “Brutus” on it in large letters. Buy a really heavy gauge chain—open the last link in the chain. (make it look like the Mastiff got loose). Attach the chain to your front porch bannister or column next to the dog bowl.
I have 4 real dogs but they would only warn me that some one is here and would not bite.
I found a frosted window application on a roll...you cut it to size and apply it to the inside of the window. It looks nice, lets in the light but keeps it private. You can get it in several ‘motifs’..stained glass, clouds and sky, frosted. I found mine at Home Depot...but that was a few years back.
Check out the “Terminator” pepper spray booby trap!!
The problem with that is they can be picked up on police scanners. Unless they've changed in the last few years, that is. I used to hear them a few years ago when i kept my scanner on a lot.
We never have strangers at the front door. They’d have to
climb over the fences or come by boat up the river where they’d be met by the dogs. Anyone coming here stops at the
gated driveway entrance and either calls the house, or turns
around and goes away. From the front gate you can’t see
99% of the property and being at the end of a dead end street,
we don’t see strangers. The dogs are extremely defensive, aggressive enough that trolling fishermen never stop to get
out along the banks.
Then we have the lights, motion cameras, and more. Lots more.
Enjoyed your post. I’m about a month from physically moving to a very rural area. Interesting challenges.
Enjoyed your post. I’m about a month from physically moving to a very rural area. Interesting challenges.
I like tools, so I have things like hammers and very sharp machetes scattered all around the house, even if the guns are locked up. Sort of like knicknacks or stuff you have on the coffee table to play with. Another nice thing is a couple of cans of that bee & wasp spray that shoots a huge jet about 15 feet. That crap is kinda nasty. Haven’t tried spraying it over top of a lighted BIC lighter, though that works well with a can of Ether starting fluid.
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