What Home Security Precautions Do You Use?

I have a 2" solid wood bar I modified to attach to the front door handle at one end and to the closet door handle 90 degrees next to the front door so if pressure is applied to the front door it is reacting off the closet door making it nearly impossible to move much less open. Fortunately, only punks that open unlocked car doors stealing stuff they will never use are our only crime issues.
 
A very close family friend who's a police officer recently told my sons (relatively new homeowners) that the best home security measures are good locks, alarm systems, fencing, strong lighting, uncluttered landscapes so windows and doors are easily viewed from the street, nosy neighbors, and large, noisy dogs. This next part was a surprise to me - he strongly recommended AGAINST handguns unless they are willing to practice target shooting very frequently.

As he said, police officers are PAID to practice shooting and required to do so regularly. Even so, in an actual emergency with a real perp, most cops miss their targets more often than not.

He said in a burglary or home invasion robbery, before most people have figured out what's happening and gotten their guns out the "bad guys" have already drawn their own weapons. They then disarm the homeowners, giving them even more firepower against the victims.

Explains why we almost never hear news of burglars being stopped by gun-wielding defenders. (Not saying it doesn't happen, just that it's relatively rare - especially considering that the US is armed to the teeth.)
 

My sister says my house is Fort Knox. Alarm system. Security cameras. Outdoor lights everywhere. Fences with locked gates. Ring doorbell. Sticks in all the sliding doors and windows. Security bar on the front door. Oh - and a dog. He is tiny but has a loud bark and teeth that could cut through steel.
 
We have a fairly large dog, which is probably the best deterrent against someone breaking in. I think I read that somewhere.

I've been thinking about installing some security cameras since they're so cheap any more. The only time I worry about the house getting broken into is when we're on vacation. Maybe I'll just get a sign that says we have security cameras. That would probably be a deterrent.
 
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We lived in such low crime areas for 27 years that we didn't lock our doors. There was no need.

I live in town now, in one of the lowest crime areas. We lock our doors now, at my insistence. The neighbors watch everything, although sometimes they get it wrong. I had a visitor a few weeks ago that brought me a baby seat because she heard a baby lived here!

Getting security cameras is on my list.
 
Alarm system plus exterior cameras, motion lights and doors are locked 24/7. My dog is a little thing but very protective of her house and her people and she knows when someone (or something) puts their foot in the yard and lets me know about it. I have a very old 22 revolver in my bedroom. It's not loaded and would probably blow up in my face if I had to use it. I have considered getting a semi-auto handgun but there's no shooting range in my town and I would not feel safe trying to use it without being properly trained and having some place to practice with it periodically. Thankfully I have good neighbors who, like me, are retired or work from home and we look out for each other. I know of no incidents of houses being broke into but there have been things taken out of garages left open and out of unlocked vehicles. I set my alarm system whenever I leave the house even for a short time but it is mainly to protect my dog in case of fire. The alarm system probably gives me more peace of mind than anything.
 
In my building all tenants use a key fob to gain access to the building. No fob, no entry. We are supposed to not buzz people in if we do not know them..most people comply. The mail carrier has a fob. but other delivery people (think food, UPS, food delivery) need to be buzzed in.
I personally always keep my apartment door locked when I am home. Always look it when I leave my apartment..even if just going to check my mail. We have the peeper hole in our door so we can check who knocks. Though I have a couple friends who will knock, and then announce themselves too
 
I have two cats.
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Locked fences to the back yard, locks on all doors and windows, peephole through front door, 24/7 battery motion alarms, motion night lights, 1/3 watt night lights throughout house, small bright flashlights available throughout house. I think break-ins are not common around here, but home invasions do happen, so those would be the biggest threat.
 
Marie5656 said:
In my building all tenants use a key fob to gain access to the building. No fob, no entry. We are supposed to not buzz people in if we do not know them..most people comply. The mail carrier has a fob. but other delivery people (think food, UPS, food delivery) need to be buzzed in.
I personally always keep my apartment door locked when I am home. Always look it when I leave my apartment..even if just going to check my mail. We have the peeper hole in our door so we can check who knocks. Though I have a couple friends who will knock, and then announce themselves too
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That is the same as my building.

I am a block from the police station, downtown. So it has a police presence most of the time.

I feel pretty safe unless it was someone who lives in the building or visiting someone in the building and was able to get inside.
 
I just remembered something that happened to my friend who lives in the apartment beneath me. She had a younger woman who was a friend through her mother taking the woman when she was a child as a foster child. When she grew up she lived nearby and became acquainted with my friend again. She would do errands for her at first.

One day when she was visiting her she took my friend's keys from the hook near the door. Later she came back and must have put the keys back. The next night when my friend was sleeping, she came in the building using a key she had made and then into my friend's apartment. She stole her wallet, cellphone, prescription drug and her car.

The manager viewed the video of who had come in the building and of her going into my friend's apartment. The woman had the car for three days and totaled it. She was eventually picked up and had drugs on her, of course, and they were found in the car also. She is now in prison.

But my friend had a horrible time getting through this. Her meds were gone and it was hard to get them replaced. Her walker was in the car and she can't walk without it. Her insurance company said she was responsible for the accident financially. All the important things in her wallet, such as credit cards, insurance cards, etc. had to replaced. So be careful of who has access to your home.
 
We live in a relatively safe neighborhood, but many years ago there were thieves that were breaking down the front doors and robbing houses. We installed a storm door over our regular door, figuring they would be more likely to move to the next house without a storm door. We also have the usual alarm.
 

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