Security Marking Collection

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Jens Nordlunde

I agree with Eric very much - but you can also end up living in a Fort Knox - and who would like that?

Jen you are absolutely right, having lived in a few security challanged cities I have learned a few ways to make your residence very secure without looking like you are living in a concentration camp.

The weak link in most residences are the doors and windows. Doors usually open inward, this allows for a screen door to be installed on the outside of the door which opens outward. It is very easy to force / kick in an inward opening door, in addition many doors have a window inserted into the door or have a window right next to the door. There are many videos online showing police and criminals breaking into houses by forcing the door open as there is only a small leak latch holding the door shut, the other way is by simply breaking the window in or next to the door.

Windows are the other weak link, it is extremely easy to break the glass, reach in and unlatch the lock and climb in.


Window bars and security screen doors can almost eliminate this threat, only the most determined criminal would have the tools with them to over come this type of security. Window bars should be installed INSIDE the house, this keeps you place from looking like a prison from the outside and it is much harder for a determined criminal to cut through inside bars as they have to break the window glass and work in a much smaller space, also the bars should be painted white or a color that matches your inside wall color.


Criminals, there are basically two types, the opportunist who can easily detered with just a slight amount of effort and the determined criminal who either thinks you are well off or even knows that you have something of great value and is willing to take a risk in order to rob you. If someone is dead set on gaining entry and they have enough time, tools, privacy intelligence etc it is very hard to eliminate all avenues of entry.

Below are some images from my house. My front door has a glass insert, anyone can break this glass, reach in and unlock the door in seconds, they do not need any tools, a rock will do.

There are three types of screen doors, the average ones were your dog can walk through the screen and the frame will fold up if you close it to hard. Then there is a security screen door with iron bars, this is quite good and not to expensive. The next step up is the high security screen door, two to three times as expensive, mine has a steel inner fame with is screwed to the house and does not allow the door to open inward no matter how much force is applied. The stainless steel mesh which keeps bugs out is virtually impossible to cut, rip etc even with tools such as a crowbar, the door frame is aircraft aluminum, hard and light. You can keep your front door open and get fresh air without worrying about someone breaking in.

[estcrh]

Window bars are not very expensive and they work quite well, on rooms with only one entrance the bars need to be hinged and able to be locked so that incase of a fire or other emergency you can open the bars and window and excape to the outside.

If the window bars are on the inside your house will not look like a prison and since most people have curtains ot shudders etc on the inside you will not see the bars very much, I painted mine white to blend in.

[estcrh]

Camaras, motion sensor security lights and signs are a good deterrent, you can buy security company signs and have warning signs made to order, cameras do not have to work you can buy dummy cameras cheap, place signs on your front door and gates. Security systems and working cameras are the next line of defense after securing windows and doors, many security companies will install signs, cameras and alarms for a reduced price or even for free with a monitoring contract.

Motion sensor security lights are not expensive, they will come on when someone walks near them, they even make ones with solar panels if you do not have electricity easily available. These will also help light up the outside of your residence at night if you go outside, they are timed and will turn off automatically. I have them on both sides of my house, the whole side lights up if anyone walks along the house at night.

[Gavin Nugent]

Neat visual deterrents Eric, almost guaranteed that those inspired to steal would move along.

Just add this sign and the door matt that reads, "Trespassers will be shot, survivors will be shot again.

The dogs can take care of the rest :-)

Gavin

PS, don't forget to secure within the roof too.

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Gavin Nugent

Neat visual deterrents Eric, almost guaranteed that those inspired to steal would move along.

Just add this sign and the door matt that reads, "Trespassers will be shot, survivors will be shot again.

The dogs can take care of the rest :-)

Gavin

PS, don't forget to secure within the roof too.

Gavin, great sign, not sure about the roof, maybe roofs down under are different than in the states.

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by estcrh

Gavin, great sign, not sure about the roof, maybe roofs down under are different than in the states.

Many have been known to lift a few roof tiles or roof sheets and get in and come down through the access in to the ceiling space...heck one died in a roof many years ago, zapped himself on some wires in there and was toast.

Gavin

[drac2k]

Nosey neighbors are a great deterrent as well.

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Gavin Nugent

Many have been known to lift a few roof tiles or roof sheets and get in and come down through the access in to the ceiling space...heck one died in a roof many years ago, zapped himself on some wires in there and was toast.

Gavin

Gavin, in the US most roofs are covered with sheets of plywood or something similar, then asphalt tile or some other type of roofing is nailed / stapled to the wood underneath, not much access to someone to enter unless they want to pull up tiles and cut a hole through the wood.