Home Security On my mind again

[RedRocker]

Those shells aren't old, I've got some that are probably 20 years old.
As long as they're stored in a dry place I wouldn't worry about them.

 

[ctpres]

If you get serious about a security system I would be happy to help you. Have been in security for over forty years and currently own an alarm company. Very briefly, you can buy or lease. Salesman may not make it very clear which he is offering. Sytems come in three levels of protection with lots of variations. Basically: Protect property, protect property and people asleep and protect property and people day and night. Std lease packages offer three doors and a motion, this does not protect people. Top end $$$ system will provide 24 hour protection (even with alarm off) with every window wide open using something called alarm screens. Think of an electroinic burglar bar. Don't know about pricing in your market, but top end system can run around $1.00 per sq. foot. If you have questions or would like more info, let me know, would be happy to help.

 

[pennwalk]

Thanks Dan good post. I have mini pepper sprays for the girls but I haven't had a chance to go over it with them. They will be good for when they go out running too. One of the girls from school got grabbed not too far from here. Thank goodness she was able to get away. So it is a real concern.

Chris

 

[pennwalk]

WhyNot, Jump in when ever. This has been a great thread. Tons of good information. We have been all over the place but that is a good thing because home defense is multifaceted. I'm starting to see how the different layers fit together. Just 1 or 2 things won't work well by themselves. Like having having a gun by the bed does you no good if you wake up with someone holding a knife to your throat. Or even worse holding your own gun on you. Thanks everybody for helping me get focused.

Chris

 

[dmccarty]

Thanks Dan good post. I have mini pepper sprays for the girls but I haven't had a chance to go over it with them. They will be good for when they go out running too.

Buy an extra can and let them go outside, I hope that was obvious, , and spray. And if it is windy, spray downwind.... Upwind will be bad. They key is to paint the bad guys face so it is all red. Its a good idea to hold your breath when you spray..... If you can catch the bad guy when he inhales more the better.

There might be some small part of the population that can tolerate pepper for some reason. But for almost everyone else a shot in the eyes, and you want to hit the eyes, will close the eyelids. Its all but involuntary. It burns bad. Opening the eyes makes it worse. If the eyes are hit then the girls can just jog off for help. If the pepper is breathed in to the lungs its even better for you worse for the bad guy. The throat should immediately inflame and reduce the bad guys ability to breath. It won't kill them but it makes it harder for them to fight, chase, or grab. Sometimes people keep fighting but the stuff almost always has an effect.

People who have died after being sprayed had other issues so they stuff is safe but painful. If the girls get some on their hands when spraying use something that can remove oil. And don't touch the eyes......

Later,
Dan

 

[pennwalk]

ctpres, I'd be glad for any education you have time to give us. We have 7 doors and 16 double hung windows on the ground floor. We are struggling to find a way to have the bedroom windows open at night and still be safe. We are safer than we were a week ago but we are going to get safer.

Chris

 

[1bush2hog]

We have security system, lights, dogs, guns etc., but one has to look at security from a totally different angle when you have children of any age in the house.

Make sure you are able to also identify an intruder as an intruder, and not not mistake your teenager sneaking back into the house after curfew, or little Johnny getting a drink of water after midnight as an intruder. Having a good dependable flashlight is a good idea too. Like others have mentioned, a good, well rehearsed "what if" plan is vital

Also, worth mentioning is a device I picked up for my yard when junior/senior wars were going on - a wireless motion detector that consists of the motion detector unit and a small base unit that plugs into an outlet inside your house. You can use the base unit as an audible alarm or plug a lamp, radio, or other electric device into it.

The unit was inexpensive from Home Depot and works great. I ended up leaving it in place to alert me when someone walks or drives up to the garage side of our house. Just thought I would mention this as I have been impressed especially since it is so inexpensive. I can't say that it won't trigger a false alarm, but it hasn't since I have been using it the last two years.

 

[pennwalk]

I like motion detectors. One thing I have been thinking about is an integrated outside lighting system. I want motion detecting spots on all 4 corners of the house and that would be great for lighting the driveway in front of the garage when we come home. It would be nice to have hi/low or dimmable floods to replace the cans along the front and back of the house and it would be nice if when motion was detected by the spots it would switch the floods from lo to hi for a period of time. Looks like I am going to have to take a trip down to the lighting supply house and see what they know. I'll let you know if I find out anything interesting.

Chris

 

[Soundguy]

I tend to agree with DM.. the alarm guy don't like lights cause he either doesn't install them.. or they work better than he would like and it cuts his business ( though shouldn't.. a good plan would have lamps and alarm system.. )

As for the alarm guy not liking guns? Well.. it's his right to be a victom or wussy.. this is america after all.. And i support his right to put himself in a situation where he has to depend on someone else to defend or save him.. etc.. (grin).

Soundguy

I talked to the alarm guy today would you be surprised to hear that they are very busy?

Some points of interest.

He said that about 80% of break ins come through a door.
A conventional door is childs play to get through and it wouldn't necessarily make much noise.
The guy I talked to didn't like outside equipment which he thought gives too many false alarms and breaks down in the elements and is subject to tampering by bad guys I had thought the ideal thing would be to catch bad guys while they were in the yard.
He was doubtful of the value of outside lighting.
I guess I wasn't too surprised to learn that the existing system is totally obsolete and would need to be replaced except possibly the wires.
He didn't think too much of surveillance cameras but of course he would be happy to install them if thats what I really want.
He also thought there was too great a chance of most people shooting somebody they didn't intend to so he wasn't a big fan of guns.

Looks like everybody has their own ideas about how to best defend the home.

Chris

 

[Soundguy]

Nice lineup.. them boys better watch out!

Soundguy

A favorite of mine is the Mossberg 500, comes in as a very reliable ane inexpensive firearm.

If you have children, get them involved in skeet shooting. A nice afternoon, a few boxes of ammo, and a box of clay birds. It really helped my daughters get familar with the shotgun.

From left to right, Alex with the 12 Ga 870, Sophie with the Remington 1100 20 Ga, Samm with the High Standard 12 Ga Pump Action, and Nina with the Mossberg 500 12 Ga. (Alex is the sharp shooter, having dropped back to using a Mossberg 500 .410 gage to make it more of a challange.)