So much for securing the house

[dexlowe]

Stupidly lost my house keys the other night, and didn't have a spare set stashed outside - daughter accidentally took them to Bangkok with her a few days before, and I was a bit slow making copies (Murphy's law). Called in a locksmith, who took all of about 4 mins and very little noise to go through 3 padlocks and the sliding door lock. For the padlocks, all he used was a pair of vice grips and a screwdriver - and the flat of his hand. For the sliding door lock, he used the typical burglar's metal sliver rod thingies that you see in the movies. Sweet as. Please step inside your house, Mr Dex, do you have anything valuable to steal?

Is it really that easy? The padlocks were fairly typical local buys. One was made in Italy. One was a heavy duty thing with a large hook suitable for locking a bike. I thought that the locks were all pretty formidable - even the security guard gave a whistle when she saw them. But it was hot-knife-through-butter stuff for the locksmith.

So now a bit of paranoia is setting in. Just how frigging secure am I? Four mins to leisurely go through 4 seemingly good locks? With a pair of vice grips and a screwdriver? OK, there is CCTV in the mooban, right in front of my house, so no need for me to install such a system (not that it would do much good , in my opinion). So what do you fall back on? If you can go through 3 solid padlocks in about 3 mins? (The sliding door lock is irrelevant - can be snapped open in less time than you can cough.) Mooban security can only do so much, so you're pretty much left to your own devices. A guard dog is not practical under my circumstances. Unless it is small, has teeth like a piranha and the instincts of a spotted hyena. Could hot-wire the doors, I suppose, but then I don't come home sober every night.

You can protect against opportunist thieves, but the pros?

[alwarner]

I'd say most thieves are opportunists, looking for an open door or window. I can understand your realisation that you aren't as secure as you thought, but, I wouldn't worry too much.

[The Fresh Prince]

even the security guard gave a whistle when she saw them

You've got female security guards?!?! Nice!

[dexlowe]

even the security guard gave a whistle when she saw them

You've got female security guards?!?! Nice!

You're quick.

[dexlowe]

I'd say most thieves are opportunists, looking for an open door or window. I can understand your realisation that you aren't as secure as you thought, but, I wouldn't worry too much.

You have a family?

[Bettyboo]

^he doesn't mean, don't worry about your family, he just means that if your house is more secure than the other few around then you'll be ok - don't forget to put an army gun club poster in your front window of the house and rear window of the Fortuner...

[TizMe]

I locked myself out of an apartment in Sydney once. I thought that it had good quality locks.
I called a mate that was a locksmith, he arrived with a gadget that had a couple of long probes and a trigger mechanism to make the probes vibrate.
He was in, in less time than if he had used the correct key.

[dexlowe]

^he doesn't mean, don't worry about your family, he just means that if your house is more secure than the other few around then you'll be ok - don't forget to put an army gun club poster in your front window of the house and rear window of the Fortuner...

"... he just means that if your house is more secure than the other few around then you'll be ok ..."

You seriously believe this?

Oh. I get it. Well done, Betty. You're an inspiration. Love to hear your practical thoughts on security. Can you advance this line of thinking a little bit more?

Sheesh.

[The Fresh Prince]

It seems that a lot of door locks are vulnerable to bump keys. This guy gets through 4 front door locks very quickly.



You can probably get your local street keymaker to knock one up for you or there are some cool design ones here.

Skeleton Keys - Bump Keys | Scam Stuff

[Gazza]

Nearly all the break-ins that I've heard about in my area the burglars get in via the roof.

If burglars are really intent on getting into your house then they'll get in. The more security you show then the more it can show burglars you've got something of worth to protect. The more security you have, the more it can slow them down and they give up and try elsewhere to get into your house or try someone elses house. Double-edged sword

Outside lighting illuminating any dark areas of your house should be a good deterrent. Burglars don't like light or noise because it brings attention to themselves.

[Mid]

Locks are for honest thieves .

[diverken]

^
Yes locks only keep honest people out

[peterpan]

Most houses are not secure, that's why a dog is the best defense.

A dog can be poisoned, so again, you rely on the fact that a determined thief will get in one way or another.

[Boon Mee]

^
Beat me to it.

Get a dog or two roaming the yard - fence it in & you'll sleep easier.

Train the dog(s) to accept only the food you give them.

[Necron99]

Alarm System.

[r1 pet]

if your going out for some time leave a light on at night and a radio playing,
record a barking dog on a cd, put it on repeat(5 min of barking dog every half hour or so

[Bangyai]

Most houses are not secure, that's why a dog is the best defense.

Mother in laws are probably even better although there are some drawbacks.

[FailSafe]

I've got a high wall, three dogs, and decent locks- I've got CCTV, but I don't watch it 24/7- I've also got a live-in housekeeper, so someone is usually home. My house is reasonably secure, but if someone wants in badly enough, they could gain entry (if they were willing to harm the dogs, which is certainly possible).

The fact is that unless you've got bars on your windows, your locks don't mean anything- all anyone needs is a brick (and maybe a blanket to muffle sound) to gain a access to your home- all you can do is make it as difficult as possible.

Bettyboo is actually correct in his assessment- thieves tend to go for the easiest target- I have neighbors that have experienced robberies, but their houses were much less secure than mine. It's like the punch line to the old joke about two hunters in the woods, one of whom is wearing running shoes in case of a bear attack- when the other hunter laughs and tells him the shoes won't help him outrun a bear, he replies, 'I don't have to outrun the bear- I only have to outrun you.'

[Thormaturge]

^

A barking mother in law might work.

[peterpan]

Most houses are not secure, that's why a dog is the best defense.

Mother in laws are probably even better although there are some drawbacks.

Think I would rather have a fierce dog.

[jamiejambos]

You can have my mother-in-law , she's fierce & she's a dog.

[Bangyai]

Most houses are not secure, that's why a dog is the best defense.

Mother in laws are probably even better although there are some drawbacks.

Think I would rather have a fierce dog.

Yea, but if someone poisened the dog you'd be upset.

[ENT]

Locks are useful for keeping out the curious and the innocent.

A determined thief can open any door.

[rickschoppers]

The same holds true for car thieves. Any car can be stolen even if it has the best security system you can buy. I should know since I have had three cars stolen.

The best security is lighting and some dogs. Since my dogs were poisoned, that is out of the equation, lighting will be my next attempt. If your house is lite up at night, thieves will pick a house that is not. This is a moot point if the burglary is done during the day.

Locks slow people down, but will not stop the better thieves. I agree that if you make it appear you are too security conscious, you will probably be broken into.

Personally, I like large gates that make a lot of noise when opened to deter car thieves at home.

One of the best alarm systems is being allowed to have guns. I have a 12Ga Shotgun that is loaded with buckshot and slugs. If you live in a country that does not allow firearms, you are pretty much at a thief's mercy. The tradeoff is the multiple shootings that happen in today's crazy world.

So how do you protect your family? I vote again for lighting, fencing and dogs. I can replace the dogs, but I can't replace my family.

[ltnt]

Hire a house sitter who wears a black silk uniform, short skirt, and feather duster...works for me!

The do as stated prior, alarm system bells and whistles, electronic entry...back-up battery power.

Set the shotgun armed and aimed at the front door with a string attached to the door handle so that anyone entering will be instantly shocked and awed by the super surprise waiting on the inside? Don't forget you did it, btw.