Mods I'm not sure this is the right place so if moved I'm fine with it. I do feel that the lessons learned might save others from going thru what I've just been thru so I'll carry on. 1. Dead bolts by themselves will do you no good. Lowe's has a kit which includes all the parts to give your door and you a chance to combat someone kicking in your door. It's called "DJ Armor Universal" an cost $94.00. It cost me $100.00 to have it installed but to be honest it is something that anyone can do if you have any ability at all. Of course you have to know its out there to begin with! 2. Security companys are a waste in my humble opinion if you rely only on them, or the police for that matter! YOUR SAFETY IS IN YOUR HANDS act accordly or suffer the results. 3. 10.00 dollar noise makers in key places are a better or at the very least an added layer to that security company you pay each month plus its a one time cost. BTW dogs are great but they cost a whole lot more in upkeep and time involved if you want one thats worthy of your trust or money spent. 4. If you want to catch the invader a security camera set up is a must and you can spend whatever you want but the idea is to get his puss on film! Camera angle is more important than a $2000.00 outfit! 5. And last but not least do not keep keys, money, or check books lying around, they will be taken, and you will NOT be reimbursed by your insurance company! Unless of course its after you shell out the first $500.00. (Cost to rekey house and Truck - 290.00 dollars) Cost in worry, fear, frustration, and anger=Priceless. The one time cost to keep this from happening? $100.00 per exteror door plus about $100.00 in noise makers. (Don't forget the garage door into the house). For those of you who already knew these things I'm sorry I'm so slow on the uptake yet for those of you looking for ways to give yourself an edge to a Home breakin I truly hope my hard learned lessons will help you before you need them. Be Safe everyone!
I wanted to come back and supply any and all with the following info: This is the equipment I was telling you about. http://www.armorconcepts.com/Universal-Door-Jamb-Armor-Set_3
Doesn't help if your not home though. Never hurts to take preventative measures. Visible deterrents are never a bad idea. If your a criminal, would you rather take the house with visible cameras, a barking dog and reinforced solid doors? Or the house without? Don't forget your yard as well. Have motion sensing lights for night, keep hedges trimmed and fences maintained. Lock your windows and try and remove large heavy objects that can easily break through. Houses are only as strong as the weakest link - you can have a $10,000 door, but if a robber grabs a rock in your front yard and smashes a window, it doesn't matter.
Mastiffs solve 3 and 4. I had a mate, Steve, who owned a mastiff and he lived in a high crime area. Mastiff's are bred to be guard dogs. They do not care what anyone outside the yard is doing. Nor do they mind if someone climbs on top of your fence. They also know that barking is a game for suckers since it gives away your position. Get onto the ground inside the yard of a house with a mastiff and then only Buddha can protect your raggedy bleeding arse. Three times Steve had to call the police to fetch people out of the tree in his front yard. Each time Kane was just sitting under the tree, waiting patiently. One time he'd been out all weekend and the guy in the tree had been there since Friday night.
agreed on the security company part. All they do is call the actual police and give a location (maybe) and it takes time for the process. Dialing 911 from a landline (even if you can't get any words out) is a much faster way to have police rolling code to your house. Plus, I've had experience with security companies calling asking for us to respond to places that are nowhere near us, then telling them they need to call LAPD so and so division and them saying "um... do you have a number for LAPD?" ... seriously?
Have a gun or two and the mind set to use it if necessary. Praise God I didn't have to and was untouched myself. With all the other things on my mind at least I didn't/don't have to live with having shot someone. He didn't want any part of me and I'm so glad I didn't have to pull the trigger of that weapon in my hands. BTW I slept great last night. Again thanks to all who expressed concern.
Living in Miami there is a security benefit to building your home for a hurricane I had my home built with impact windows, steel doors with deadbolts and heavy duty barrel bolt top and bottom bolts, and an alarm system. There is a also a S&W .357 and a Remington Bolt Action rifle I inherited from my dad.
We had a 230lb female Mastiff when I was younger........ had to use a shovel & wheelbarrow as a pooper scooper. Someone broke into our house during the 85 Bears-Phins Monday night game. I think she licked them to death, so they are effective.
I have multiple dogs. biggest one is only 65 pounds. but multiple dogs can be a good deterent for the burglar to move onto the next house. Even when I was in grad school and had two shetland sheepdogs (30 lbs each). they scared away an intruder when my ex-wife was in the home and I was at work. Personally, I moved to a community that has almost no crime at all. I'm broke because of it, but I have serious piece of mind. I don't even lock one of my garage doors unless I'm on vacation. Plus, most of the people in Concord are so much richer than us, why would anyone bother to break into our normal size house? But seriously, my home in Ohio was burglarized, so feel your pain. We found out the hard way that only 1000 in jewelry is covered under a standard home insurance policy. So when we filed 20000 in claims for all my wife's stolen jewelry, we got stiffed.
FYI professional thieves will get in your house regardless of what you do. The best defense against the petty thieves are visible deterrents. Signs, postings, visible security measures that will deter the small-timers are most effective - just like protecting your car
