I'm about to close on a house and am looking into the options for home security. Can you recommend one security company over another? Aside from monitored systems, what are some other things you do to keep your place safe and secure? The house has burglar bars, but I'm considering taking them down because they are a fire hazard and it looks like a jail. I don't want to feel like a prisoner in my own home, but I'm fairly certain that it will only be a matter of time before I get robbed. I just hope I'm not at home when it happens.

(Of course you are are going to ask "why did you buy a house in such a ghetto area?" so I'll go ahead and answer that for you. I bought as much house as I could comfortably afford, especially in the recession. My neighborhood itself is actually pretty nice, but its in pretty close proximity to some less than savory neighborhoods. Add to that the recent rise in crime in Atlanta and it becomes a prime target. Lets try to keep this on topic and avoid the pissing contest on merits of the house I'm buying. What's done is done. Thanks for your understanding.)

9/2/2009 10:04:47 PM

GUN

also the real question is why would you live and/or buy a house in atlanta?

[Edited on September 2, 2009 at 10:09 PM. Reason : a]

9/2/2009 10:08:13 PM

Where'd you buy a house? West End? Boulevard?

^ I live in Atlanta. Why would he buy a house there? Maybe he has a job there.

9/2/2009 10:08:56 PM

^^.

9/2/2009 10:10:11 PM

^^east lake/oakhurst.

^^^i live/work in atlanta and am tired of paying rent. plus the obama deal is too good to refuse.

[Edited on September 2, 2009 at 10:19 PM. Reason : .]

9/2/2009 10:16:58 PM

I lived in Atlanta...

Is that in Buckhead, East Point, etc...? This might help me help you.

[Edited on September 2, 2009 at 10:21 PM. Reason : a]

9/2/2009 10:19:59 PM

Your goal is to make your house less attractive to a potential thief than others around it.

Trim your bushes, install lots of external lighting, etc...

As for alarms, check out homesecuritystore.com, and the forums within.

9/2/2009 10:22:51 PM

Get the clear film that goes over the windows that keeps if from being broken.
Get metal reinforcements for the door jambs so the doors can't be kicked in.
---The next step would be double dead bolts, high and low.
Put 'security company' stickers in your windows.
You can get 4 video camera systems for around $400 that give decent quality video and 3-4 day memory for recording.

Shotgun

9/2/2009 10:25:08 PM

Quote :

"Get metal reinforcements for the door jambs so the doors can't be kicked in"

/Thread

9/2/2009 10:26:29 PM

Quote :

"Get the clear film that goesget ver the windows that keeps if from being broken. Get metal reinforcements for the door jambs so the doors can't be kicked in. ---The next step would be double dead bolts, high and low. Put 'security company' stickers in your windows. You can get 4 video camera systems for around $400 that give decent quality video and 3-4 day memory for recording."

That's excessive... I understand that the deed is done, but at the same time, if you have to get to that point... then you need to move.

9/2/2009 10:30:23 PM

I would recommend hardwired sensors. Glass breakage, door/window sensors, motion/heat detectors, motion activated perimeter lighting, low trimmed hedges, night/low light cameras (mine is set to a dedicated channel on my tv).

9/2/2009 10:40:59 PM

these fine upstanding young men are what the citizens of atlanta are up against.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEOzTfbq9PE

for what its worth, my apartment complex in buckhead averaged 4-5 break-ins per month, but i'm right by the main entrance and the grounds keeper is my neighbor, so i've been lucky.

9/2/2009 10:43:50 PM

Quote :

"That's excessive... I understand that the deed is done, but at the same time, if you have to get to that point... then you need to move."

I dont agree with that.

You can be robbed no matter how "safe" you feel. In my opinion, I think its more likely you will get robbed in a neighborhood you feel "safe" in, because thats typically a higher end neighborhood, full of houses with better stuff.

Proper security is just the right thing to do, call it paranoid or whatever you want, but its a good thing to be in the habit of doing.

[Edited on September 2, 2009 at 10:46 PM. Reason : .]

9/2/2009 10:46:02 PM

If you have any glass or sidelights in your doors, put a keyed deadbolt on both sides of the door (make it so you have to use a key to lock it)

9/2/2009 10:48:16 PM

yeah, it really doesn't seem that excessive to me.

i'm thinking about getting a dog, but i really don't have the time to devote to him.


how do you go about retrofitting the steel jambs? i'm pretty handy, but no construction expert.

[Edited on September 2, 2009 at 10:54 PM. Reason : .]

9/2/2009 10:51:16 PM

camera's are overkill for this.

That said, doing the security improvements and/or having a security monitoring system will also help your homeowners insurance.

Single deadbolt is good. Make sure your windows are up to spec. Most newer windows are secure, as well as will also be more energy efficient. Doorjamb reinforcement isnt a bad idea either in some ways.

9/2/2009 10:57:57 PM

I would recommend a tactical 12-gauge, loaded with #0 buckshot.

9/2/2009 11:02:12 PM

A wooden door is useless. Even a weakling could kick them in. Ditto windows.

Don't most window bars have a hinge and a padlock? If so, just keep a key hanging a couple feet from each window on the inside for fire escapes.

Dogs are useless.

9/2/2009 11:09:20 PM

when i was a kid my grandfather had some sort of gun-like device activated by a tripwire. it didn't really look like a traditional gun, but had a barrel integrated in to a cast iron stand. apparently it was designed to shoot intruders in the ankle. i don't know if its something that he brought over from the war or what. maybe i should get one of those.

seriously, a gun isn't a bad idea.

9/2/2009 11:10:08 PM

^illegal, at least in NC

9/2/2009 11:12:58 PM

fucking retarded, in every state.

9/2/2009 11:18:10 PM

Yeah, good way to nick the paper boy though.

9/2/2009 11:20:24 PM

SURPRISE GRANDPA!

BOOM!

9/2/2009 11:42:06 PM

there are some types of doorjamb reinforcement sold at home improvement stores:

http://www.djarmor.com/ is a website for one, I don't have any experience with it.
http://www.kickproofdoor.com/pricing.html $120 for the whole door.


interesting to me that in that youtube break-in, the owner can afford to put up an 8 camera security system, but won't put up a back door that resists more than 2 kicks.

9/3/2009 12:27:42 AM

metal doors, reinforced hinges, multiple deadbolts

switch the frames so all external doors open outward

9/3/2009 1:07:34 AM

An outside opening door would limit your visibility while exiting the house as well as being harder to hold back if you unlock it and someone turns out to be malicious (fake delivery man) or something. They have multi-point mortise locks that have deadbolts in the top of the jamb as well as in the threshold.

http://www.protectivestructures.com/securitydoors/security-locks.php

If someone can kick those in, they are too determined to be stopped by anything but force.

9/3/2009 6:46:33 AM

Quote :

"I would recommend a tactical 12-gauge, loaded with #0 buckshot."

That's great if you sit at home all day doing nothing.

Quote :

"interesting to me that in that youtube break-in, the owner can afford to put up an 8 camera security system, but won't put up a back door that resists more than 2 kicks."

Assuming he has windows on that deck it's pretty pointless. I doubt the back of his house is a solid wall with no windows.

9/3/2009 9:17:57 AM

^ your homeowners' insurance will take care of all your stuff.


I keep loaded guns to smoke any intruders, but half the time, I don't even lock the doors when I leave.

9/3/2009 8:42:16 PM

just got back from pricing some things out at lowes. I took a look at doors, the only ones with steel jambs were $1200+. I honestly had no idea how much you could pay for a door. Installation looks fairly straightforward.

In the end, if someone wants in, they'll get in. Its really more about my own peace of mind than anything. I don't have a significant other and or any close friends down here, so I sort of feel like I'm going at this alone.

[Edited on September 3, 2009 at 9:06 PM. Reason : .]

9/3/2009 9:05:23 PM

Get a shotgun for home defense and a hand gun for personal defense. I sure as heck would never live in Atlanta without a concealed carry permit and a handgun. If you know anything about guns, you should be comfortable having them in the house.

Do the home improvements too, they'll give you peace of mind and make it a little harder for someone to get in. The cameras are a great idea too. Even if someone don't break in, but maybe your outside-stuff starts missing, you'll have some proof to give the police. And you get the benefits from homeowners insurance.

Seriously, the $1200 door could buy you a sweet S&W 642 .38 with Crimson Trace grips and a shotgun or two. (I just bought a new Mossberg 500 for $250.) That way, if someone wants in that bad when you are at home, you can at least defend yourself.

9/3/2009 11:01:11 PM

i live in a very nice district (probably the nicest old section in town) but we're relatively close to some shitty areas. and people from those shitty areas drive through our streets and walk up and down our sidewalks more than i'd like.

so, like several have recommended:

- motion lights. there is no area in any area of my back, side, front yard that isn't illuminated when triggered. make sure you buy motion detectors with a long enough range
- security system - all doors, 1st story windows. we use a local company, so no help for you.
- trim bushes
- video system (have trained on the front and side doors) - not nearly as $ as you'd think. make sure you have those lovely yard signs for the security system and the video.
- guns, loaded and strategically placed in house. i have a .357 by the bed, a 12 gauge in the closet, and a second 12 gauge downstairs (plus a few more pistols - yay guns).
- go talk to the local cops. we went to the station when we first moved. we also call them on a regular basis (the local patrols all know us by name) when we see unsavory people loitering on the sidewalks in the neighborhood. the police ALWAYS come when we call.
- metal doors, reinforcements, etc
- meet your neighbors. make sure you know them and they know you. it always helps to have a few friendly eyes keeping a look out.
- and dogs do work, depending on the dog you get. a lovely german shepherd will make most folks pause and reconsider what they're doing.

we're actually debating on installing an automatic gate for our driveway. our entire back yard is gated but the drive is in the back. there is a driveway gate but it isn't auto so we just keep it open all the time.

9/3/2009 11:41:37 PM

^I like this girl

9/3/2009 11:44:50 PM

Quote :

"I would recommend a tactical 12-gauge, loaded with #0 buckshot."

+1
thats all you need

9/4/2009 1:18:56 AM

i'll probably end up with a firearm at some point, but its not at the top of the list. the more i think about it, the more i like the idea of the steel doors. there's only two exterior doors, one on the front and one on the side of the house.

i haven't looked into a camera system at all. do people generally set these up to record to a computer or something? seems like a good way to burn through gigabytes with the quickness.

i've been thinking more about getting larger dog, something like a german shepherd. they've got a damned mean bark. my folks would never come visit though, as my mom is absolutely terrified of german shepherds, she claims "they will turn on you" but i have a hard time believing this.

9/4/2009 9:27:34 PM

Pro tip: if your bush is a holly or otherwise briared, go ahead and let it get huge. Mulch with broken glass.

9/4/2009 9:38:47 PM

If someone's absolutely determined to break into your house, they'll do it. Consider getting a good safe to place valuables in, and homeowner's insurance. Photos and serial numbers are always good to have, although I would say it's rather uncommon for your stuff to be recovered.

Also - Sig Sauer P229 in .357 Sig.

[Edited on September 9, 2009 at 3:06 PM. Reason : Because I can]

9/9/2009 3:05:48 PM

Quote :

"i'm thinking about getting a dog, but i really don't have the time to devote to him."

Quote :

"i've been thinking more about getting larger dog, something like a german shepherd."

Don't be a piece of shit, don't get a dog if you don't have the time for it. I dont think in 2 days you managed to find time for a dog.

On another note,

I dont see the point in spending $2500 on steel doors along with all the other stuff. What do you have in your house that cant be replaced by home owners insurance? If you have sentimental things, buy a decent safe for them. If you are worried about personal security while you are in the house, buy a piece and shoot their ass.

9/9/2009 4:36:33 PM

A solid wood door with reinforced jams will be plenty for almost any home owner.

9/9/2009 4:53:10 PM

ha ha, i forgot about the tww pet nazis. i had to put a dog down a couple years ago and ever since have used the "don't have time" excuse for not getting another one. in all actuality, i'm only away from home during business hours and could probably run home for lunch most days. whatever, thanks for the suggestions guys, we'll see how it goes.

9/10/2009 8:40:13 PM