Great Cheap Ways To Make Your House Safer Hunt

tillboy

chumfatty wrote: »

Keys Never hang you keys on a key board in the Hallway or any other room in the house, find a more discreet place. If you have quite a snazy car on the drive, Burglars will not think twice of entering you house whilst you are in and taking away the keys and the car, so keep those doors secure even when you are in.

While generally sound advice, if you have a particularly desirable car, whilst not leaving the keys somewhere they can be "fished" from the letterbox I'd leave them somewhere fairly easy to find as I'd much rather somebody break into my house while I'm asleep find the keys and leave than wake up in the middle of the night to somebody with a baseball bat demanding the keys (a good friend of mine had exactly that experience!)

LyndsayJ

Without wanting to preach, and whilst understanding entirely the wish we all have to feel safe in our homes, I really would urge people to be extremely careful about locking windows/doors etc and removing the keys. My husband has spent 20 years in the fire service and has seen things I don't even like to think about and he will never have any exit (door or window) locked without the key either there or VERY easy to get; most fatal fires are at night and it doesn't take too much imagination to picture the panic/poor visibility/breathing difficulties ets that make it hard to find a route out of the house - particularly for the less mobile or children (obviously this has to be balanced with making sure children can't just let themselves out or strangers in!)... For me, they are welcome to my car and TV, I've seen photos of charred bodies and I couldn't bear it to be anyone I love... Having said that, some brilliant suggestions on this forum, many of which I either already do or will look into...

I guess all these decisions are a balance, do I get the prize for the longest sentence at least?!

best wishes

theoldmiser

re tillboy's comments: I would have thought that anybody who had a desirable car, would be better off buying a car that cost £2k less and buying steel doors, and then some grilles for their downstairs windows. No burglar is going to waste their time or risk getting caught at such a house - they will try elsewhere. And then you don't have to worry about being woken up by somebody with a knife at your throat, or gun at your head.

While I'm here, do you all lock your bedroom doors at night? (I use a simple bolt). It doesn't have to be bomb proof, just something that means a burglar WILL wake you up if he wants to get into your bedroom. Those few seconds could save your life.

LyndsayJ

Once again though theoldmiser, it's important to remember that barring your windows is locking yourself in just as it locks others out. I know I'm lucky to live in an area where crime isn't too bad at all, but I haven't always and I'd rather not imprison myself although that is, of course, a personal choice and we all have to decide how far we want to go in relation to security... That's not to say I never worry and never feel unsafe but I know that (as well as the fire entrapment risk) if someone was breaking in at the back of my house, I'd like to be able to get myself and children out at the front or vice versa - they can have the TV, I'll keep the children!

Iwantahouse_2

I don't know idf it has already been mentioned but if you go to your local police station they have property marking kits that they give out for free. Including a sticker for the window.

lyndhurst25

I'm surprised that no-one has mentioned "Alarm Mines" yet. Cheap and very effective (in the right location) - any burglar will be jumping out of his skin if he sets one off!

http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/ALARM_MINES.htm

madjohn

lyndhurst25 wrote: »

I'm surprised that no-one has mentioned "Alarm Mines" yet. Cheap and very effective (in the right location) - any burglar will be jumping out of his skin if he sets one off!

http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/ALARM_MINES.htm

That's just crazy!!

I love it! lol

Youflaminggalaa

scootermacc wrote: »

I work in the industry. Some tips on top of what has already been said.

5. Motion sensing external lights. Again relatively cheap, and just one more thing to put someone off if they are snooping round the back of your house.

You can get motion sensing (PIR) lights for less than £10 at most harware stores.

I was burgled whilst I was at home, it was during the day so didn't notice the outside lights come on. I have since opted for a more expensive (£40) system that I got one from Wickes (link below).

It is the usual outdoor light but with a separate unit to plug in to any indoor socket. When the sensor is tripped the outside light comes on and it sends a signal to the indoor unit which sounds a chime and switches on any appliance(s) that you have plugged into the indoor unit - bedside light &/or radio.

You can also get little battery powered PIR sensors that make a noise when tripped - good to leave by the French windows whilst you are in the kitchen.

http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/162471?htxt=6YwZAISW1i5OgIudElUVh4%2BI3KMD0YlK3aWM7EPIBJQVvJOxcInvY1H4JwBcSZ2MIfCIMv2VNq1z%0AWJ9bQPNXrg%3D%3D

madjohn

Link just went to the home page.
Try this

Whizz

Thank you to Volcano re: www.philipmorris.uk about the ideal storage for paperwork/private files in a gun cabinet.
Contacted them, very helpful when explained the need. Ordered PD7 (extra deep) approx 15" height, 16" wide, 12"deep, ideal for several ring binders etc. Apparently comes with 4 holes drilled through steel, to attach to load-bearing wall with special bolts. (I bought 4 bolt@ £2 each, save searching for them elsewhere) Cost: £83.20 + bolts £8 + p&p £5.50 Special order so may take 10 days /2weeks to arrive. Perfect to leave stuff in while on hols. Will advise when get it as to how effective. Certainly cost a lot less than good "safe".
Thanks. Bought the Chain & Cable Anchor Point (£10) + cable & lock (£12) OH affixed to the wall outside & entwined Wheelie Bin. Great idea.:T