Home Security Recommendations

Pricy147

Hello

Im hoping I could get some good advice on home security. We had a break in last Saturday where we left the house for only 20 mins, and soe low lifes got in through the neigbours property - cutting through the hedge on the side of the house, and smashing the back window.

I am now looking at what measures I can take to try and prevent a recurrence, and going through several options.

1) Upgraded alarm system. A friend of mine has been doing security systems for years, and is NACOS certified. He has quoted my a alarm system with shock sensors on back windows and doors, plus motion sensors indoors, and door opening sensors on the front door and garage door. Quote is £895 + Annual contract of £10 p/m - which includes servicing and replacement of batteries..

2) CCTV. Waiting for prices - but thinking about two camera's on the front of the house (one on front door, other on driveway), and one or two on back of house. Waiting on prices - but I believe the DVR is about £500 alone - so probably ~ £700 or so.

3) Securing the hedge. One side and the back of my property have six foot fences which are pretty strudy - not insurmountable, but obviously not as easy target as the hedge since they went in that way with hedge cutters. We now have a sizable hole in the hedge. NOt sure what the best measure is. Im think chain link fencing of about 3 foot to cover the base and lower part of the hedge? Are they easily cuttable with wire cutters though? Also thought about wrought iron fencing.

4) Stronger double glazing. Is security glass worth it (at the back of the property)? If it is much stronger than standard glass - combined with the shock detectors - this would be pretty formidable for someone to overcome.

5) Floodlights - pretty much linked to the CCTV to improve image quality and further deterrent.

Any other suggestions? Beware of the dog sign? Buy a doberman :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:? barb wire, snares lol

Seriously - any help would be appreciated before we commit. We are prepares to spend a reasonable sum if it signficantly decreases the chances of recurrance.

phill99

Sorry to hear that you have been burgled.

When this happens, people often think of hi-tec solutions as the answer, but low tech. low cost solutions should be your primary objective.

You need to consider how they got in. The boundary fence needs to be your first line of defence. The Crime Prevention people will always suggest a 5' or 5' fence but with a weak trellis on top. The reason for the weak trellis is that it snaps and hence, makes a loud noise when someone tries to climb over it. (noise is the one thing burglers don't wan't). Secondly, plant your borders with prickly bushes - something that will hurt anyone trying to climb over (Holly, gause bushes etc.). This acts as a deterant and can often snag fibres on clothing and can break the skin leaving blood on the plant, both of which can be used by SOCO.

Then think of how they get into your house. Good quality locks on doors and windows are a must. Plus, in the vulnerable doors and windows install LAMINATED GLASS. This is exceedingly robust and virtually impossible to break (in Double Glazed units only the outer pane of glass needs to be Laminated). Do not use safety glass as this simply shatters into thousands of pieces if hit in the right place. (Burglers will know where to hit it).

A PIR light is also a must especially in the back and sides.

An alarm is ok, but yoyu need to remember to use it.

I would be very hesitant to install CCTV as this is only of use after the event. Its stopping them breaking in that should take up the bulk of your money.

I would also recommend a Dog. Something with a good territoral instinct like Border Collies, German shephards, or any of the terrier breeds. They make a lot of noise when someone approaches and will put burglers off.

Pricy147

Thanks - some good food for thought there!

Laminated glass! so this is pretty much unbreakable? do you know where this can be purchased from (normal glazing companies?) how expensive is it compared with normal glass? Very interested in this!

PIR lights are on the menu, along with the upgraded alarm. We definately need to do something with the hedge - the weakest external point. I dont think a second bush such as holy is feasible due to lack of room with the existing hedge. We could put more fencing - but we will start to feel like we are walled in then - its nice to have a soft border - which is why I was considering low mesh fencing or wrought iron. Cant think of any other option to secure the hedge!

phill99

Laminated glass can be got from glass merchants or glaziers in your area. It is effectively a thin piece of plastic sheeting sandwiched between 2 sheets of 2.3mm glass. If hit, the glass will crack, but the plastic holds it in place and it doesn't give. If you have DG units, the glass merchants will replace them for you. They aren't massively expensive given the level of security they provide, but will certainly be a far better investment and keep more people out than a CCTV system.

In terms of your alarm, you really need one that is monitered. This will cost a lot more than £10 / month

Pricy147

sounds like the laminated glass combined with shock detectors on the window - linked to an immediate alarm would be a great deterent. That would be two windows and two back doors needing this.

One guy mentioned that many crooks will simply go through the PVC lower portion of an exterior door as it is weaker than the glass. Wonder what if anything can be done to secure the low half of the door - except installing glass instead!!!

Maybe worth just getting cheap CCTV camera's just as a visible deterent rather than the full monty wired monitoring systems available!

phill99

CCTV won't add any deterent value - good boundary fencing and a good alarm will.

panchenlama

think of emergency exit if you intend to use laminated glass i.e.nhow would you get out if there was a fire and the keys were not around

ic

Out of interest, was this a targeted theft, or a crime of opportunity? Were possessions visible, or were blinds pulled closed? Is the hedge fairly thin/short?

I would have thought your money would be best spend first on a 6 ft fence surrounding your garden - ensure gates are always locked, PIR lights (but not too bright - you need to be able to see out into the shadows), and perhaps a DIY wireless alarm to act as a deterrent. If you have side access to the house, ensure a fence or gates are located flush with the front, so that somebody can't hide out of view of the front door down the side of the house - if they're going to climb over, they'll need to do it in full view of the road. Ensure you don't have anything located outside of the fence to help somebody to climb over - like wheelie bins.

While the maintained alarm might be the more attractive solution now - its going to cost you a lot of money in the long run (remember the maintenance costs will rise over time), it will only secure you a small discount on your insurance. If the alarm goes off, it'll still probably be ignored by everybody else - so will achieve nothing more than a DIY alarm would do.

Cameras are easily overcome by somebody wearing a hat or putting their hood up.

At the end of the day, you want to make breaking in an effort, rather than a casual walk up, smash and grab. A burglar is unlikely to hit at random - so keep blinds drawn so they can't see in. I suppose the only problem you do have now is that the burglar knows what you have in your house, so knows whatever he took will be replaced by the insurance with new.

Biggles

Keeping the blinds drawn is an invitation to break in - your are advertising the fact that you are out. It's amusing to see houses with all their curtains drawn for a week and you aren't supposed to guess they're away on holiday!

If the curtains are left open, an opportunist isn't going to be able to walk up and stare in in case he's seen. Obviously, don't have any valuables in view of the front door, where someone might have a reasonable excuse to be.

ic

Curtains drawn is obvious, blinds not so.

ukjoel

Also worth investing in a decent size safe which can be had for £50 on ebay.

While you wont put all your things in there everytime you leave the house its good for putting the jewellry you dont wear daily and small items like video cameras, digital cameras, which usually just sit on a shelf or in a drawer.

The opportunist thieves are looking for small, high value items just like these and will wander through a house in minutes scanning for them. If you do the same excercise and think what dont I use daily that might be nicked, then chuck it in the safe.

If they enter and leave without getting much then their wont be a big fat insurance payout which they know will pay for new items which means a return visit 8-12 weeks later by the same scumbag.