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[The_blonde_and_blue]

Evening GAF,

I live in a pretty nice neighborhood, and it's usually pretty quiet. However, we've had a string of break-ins the past few years, and they seem to be getting more prominent. Our next door neighbor was broken into a year ago, (this person was caught), and there's been a string of vandalism (egging cars, homes, etc). We've taken steps to keep ourselves from being a target, but there's only so much you can do I guess. Today I discovered they attempted to get into our garage, and successfully broke into our vehicle we had parked around back.

Luckily, there wasn't anything valuable in the car, but I'd like to protect myself as much as possible and get some kind of security system in place. With that said, what are your experiences with your home security solution? Things you'd recommend, things you'd not recommend? What's worth the investment and what's a scam? And if you've done this before, or went through this, what might you have done differently?

At minimum I need some good cameras out front and back, but I'm open to actual full-scale security solutions as well.

 

[Ric Flair]

Where do you live? I'd request more police presence if you live in a nice area or get home security​ systems installed, but those are pricy. If you live in a nice part of a sketchy area, I'd cut my losses and move before you get shit stolen

 

[Ray Wonder]

Get motion lights, and a signs/stickers that says "protected by ____"

 

[jadedm17]

Reasonably priced solutions appreciated; Bumping as this is relevant to my interests as a new homeowner.

 

[Quonny]

Motion lights, as another poster said. It's a cheap option that will deter anyone who isn't going to break into your place no matter what you have.

 

[The_blonde_and_blue]

Where do you live? I'd request more police presence if you live in a nice area or get home security​ systems installed, but those are pricy. If you live in a nice part of a sketchy area, I'd cut my losses and move before you get shit stolen

A middle class Dallas suburb, not sketchy in the slightest. I can try to request a better police presence, but I feel that's not the route I want to put my faith in.

Get motion lights, and a signs/stickers that says "protected by ____"

Seems like a decent option. I'll check it out. Thanks.

 

[Hari Seldon]

No security system will top a dog imo. I have a small dog who has PTSD from Amazon delivery and she goes fucking apeshit at the slightest noise. I think it deterred one break-in from happening as the house next door was broken into one night when I was drunk playing video games in the basement and I recall my dog going nuts that night lol.

But most break-ins happen during the day when people are assumed to be at work. Having a car sitting in the driveway could be enough to deter a thief as they have to make assessments as to which house is empty and which has stay at home parents. If break-in are happening at night then it is likely kids or meth heads, the pro thieves will hit during the day.

If you can't get a dog, I would maybe consider external cameras which are visible. I read that the pro alarm companies are virtually worthless because in the time it takes for the police to respond the thieves are long gone. They usually run up to the bedroom and grab whatever jewelry they see and GTFO. It might work though, depends on who is doing the break-ins.

Don't forget the super simple shit like locking all of your windows and doors.

 

[The Albatross]

I have a home security system that's like $25/mo through a local security company. Most of these companies share the same hardware,w hich you either lease or buy (I bought mine), cost about $800 for the equipment and installation, which they did in a day. Basically it puts door sensors on every major entry way (I only have 3 main entryways to my house), and window sensors on the major windows that somebody could climb through, plus hallway sensors in key areas.

The main door has an alarm panel next to it, and it's Wifi enabled and all that jazz so I can check in on my house. I don't have cameras/security, but would consider adding that using Nest or something else.

I primarily got it because my girlfriend, now wife, was moving in and I used to travel for work. She felt safer with it. There were a round of major breakins in our area, which similar to the OP, is a safe, suburban neighborhood, but most of these were related to the drug epidemic some years back. Local police helped crack down ont he breakins and they've cut back dramatically.

Do we feel safer with it? Sure. It's been annoying sometimes... It went off while we were on our honeymoon and it was a false alarm. My sister went to my house, brought in some stuff, and when she set it she set the wrong kind of alarm and it went off... cops + everything. She did the same thing a week later. We've never been billed for the false alarms though, but it's still annoying.

I'm glad we have the system and I'm sure some burglar could still easily break in, but who knows, maybe it's made a difference.

 

[ClosingADoor]

If your place and schedule is suitable for it, get a nice big dog.

 

[The_blonde_and_blue]

No security system will top a dog imo. I have a small dog who has PTSD from Amazon delivery and she goes fucking apeshit at the slightest noise. I think it deterred one break-in from happening as the house next door was broken into one night when I was drunk playing video games in the basement and I recall my dog going nuts that night lol.

But most break-ins happen during the day when people are assumed to be at work. Having a car sitting in the driveway could be enough to deter a thief as they have to make assessments as to which house is empty and which has stay at home parents. If break-in are happening at night then it is likely kids or meth heads, the pro thieves will hit during the day.

If you can't get a dog, I would maybe consider external cameras which are visible. I read that the pro alarm companies are virtually worthless because in the time it takes for the police to respond the thieves are long gone. They usually run up to the bedroom and grab whatever jewelry they see and GTFO. It might work though, depends on who is doing the break-ins.

Don't forget the super simple shit like locking all of your windows and doors.

Agreed there (I giggled @ PTSD from Amazon deliveries). I had two big ass akitas for a long time, and I'm sure they scared away people who thought to try. The first break-in in our neighborhood just happened to be next door, but like you said, we came home to find the dogs excited, but everything in its place. However, they died recently from old age - they were brothers and bonded strongly, so when one died the other went right after - and i'm still not over it. So another dog is not in the cards right now. :/

That's the odd thing. My wife has been working from home full time the past month or two, and I'm working from home 75% of the time. They either did it right under our noses, or during the night when we were asleep.

 

[Zee-Row]

I have an alarm system and cameras all over my parameter. I have an app so that I can watch the cameras away from home as well. Nobody fucks with me.

 

[cwmartin]

My dog barks at anything near the door or house so she is the best living alarm you can get. I do have an Arlo setup simply because we have cleaning/dog walking services and I don't want to to risk them leaving a door open or unlocked, and the Arlo camera covers the back door mainly.

Basically my security is as follows. Locked Doors --> Dog --> Arlo Motion Camera


Admittedly we don't do a sure enough job with our windows, which if someone really wanted in thats probably their option after realizing the doors are locked.

Edit: Realized my Ecobee detects motion as part of its temperature management and what not and would let me know where it detected motion too. Weird, stupid connected home makes everything feel weird.

 

[Zoe]

http://www.kgw.com/news/investigations/we-asked-86-burglars-how-they-broke-into-homes/344213396

So KGW's investigative team sent letters to 86 inmates currently serving time for burglary in the Oregon Department of Corrections. The inmates were asked to respond anonymously to 17 questions detailing how they broke in, when the crime occurred and what they were looking for.

 

[Mesoian]

A lot of the time, the easiest ways to deter a break in are just to make things difficult. A year ago we found that someone broke into our building using an open window in the common hallway that just wasn't locked. Every other entrance to the building is well lit and cam'd, except for that window. We locked and sealed that window and have had no trouble since.

Also make sure you have renters/home owner's insurance.

 

[Krakatoa]

I have a cheap NVR system from Zmodo that has 8 cameras that I installed around my house. The system itself was around $200. It can be viewed remotely and it monitors for motion.

In addition to that I also have a ring which is awesome for monitoring the front door, and activity is automatically sent to my phone. Inside the house I have three cameras as well that are hidden and can also be viewed remotely.

Once you've been broken into you wise up pretty quickly.

Some tips.

Put motion detector light in any quiet areas (backyard etc).
Remove, or put cameras near any hedges/fences walls that offer privacy for an intruder.
Get a dog.

 

[Hari Seldon]

http://www.kgw.com/news/investigations/we-asked-86-burglars-how-they-broke-into-homes/344213396

I liked this part:

Most burglars feared someone might be home if they heard a radio or TV. They wouldn’t break in.

“Absolutely not,” wrote a burglar.

My parents do this for their dogs lol. Might be a simple and easy trick.

But again I think this article is regarding pro thieves. They are much less scary to me than unstable drug addicts who don't give a fuck.

 

[Ronin Ray]

I have ISmartAlarm. You can add pieces as you go and it works very well. There is no monthly charge (not sure about the price with cameras). It's basically tied into your WiFi and will contact you if an alarm is tripped and you can call the cops. The app is good on Android and works with ifttt.

 

[The_blonde_and_blue]

http://www.kgw.com/news/investigations/we-asked-86-burglars-how-they-broke-into-homes/344213396

Good stuff there.

Edit: Realized my Ecobee detects motion as part of its temperature management and what not and would let me know where it detected motion too. Weird, stupid connected home makes everything feel weird.

I guess if I go for a security system, I need to go ahead and decide between the Ecobee or the Nest.

 

[StayDead]

http://www.kgw.com/news/investigations/we-asked-86-burglars-how-they-broke-into-homes/344213396

This is a really good read. Thanks.