Home Security Question

[shaneseyt]

I have heard, in mostly seminars and workshops about securing the home, that there are cheap ways to discourage burgelers and the like.....cameras that look real (with an active blinking light and all), stickers on the windows advertising protection from a security company and the like.

They sound good and like they would work, but I am wondering how effective are they really? I recently read a book in which a serial killer stalked his victims for a day or two before attacking. In one case, the victim had a huge sign on the fence "Beware of Dog" or "Gaurd Dog on Duty", or something to that affect. Still, it did not stop this particular bad guy from learning there really was no dog there, and doing his business.

That got me to thinking of how effective are these like real security gimmicks and how effective are they really? Are they worth the bit of effort, or would it just be better to invest in a solid solution instead of something half-baked?

Being a parent, and living in a not so wonderful neighborhood, these are questions I am looking at right now, and wanting to make my home as secure as possible without going broke.....

[vicki2]

I think if it were me and my neigborhood wasn't great, I'd invest in the real deal for a security system. I think thieves have gotten used to the tricks anymore.

[Belson17]

I agree with Vicki. If you have kids and your neighborhood isn't so great, invest in a really security system.

[vicki2]

It's like those fake alarm company stickers people pasted all over their front door and windows. I'm not certain any of them really help deter.
Besides, a good thief knows to look past those and for real signs of whether there's an alarm system or not!

[OneofaKind]

My neighbours have got timer lights for the outside lights that go on at 9pm and go of at 6am when they are not around.

The only thing is since they don't turn the lights on/off at this time when they are home, the lights actually alert you to the fact that they are away.

[Belson17]

We always leave lights on at night when we're not home. And different ones too. Burglars like a routine. The more you can throw them off, the better.

[vicki2]

I used to have timers on lamps indoors for when I was away ...different lamps at different times. Also, I think the out door motion sensor lights are a help.

[Belson17]

Sometimes when I leave the house I leave a television or radio on.

[vicki2]

I often do that too, Belson. Part of it is security, part of it is for the dogs, and part of it is that I just like noise around. Why it is a more secure feeling, I have no idea tho!

[Security]

I think it's worth underlining that a lot of break-ins are opportunist, so any kind of prevention measure that makes you look a less interesting target can only be good.

However, there are professional burglarly rings, and of course, other forms of hardened criminals, who are far less likely to take an interesting in such measures - or wait to observe whether they are true or not.

Personally, I wouldn't go for dummy cameras, but there are so many other basic measures you can take to prevent your home being so easily targeted in the first place, before you even need consider CCTV.