[Closed] Police/Home security experts

don't leave keys in door, or even in sight of any window or door

the best thing to do would be get an F'ing great big dog!

[i]don't leave keys in door, or even in sight of any window or door[/i]

tbh I've always left the keys in the door, if for nothing than wanting a quick exit in a case of fire.

Years ago I had a attempted break-in, and rather than replace the door the insurance company added dead-bolts that could be secured from either side (key outside, latch inside). And as they were top/bottom pretty impossible to reach thru a letter box.

Also may be worth considering hinges with security bolts.

Get a security light, and a camera. That way they will pick an easier target.

I got an eyespy247 one which is pretty good.

Our keys go on hooks inside a cupboard. Aside from our own sets of keys which may occasionally be left in pockets/bags there is a spare set of front and back door keys that always sit on the same hook so if there is a fire we know exactly where the keys are. Of course if the cupboard is on fire we're screwed.

Two locks on the doors. One five lever mortice and one British Standard Night latch as well as hinge bolts to make kicking the door in tricky. All the back windows/doors have retractable security grills on them, front windows are very exposed so shouldn't be too inviting to thieves.

Rear garden fencing is topped with trellis which would break if climbed making it a noisy approach, the trellis is topped with small plastic spikes making it uncomfortable to get a grip in the first place too. Garden wall has dense and very spiky plants grown up it. Heavy duty cutting tools are kept in the house rather than the shed/garage, nothing worse than supplying the thief with the means of entry.

This isn't every measure we've taken and I know that it reads like the home of some survivalist nut job but we were burgled a couple of times in reasonably quick succession about 5 years ago so took measures to deter anyone from trying again. So far so good. It's really not about making your home burglar proof, just about making it the least easy target in the street.

I recently did a method of entry course at work and was really surprised how easy it is do a UPVC/euro cylinder door with a pair of grips, even if it's all latched up.

If you've one of those, I highly recommend an anti-snap handle like a [url= http://www.mila.co.uk/Default.aspx?tabid=157 ]Mila Evolution[/url] and an anti-bump cylinder.

As harsh as it sounds, you only need to make your house harder to break into than your neighbours.

This isn't every measure we've taken and I know that it reads like the home of some survivalist nut job but we were burgled a couple of times in reasonably quick succession about 5 years ago so took measures to deter anyone from trying again.

I just stay up all night waiting for some punk to make my day....

[url= http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2655/3972924986_86b4e12cae.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2655/3972924986_86b4e12cae.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/3972924986/ ]Trying to fit in ;-)[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/brf/ ]brf[/url], on Flickr

don't leave keys in door, or even in sight of any window or door

tbh I've always left the keys in the door, if for nothing than wanting a quick exit in a case of fire.

agreed - its only property. You being able to get out is something you don't want to compromise as part of preventing people from getting in.

By all means take steps to make sure that the key can't be seen/operated, but temper that with consideration to your means of escape.

[i]As harsh as it sounds, you only need to make your house harder to break into than your neighbours. [/i]

or make your neighbours house easier to break into than yours.

what kato said really -

But if they really want to get in, they will - but thieves are quite calculating and will pick targets that are easier to enter and exit. Euro locks take seconds - so if you have them replace them. Also, the weakest parts of doors is the frame where the mortice lock engages - London Bars are good, or better still composite doors and frame. Window locks need to be locked and the keys removed from them - windows at the rear of the house can be fitted with laminated/shatter proof glass. Other than that - a good alarm and always being on top of your security. Most thieves will exploit a lapse in the owners concentration/awareness. OP you sound pretty switched on anyway, so you are doing everything you possibly can.........try not to worry too much about it, if the worst happens your insurance is there to buffer some of the effects.

I just stay up all night waiting for some punk to make my day....

[url= http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2655/3972924986_86b4e12cae.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2655/3972924986_86b4e12cae.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/3972924986/ ]Trying to fit in ;-)[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/brf/ ]brf[/url], on Flickr]

Is that your online dating profile?

By the way, our next door neighbour on one side, never locks his doors.
He's left the door actually open on more than one occasion which we've pulled shut for him.

He's been burgled twice and my guess is on both instances he'd either left the door open or unlocked and someone just tried it.

He's an awesome neighbour in that respect. 😉

I recently did a method of entry course at work and was really surprised how easy it is do a UPVC/euro cylinder door with a pair of grips, even if it's all latched up.

The things you learn in prisoon nowadays.

Never leave the keys in the door, try this, go to a mates house, and when he /she opens the door, look to see if keys are in the door, if so make an excuse you need to go back to car, they will usually walk back in house, walk back and take keys out of door, you now own them.You may have some explaining to do to your ex freinds though.

It also works on strangers houses,knock on door and pretend to be someone official, and ask for some form etc, they will usualy walk off and look for form etc, take keys and run off.Then come back when house is empty.

But you may well be caught.

Finally on new estates all locks are usually different, but incase of lost keys etc, there will be a master key for all doors, one estate i workend on, 3 houses got done that way, and had to have the locks changed.

Finally leaving keys in doors gives the burglar an exit route, or they can lock you out of your house, or even come back later.

Ps i fit security stuff for a living, i am not a burglar.

tbh I've always left the keys in the door, if for nothing than wanting a quick exit in a case of fire.

Fit plenty smoke alarms, I'm maybe OTT but I have one in every room (apart from kitchen) these will give you more than enough warning to get out in the event of a fire.

Will look to fit a night latch for the front door – always had one when I was brought up but the missus doesn’t like them as she’s sure that it will end up with her being locked out, and I’m not sure what the existing barrels are, so will have to look to upgrade them if poor, stick a proper throw bolt on the side door – it’s never used apart from the MIL smoking occasionally. Will probably leave the keys in, so that the external access lock has the key in but the internal only will be locked, so we’re not trapped in a fire.

We’re a middle of row semi-D, so no easy access from the back (another set of houses) or side of the property – the side of the house is fenced 6.5’ with a bolted door/PIR flood light – not sure what else I can do there without adding a lock to the fence door which would be a pain when commuting with the bike.

Bottom windows are all locked (to stop the small kids trying to get out), apart from the sunroom sold secure ones that have an added integral lock thing (as well as a proper lock). All the windows and doors are supposed to be stupidly hard to break into so I guess I’ll trust the manufacturers there.

I’m definitely the most secure house in the row, but I’m not sure the burglers know that.

Hah – just read the post by project.

I hadn’t thought of robbing the keys on the sly… Going to have to put the keys somewhere safe central in the house aren’t I. I do have 3 fire alarms so that’s not an issue.

Is that your online dating profile?

yep - but for some reason I only got contacted by weirdos!

If I ever get arrested on suspicion of something bad, I'll regret the day I put that photo on the internet, would make life so easy for the tabloids 😉

On a security note, all external doors have mortice dead locks and the only spare keys in the house are in a safe. No easy exit route for anyone once they've got in....

Unless you're confident you can handle them, the last thing you want to do, if you're in the house, is deny your burglar an exit. You don't know what they'll be capable of if cornered.

On a security note, all external doors have mortice dead locks and the only spare keys in the house are in a safe. No easy exit route for anyone once they've got in....

Well, apart from the route they got in via....

Oh a nice house by me, 3 storey georgian one, haveing some roof work doing,the thieves just climbed the scafolding and riped of the tiles 3 floors up got in did a ot of damage etc, and the local fre paper published the details along with the street, a few weeks latter the home owners put a letter inthe paper thanking the reporter for pointing out their security isues and hoping the other thieves didnt read the paper.