Hey, Police Officers! What sort of things can I do to make my home less of a target for criminals?

Question

I have ADT and keep my doors and windows locked. I also have a 9mm in a gun safe next to my bed.

I want to get a dog, but I have a small child and he's not ready for a dog to be around. I think we should be able to get one next year.
I sometimes keep my gun on top of the gun safe, but not all the time because of my son.
I've been thinking about motion-sensors, but don't they use lots of electricity?
What do you guys think about putting rock aound the perimeter of the house?

I want to get a dog, but I have a small child and he's not ready for a dog to be around. I think we should be able to get one next year.
I sometimes keep my gun on top of the gun safe, but not all the time because of my son.
I've been thinking about motion-sensors, but don't they use lots of electricity?
What do you guys think about putting rock aound the perimeter of the house?

I always lock my car. We recently had a truck stolen while we were on vacation (my hus was left on the lake with no truck or trailer - we even had Onstar) and I'm feeling a bit paranoid.

Answer 1

Light the outside of your home, either with static lights or with motion sensors. Keep large bushes away from the house, so burglars cannot hide behind them.

Keep all windows and doors locked. An alarm system is always good, just make sure it is set correctly as false alarms include a fine after a number of them.

Try to make hard access to lower level windows from the outside.

Have a strong solid-core door without windows for your front door...granted a window looks great, but if you can break it and reach through to unlock it...not too secure!

Answer 2

Not a police officer, but sounds like you've got a darn fine set of safety measures. Just a note, if you are in a house where there are no children, I would think about taking the gun OUT of the gun safe and putting it in a more accessible place, like a night stand. If someone were by some chance to get past the other measures, you would not have time to get the safe open in time. That's what I do. I have also test fired mine to see what kind of pressure it takes to fire without cocking them first. If you don't shoot often, do so. Make sure that if you ever have to fire you hit your target, and don't stop with one shot. Took a gun safety course and the TBI officer said that one bullet rarely stops a person. Probably why cops have what is called a double-tap. Two shots.

Outside of the house, be VERY aware of who is around you especially at night. Walk briskly, make sure you have keys in hand when you get to your car, be aware of what type of vehicle is parked next to you, lock the door as soon as you get in. If you are stopped behind someone, try to remember to leave enough room in front of you that you could pull past the car if you needed to. Also, have a plan, a back-up plan, and a back-up back-up plan. Figure out ahead of time what you would do in certain situations so you have that plan in place if by some slim chance a situation were to arise.

Answer 3

The motion sensors are a good bet. They do not use alot of electricity. I would be surprised if you saw any increase in your bill.

Rocks? You mean like pea gravel or limestone landscaping around the perimeter? That would do good for alerting the dog to an intruder when you get one.

Other than that it sounds like you're on the right track.

Answer 4

Get a dog, all criminals will tell you a dog is the greatest deterrent to them moving on to the next place. A dog barking alerts the owner and maybe neighbors, also.
Lighting and keeping bushes they can hide behind away from your house.

Answer 5

Leave a radio on when not at home, and play it at loud enough volume to be heard from outside; not too loud as to disturb your neighbors. Have your mail held at the post office if traveling or not at home. Have a neighbor park in your driveway if you are out of town.

Answer 6

Criminals like dogs to! no matter how hard you try if some one once in they will get in. Just keep your eyes open and your wits about you and try not to live in fear of what could happen.

Answer 7

the best home protection plan in the world is buying a dog

Answer 8

I'm not a cop but I planted roses & other thorny bushes under my windows & next to basement windows as well.

Answer 9

use motion-detected lights on all four conners of your house. get a motion-activated plug in that turns on your inside lights and tv - only about $30

Answer 10

I'm glad I'm not paranoid after reading this.