Theft proof home?
 

My dad called the other day, said he came home to his front foor wide open. While he was at work someone busted the door open and cleaned him out. We were discussing it and I expressed my not wanting to live somewhere like that. To that he replied that it could happen anywhere. That got me thinking about all the stuff I have accumulated and just how easy it really is for someone to take it from you.

Anyone have any links or ideas that make a home like a fortress? The movie "I Am Legend" comes to mind with the metal covers over the windows and doors. I have even thought of building a type of cage by the front door with a lock as well.

I'm open to ideas.

Re: Theft proof home?
 

I'd suggest taking an inventory of the stuff most important to you. Then, address how you should secure that stuff.

Re: Theft proof home?
 

There are a lot of things you can do to make your home theft-resistant. There is no theft proof. Sorry about what happened to your dad.

Most B&E is "targets of opportunity". Make your home appear resistant, make thieves want to go somewhere else. Make it hard for them to get inside; they feel exposed when standing outside trying to get in, so they want quick entry. Deny them quick entry. Deny them hidden entry points.

You'd be surprised how much B&E is done the old fashioned way: kicking open the door. You'd be surprised how easy it is to do this. Most forced entry is via doors, so hardening the doors is your first step. Reinforce doors by installing deadbolts, installing lock strikes using 3" or 3 1/2" screws that go deep into the door framing inside the wall, avoiding glass doors. Sliding glass doors are a nightmare but you can google lots of things to do to them to make them harder to force. Keep windows locked, and consider pinning shut windows in high-risk areas (hidden places on the back of the house, porches, etc). Use quick-removable pins to do this, as you don't want to trap yourself in the home in the event of a fire.

Consider an alarm system. As the economy worsens, this problem is going to escalate.

Re: Theft proof home?
 

For doors (which should already be metal):

http://www.djarmor.com/

For door locks:

http://www.mul-t-lock-online.com/her...turn-p-32.html

For windows:

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3...s/Residential/

Add (as you can afford):

* Flood lights on all sides of property.
* Four-foot steel fence around property (dogs too).
* Four security cameras (one to cover each side). Five or six are better.
* Alarm system (with radio back-up in case phone lines are cut).
* Large 800+ pound safe (for guns, PMs, etc.). BF rated is good; TL-15 or TL-30 are better.
* At least one person inside always armed.

MOST IMPORTANT: A rep in your 'hood that lets people know NOT to mess with you/your family/your property or you will go after them.

Re: Theft proof home?
 

I haven't tried any of these products, but the approach of using pepper spray to quickly stop the crime makes sense to me.
http://www.stopthecrime.com/products.htm

Re: Theft proof home?
 

You know, I was thinking about putting pepper spray landmines in my lawn (Bouncing Betty types) but was worried about taking out the mailman or UPS guy.

Re: Theft proof home?
 

If you are building your home,you could make the doors swing OUT instead of in...good solid frames as well.

Higher smaller windows.

Good locks.

Having thorny plants around windows as well,like holly or something.

Re: Theft proof home?
 

Get one of these:

Nothng strikes fear in the heart of the intruder like the visage of the ferocious schnauzer!!!

Re: Theft proof home?
 

get a few of these but change it to fire something other than paintballs.

Re: Theft proof home?
 

Two times we have been broken into and two time swe had dogs IN the house...now true the last time the dogs weren't exactly vicious but they bark like they would tear your head off.

We solved the side door being kicked in(the way they entered) by taking a piece of wood and screwing it to the floor making it very difficult to kick in the door.
Not very pretty however.

Re: Theft proof home?
 

I personally would load glass marbles or fill the paintballs with pepper spray or ammonia or something like that.

Re: Theft proof home?
 

Big dogs that are well trained. Not just dogs that sound vicious b/c that only lasts until the thief sees you out walking him while he's casing your neighborhood. German shepherds, rotties, something like that.

Re: Theft proof home?
 

Small valuables....bury them or place them in a container and lower it down into the chimney.