Rcher

Other than the normal deadbolts and window locks, I have installed an alarm system that monitors the outside perimeter of the house. If somebody enters the yard within a specific range, the alarm will sound in the house and the outdoor lights will come on. My system requires 2 movements within a specific zone to trip the alarm. This helps prevent false alarms from small animals.

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Keep it Concealed: "The Element of Surprise is Far Superior than the Target of Fate".

dukalmighty

Viagra in the water heater?

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I like Poetry,Long Walks On The Beach,And Poking Dead Things With A Stick

tjm

This is an old book. I wish there was something equivalent that was more recent:

Amazon.com: The Complete Book of Locks, Keys, Burglar and Smoke Alarms, and Other Security Devices: Eugene A. Sloane: Books

Anyway, I was really impressed with the guy's attitude about hardening a home. He had a lot of police photos of break ins and invasions and he would show what failed. He showed how to reinforce a door frame, doors, any weak point. He didn't take much for granted. He would buy lock sets and cut them apart to see which ones were more vulnerable to saws, grabbing & twisting, whatever. He illustrated using a Fox Police Bar on doors and other things that could surely buy you time. If your library has a copy it would still be worth reading.

United93

Thank you, tjm. I just ordered it from the library.

G23NH

Fully agree with that comment - if it is not Grade 5 / Grade 8 or a steel screw US Made then I didn't buy it - I cant stand cheap hardware that strips or breaks!

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NRA Member

hihosilver

AMong other things, I believe the security bars that wedge between the door handle and floor work very well. If someone wanted to kick down your door. This would slow them down at least the extra 5-10 seconds that you need to pick up you ur gun and take a covered position and get the family in the planned meeting place or room. Having a family plan is at the top of the list. Also make sure you replace cheap locks with a higher security lock with security pins or double sided keys that make them harder to pick or bump. Camera systems that can record hours of up to 6 cameras are affordable these days also. I also have a maltese that is the best alarm ever. Small dog but very good alarm. Depends on the dog. I had one dog that would have probably just licked the bad guy to death. His breath alone would have rendered the BG unconscious.

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Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it ......

C Paul Lincoln

I incorporated a few special features when I built my home, which help to harden it --

1) The driveway is 800 ft long, uphill. It terminates in front of the house, and my main living area is upstairs. There is no place in the last 100 feet to turn around, so visitors are essentially trapped in a gauntlet. Motion detector on the driveway for the alarm, flood lights pointing from the house to the driveway -- anybody coming up at night is illuminated, but can't see me because they are looking into the lights.

2) It isn't as much as I would like, but the gable end that faces the driveway/parking area is double-sheathed in 5/8-inch plywood. Add drywall and interior planking, and many or most pistol rounds will be stopped. My eventual plan is to add steel sheeting under the siding on both sides of each window.

3) All my exterior doors swing out -- they are steel doors on heavy frames with long heavy screws driven deep into the jack studs. Out-swing doors are nearly impossible to kick in (and hard to source). When I did the framing, I framed the door openings narrower than is usually done, so there would be less space to shim making the frame stronger.

4) All windows on the ground floor are very small to crawl through. Not impossible, but not easy. They would not meet egress requirements for bedrooms.

5) Windows upstairs are all 14 feet off the ground. The egress from the bedroom is a door to a small balcony, where there is an escape ladder stored. No access from the ground, and again the door is an out-swing.

Other than these things, the topography and vegetation of my property does most of my hardening. One way in, one way out. Long walk through t tough terrain out the back, and a commanding view of access from the road side.

My driveway gate isn't what I want it to be yet, but it is in the works. I'm designing a sliding gate built of rectangular tubing that when finished will look like a three-rail fence. I'll build it so it can't be rammed coming in, and I'll be able to close it remotely to stop a fleeing criminal. I hope to have it lock down if the alarm is tripped, so that they have to leave their vehicle on my driveway (to help identify them, and so my stuff doesn't leave!).

I haven't yet finished plans for a safe room, but do have space set aside downstairs -- it will be concrete walled with a reinforced door.

If none of this works, they'll have to deal with me and the .45, the AR-15, the Mossburg 590, etc.

CPLincoln

United93

CPLincoln - I think you have most (OK, some : )) of us beat. Nice going! You should consider Shatterguard for the windows.

paul34

As far as the windows, even just putting some light tinting or UV blocking clear film will help make them much more shatter resistant, which would help even in storms as well with smaller debris.

United93

paul34 - Could you post a link?