Home Security On my mind again

[pennwalk]

As a short term effort to make sure the family doesn't get taken in their bedrooms by an intruder I'm thinking of peper spray velcroed next to the bed. Can you tell me of there is a problem with this idea?

Chris

 

[shaley]

We used to live across the street from the family. Their kids fed our cat when we were away and out kids fed their cat when they were away. Their son sold us popcorn and our girls sold then cookies. We admired their garden. They were good neighbors. It is hard to understand that they are gone.

As far as the details of the crime all we are getting is what the media reports so it is hard to be sure we are getting all the facts or even the true story. It would be useful to know if their house was open. Also the house was behind a hedge. Did that make them a target?

Chris

What is worse is that only 200 miles we have not heard a thing about this. I really think the media has adopted a policy of not reporting these things except on a local level. We had two home invasions in Richmond VA in the same week, New Years day 06 with 7 victims 2 children. It got a short blip on the regional news but nothing more. Makes people think they can leave their door unlocked.

 

[Soundguy]

A hedge gives a crook a place to hide..

On a side note.. some idiot drove thru our community early AM blowing one of those small air horms.. like you would use on a boat.. or take to a ball game.. small metal can, and palstic horn.. etc. least that's what it sounded like.. I walked outside to see what the racket was.. dogs all of=ver the neighborhood barking... looks like they could have been on a golf cart.. etc..

Soundguy

. Also the house was behind a hedge. Did that make them a target?

Chris

 

[Jimbrown]

Well we have not had any home break in that I know of but we got armed drug smuglers all over the place that you can accidentlystumble across at any time. This took place about 50 miles from my house and guess where the ones that got away came.
Sierra Vista Herald | The Bisbee Daily Review

 

[dmccarty]

Just read this article, http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/mexico/articles/20070517.aspx.

900 execution murders in Mexico since January. Have not hears a word in the main stream media about this. Sounds like Iraq without the bombings. 200 Million in cash, 100 dollar bills, was found in one raid. That had to be a huge volume of cash...

How long do these wind up lights and radios work before they have to be cranked again?

Later,
Dan

 

[RoyJackson]

900 execution murders in Mexico since January. Have not heard a word in the main stream media about this.

How long do these wind up lights and radios work before they have to be cranked again?

Later,
Dan

Yeah, and our folks in DC want to open the borders...

I'd be curious about the light and radio too...

 

[Soundguy]

I've got a couple types of lights, and one radio.

The radio will run 10 minutes on less than a minute of winding. The flashlights can run 1 or 3 led's. in 3 led.. they run about 2 minutes before starting to dim.. wind time again.. is? 30 seconds? In 1 led mode.. i can get p to 5 m of usable light. if they have been setting.. i usually wind them 1 minute.. and they seem to stay nice and crisp for a good bit... deffinately usable.

Soundguy

How long do these wind up lights and radios work before they have to be cranked again?

Later,
Dan

 

[weldingisfun]

Just read this article, http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/mexico/articles/20070517.aspx.

How long do these wind up lights and radios work before they have to be cranked again?

Later,
Dan

The Webpage for the light indicates 1 hour of light for 60 seconds of cranking. The radio Webpage gives no run time at all.

 

[meledward23]

I have nothing as elaborate, but I feel fairly comfortable that I can sustain a decent defense.

My home is basically a two story. Technically split level, but all bedroom windows are at least 12+ feet from the ground. I look the doors, but an intruder can easily gain entry into my home. He will have to contend with the medium 75 pound Lab/Shepard mix who does not like strangers.

But my real advantage is since the intruder is entering on the ground floor, and the dog mroe than likely will wake me I have plenty of time. Especially since at the top of the stairs I have installed an outside metal case security door. Security hinges, 3.5" Screws into doubled 2x4's that are ceiling and floor secured. Double Deadbolts also going into doubled 2x4's that secure at ceiling, floor, and a wall corner. Getting through this door will take some effort. Which should give me enough time to prepare myself.

I am going to be moving soon and when I shop for house, I will be looking for the ability to do a similar thing, secure the upstairs sleeping area seperately from the living area.

 

[MossRoad]

How long do these wind up lights and radios work before they have to be cranked again?

Later,
Dan

I don't know. The power always came back on before the radio stopped working. Longest I went was about 3 hours.

 

[MossRoad]

I've got a couple types of lights, and one radio.

The radio will run 10 minutes on less than a minute of winding. The flashlights can run 1 or 3 led's. in 3 led.. they run about 2 minutes before starting to dim.. wind time again.. is? 30 seconds? In 1 led mode.. i can get p to 5 m of usable light. if they have been setting.. i usually wind them 1 minute.. and they seem to stay nice and crisp for a good bit... deffinately usable.

Soundguy

I wound mine once for 5 minutes back at Christmas. I use it every night to tighten my kid's braces, chase the cat off the dresser in the middle of the night, etc... only a minute or two at the most, usually about 30 seconds. It lasted for three months on that crank. I should take that thing and crank the heck out of it, turn it on on all three LEDs and see how long it really lasts.

 

[Soundguy]

Having a solid dore and deadbolt and a kick proof jamb does make me sleep a bit better. You should have seen the look on my contractors face when i asked for all that. His remark was that it would cost more money.. and my reply was that my safety was worth every penny.

Any door can be breached. All I'm looking for is that critical few extra seconds to get me home defender ready. having that special door will slow the crook down a few seconds if not more.. AND probably cause them to make a bit more sound than normal.

Some good ides showing up in this thread.. it was very worthwhile.

Soundguy

I have nothing as elaborate, but I feel fairly comfortable that I can sustain a decent defense.

My home is basically a two story. Technically split level, but all bedroom windows are at least 12+ feet from the ground. I look the doors, but an intruder can easily gain entry into my home. He will have to contend with the medium 75 pound Lab/Shepard mix who does not like strangers.

But my real advantage is since the intruder is entering on the ground floor, and the dog mroe than likely will wake me I have plenty of time. Especially since at the top of the stairs I have installed an outside metal case security door. Security hinges, 3.5" Screws into doubled 2x4's that are ceiling and floor secured. Double Deadbolts also going into doubled 2x4's that secure at ceiling, floor, and a wall corner. Getting through this door will take some effort. Which should give me enough time to prepare myself.

I am going to be moving soon and when I shop for house, I will be looking for the ability to do a similar thing, secure the upstairs sleeping area seperately from the living area.