Rural Security

reilig

I just heard that our next door neighbours new house was broken into yesterday while they were at work. They took a 50 inch tv, laptop and jewellery. They threw a brick through a pattio door. No house alarm.

Its the second house to be broken into within a week. the same things were stolen in the other house - they just grabbed what they could - tv laptop etc and went off with it.

The Mrs is starting to get worried about our house esp when she goes back to work from maternity leave or if she goes away for a day.
We currently have an alarm system. Its not monitored but has a gsm sim which will send a text if it goes off and its connected to the phone line which will call us if it goes off. My old man could get to the house faster with the shotgun than the guards could if it went off

I'm looking at buying a "beware of the alsatian" sign for the start of the laneway. What else do people do for security around the house or farm?? I have sensor lights. I was thinking about a few dummy security cameras.

Anyone's opinion or experience would be appreciated.

johngalway

Big noisy/nasty dogs.

reilig

johngalway wrote: »

Big noisy/nasty dogs.

The biggest problem is that they don't go too well with sheep!

johngalway

reilig wrote: »

The biggest problem is that they don't go too well with sheep!

Stock break them and get them used to the members of your family and ya shouldn't have a problem Biggest fear of burglars is the set of teeth inside the window with the eyes that say: "I'm gonna have you".

vanderbadger

reilig wrote: »

The biggest problem is that they don't go too well with sheep!

have 2 little terriers, they create an awfal racket when anyone arrives, its enough i think to make someone think twice about getting in, had a few sheep in there on reseeded ground and they didnt seem too fightened of the terriers, in fact i think a they kinda chased the dogs a few times

LK_Dave

reilig wrote: »

The biggest problem is that they don't go too well with sheep!

try a Boerboel...South African working/guard dog. My understanding they can be trained to work cattle/sheep.

Or you could try the old trick of placing a pair of size 15+ boots outside the back door with a copy of Guns & Ammo inserted in one with a note on the door saying something like "Hi, will be back in 10 minutes, had to drop Bob to the doctors after the dog attacked him. Dog stil loose, so I'm coming straight back to catch him. Mad Mike."

Milton09

Security cameras are an excellent deterrant. I used to have loads of “salesmen” calling to my eldery parents house and driving round the back to “turn the hiace”. Three years ago I installed a proper IR cctv camera with DVR (don’t waste time with dummy cameras, in some cases they cost nearly as much as a proper camera and scumbags will know the difference anyway.) We have not had one single visit since the camera went up, they see it on the gable of the house and just drive past.

who the fug

Park the bull on the front lawn


Seriously

Good locks on doors and windows, lock the front gate (Thieves are lazy bastards and don't like walking to far with their loot

all you can do is make it too much hassle, you can never stop the buggers if they want to get in

whelan1

we bought dummy cameras in the 2 euro shop , dh put them up allover the place... was reading earlier on a mumsy site of a woman who was locking her house up going to bed last night and there was a man standing outside her patio door:eek: i would die

pakalasa

A lot of almost finished houses have been stripped too just for the copper. It's selling well for scrap at the moment.
I have been told by guards I know, that there is no substitute for a good dog. You'd be amazed how clever they can be. I worked in a place once where the owner kept a dog in closed shed during the day while we were working. I'd pass the shed in and out all day and not a sound from the dog. As soon as a stranger would arrive, he'd go beserk. That was just from the smell he'd pick up.

Birdnuts

johngalway wrote: »

Big noisy/nasty dogs.

Yes - I remember reading a study a few years back that said properties with dogs are 70% less likely to suffer break - ins:)

Chicken Run

Milton09 wrote: »

Security cameras are an excellent deterrant. I used to have loads of “salesmen” calling to my eldery parents house and driving round the back to “turn the hiace”. Three years ago I installed a proper IR cctv camera with DVR (don’t waste time with dummy cameras, in some cases they cost nearly as much as a proper camera and scumbags will know the difference anyway.) We have not had one single visit since the camera went up, they see it on the gable of the house and just drive past.

set up something like this but with my webcam and a bit of free software called "Dorgem" or something similar that I downloaded.

Makes your webcam a motion-activated camera that when triggered will take a picture at intervals you specify (from 1 sec apart to longer)

Then just stick it in your window and leave it hooked to your PC

johnstown

While I am no expert, I believe some of the more sophisticated burglars can easily obtain GSM jammers which can interfere with your alarm.

A burglary is something I dread. Luckily it has nevered happened at home. Here are my tips:

1. Keep curtains closed and radio on if you are going away
2. Consider electric gates so no one can drive in and around
3. If you have a land line phone, put it on call forwarding to your mobile when away
4. Get a good dog
5. Get a House alarm and consider a false box with real one hidden (so if the burglar does try and disable the alarm he targets the wrong one).
6. Get IR CCTV with remote access via the internet or even better, remote sensing via a smart phone. This could also come in handy for monitoring cows calving etc also.
7. Some of the smart phone technology available also allows you to remotely activate things like speakers/intercom so you can remotely interact with anyone who calls around when you are not there. If you are not happy with this, then consider remote monitoring by a security firm.
8. Have good lighting and possibly sensor lights for night time.
9. Keep everything of any value out of sight.
10. If you have a safe then conceal it well and consider having a small cash box with a small amount of cash which is easy to find... the burglar looks for easy targets.
11. Ensure you have good locks on doors/windows and leave nothing around that might assist a burglar, e.g. ladder, bricks, hammers etc.
12. Always lock doors, even when at home
13. Avoid letting people know you routine and change your routine if possible, e.g. always going to mass on a Sunday at a certain time.
14. Quiz anyone who comes near the house when you are there and ask for credentials if they purport to be someone official.
15. If the travelling salesmen drive around your house, block their exit and delay them by just talking sh1t€ for a half, they'll think twice about coming around again. Alternatively run them, but they might harbour a grudge then!
16. Go around your house etc and play the part of a burglar... see can you find any easy access points or places where you can hide or monitor the movements of people inside.

stanflt

whelan1 wrote: »

we bought dummy cameras in the 2 euro shop , dh put them up allover the place... was reading earlier on a mumsy site of a woman who was locking her house up going to bed last night and there was a man standing outside her patio door:eek: i would die

the oh woke up in the middle of the night a few days ago and was convinced someone was down stairs-have to say i was a bit scared- went down stairs with a golf club but thankfully no one there. couldnt get back to sleep-im only a young buck but can imagine how this could effect the elderly or anyone for that matter

funny man

johnstown wrote: »

1. Keep curtains closed and radio on if you are going away

Excellent points just wouldn't agree with the first one, there is even a joke about it on how do you now when there is no one home.

i think a better one is to have lights on timers in different rooms that go on and off.

marknjb

mother in law got locked out of her hse the other day i got a friend who worked in a factory that made pvc windows to come around .he poped the slips that hold in the window and lifted out the glass in less than a minute a gaurd told me thats common now so they dont make noise

reilig

marknjb wrote: »

mother in law got locked out of her hse the other day i got a friend who worked in a factory that made pvc windows to come around .he poped the slips that hold in the window and lifted out the glass in less than a minute a gaurd told me thats common now so they dont make noise

Yea, I heard that allright. My windows have internal beads so its impossible to remove the glass from the outside. They cost extra but were worth it.

sea12

stanflt wrote: »

the oh woke up in the middle of the night a few days ago and was convinced someone was down stairs-have to say i was a bit scared- went down stairs with a golf club but thankfully no one there. couldnt get back to sleep-im only a young buck but can imagine how this could effect the elderly or anyone for that matter

I woke up about 8 or 9 years ago with a burglar in the room. Thankfully he fled when I questioned who he was. Was scared ****less for ages after. Was in a rented house at the time in college. Never slept properly after that in the house so Moved out.
So i can only imagine what its like for the eldery. Make sure they lock their bedroom door and have mobile charged up with them in case they become afraid or hear something.