Home security, cameras and alarms??

[GreenHillOpposite]

Would anyone be able to advise me on home security? I currently have no security beyond the bog-standard windows and door locks but when monies allow I would like to add some deterrents to burglars.

I don't live in an affluent area and neither is the neighbourhood particularly targeted in terms of house break-ins.

Have a mortice lock on doors as well as a Yale type. Double glazing is more difficult to break. Solid doors are better than glazed ones. Get a safe. Put everything valuable in the loft when you go on holiday - buried under the insulation. Just make it difficult and don’t show off expensive possessions to casual passers by. Put lap tops and phones away when you go out.

Burglar alarms definitely deter opportunist burglars. However you have to get them serviced and decide if you want them to go through to a central monitoring station. Worth it if your belongings are worth it. We also have a camera. We are quite isolated. It’s less obvious than the alarm but it suits our circumstances.

Thanks bubbles, the loft is filthy. If I never have to open that hatch again it’ll be too soon. Will research other hiding places.

New double glazing throughout is the next project I’m saving for.

A timer on a couple of lamps set to come on before it gets dark e.g. in upstairs front bedroom and/or in your kitchen if it's the back of the house or just in the hallway are a cheap option to make the house look occupied.

The reason the loft is a good idea is that it’s a real hassle for a burglar to get into it! They won’t want to get cornered in it either. Obviously cleaning it might be yuk but getting insulation in is worthwhile. You can certainly deter burglars with a yukky loft though!

I agree with op there are some simple steps you can take, lamps on timers, burglar alarm and safe. You could also look at (depending on your home set up - gravel by windows and doors I.e. a gravel path approach the noise puts a lot of burglars off. PIR security lights for doors or main pathways to light up as soon as someone goes on your property boundary. Depending on your garden access points you can look at security lights there a neighbour of mine used carpet grippers on her garden gate to deter people jumping it - not sure I'd do that but she said it stopped burglary attempts 🤷🏻‍♀️. Ring doorbells are supposed to be good (I've not used them), have you got local neighbourhood watch? Again they are good for police advice and up to date information on what is being targeted in your area. CCTV is good as both a deterrent and took if anything does happen but it can be expensive - people do have dummy cameras so that maybe worth looking at as a cheaper option.

I agree with op there are some simple steps you can take, lamps on timers, burglar alarm and safe. You could also look at (depending on your home set up - gravel by windows and doors I.e. a gravel path approach the noise puts a lot of burglars off. PIR security lights for doors or main pathways to light up as soon as someone goes on your property boundary. Depending on your garden access points you can look at security lights there a neighbour of mine used carpet grippers on her garden gate to deter people jumping it - not sure I'd do that but she said it stopped burglary attempts 🤷🏻‍♀️. Ring doorbells are supposed to be good (I've not used them), have you got local neighbourhood watch? Again they are good for police advice and up to date information on what is being targeted in your area. CCTV is good as both a deterrent and took if anything does happen but it can be expensive - people do have dummy cameras so that maybe worth looking at as a cheaper option.

I agree with op there are some simple steps you can take, lamps on timers, burglar alarm and safe. You could also look at (depending on your home set up - gravel by windows and doors I.e. a gravel path approach the noise puts a lot of burglars off. PIR security lights for doors or main pathways to light up as soon as someone goes on your property boundary. Depending on your garden access points you can look at security lights there a neighbour of mine used carpet grippers on her garden gate to deter people jumping it - not sure I'd do that but she said it stopped burglary attempts 🤷🏻‍♀️. Ring doorbells are supposed to be good (I've not used them), have you got local neighbourhood watch? Again they are good for police advice and up to date information on what is being targeted in your area. CCTV is good as both a deterrent and took if anything does happen but it can be expensive - people do have dummy cameras so that maybe worth looking at as a cheaper option.

I agree with op there are some simple steps you can take, lamps on timers, burglar alarm and safe. You could also look at (depending on your home set up - gravel by windows and doors I.e. a gravel path approach the noise puts a lot of burglars off. PIR security lights for doors or main pathways to light up as soon as someone goes on your property boundary. Depending on your garden access points you can look at security lights there a neighbour of mine used carpet grippers on her garden gate to deter people jumping it - not sure I'd do that but she said it stopped burglary attempts 🤷🏻‍♀️. Ring doorbells are supposed to be good (I've not used them), have you got local neighbourhood watch? Again they are good for police advice and up to date information on what is being targeted in your area. CCTV is good as both a deterrent and took if anything does happen but it can be expensive - people do have dummy cameras so that maybe worth looking at as a cheaper option.

Amazon do wifi cameras in sales that can be quite cheap. I got ours for under £50 (×1 camera) and it has night vision and an sd slot for recording. It can rotate and is linked to my mobile so you can tune in all day if so inclined. Also has sound. Am a little addicted to watching my new dog whilst on the school run

Thanks Lonely do you still know the exact model? (And your username makes me feel sad. How are you?).

Hiding belongings - having thought about it, it turns out that I don't really have anything I'd want to hide, apart from my laptop which means a lot to me but isn't going to be smuggled away in the freezer or a pot plant!

Mommybear I have a couple of small solar security lights which are great, and help me feel safer in a few ways,, but not at this time of year.

I hadn't thought about making the house look occupied. There's only two of us and it's so often left empty that that might be a lost cause.

Don't leave car keys in the house if you are out, especially if you have a nice car outside. Our burglars looked everywhere for them. Ultimately if they want something they will take it. One of my colleague's relatives was recently mugged for his Rolex - he didn't even report it to the Police. Leave some bling costume jewellery in some expensive boxes on your dressing table and hide your good stuff. However, if the see you wearing it out, they are not beyond coming to your door with a photo of what they want and making you get it. Look out for your neighbours and hopefully they will do the same for you.

Some great info here.

Most of which I’ve already implemented after getting broken into for my car.. tore the house up for nothing as keys weren’t there... didn’t take anything else....

My top tip would be... usually outdoor camera don’t work inside through glass as they work via infra red, make sure you get a pixel change camera for this purpose...

I have ring doorbell with the camera in the front house where I park my car and it also shows the motion if anyone steps in front of my house. We also have the alarming company security in our house and yes they come to service every year.

And also the sensor lights are good to scare anyone who steps at the house

Only just seen the thread. Thanks for asking OP, am fine just had a wobbly few weeks whenni first returned to MN. My new dog has kept me entertained . Have found the camera I have and it's even more bargainous than I remember at £17.99 (Not inc postage) IP Camera, 960P HD WiFi Cam Night Vision Home Security Camera Baby Pet Monitor Pan/Tilt Remote, Support Cloud Storage, Two-Way Audio Motion www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07JQ9DMJB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_JCuhCbFQ863D8

Oops link fail Wireless IP Camera, 960P HD WiFi Cam Night Vision Home Security Camera Baby Pet Monitor Pan/Tilt Remote, Support Cloud Storage, Two-Way Audio Motion www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07JQ9DMJB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_JCuhCbFQ863D8

It looks like a little robot!

Off to research the little robot and ring doorbells.

Keep car keys in a safe place.
Also do not leave phones unattended in the car while you are out shopping or at a pub, hotel or restaurant either. I live in a small apartment building but I still decided to invest in a safe. Hide your phones and your laptop carefully too. Research security camera systems too. Secure jewellery and any other expensive items as well just in case.
Never flash money in public. Carry a purse that is slung across your body. Take precautions. Make sure that you are on good terms with the neighbors too.

I have been researching home security systems and hoped that this thread would shed some light on the complex world of cameras and alarms.

My first post wasn’t very specific so I can see why it’s had replies to do with hiding stuff etc. This is interesting but not quite what I’m after.

The other half thinks I'm paranoid about burglars but I think it's just good practice to be cautious. Like others I hide items, remove keys, get on with neighbours so they take bins out and put them away and they park on drive if away.

For security I have outside lights, timers on lamps and a couple of switches - they can physically turn the switches on and off, plus have an auto function to come on randomly in the middle of the night for a few minutes so it looks like someone got up for a pee!

I have locks on all windows (double glazed). My alarm has an illuminated outside box as a deterrent, plus sensors on main doors (so if someone tries to force it or just try the handles alarm will sound hopefully scaring them before they come in), alarm is connected to Internet so can be set and unset remotely. If the alarm goes off I get notifications and texts.

I have two Nest cams one inside and one looking out on the front (someone mentioned the infra red affects the outside image - it does so I turned that function off and it works a treat). Again the Nest alerts to any sound or movement. They are brilliant. I can see my house wherever I am in the world. I tried cheaper ones from Amazon but couldn't get them to work. Plus they record to a memory card which a burglar could steal.

I'm not in a particularly affluent area and there isn't a problem with burglary so this probably sounds like overkill and there are monthly costs for the alarm and Nest to factor in but it's worth it for peace of mind.

Certainly start with your doors and windows, and their locks.

You home insurance company almost certainly has a leaflet or webpage called "minimum standards of security" which you should reach first.

Take the keys out of the locks when unattended, especially if there is glass or a letterbox which gives access from outside.

You can put the keys on a cup hook screwed to the top corner of the frame on the hinge side where it is out of sight and out of reach of a person outside. For both doors and windows. If everybody in the house knows where the keys are kept, this will enable them to open them, and will reduce the number that get lost.

Have a key cabinet, well away from the external doors, where you hang your keys when not in use. This can also help you not to mislay them, and you won't need to carry a huge bunch.

When the house is unattended, it is better to have the keys to external doors hidden or locked away as this makes it more difficult for an intruder to walk out carrying your belongings over her shoulder or in your suitcase, and will make them feel uneasy at the thought of perhaps having to climb out through a window or broken glass.