Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Ellis · Posted: Wed May 17, 2017 11:11 pm Post subject: Home and garage security

I had an unpleasant reminder that we live in a different world these days in having had a nocturnal visitor, an intruder, who made off with my expensive new pressure washer.
He managed to open the garage door and there is evidence that he tripped or fell over my big hydraulic jack and landed on one of the petrol strimmers.
The shaft is bent and the cutting head damaged.

The irony is that I am about to fit a new garage door with a deadbolt lock.

So, I am having to reconsider my entire house and garage security.
Where does one start?
Multiple security lights for a start to all come on when even one sensor detects movement.

How far does one go? I don't know whether to seek the advice of a home security company or ask an electrician to install as good a system as we both can agree on.
It's very tempting to " go over the top" in devices and expense.

What are your thoughts please?
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1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22446 Location: UK

Although I dislike intensely the proliferation of CCTV, I did find myself looking on Amazon a month or two back at some of the multi-camera household installations that are around. I may still opt for something along those lines.

RJ
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Peter_L · Posted: Thu May 18, 2017 9:12 am Post subject:

alastairq · Joined: 14 Oct 2016 Posts: 1952 Location: East Yorkshire

MikeEdwards · Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 2470 Location: South Cheshire

I was most disappointed when the police came to our offices some years back after the concrete panel fencing had all been kicked in. "We can't do anything unless you've got CCTV showing clear faces", and I wondered whether actually doing some investigating was out of the question. I also thought that if I had clear images of faces, I'd be printing them off and sticking them to lamp-posts all around town, though I'm sure I'd get a fine for doing that.

I exported one of my cars to Australia, while it was on the way the new owner sent me a photo of a visitor to his porch. I wonder whether this might be a suitable deterrent.

Monty's grown a bit by Mike Edwards, on Flickr

Bitumen Boy · Posted: Thu May 18, 2017 12:03 pm Post subject:

Showing clear faces/identities is the killer with CCTV. Most of the kit out there doesn't give terribly clear pictures anyway but even if it is good it's easily foiled by the prevalent hoody and baseball cap combo.

Peter_L · Posted: Thu May 18, 2017 12:13 pm Post subject:

I think "Slithering Sam" would be a good addition to the tool box.

... and to answer Alistair's comment about the Constabulary. Around here "local justice" is alive and well.

The problem with shotguns is they tend to damage large areas of wall, whereas a 9mm hole can always be covered with a picture or mirror.

BigJohn · Joined: 01 Jan 2011 Posts: 954 Location: Wem, Shropshire

Unfortunately my wife doesn't like dogs, because the best advert for one was my brother in laws Mastiff/Labrador. Some years back he lived in an isolated bungalow, but not too far away from a troubled area. He came home to find his front door jemmied, and a happy dog greeted him with the remains of a plaid shirt. Blood trails led to where the intruder had smashed his way out of a French Window, appearing to have just run straight through it. More blood. The Police checked all the local hospitals to no avail, but by the amount of blood spattered and losing his shirt suggested he was injured badly. The dog didn't like to bark, so imagine the scrotes surprise meeting the hound from hell waiting patiently for him. Laughing

billysugga · Joined: 01 Jan 2017 Posts: 55 Location: Carlisle

I have some 9mm blank rounds rigged on the corners of the door so if forced they will get a shock. Easy to make spring loaded firing pin and welding rod through a hole and attached to the garage door.
Obviously I have to make sure they are disabled before I open it.

I went for this after someone bent the door down from the corner.
I also reinforced it with angle iron. The four point locks are a lot more secure than the very poor top only catch.

There are shotgun cartridge versions for sale online
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Volvo Sugga ,Volvo Trygge
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billysugga · Joined: 01 Jan 2017 Posts: 55 Location: Carlisle

I have some 9mm blank rounds rigged on the corners of the door so if forced they will get a shock. Easy to make spring loaded firing pin and welding rod through a hole and attached to the garage door.
Obviously I have to make sure they are disabled before I open it.

There are shotgun cartridge versions for sale online
_________________
Volvo Sugga ,Volvo Trygge
I just wish one was working!

kevin2306 · Posted: Thu May 18, 2017 9:41 pm Post subject:

Ellis

Have a look at the visonic range of alarms.
Wireless and easy to install and very reliable. Got one on my house and a separate system on the garage. Very stable in use and don't give false alarms.

Worth a look and between that and my dogs work well.

https://www.alertelectrical.com/visonic-powermax-express-e-kit.html?gclid=CJC-xNql-tMCFcm_7Qod9NkE1g

Kev

Ellis · Posted: Fri May 19, 2017 9:19 pm Post subject:

Peter_L · Posted: Fri May 19, 2017 10:28 pm Post subject:

Dipster · Posted: Sat May 20, 2017 8:46 am Post subject:

Now this is an area where I do have some experience. I spent the last few decades of my life in security management for a government department.

What are you protecting and from whom? In our case it is, it appears, a few grands worth of kit from thieves.

Thieves normally like to work quickly and quietly. So we need to make both more difficult. So I would suggest as many obvious physical barriers for them to overcome as possible allied to lighting.

Physical barriers are obviously good fences, gates, stout doors with quality locking systems and well constructed and fitted grilles on windows (and grilles can be used to screen doors too!). Razor wire is a useful tool.

Lighting can be quite low wattage continuous lights and some more powerful sensor controlled lamps to let visitors know their visit has been noted. I was amazed to read in one of the posts that a local plod felt darkness in the street etc. was useful..... That is not the opinion of my ex department, not at all.

If an intruder does manage to get in to the grounds or buildings a good alarm that makes a racket is very useful to dispel their tranquility. Preferably linked to someone who can respond. In my previous employment we could often persuade our local plod to respond possible a. I doubt the average householder will achieve that but they could employ a local security company to respond (to make yuor premises secure again. The thieves would probably have gone!) or simply have their own mobile phones alerted. They could then call the police or neighbours.

CCTV is only really useful (but not unbeatable) if of good quality and either fitted with motion detectors (and thus someone available to respond to any alarm). Super cheap systems available might not even have a recording facility but most do. But how much footage can be stored? We kept 28 days minimum giving us time to notice something had gone missing. This is because thefts can occur during "working hours" too and this gives you time to note the event and review the stored footage.

And any electrical kit needs the power supply assured either by keeping the mains supply secure or battery back ups.

We also often employed guards!

Depending on the crime level in your area of residence it is for you to decide whether the risk you seek to protect warrants the expense of making your home into a fortress by fitting all this kit.

Or to simply check that you have adequate insurance cover, then be as discrete as possible and hope for the best!

mikeC · Posted: Sat May 20, 2017 3:09 pm Post subject:

We suffered a spate of break-ins about ten years ago; the police showed no interest in the CCTV footage (which, in one instance, clearly showed a local person which even I recognised). The only advice offered was to make our property less accessible than our neighbours; so we now have eight foot high iron railings and gates, and all means of access are kept locked except when visitors are expected. We have had no more trouble since, except one occasion when the CCTV showed an attempt at scaling the fence, resulting in one very torn jacket being left behind!
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in the garage: 1938 Talbot Ten Airline
Recently departed: 1953 Lancia Appia, 1931 Austin Seven, 1967 Singer Chamois, 1914 Saxon, 1930 Morris Cowley, 1936 BSA Scout, 1958 Lancia Appia coupe, 1922 Star 11.9 ... the list goes on!