[harleysilo]

So it’s 2:00 AM and I awake to the sound of breaking glass, what do I do? Well right now I would walk out of our Master bedroom, passing a newly replaced “steel” door which leads to the basement. A few steps further and I would reach my daughters bedroom door. At this point I can look down the hallway (which is too my right because I’ve dead ended into my daughters door) and see the area right by our front door 25’ away and 40’ further to the kitchen. This is a problem because I’m totally exposed to the rest of the house. If I continue to walk the 25’ towards the front door I’ll pass a spare bedroom on my left and then the hallway joins the greeting room at the front door. The framing at the end of the hallway was constructed as if a door would be installed which never was done. My plan is to install a door there. There will be no threshold so ½ to 1 inch gap at the floor. The flooring is ceramic tile.

With the new door, when I go to sleep at night I can lock it and our three bedrooms will be separated from the rest of the house, sealed off by the new door and another door leading to the basement. The only other reasonable access to the newly defined area would be through my master bedroom windows about 5’ off the ground a handy escape route. The new door would enable me to go straight to my daughters’ room without being exposed, I could retrieve her and retreat to the master bedroom closet and wait for Johnny law, or escape out the window. The Master bedroom door and closet door are hollow wood doors without deadbolts (basically useless). If I retreat to the closet (where the guns are) I would still consider the bedroom door the last line of defense. If they are coming through that they want to kill me. This is because one cannot go from the closet to the escape window without passing the area by the bedroom door. There is currently no way to exit the closet (however I have a unfinished basement and could make and escape hatch enabling one to drop down from the closet to the basement).

So what are your thoughts on this plan. My values place life above all. Even the life of a scumbag burglar or stupid neighborhood kid on drugs. Murder’s and rapists are different. I’m no hero and will not be confronting any intruders, take what you want I have insurance. I have two large dogs which would be in the secured space as well.

 

[BigO01]

Sounds like a well laid out home for defensive purposes after you get that extra door up . Until you do buy some of the plug in night lights for the great room and arrange the furniture so they are as exposed as can be .

This way if a break in occurs in the rest of the house an intruders night vison will be interupted by the lights making it less likely they would see you getting your daughter from her room at the end of a hallway and it will illuminate them for you to see if they are armed or not .

With two good sized dogs chances are your home will be passed over but with so many of todays home invasions you never know .

I would also look into some of that film they put on windows to prevent shattering for your bedroom and then make sure the drapes over them are sturdy enough to catch any broken glass just to be sure and keep them closed at night . As a matter of fact keeping drapes and curtains closed at night is always a good idea , leaving them open with lights on turns your home into a showcase strangers can look into and see what you own and the arrangement of the home .

I would also make sure the backyard has good motion lights that cover the whole yard , you wouldn't want to "escape" right into the arms of a half a dozen gang members waiting outside .

 

[harleysilo]

I'll need to research the window film. We do sleep with the blinds up no curtains and tv on and I'm well aware someone could look right in, from across the yard.

I installed four of these replacement outlets with lights. Basically what was two outlets becomes one outlet and an LED light. Two are in the hallway, one out in the front door area and one in the kitchen area. I can walk from my bedroom to the frig and not turn on any lights. I think they are supposed to last for 15,000 hours and they only turn on when it's dark.

 

[matt g]

If your neighborhood is that bad, why not just move?

 

[harleysilo]

If your neighborhood is that bad, why not just move?

My neighborhood isn't bad at all. I've left the garage door open and doors unlocked all night so many times I can't count....but I shouldn't. Better safe than sorry and for the cost of one more door why not amiright? Maybe it's the giant stupid ARE YOU PREPARED? sign at the top of the page which is getting annoying causing me to think this way......

 

[matt g]

Generally, armor and fortification are put in place to meet the application. I don't see the need for what you're doing if you live in an average suburban neighborhood.

Like Robo said in the other thread, a well placed boot heel will open most doors without resistance. For those that it won't a sledge or pry bar will. It's not uncommon for a burglar to carry either of these tools. Also, rapists usually make up rape kits that contain tools for B&E which are usually much better thought out than a burglar's kit.

I'm just sayin'...

 

[KellyTTE]

Weapon light (some of the new LED versions are 120+ lumens).
Training. Training. Training. If you have access or can access a shoot house to learn real room clearing, all the better.
Training.
Did I mention training?

Fortifications are nice, but anyone with a crowbar or a post ram can defeat even a steel door in seconds. Either you're mentally prepared to go the distance or your not. The general consensus is that if you look deep down inside you'll know if you're that 1% that can pull the trigger when the time comes. I strongly suggest that you read Col Grossman's 'On Killing' as well.

 

[cbw]

Your house sounds secure enough, except for the ability to look into the windows. Does your family have a plan? It sounds like you have an idea but if all of you do not know what to do then it's useless. Dogs are the best wake up tool available. I'm all for saving life too, my families and if you do not belong in my house, then you have made one of the worse choices in your life. No-one has the right to break into someones home, period! Especially in the middle of the night. I don't know if you have ever had any "close" calls or actually had anyone break in , but it changes you. Your whole thought process changes and you feel violated even if you were not physically touched. I'm a large mean looking MF so in the daylight I have very rarely had anyone jack with me, oh yeah I've had my clock cleaned a few times by some people, but even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every now and then. Rethink what's important to you, cause at night no-one knows or cares who or what you are, they are coming in to get your stuff, or you or both and doors are not the most common method of entry,windows are, most homes have plenty of them. Insurance is great, we all most likely have it, look around, I bet you have some things that you could never replace, let alone your family. Bottom line- if they want in they are coming in.....

 

[harleysilo]

the current plan is to get in master closet wait for police all the while armed and ready to shoot anyone that comes in the bedroom.

Other than curtains to block looking into the windows, the film might help but it would seem a sharp knife could render it useless, not to mention youcan pry up a window. Easiest acces to my house is you hop the 5' privacy fence, go up to the deck and then either kick in a door or smash a window. At this point I'm up, armed and getting my daughter. If you are coming after us then you have one steel door to bust through,and then you have to pick a room. It has a steel door to, so you must kick it in. At this point I'm in fear for my life and I shoot you or I escape through the window


We also have the castle doctrine law in Ga.

 

[MichaelG]

I suggest installing deadbolts, and get rid of the "hollow doors."


As far as I can tell, burglars MAINLY go after the larger houses, and will overlook trailors/double wides if there are bigger homes near. That is why I have a double-wide with 3 dogs. All doors have deadbolts and the windows are high off the ground.

 

[MichaelG]

the current plan is to get in master closet wait for police all the while armed and ready to shoot anyone that comes in the bedroom.

Other than curtains to block looking into the windows, the film might help but it would seem a sharp knife could render it useless, not to mention youcan pry up a window. Easiest acces to my house is you hop the 5' privacy fence, go up to the deck and then either kick in a door or smash a window. At this point I'm up, armed and getting my daughter. If you are coming after us then you have one steel door to bust through,and then you have to pick a room. It has a steel door to, so you must kick it in. At this point I'm in fear for my life and I shoot you or I escape through the window.

The window film, if I am not mistaken, if put on the inside of the window directly on the glass. A knife wouldn't get to it from the outside.

 

[harleysilo]

I figured once you smased you could force your knife right through to cut it.

I live in a 250 home subdivision. Acre or larger lots. , no sidewalks or street lights very dark. I live on a corner lot, the only cars that drive past are going into the culdesac behind us. Only one way out of the subdivision as we are surrounded by a farm and small river. I would be very surprised if our house was targeted.

 

[harleysilo]

Maybe some back ground is in order. We moved from a transitional neighborhood into a normal one. At our old one there were two armed robberies in daylight, and many night time burglaries. We lived there 5 years, with 3 large barking dogs and had no problems. I did have a weapon during that time.

We moved and started to fix up the house we bought (a forclosure) (which needed a lot of work, new roof, basement leaked, floor joist sagging all over the place etc. etc.) We did have new windows and new AC/ furnance. I totally gutted and re did our kitchen. Left to do is the tile floor.

During this process anything that needs to be fixed or replaced is reevaluated. So the door leading to the garage had a boot mark in it, I needed to replace it. It was a hollow door so I could have just bought that, but I decided a steel one would work better (and be up to code). The door at the top of the stairs from the basement needed to be replaced too, i thought the same put a steel door there and it will be more secure. More secure mind you, not un kickdown able etc.


Why was I bothering at all to do that, well the things I saw in the old neighborhood got me thinking. That neighborhood went bad in 5 years, a certain type of illegal people bought houses there and would move in 15 people and 6 cars. CRAZY.It could happen anywhere and we want to stay here.

So then the wife wanted a doggie door installed in the basement for the dogs to be able to go outside during the day why we were gone. Well hell thats a wide open door right into our basement so I build this contraption....a solid wood door I can close and lock and unlock and open from upstairs.

Upstairs mechanism to open lock etc. the dog door...

However the basement is still and easy target but you would have to walk up out of the basement than beat this door down to get into the house. Only link to basement.

 

[harleysilo]

Now the back of the house is an easy target with two door and a window right there on the deck....

Not much I can do about it. So if they are coming in they are coming in here.


Without and additional door here installed in the below picture.....

They have direct access to all three bedroom. I think causing that to be a choke point, a few second delay, giving me time to get everyone in the bedroom would be a decent idea. At least better than current setup where they can break a window and run back to the bedrooms as I'm trying to get my daughter.

I'm currently finishing staining a new solid wood double door (no sidelights, no peephole)for the front door and replacing the one you see in picture with glass surrounds.

How likely is any of this anyway? The break a door or window and the dogs go nuts and police get called. They still come into the house they are stupid but...why are they here? To rob well start taking it, to murder well then kick down the door, find the room I'm in, kick that door down and get your *** shot.

 

[harleysilo]

Speaking of doors they are looking good, few more coats of the old Tung oil and some sanding.....

Those should be an improvement over this.....

both function now the space can be 5' vs 3' for moving **** in, and nobody can see in and no glass....

 

[BigO01]

Interesting developments here with the pictures and harleysilo making statements like this

We do sleep with the blinds up no curtains and tv on and I'm well aware someone could look right in, from across the yard.

If you're well aware this is a tactical no no why the hell do you keep doing it ? Is your daughters room just as visible for strangers in the middle of the night ?

You ask "How likely is any of this anyway?" but no one can predict that , not even Police , criminologists and the slew of people who have worked with criminals all their lives .

How likely is it you could walk into a Casino with $5 and come out a Millionaire ? Not very but it does happen from time to time .

With the pictures the real truth of your homes security becomes apparent and frankly it isn't good .

While I can't with any authority say Matt is wrong when he says it isn't uncommon to find a criminal with a "Kit" I have never spoken to a cop or seen a News report of them with one as most are simple opportunists and from those pics with windows and glass everywhere you are giving them tons of opportunity . You have a back porch with 2 doors mostly glass and 2 windows and right next to them you so nicely provide them with a Propane tank and a small table to pick up and throw through them .

Then you have a major no no with a doggie door , can't you train the dogs to wait till the evening when you get home to hold it ? Put paper down in the basement floor and deal with them using it if they have to ? Take them out before you leave in the mornings and remove all sources of food and water till you get home .

If they aren't trained as guard dogs then they're typical dogs and probably go out and play in the yard when you're away , first I don't want my dogs to have a chance to interact with strangers in a positive way by being fed or petted which can be developed with the present situation . The doggie door is a double edged sword , if the basement has windows on the sides a person could see if the dogs are in the yard , smash a window jump in and lock the dogs in the yard and never worry about them while ransacking your home .

You seem a bit self defeating when you say things like windows can be pried up , sure they can but for a few bucks and the use of a drill you can stop that , drill a hole in both sides of the frame above the closed window and push in a metal pin or dowel problem solved .

A super ninja team hell bent on killing you at all costs will succeed but you wont be running into them , your average burglar is a dope fiend and just wants money and to get in and out in 5 minutes or less while not making any noise . Your average Killer takes advantage of the idiosyncrasies people have , they ask to use your phone or bathroom , if you've seen a lost pet or they present them selves as utilitiy worker and bang people open the doors and actually invite them in .

People need to make many many fundemental changes in life to be safe in todays world vs the 1950's the biggest probelm is most of them are between a persons ears and that's the hardest change to make .

You don't need to turn into a paranoid recluse to be safe but you and the wife need to make changes with leaving doors unlocked and blinds up all night long , heck chances are you get up and go to work and leave those blinds completely up while you're gone all day . If you shut your bedroom door as you leave you've just given a criminal one room that the dogs can't get in and it is also the room where most people keep their valuables like guns and jewlery to enter at .

Just like a car "Accident" you may not be at fault but that doesn't mean by paying attention to whats going on and using your head you can't avoid or greatly lessen the chances of being a serious crime victim .

Here is some information on the security film I suggest , watch the videos they are very helpful .

http://www.diywindowsecurity.com/

 

[harleysilo]

Interesting developments here with the pictures and harleysilo making statements like this



If you're well aware this is a tactical no no why the hell do you keep doing it ? Is your daughters room just as visible for strangers in the middle of the night ?

You ask "How likely is any of this anyway?" but no one can predict that , not even Police , criminologists and the slew of people who have worked with criminals all their lives .

How likely is it you could walk into a Casino with $5 and come out a Millionaire ? Not very but it does happen from time to time .

With the pictures the real truth of your homes security becomes apparent and frankly it isn't good .

While I can't with any authority say Matt is wrong when he says it isn't uncommon to find a criminal with a "Kit" I have never spoken to a cop or seen a News report of them with one as most are simple opportunists and from those pics with windows and glass everywhere you are giving them tons of opportunity . You have a back porch with 2 doors mostly glass and 2 windows and right next to them you so nicely provide them with a Propane tank and a small table to pick up and throw through them .

Then you have a major no no with a doggie door , can't you train the dogs to wait till the evening when you get home to hold it ? Put paper down in the basement floor and deal with them using it if they have to ? Take them out before you leave in the mornings and remove all sources of food and water till you get home .

If they aren't trained as guard dogs then they're typical dogs and probably go out and play in the yard when you're away , first I don't want my dogs to have a chance to interact with strangers in a positive way by being fed or petted which can be developed with the present situation . The doggie door is a double edged sword , if the basement has windows on the sides a person could see if the dogs are in the yard , smash a window jump in and lock the dogs in the yard and never worry about them while ransacking your home .

You seem a bit self defeating when you say things like windows can be pried up , sure they can but for a few bucks and the use of a drill you can stop that , drill a hole in both sides of the frame above the closed window and push in a metal pin or dowel problem solved .

A super ninja team hell bent on killing you at all costs will succeed but you wont be running into them , your average burglar is a dope fiend and just wants money and to get in and out in 5 minutes or less while not making any noise . Your average Killer takes advantage of the idiosyncrasies people have , they ask to use your phone or bathroom , if you've seen a lost pet or they present them selves as utilitiy worker and bang people open the doors and actually invite them in .

People need to make many many fundemental changes in life to be safe in todays world vs the 1950's the biggest probelm is most of them are between a persons ears and that's the hardest change to make .

You don't need to turn into a paranoid recluse to be safe but you and the wife need to make changes with leaving doors unlocked and blinds up all night long , heck chances are you get up and go to work and leave those blinds completely up while you're gone all day . If you shut your bedroom door as you leave you've just given a criminal one room that the dogs can't get in and it is also the room where most people keep their valuables like guns and jewlery to enter at .

Just like a car "Accident" you may not be at fault but that doesn't mean by paying attention to whats going on and using your head you can't avoid or greatly lessen the chances of being a serious crime victim .

Here is some information on the security film I suggest , watch the videos they are very helpful .

http://www.diywindowsecurity.com/

You are right there is no good reason for us to sleep with the blinds open. We keep the blinds up mostly on the backyard side of the house cause we like to look outside. You would have to be trespassing to see in the windows.

Thanks for the suggestion to drill the windows, I'd forgotten about that option. The window frames are plastic so I'll need to figure out where the best location is.

The table on the back deck is heavy. It won't be thrown through anything. Maybe rolled into a glass door. The propane tank does need to me moved back to the front yard where it was previously stored. However, there are many other objects that could be thrown into a window. On that deck there are 6 chairs and a table, not to mention a grill and it's propane tank. Surely you are not suggesting and empty deck? There are some stacked bricks out side the backyard fence by the gate, I should remove those too. As well as the concrete paver walkway, all you have to do is bend down to pick up one of those and heave ho broken window. Bottom line is if someone wants to smash a window, they will try, i believe you are saying just don't give them anything to try it with, Good point.

I didn't design this house, but I did buy it. I'm actually going to have to rebuild the deck, but the new design will still have 3 windows and 2 glass doors easily accessible. I had considered removing the french doors on the left and returning it to just a wall (for non-security resasons), but there would still be 3 windows and 1 door.....

The security film seems like a great idea that is too good to be true. If it still allows the glass to fracture, at one of those fracture lines couldn't you push a knife right through?

 

[Mark F]

Harleysilo,

It appears that you have a good plan, but sometimes the best-layed plans don't do their job as intended. All of those things you've done so far, are for your own piece of mind. If a perp wants in, the perp will get in, plain & simple. The REAL objective is to make your dwelling LESS invitable than your neighbors. 99% of home invasions are done when you least expect it, and not likely as you had describbed...

We had a case reciently where a lady just answered her doorbell. The perp shot the woman in the chest when the door opened and they entered. Her husband was also shot while attempting to locate his gun. The childeren hid and were saved by a good plan layed out by the parents. The home was ransaked for money and credit cards.

They DIDN'T expect the perps to ring the doorbell, they DIDN't expect them to shoot them and walk in. Their home had a state-of-the-art alarm system, bars on the windows, and double deadbolts on the doors.

ALL the planning and preparation in the world won't replace "SITUATION AWARENESS". If the woman would not have opened her door without LOOKING and INQUIRING first, they would probably be alive today. If nothing else it would have bought them a little more time to evade.

Remember, making your home LESS invitable than your neighbors is the key. Keeping shrubs lower than the window sills, and no visible obstructions near doors, good automatic lighting, your dogs heard and possibly seen. The little things you do to the exterior of your home will make the difference.

 

[Quasi]

I've been making some preparations in this area as well. Although I live in a decent enough suburban neighborhood, if the economic worst case scenario develops, I think it's prudent to think about this stuff.

Just last week I had all of my lower level windows replaced with tempered, shatterproof glass. It was kinda pricey, but my old windows were single-pane and I should hopefully eventually get the cost back in energy savings. In addition to two dogs and a security system, I've started adding wireless IP cameras that let me see who is at the door, in the driveway, or behind the house.

The next big project is the front and back exterior doors, which look a lot like harleysilo's -- lots of glass, so an easy way in for a burglar, as well as easy for someone to peer in. I need to replace those with something more secure, but still maintain good aesthetics for the wife.

 

[Quasi]

Those should be an improvement over this.....

both function now the space can be 5' vs 3' for moving **** in, and nobody can see in and no glass....

My front door looks almost identical. What did you do about the sidelight windows?