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bisley
Senior MemberPosts: 10,798 Senior Member
Home Security Suggestions

I've lived here for 28 years, with zero home security issues. I'm five miles from town and my house is at the end of a 700' gravel drive with only one entrance/exit from a state highway that is only busy during rush hours, with people commuting between small towns to the medium size town, five miles from me. My house is not visible from the highway, but is visible from five other residences, occupied by good neighbors that I know...until recently.
The two nearest houses were occupied by two older sisters that finally had to sell out and move off to live with relatives, due to advanced age, and the houses have now sold to two families (I think). They keep to themselves and keep odd hours that don't coincide with our schedule, so I have not met them, other than to wave occasionally when we see each other coming and going. My wife has managed to visit with one of the women, and her first impression was that they seem like nice folks.
But, there is an early teen boy that either lives or visits at one of the places, that has been seen wandering around some of the neighbor's places, supposedly looking for a dog, or a chicken, depending on which neighbor you talk to. Also, there was a recent pilfering incident, in which one neighbor discovered his garage had been entered and his vehicle entered. Things were shuffled about, but he found nothing missing and no signs of forced entry. He thinks it is remotely possible that the garage door was left unlocked, but the possibility also exists that the side door could have been opened with a credit card, since it had a simple, inexpensive lock set.
Anyway, it's an odd situation for a normally very quiet neighborhood, and it only started when these new folks moved in. They may be perfectly fine folks, and I'm going with that assumption as long as there is no evidence to the contrary. But, I'm also thinking about taking a few more very basic precautions, just in case.
I've thought about putting a couple of trail cameras up, just to see if there is any snooping going on. If they pick up anybody wandering around on my place, or more likely, if the cameras disappear, I'll know there is a problem that needs attention. Or, I'm also thinking that I might make a small investment in some low-end security cameras, with maybe a couple of dummy cameras thrown into the mix.
I've never worried about this before now, so I'm wide open for suggestions.
The two nearest houses were occupied by two older sisters that finally had to sell out and move off to live with relatives, due to advanced age, and the houses have now sold to two families (I think). They keep to themselves and keep odd hours that don't coincide with our schedule, so I have not met them, other than to wave occasionally when we see each other coming and going. My wife has managed to visit with one of the women, and her first impression was that they seem like nice folks.
But, there is an early teen boy that either lives or visits at one of the places, that has been seen wandering around some of the neighbor's places, supposedly looking for a dog, or a chicken, depending on which neighbor you talk to. Also, there was a recent pilfering incident, in which one neighbor discovered his garage had been entered and his vehicle entered. Things were shuffled about, but he found nothing missing and no signs of forced entry. He thinks it is remotely possible that the garage door was left unlocked, but the possibility also exists that the side door could have been opened with a credit card, since it had a simple, inexpensive lock set.
Anyway, it's an odd situation for a normally very quiet neighborhood, and it only started when these new folks moved in. They may be perfectly fine folks, and I'm going with that assumption as long as there is no evidence to the contrary. But, I'm also thinking about taking a few more very basic precautions, just in case.
I've thought about putting a couple of trail cameras up, just to see if there is any snooping going on. If they pick up anybody wandering around on my place, or more likely, if the cameras disappear, I'll know there is a problem that needs attention. Or, I'm also thinking that I might make a small investment in some low-end security cameras, with maybe a couple of dummy cameras thrown into the mix.
I've never worried about this before now, so I'm wide open for suggestions.
Replies
Recoil is how you know primer ignition is complete.
big a$$ dog
I got broke into a week or so ago... same thing.. jimmied a lock..
make sure you leave stuff laying all over the place, so someone unfamiliar with the house is prone to trips and falls..
You are one of them.
I may decide to do the lights. I have always preferred a total 'blackout,' but the surprise of going to bright light from completely dark might work OK. Right now, though, I think I'd just like to find out if I really do have any snoopers (day or night) and if it is anyone I recognize.
I'm not really very shook up about this, yet, as I don't know the guy too well that had the pilfering incident, and he lives right on the highway, so it doesn't necessarily have to be the new neighbors.
I have enjoyed being 'pet-less' for the last few years, after a lifetime of caring for them, but if I seriously start to have problems, I'd likely get a barker of some kind.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Defiant-500-Lumen-Twin-Solar-Outdoor-Motion-White-LED-Security-Light-2100W/203308469?N=bvn5#.UViKx1ei-RQ
Diesel truck air horn with a solenoid valve
Infra-red light beam trigger set chest-high so that varmints don't trip it
When it goes off, you can follow the brown trail right back to the trespasser's house!
Jerry
Look at a caucasian mountain shepherd. Nobody will ever come in your lawn again. Mail man, milk lady, in laws....
Recoil is how you know primer ignition is complete.
I've actually had that situation before, with a 90 lb. mixed blood bulldog. I was younger and more vigorous then, and didn't really mind all the interesting situations that arose from his imposing 'presence,' but once was enough. Even though he was well-mannered and obedient, too many of the wrong people were afraid of him.
Eventually, someone 'anti-freezed' him, probably the owner of the high-bred German Shepherd that jumped my fence to teach him a lesson, and left crippled for life.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4368616&SRCCODE=WEBGOOPA&cm_mmc_o=mH4CjC7BBTkwCjCV1-CjCE&gclid=COHbwcH4qbYCFQHznAodv3MAwg
― Douglas Adams
Carry On!
Gary
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:yikes:
Jerry