Spinoff to robbery post

I remember seeing an Oprah show a few years back on robbery "proofing" your home. It had a lot of quick, cheap ways to try to keep the invaders at bay. Some of the things I remember.

1. Buy the BIGGEST pair of USED men's workboots you can find (we are talking Paul Bunyan). Make sure they are good and muddy and leave them out by the door.
You can also do the same thing with a big dog leash/bone even if you don't have one.

2. Alarms- the cops usually don't get there in time. Studies have shown this. It's the SOUND that usually makes the burgulars run away. They sell cheap individual window alarms at Home Depot in multi packs and one side sticks on the moulding and the other on the window... they look like the regular alarms. Trust me, they are obnoxious sounding... one fell off my window in the middle of the night and scared the @#$% out of me!

3. Always put your ladders away- never leave one outside in the yard or leaning up against your shed.

4. Always close your windows even if you are just going down the block.

5. Don't stop your mail/newspaper- ask a trusted friendly neighbor to collect it for you. The less people know you are away the better.

Does anyone have anything else?

Re: Spinoff to robbery post

How bout a big "BEWARE OF DOG" sign?

I remember George Carlin once said... its a little funny but true... put a sign out there "PITBULL WITH AIDS LIVES HERE".

That might scare away some crooks.

Re: Spinoff to robbery post

Also how about a ton of motion sensing lights for your front and back yard? They might run if a ton of bright floodlights hits them when they approach the house.

Re: Spinoff to robbery post

We have a light in our living room on a timer that goes on and off on the same schedule when we are home or away. We hope that it makes it harder for someone who is watching the house to figure out if we are really home or not.

And when we go away, we leave a car parked in the driveway, not the garage so that it looks like we are home.

Re: Spinoff to robbery post

Great suggestions.

I would also suggest you being friendly with your neighbors. You don't realize how beneficial that is. They are your eyes and ears when you are not at home.

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Oh yeah, I forgot about the motion lights.

Beware of Dog Sign is a good one too.

Re: Spinoff to robbery post

Found out my new next door neighbor is a Retired Cop

So that will help
Scott

Re: Spinoff to robbery post

The man that owned the house we bought was an ex-marine, and ex-cop.

We have an alarm, motion lights in the backyard, bars on the basment windows , ADT stickers everywhere, the OSE basement door has 5 locks on it, plus he put electrical tape on the glass to look like an alarm before they had one I guess.

He was a bit paraniod I think

Re: Spinoff to robbery post

Thanks Theresa! Awesome tips!


It makes me grateful that our dog likes to bark whenever someone comes to the house- even the mailman- day after day!

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My next door neighbor is a city cop, so that made me feel better.

I grew up in Levittown so the news yesterday was very scary to me, especially since my mom and dad still live there and are getting older and more frail. I'd hate more than I can say for something like this to happen to them.

It's reminded me too, that this can happen anywhere- I live up in the "sticks" now (where I've seen more than one person leave the car running while getting coffee, pizza, etc.) and I can't believe how careless I've become- like if DH is out and I want to take a walk, I've been leaving the back door unlocked. I won't do that anymore.

Re: Spinoff to robbery post

What a great post. Thank you for posting these tips everyone!

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We have lights up the driveway and the motion light. I love the motion light. Hubby always leaves the light over the stove on and the living room light on for me.

We also put tint on our small windows by the door. We have 2 skinny long windows next to the front door and you could see directly inside so we put this hazy looking tint so you cant see in (or out. Looks like it's cloudy outside).

All our windows and sliding doors have the security locks on them that even from the inside I still cant open the darn window or door.

I just hate driving up my block as their are 4 houses under construction and only one other person across the street and no street lights. The sensor light is the best invention.