Does anyone have good recommendation for security for their homes including cars? We were robbed in 2009 and have cameras now but would like to do more. The City of Spokane has eliminated their property crimes unit and stolen vehicle units due to lack of funds. Those crimes are going to skyrocket here and we would like more security. There are a lot of scams out there and we would like to avoid getting caught up in one. Got any suggestions?

Big mean dog. That works for the house. I don't know about the cars. Fortunately I live in a town that does not have much crime.

We had a German shepherd who slept right through burglars removing all my dh's Craftsman tools from the garage!

Now we are in a different house and have a home security system. We set the alarm when we leave, disarm when we get home. It actually saved my bacon a couple of weeks ago when I left a pot cooking on the stove; fire alarm went off, and the home security company called me to determine if they needed to send a fire truck, plus talked me through turning off the alarm. Ours is a local company with a good reputation.

keep things locked and valuables out of sight.,

Home security system or just a sign in the yard that says you have a home security system. You can buy the yard signs and some decals for the windows. I love the fact that we have an alarm though. DH is often gone and I feel secure with it. We don't park our cars on the street so I can't help with that.

Just the basics for security - don't keep valuables or anything visible in the car, make sure the exterior of your house is well-lighted on all exposed sides, get an alarm system AND TEST IT frequently (to prove to anyone lurking that you do, in fact, have more than a sign you can get on eBay), make sure it isn't too easy to get into your windows (ex. big bushes in front of them can hide a person, and a trellis next to an upstairs window, etc.)...I think there are a lot of books and websites about this, actually.

A large dog may not deter all robbers, but it will deter some by making your house look less appealing than the house next door that doesn't have a dog.

Mainly I'd say concentrate on your personal safety and trust your insurance company to worry about the rest. They might even have resources to help make your home less attractive to burglars.

FYI= cable company offer deals......

Stats prove a big barking dog is the best defense, and a shotgun. Theres something about the sound of both of those that just make bad guys run away.

My sisters got my 87 year old Mom a gadget that sounds like a BIG dog barking. She can turn it off or on whenever she needs to. Last year some man cut the window screen on her back deck right outside her bedroom window. She hear it and thought it was a cat scratching. She saw man's shadow and told him he'd better get away- that the police were on the way. Lived by herself then but not now. He also had cut the bathroom screen.

I will look into the barking dog sound; husband just got me a 380 handgun and we go practicing tomorrow. I already know how to use the shotgun we keep around the house. Oh, and I already got my gun permit. Thank you so much.

I was told back in the late 60's by an ex-con friend of a neighbor that my small dog scared burglers worse than anything. They hear everything and don't mind telling you at all hours of the night and day....and most apt to be house dogs. Large dogs are usually outside dogs and they can take care of them for the price of a steak.

A baseball bat is a great persuader too. 15 yrs ago, I was told by a deputy sheriff that I'd go to prison if I shot someone thru my front door but I could beat their heads to a bloody pulp with a baseball bat if they crawled in a window. (if they live thru it, they can sue and usually win for some strange reason) Never have had to test that theory and I can now use a gun here in FL to protect me and mine. It's a crazy world out there.

Now I'm thinking an NRA sticker in the window might be helpful. LOL

Think about ways to make someone pick another house, in addition to "arming" yourself (in any number of ways) in case your deterrents don't work. An ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure!

When we got our system the sales person told us his neighborhood had lots of break ins . None of the houses with the security signs and security window decals got broke into only the houses without. Security systems such as ADT are a good idea and they do notify police right away. Hope you find a good one.

I saw this sign posted at a business....
"This Property is guarded by a man with a shot gun three days a week. You guess which three"

I'd like to buy that sign!!!!

I live in an apt and feel fairly safe. A few weeks ago I was on the phone talking with one of my daughters and expecting another daughter to come over at any moment.....heard a knock at the door and answered without checking "peephole".....standing there on a HOT and Humid August evening was a dude with a black hoodie and a hat on.....when I opened the door he said something....I told my daughter on the phone that I didn't know who it was but to call the police ! The guy took off running.....later heard that a former tenant in that apt used to sell "stuff".....I've since changed apts and hopefully this one is drug safe !

Yesterday, 10/8, I had an incident with my bank account that is worth noting. I went to grocer and debit card was denied...wow that is not a good feeling. After several tries it was still denied. Left groceries there and raced home to computer....yep, showed I had money in my account. Called bank and learned that their "Fraud" dept had pretty much shut down all transactions on my account because of a couple of "suspicious" charges....like a SIXTY NINE CENT charge in Brazil and a $33 charge from TN....all on the same day. Since I live in GA it was most unlikely that I had been to Brazil AND TN on the same day ! Went to bank, got a replacement Debit card and am able to access funds. Was looking at statement on line later in the day, once my heart settled down, and saw another charge that should be disputed also, will do that on Tuesday when the banks open after the holiday.

You just can't be too careful......sad to say.

Overall vigilance is a good way to look at home security. Stop locks for windows that prevent them from being opened more than a couple of inches, motion-sensor lights (I even have a motion sensor hooked up to a light in an extra 2nd floor bedroom), keeping doors locked, not keeping valuables in plain view. Police will tell you that thieves look for an easy target; don't make it easy for them, and they will move on.

I use my home security system all the time plus have the CWP and carry a gun that I'm not afraid to use.

We live part time in rural Wisconsin. We have three "spy phones". They have a sensor on them and if someone walks past it, it will call you or the number you put into the memory. A speaker stays on for 30 to 60 seconds so that you can hear what is going on.

Last month we got a call and could hear footsteps. We called the sheriff's office and they sent 3 squads out only to discover our neighbors (who have a key) removing a downed tree. Our neighbors forgot to call us and tell us that they would be working in the yard.

At least we know it works. Very cheap. Phones are about $60.00.

Wasp spray. Just read about it. Keep by door and by bed. Sprayed in the eyes is a real deterrent.

My choice is a dog(s) and a 12 gauge. My large dogs are also house dogs, not outside dogs.

You can do all of the things already recommended, but the BEST defense is.....nosy neighbors. Yup....nosy neighbors works every time.

We have a security system and 2 large barking dogs. They are inside dogs - someone suggested that large dogs are outside dogs - not in THIS house!

The alarm only went off one time. My boys were still just toddlers, and I took them when I went on an errand. My husband got a call that the alarm was going off and came home to find policemen surrounding the house with guns drawn. Apparently a door was not fully latched and had blown open setting the alarm off. But a policeman entered the house, seen the state of a toddler-occupied home and figured it had been ransacked! And were assuming someone might still be inside! Boy was I embarrassed, but I figured that the policeman didn't have kids or he would have recognized the signs of kids and not intruders. I WAS glad to know that the system and response worked the way it was supposed to!

My Aunt had every door and window in their house and garage wired -silent alarm to local PD and the most deafening sirens that went off at the house suppose to be burglar proof.They were only gone 90min.The house was nearly empty and they even took the full size van and flat trailer all while the sirens were blaring and before PD showed up. If they want in they will get in.The officers told them to save their money and keep their insurance paid and the best defense is a nosy neighbor.

I've heard small dogs over large dogs. They have more of a tendecy (sp ?) to bite.

A couple of Rotwielers will do the trick. I have two big boys and every one is afraid of them. Although they are just a couple of licking and loving boys.

Yeah thats my choice4 big dogs who will eat you if you touch me and several guns I'm not afraid to use.

:twisted: :evil:

They are SOOOO cute!!!! Love them daily. I just lost my beloved 4 legged child (German Shepard) a week ago. He had a massive heart attack and was gone in less than 5 minutes. I still haven't stopped crying.

a BIG DOG, and don't let it get friendly with anybody but family.

Last thing you need in a watch dog is one of the robbers to be petting and loving on it while his co-horts are carting off you valuables.

ADT does an awesome job

I'm so sorry about your beloved. At least he didn't suffer very long. ((((hugs)))), It is very hard to lose your furbabies, they are sometimes more family then humans.
I have loved and lost several. I still think about them and everone remembers them. Because I believe dogs need to be socialized. They will protect you because you are thier pack leader. If they are not socialized they will bite out of fear, not good. There will be another furbaby coming your way when it finds you, you will be happy to have it.
Don't worry my babies don't even know they are dogs, LOL

True! I remember when we first moved to this house I was out in the back yard with the dogs, my husband wasn't home and it was already dark. Some guy showed up drunk (expecting the previous homeowners I found out later) and before he could even get close to me the next door neighbor was out with his baseball bat! Between the neighbor and my dog biting the guy on the boot, the drunk left pretty quickly.

We learned a) our business would always be everywhere, and b) I had a friend already. :)

DO NOT do this. A dangerous dog is dangerous for everyone, family or not. A big cuddly dog will do the same job as an aggressive one of making a robber think twice about hitting your house. If robbers decide to come in anyway they're prepared to kill it, and WILL kill it if it goes after them.

We have ADT for a security system. Everything is wired, even the two sheds (his and hers). Our cars and van are behind a locked gate in the driveway. We're in a rural area but that doesn't mean all thieves live in the city. We've been burglarized twice....after the first time we put in the ADT system (in '95). After my husband's tools were stolen from his van 2 years ago we extended the fence and added the gate to enclose most of the driveway. No one gets thru the gate without the magic code. The vehicles also have security systems and mine operates the house alarm so I can arm/disarm it from inside the car. Bryn (see avatar) makes friends with everyone. She's no deterrent to a stranger.
BTW - I really resent having to lock down my home this way.

We now have a large black gate on our driveway preventing anyone from driving down unless we want them. It has given us a little more protection. It bothers me that the City of Spokane would eliminate their vehicles theft unit and property crime unit because of lack of funds. They should realize that it would just increase crime, increase the jails (which are already at maximum capacity). They should be doing something different.....but in these times of recession, I guess it is up to the individual person to just protect themselves more.

big mean dog, they usually hear a dog and run. security motion lights work for us too.
I think I heard you are to keep your car keys on your night stand and set off the alarm if you hear someone around out side.

I once had a very nice loving black lab, everyone loved her. She past a a few yrs back. My point being when danger was near like one time someone came to the door pretending to be police officer, she wouldn't quit growling. Thanks to her something bad could of happened and didn't.

Usually burglars are watching the house for a while before they attempt anything. If you have a barking sound but there is no dog in sight either being walked or let out into the backyard, they are not fooled by it. I am very observant to everything that goes on around my property. I once got home and noticed that the plants on one side of the house were walked on, something my kids would never dare do and a chair that was on one side of the house was moved to the other house where there was an open window. It seemed to me that someone was taking their first steps towards robing us. We had a fixed schedule with the kids in school and a very predictable school bus schedule and us at work, so the timing was not a problem. But I noticed them before they were able to assess the place. The next day I installed ADT. I kept my windows closed and installed it on all 4 doors leading to the outside and the garage. They gave me stickers for the windows. They also gave me a big sign to put in the yard but I didn't display it because that tells them that there is something i here I don't want you to have. It comes with a 24 hour battery, so it works even if the power is out and connected to a land phone line, again, in case of a power outage it still works. I owned the house for 4 years after that and never again was anybody in my property. We did tested how long it took them to respond and within seconds they were on the phone with us at the house and all our cell phones. It was $42 a month and $99 for equipment and installation, an excellent price for peace of mind.

Agree. Plus not everyone that comes to your house is there to rob you. I had a very aggressive dog (not my intentions, but she was naturally aggressive) and almost took down the person delivering propane. I had to put her down or risk being sued if she hurt someone.

Home security system and a dog.