I am looking for low cost ways to secure my home from burglars. I can't afford a home security monitoring system like Brinks. I know there is some type of stick that you can get that goes under the door knob and to the floor. Do you know where I can buy one from or do you have any other suggestions for securing windows or doors?
By Onesummer
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I'm with Beccaj23 and her post, think about getting a dog, the bigger the better (and the shelters are full of them). When we bought our home a couple of years ago, I lost count of how many times in the first two weeks various people came banging on the front door trying to sell us homeowner's insurance, new AC systems, and, of course, home alarm systems.
And I can't tell you how many times the decibel count went up way over normal when our dog went to the front windows to "greet" these people. A friend of ours in law enforcement said that one of the biggest deterrents to a home break-in is the sound of a large barking dog.
Works for us! :)
Those bars can be purchased from some of what I refer to as "junk catalogs" that I get in the mail. However, deadbolt locks, and having windows so far off the ground that they can't be crawled into is good. I have also read articles saying people should plant low growing shrubs that have thorns on them underneath windows, I don't know that those bars would be that great, I have a hunch if enough force was put on the door the door the bar might give. If I had lots of expensive jewelry, and a lot of really expensive electronic equipment I would invest in an alarm system. I have a friend who has a small safe that she keeps her jewelry in. She has so much good jewelry that she can't wear it all at one time and a couple pieces that she would never be able to replace because they were her late Mother's. She also has insurance riders on all the jewelry too. Myself I don't have anything a burglar would want.
Timers on which you can adjust the time to switch appliance as lights, radios, TVs on and off might help when you are not home. An answering machine you can access from elsewhere might be of some use. You can call your own number, listen to your calls and return any or erase any so the machine will not sound full to an caller who is simply trying to find out if you are there.
Where I live there is a lot of problem with people entering occupied homes. Granted this usually because of carelessness of the occupant, but a person never knows.
You can put a screw in the window to screw the window shut. You do have to make sure you have a screwdriver handy in case you need to get out during a fire.
Redhatterb has some good advice. let me add this: if you are putting on windows bars or barricades make sure that you can still get out in event of an emergency such as a fire. When I lived in the city years ago not a month went by that you didn't read about someone trapped in their burning home behind burgler bars that they couldn't get open.
We were poor so our solution was to stack glass jars along the inside of windows. if someone broke in, the glass jars would get pushed off, break, and form a hazzard that the robber now has to get through. when stacking the jars we put colored beach glass in some of them and broken CDs in others to act as suncatchers.
Yes the lock you are referring to is called a "police lock", It uses a metal bar as a leverage device. We had one installed in a NYC apartment I lived is as a child. I suggest you Google "police locks" to get a list of locksmiths in your area who sells and/or installs them.
Someone told me many years ago when answering machines were getting popular to always leave your answering machine on do not cut it off anytime. This is because if you cut it on only when you leave your house it will not take long before a crook will realize that.
I have a personal alarm that is motion sensitive for use when I travel. Since it's also a flashlight I carried it on dark mornings when I needed to take the bus. The alarm button can be pressed if you feel threatened or the alarm can be set and hung on a door knob. After it's set, it won't go off for about 20 seconds so you don't have to worry about frightening everyone in the house, it's really loud!
This will only secure one portal to your house but you can also change your mind about where you want it. Some mail order stores carry them and you can also find them on the internet by searching "personal alarm."
The windows in the house we rent has the barrel type slide locks on them. Someone drilled holes in the window frame to fit the 'rod' part of the lock, then put the lock on as usual on the top front part of the window above the panes. The lock slides into the hole in the frame and you just push the tiny 'knob' down into the slot.
Plant climbing rose bushes in front of windows, both basement and accessible ones. Buy security stickers and lawn signs because they will think you have an alarm even if you don't. Buy a motion detector with a loud siren to cover vulnerable areas in the house. Put a very bright motion light outside because if triggered it will bring attention to that area.
Try this link to Improvements Catalog
www.improvementscatalog.com/
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