Small Things Homeowners Can Do To Frustrate Burglars/Attempts At Forced Entry To Their Home That Aren't UnsightlysteemCreated with Sketch.

in #homesteading6 years ago (edited)

In the United Kingdom the case of self defense is sometimes difficult to make. By law the use of force in a self defense situation has to be in proportion or in balance against the threat of force from the aggressor. In cases with home owners the use of force against an intruder can be used if the response can be proven to be instinctive or in proportion to threat of force against the aggressor/intruder. In short, it's grey and usually the decision to seek criminal repercussions against a home owner or victim defending themselves falls into the hands of the investigating officer and the Crown Prosecution Service. Of course a situation where we have to defend our homes is something we all want to avoid. In this write up I'm going to layout some small things every homeowner can do to make forcing entry into their property an incredibly frustrating experience for the most determined of home intruders.

Prevention Is Better Than A Cure:

Doors Frames: many of the forced entries in the UK are done through doors rather than the broken window scenario you see in films so often. Due to the fact that most door framings are held in by 4 1/2 inch screws that push through the pvc or wood framing and bite just under two inches into the masonry or wood surrounding the frame. By sinking full 7 inch masonry screws in place of these rather small and unreliable pieces of metal a door framing can have it's weigh yield increased by up to one ton. In short any attempts with a foot would just leave you jumping from a loud knock and the would be home intruder with a sore foot or shoulder.

Locks: I use to hear the phrase that a lock kept an honest man honest a lot when I was a kid, and it is true. We still always locked our front door before leaving and when we were home. Having said this if someone has the right bits of kit, patience, and know how, then turning a pin tumbler lock is relatively easy and quiet affair. The great news is that there are locks out there that are pretty much impossible to pick. Most PVC front doors have what you call a multi lock system whereby you pull the handle up and multiple points along the frame slide into place.

Though this is effective it has a vulnerability which is the pin tumbler lock.

To open this lock without a key is relatively easy for the practiced hand. No, a super spy isn't going to break into your house and to pick one of these you needn't necessarily have that kind of background. Just a lot of practice and a little determination. However there are locks you can buy and install that even the most skilled crook or locksmith would struggle to pick. Fitting a soft key lock isn't as expensive as you might think and definitely worth the extra cost. It can also be fitted to doors with multiple locking points thus increasing over all support of the door in the frame against any kicks or pry bar attempts at entry.

Windows:

Well, if you have a home with single pane glass and sash windows (many period properties have these) it can be pretty difficult to keep an unwanted intruder out as they are easy to bypass. You do have options of screwing them shut or placing a bar in the tracks making it difficult to open. For those that have double glazing pvc framed windows a great way to strengthen up the glass is to go the extra mile and invest in window strengthening film. This really increases the difficulty in breaking the glass and could buy you that heads up that you otherwise wouldn't have if someone was trying to force entry as they are going to have to make a lot of noise.

Motion Sensor Lights:

These items are great but using them appropriately isn't always done. Most set them at a height were every neighborhood cat triggers them and on a timer that is quick to switch off. Always test these things and be precise. Above all set your timer long. If the a crook is about and the lights do go on, you want the experience to be uncomfortable for him. And if you set the height correctly you won't take seeing them go on as just another stray cat and know you have a human height reason to look out the window to see who's in your garden.

Well guys that's it for now. I didn't include things like alarm systems or CCTV as I figured those items are common sense. I also wanted to focus on securing points of entry more than anything as a lot of us often overlook these small details. It's a topic I discuss often with neighbors as we have a pretty tight knit neighborhood watch scheme here, so I figured I'd share some of these basic insights with the Steemit community. Thanks for reading guys and Steem on.

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I'm thinking I might have gone a bit too far with the turrets and flamethrowers ;)

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Great tips! And developing a relationship with good neighbors, who watch out for each other is probably among the best security system there is.

Thank you for reading. I've always believed prevention is far better than a cure with sorts of things. Though these things are great, nothing beats good relationships with neighbors and a watchful community. Thank you for reading and Steem on. :)

I've never heard off a soft key lock. I'm gonna look into that. I have hurricane glass windows already. Very interesting read. Thanks for the advise. You can never be too safe.

Thank you for stopping by and reading. :)

I find a moat of burning fuel to be quite effective and it keeps you warm in winter. Downside is you have a high probability of burning your house down with you in it so your suggestions are probably much more sensible.

Ha ha. Agreed. Thank you for reading and stopping by. :)

Yes, people have no idea that their locks basically suck and they are easy to pick.
I am doing a series on this topic, come on by and check it out and we can learn from each other and help others learn too.
https://steemit.com/security/@mr-easyfix/lock-picking-series-number-1-why-you-want-to-learn-about-lock-picking

MrEasyFix_bottom_thank_you.gif

Thank you for reading and heading over to your blog now. :)

Thanks, it's people like us who have to wake people up!

That's some pretty balanced insight. Ta matey.

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