Home security is an important part of being prepared, but many of us cannot afford expensive security systems or have space to accommodate a large dog or two. Fortunately, there are multiple ways to make your home and property safer and most cost very little money.
image by CarbonNYC
One of the first things I did as a beginning prepper was do a complete, 360 degree scan of our home and property. I tend to be pretty methodical, so it made sense to begin at one corner of our property, walk around the perimeter, and make notes of ways we could “harden” our home. I kept the Castle Concept in mind: think about how the security features of a castle might apply to your home. Higher walls/fences around the backyard? Possibly. A moat with alligators? Probably not.
So, my security survey went something like this. First, I started at the west corner of our property and contemplated the side gate that opens into our back yard. I thought, “What could we do to make this more secure?” My short list of solutions included replacing the gate with something sturdier with more mass, along with a heavy duty lock. I also thought of making sure no smaller objects are placed against the gate that might provide a step-stool for an intruder.
Once past the side gate, I scanned the side yard. What could be done to “harden” the windows? How could we make our backyard look less inviting? Perhaps planting a few cactus against the side fence would be a good idea. What could we do to discourage someone from hopping over our back wall? I continued with my security scan all the way around the backyard and then did the same type of survey with the house itself, going from room to room.
Police departments offer free information for citizens who want to make their homes or apartments more secure. Be methodical, make lists, and set priorities. With a 360 degree scan, you”ll soon know exactly how to make your home as secure as it can be.
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Yes, indeed. Among the low-tech strategies is putting a BIG dog bowl and BIG sterilized dog bone in the backyard, a Beware of Dog sign on the gate and some kind of "we have a VERY BIG DOG doormat at the back and front doors."
Whether or not you have a dog. If you have a dog, also put a "Fireman – Please Save Our Dog" sticker on the back door — for the sake of your pets if there is a fire and to further emphasize to burglars that you have a dog.
Light-timers inside are wise as well as motion-sensor lights outside (front and back). And a radio on a talk or news channel that's audible outside the back door can be a deterrent. Most burglars don't want to risk confronting anyone inside the house.
Be sure to stop the mail and stop newspaper or any other deliveries if you leave town, and have a trusted neighbor check on your place. I've lived in DC for 25 years with no home burglary and I take all these steps and more.
My vote is for the moat and alligators.
No? Shucks.
Ok then, how about Always try to make it look like someone is home. Most sneaky people don't want a fight, they want anonymity. Leave lights on in rooms not easy to look into. Leave talk radio on. Put lights on timers even in daytime.
I'm in the process of trying to buy a house in the Suburbs of DC, and I've been doing this to every property I look at. The one I'm currently trying to buy, already has teh dog signs, and a sizable dog house. I do plan on getting a Doberman, but even before that. . . I'll be planting thorny berry brambles along the fence, and there are already roses under the front windows. I'll be adding extra locks to every door that goes outside before I move in.
If I get this house, that is!
I hope you're planning on buying in VA, not MD. MD is not exactly gun-friendly, which makes real home security a whole different creature. Plus, there's a river between DC and VA, so if they start evacuating DC, which state do YOU think will be over-run first?
Considering where my "cushy gov't job" is located, VA is too far away for commuting purposes, and due to OPSEC concerns, we don't have telecommuting yet. So, yeah, the People's Republic of Marylandistan it is. I grew up here, so I'm very used to the insane gun laws. Thus my slight obsession with sharp, shiny, pointy things.
Of course MD will be overrun first. But the simple fact is, despite my personal preferences, the Lord has decided that I shall be in Maryland. I've had long arguments with Him on this matter, and He's not given an inch. I'd love to be in Fairfax, or even Louden Co. . . or farther west and south. But I might as well wish to be in Idaho, because not-Maryland is simply not possible at this time, barring winning the lotto. Heck, not-suburbs isn't exactly doable, either. There's a great property up in Thurmont that I saw listed, but it would be a 4 hour commute each way.
Aw, that sucks. I was stuck in LA for waaaaaaaaay too long, so I get where you're coming from. In LA, they teach preschoolers and toddler that "gun" is a bad word. Nice. I like bladed weapons, and you're right that there are all sorts of other things you can do, and things you can buy and never take out of your house.
I'm sure you're right that there's a plan for your being there. A long-ago plumbing leak in an apartment caused me to me the owner of the unit below who was a realtor. Many moons later, he convinced me to look out far past where we otherwise would have, and we really love it. So, mysterious ways indeed. 🙂 And he didn't give at all for YEARS on getting my husband to move, so maybe someday you'll be able to leave Marylandistan.
Omg, yeah . . . when I got into MENSA (long story), I put the bumpersticker right next to my NRA stickers, and then would drive through some of the more lefty neighborhoods around just to watch heads explode in my rear view mirror. Ah, good times . . .
As for leaving: in some ways it would make me sad. Yes, the laws here are terrible, but the state itself is beautiful. I love driving through the forests that stretch from the Bay to the mountains.I just wish we didn't have the 95 corridor running through, ruining things foreveryone else . . .
Thanks for understanding– so many places, people get this attitude that "If you still live on the coasts, then there's no way you can call yourself a prepper/ survivalist/ whathaveyou!" Vexes me, and I'm so used to having to verbally flip people off. I'm glad someone understands!
Most of us don't have the luxury of simply picking a place and living there. Jobs, education, family, health, and other factors dictate a lot of it. I'd love to have a bug out location / vacation home in West Virginia, but we just don't have a spare few hundred thousand, and I know you all know what I mean. 😉
I love the area we live in and the reality is that as bad as things look, we really don't know what will happen. It's foolish to base all your thinking and to totally uproot your life on the assumption that you do. Being prepared is one thing, there will always be emergencies periodically and no matter what our families will still need to eat, but refusing to live ANYWHERE on either coast? Totally unrealistic for most of us to do and still maintain our professional, family, and social lives. If it does all fall apart, I don't want to suffer through it all as a hermit with no local contacts or ties.
I'm doing the best I can with what I have. I do have some plans should all go to Hell in a handbasket. . . or an express train. This means working around the obscene gun-laws, and getting creative. Examining every property for various strategic and tactical advantages and weaknesses. One can actually amass a bit of an arsenal, you just can't carry them around with you. I know a guy who lives closer to DC than I do, and he's got a nice little collection. So off-the-property protection is tough, but on your property is a little better. Relatively speaking.
No, my preps will never be perfect, simply do to where I am. But this is where the Lord has put me, so I'll just have to deal with it as best I can. *shrugs* I guess that's why this post is so important to me– all the other ways of making the property as secure as possible.
zMalfoy
Looking forward to hearing from you at mdpreparedness.com
adoy
Another low cost deterrent is to place small glass breakable objects (dollar store finds are great for this) on your windows along the top where the lock/latch is. It advertises that if someone tries to get in through the window there WILL be noise when all of these objects fall down and break & hopefully the criminals will decide it's not worth the risk.
Hahaha!! It also raises the probablility that a foolish thief will liberally cover the ground right below the window with freshly broken glass…step on it, and you got a good chance of leaving a big fat trail…if ya know what I mean:P
One piece of advice that is often forgotten or overlooked, it to PLEASE remember when you move into a new place, CHANGE THE LOCKS IMMEDIATELY if at all possible! (I realize in a lot of "tenant" situations, this will not be possible) I don't know how many times I have done assessments for people and when I asked when they last changed the locks, am told "They're the ones that came with the house". Unless you have built new and are the first owner, then there is the possibility that every previous owner, has a key to your home.
at home depot, lowes,etc. they sell alarms that go taped to your door and door marker when the two pieces are seperated (open door) it will start ringing (really loud) . they run on the round silver batteries and a pack of 4 cost $8 . no need for an alarm company you install it yourself and it will scare any intruder away 🙂