Just found out my house is being scouted, what to do?

I have a metal screen door up front, so not worried about that. The backdoor is a sliding glass door though, so not much I would be able to reinforce there.

 

See if your neighbor can get a license plate number next time they come around. You can also get the single alarm units for doors etc. They are mostly for parents with little kids to alert them the kid has opened the door. When the bad guys open a door and it goes off it may cause them to run.

 

I don't know how much $ you're talking but these look cool, can see the images on your mobile phone. So it says anyway.

http://www.dailysteals.com/

 

Wow, that seems like one hell of a deal, 180 bucks for a 720p security camera?? I thought they would be much more pricey, there are so many different choices it is hard to start looking.

 

hmmm i may pick up a coupe of these myself....

 

A gun
50lbs bag of calcium oxide
a shovel.

That should cure the problem.

 

I took a Criminal Justice class last semester and we covered break ins and what not. Teach said to make you house look like you have just stepped out for a minute and will be back soon (i.e. leave that days paper on the table, leave the TV on, a few lights, ect.) I know that can get expensive but it will look like someone is there and 99% or break ins happen during the day while no one is at home. That other 1% is a home invasion and they intend to do harm to you and these usually occur at night. My dad owns a security rep firm (the largest in the south east) and reps companies such as JVC. Feel free to PM me any questions you have about equipment and I will be more than happy to ask him what kind of a set up you should get.

 

I had questions about the effectiveness of ADT and the like and I ended up setting up the logitech alert system for my place:

http://www.logitech.com/en-us/video-security-systems

I have 2 outdoor and 2 indoor camera's. The camera's feed video to both internal SD storage as well as to your PC and to a dropbox account if you want. You can set the camera's up so that they start recording on motion. Also, you can set the camera's to take a picture and email you the snapshot whenever motion is detected.

You can view your cameras video stream live from the web, or from apps on your iphone/ipad.

The resolution of this system was superior to other systems that I cross-shopped, i.e you can make out a face/license plate number with this system fairly easily. In addition, the outdoor cameras have an effective night vision system.

It's not cheap, but it gives me piece of mind. Even if burglars were to get in the house, steal the cameras (with SD cards) and the computer, you can setup the video to also archive to a free dropbox.com account, so you'll have a video record of everything that happened even if they clean you out.

 

Agreed, there are a lot of choices.

That's why I really like going to Amazon.com. They have a wide variety of products and most, if not all, have reviews from actual customers. Many times I'll read a review of one product and it will mention another, superior product.

Spend a couple hours on Amazon, purchase from your chair and you'll have a solution in a few days.

One cam I have was only $60 and it streams video to my phone, or to an internet drop box or similar. Lots and lots of choices.

 

Note these are "factory recertified".


Condition: Factory Recertified
Packaging: Box
Warranty: 90 Day
Brand: Logitech
Model: 750e

 

That is a good deal, I payed a lot more than that (retail minus a bit from Amazon).

I've never had problems with factory rectified things. That's cheaper than just an add on camera. Maybe it's time for me to add another camera to my system...............

 

Stage your Going away. If they've been "dropping by" on the weekends, make it seem like your not home and hope they do another recon trip, or maybe the real thing. You should hear your dog go crazy. Call cops and see what info you cam get. After you've gotten all your info, make noise yell that cops are on the way and that your armed. If you catch them outside they'll mist likely reconsider, especially if you can alert your neighbors.

 

props to everyone offering advice for a fellow TW'er. stay safe brother.

 

i finally let the wife talk me into adt security, a little piece of mind if someone breaks in maybe enuff time to grab my gun if need be

 

Finally got to speak with my neighbor last night, Turns out these assholes stole my neighbors puppy, and they tried to steal a car from two houses down in broad daylight while there were people in the house! The husband of the house came out to confront them with some rude words and they got in a verbal argument. The guys left but returned later for another shot at the car, only the guys wife was home so she called the cops, they couldn't get into the car, they only managed to mess up the window so it doesn't roll down now. These have to be dumb crackheads. There have been Sherrifs driving by in the morning now.

 

Looks like these dipshits provided you free security with their own stupidity.

 

Usually thief's are looking for the easier opportunity to steal, if they want to get to you, they know something, next time do not brag about anything at you-re favorite watering joint. If it is not the case, stop growing pot in you-re back bedroom, the "boys" are flying infrared cameras at knight and you-re house is on they're list. Or you may have to stop handling child pornography on you-re computer. I hope that you aren't doing any of the above and they are only some kind of city inspectors trying to see you-re newly added back patio you just installed.

 

Go to Costco or look online for their security camera sets there usauly pretty good for a great price. Also invest in an NRA sticker even if you aren't a gun person it will keep people out of your house..... The pit and gate are a good idea! That's sketch man hope you get to the bottom of this.

 

They are 2 African Americans, in they're mid 30s my neighbor thinks

 

Hey buddy, i used to work for my local sheriff's dept. for a few years and i couldnt help thinking this sounds like a situation my buddy had a few years ago. she is a criminal justice professor and she was doing allot of teaching on terrorism. when i heard her story i thought she was one of those crazy paranoid people with crazy stories. but she had bought some books and was on some sites getting more info on terrorism and must have pinged on some NSA alert.

a few weeks after she noticed a white van in front of the college and also in down the street from where she lived in the mornings. this went on for three weeks then she stopped seeing them. the day after she stopped seeing them, she went home to find her door jimmied a little and n offical note from NSA (laying on the end table by her door, inside the house) saying that due to the patriot act they came and serched her house and listed the books that they took from her and that they had copied all of the files on her home comp. and that after a vigirous background check she would get her stuff back. it also listed a number she could call to find out more!!! all because she was on a terrorism watch list...

i didnt believe her untill she showed me the letter from NSA... really freaky i thought. i know this is a very odd ocorance but u might want to think if you could be on a watchlist of some kind and for what reason. prolly not because this doesnt sound like profesional NSA agent stuff your going through.

but if they are cassing your house they will want to know when/if your going to work. if you go to work the same way every day keep a very keen eye out for say a white van or a car that you would not normally see. it would be closer to either your house or your work. you could throw them off and it might save you a few days but start taking alternate routes to work. change it every day for a while.

make sure you get a hold of a local police or sheriff detective. tell them your story and get a number you can call for the detective personally. this way you can call and give updates or when you think something will happen or see something out of the norm. your nabour may play a big part to help you out also. the reason you want a detective or even a beat cop to call personally is because of the lag between dispatch and the officer (unless 911).

stay smart and on your toes. alot of the people in here have good ideas, but my guess is they wont come when you or your family is home. listen to the people about getting locks for your doors and windows it will beef up the look of your house from the outside and deter the less devoted dirtbags...

stay safe buddy, and sorry for the length.