Most burglar alarm systems do not do anything until an entry is actually tempted. The sound of people talking loudly inside the garage will scare them into attacking some other home. That's why I picked up a used radio for $10 at a yard sale. It sits right by the side door to our garage--the most likely place of entry in our concrete-and-steel home. It's tuned to an FM talk station and the volume is turned up enough so it can be heard through the thick wall and solid door.
Since we're home all day, a timer doesn't turn the radio on until 9:30 pm, and it turns it off again at 5:00 am, when I get up. On a recent trip to Los Angeles, of course, we left it on for 24 hours. Highly recommended, folks!
QUESTION:
What other ideas might you readers have for low-cost protection against burglars?
If you have a good method and include your e-mail, I'll send you a free copy of my e-book Dirty Tricks which has many more ideas for keeping the bad guys at bay.
Is that a Hallicrafters? Great deal for only 10 bucks - wanna resell it? hee hee.
ReplyDeleteAnother trick is to have a TV on a timer in a bedroom that comes on late at night, intermittently. Add some bedside lamps on timers too, and it's as if the place is occupied.
Movement activated flood lights outside my house and the timer to activate lights in different rooms of the house and talk radio so movement seems to be occuring. watching home alone might be a good place to find ideas(:
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm between dogs, I leave a food dish (empty) and a water dish (filled) along with a couple of used dog toys near my back door. On my front porch, I leave a pair of size 15 (my son's) well-worn, muddy boots on the front door mat -as though someone had stepped out of them to come in the house. And I take a few seconds to rearrange those things when I come and go.
ReplyDeleteSign on your door saying "the last burglar had a bad luck here" or something similar. Sorry, I'm not a native English speaker.
ReplyDeleteI have my spare bedroom light on a timer that stays on during the night. No better alarm system than my dog, though. Her barking has already deterred people checking out my home.
ReplyDeleteIf the area you live in is suitable, a small flock of guineafowl is a great burgler alarm. They will raise a ruckus when anyone comes around.
ReplyDeletewhen I have to leave my house, I leave two handwritten notes, one on my front door and one on my back door. I change the wording on the notes every time. For example, one time the note might say "Dear Bob, Pete is home waiting for you but won't answer the door unless he knows it's you, so call/text him first." Another time the note might say "Sandy, don't go in, the rattlesnakes got loose again. I called animal control". I try to keep it creative so the crooks think someone is home.
ReplyDeleteWe have an extra vehicle. Keep it washed and clean. Move it around frequently As well as lights on timers and a radio.
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ReplyDeleteI discovered that our television had a built-in "timer on/off" function. Now our uninhabited house still has the unmistakeable light and sound of a television each evening for the late news broadcast. You've probably noticed that even with blinds closed, one can see from outside a house when a television is being used, because of the constantly changing light.
We had an extended absence just after our neighbor's teenage son got a new car. Seeing their crowded driveway, I invited him to park in our driveway for the next three months.
when out of the house, i set my clock radio / alarm to come on at 2 different times of day. i have it tuned to talk radio, and the radio will stay on for 1 hour if it is not turned off.
ReplyDeleteDog toys - rawhides and dog bowls - obviously made for large dogs. It's known that signs of a large dog being present is more deterring than the sight of a large dog itself.
ReplyDeleteA sign - perhaps printed on a color inkjet and laminated - that states, "Danger, Infectious Disease Area! Take appropriate precautions when entering."
A sign - again, printed and laminated perhaps - "All persons entering this residence MUST be vaccinated for ."
A hand-written note left on the front door - "Attention plumber - Timmy's pet Black Bermuda Adder Python got loose again. We *think* we have him penned up in the kitchen (or basement or garage), but we're not sure. Please wait till we get back to fix the kitchen sink."
Or just be blunt. My entire time stationed on Oahu I had small signs on each window that said, "Attention Thieves: No valuables left in this vehicle. The radio is rigged to not work if it is removed." I never had my truck broken into once and a friend with a similar truck had his window broken four times.
I don't have a burglar alarm, but I went to city hall and filled out an alarm registration application (with alternate name of course!) and paid $25. They gave me a bright orange alarm registration sticker to put on my front door.
ReplyDeleteEven if you don't own a dog, place "Beware of Dog" signs on all doors. Also, leave dog toys and Dog bowl with a little food near the doors.
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