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by Squelchtone » 23 Apr 2010 13:16
Anything we do to better our security helps. I love locks, but I know it's not just about having a good lock on my door.
Most of us here can agree that layered security is the best. Like the layers of an onion, you get past one and there's another one, you get past that, and there are several more.
I envision something like this as being ideal:
well lit street, well lit driveway, well lit porch/garage/backyard. Motion sensor lights on the garage are not enough, have some on the side of the house, and ones for the back yard. I also believe in having a porch light on at all times, not just motion activated. That 15 watt fluorescent bulb that is on all night every night will cost you something like $3 a month, not a big deal and well worth it.
good relationships with neighbors, so that you can watch out for each other.
updated windows and doors, so they are not old wood with caulking crumbling off.
decent locks that are better than home improvement store models, and offer kick, drill, pick protection of some kind. And key copying protection is a plus as well, so that you know a contractor didnt make a copy of your schlage or kwikset keys while he ran to Home Depot for more parts for that project he's working on at your house.
his is lock related but separate from high security locks. Many houses I visit will have a back door that only has a knob on it. ALL doors should have a deadbolt, back door, that 'front door' you never you because you walk in through the breeze way, the garage door, the side of the garage door. Even a $20 deadbolt is better in this case than just a knob.
door wrap plates, and or add ones like door jamb armor, as well as replacing all the screws that came with the door hinges to 3 inch deck screws, instead of the 3/4 inch brass screws that were included with the door.
no bushes or low cut bushes around the house, so people cant hide behind the bushes while they're trying to pry a window open. don't use rocks as part of your landscaping, rocks are a great tool to break a window.
a yard sign stating there is an alarm on the property (never hurts to put out some low cost measures)
a working CCTV system that at least gets your front yard, back yard, the street in front of the house, and a close up shot of your most commonly used entrance. may not stop something from happening, but if they see cameras they may choose another target, and if they dont as long as you hide your DVR well, you can at least look back and see who broke in
a monitored fire/intrusion alarm system, and 2 audible horns, 1 inside the house to make so much noise, that someone who broke in is very annoyed by it, but if they rip it off the wall, have another one in the attic near a vent, or mounted up high on the outside of the house. some alarm also offer a blue or red strobe the size of a Red Bull can that mounts outside and while emergency crews are driving up at night they can tell a little easier which house is the one with the alarm going off and what kind of alarm (blue=burglar or red=fire) Test and make sure that all zones are named something useful so that when the police are coming and there is a "motion coming from zone 1" they can figure out where in the house that is. "motion front living room" or "glass break back patio" are much better descriptions.
Making sure that the tabs on your vinyl windows are pulled out so the window cannot lift more than 6 inches if left unlocked. installing keyed locks that lock the lower window to the upper window in the closed and partially open positions is a plus. Not easy for you and me to pick, but not something a bad guy can open from the outside without some effort.
at least 1 automatic light timer in the living room/kitchen/bedroom, so if you are going to come home late when it's already dark out, your house isnt the only totally blacked out building in the neighborhood.
dont leave things around the house outside, to give the bad guys as tools. Things such as ladders, an open shed with hand tools like saws, hammers, and screwdrivers, etc, lock it all up.
A safe bolted down to the floor in a closet to keep spare credit cards, keys, check books, passports, emergency cookie jar cash, guns and ammo. Too many people keep keys and checkbooks on the kitchen counter or in a wicker basket on the counter or on a hook by the garage door.
during the holidays, if you buy a big ticket item like a new TV or computer, dont put the box out by the curb for the trash man to pick up. a 52 inch TV or Sony laptop box is going to get noticed by someone driving by casing houses. cut the boxes up, or invert them so the outside of the box is not visible.
Lastly, and I'm sure there are many more common sense ideas that we could add to this, but I hear this over and over from people who I tell about locks, that they don't even bother locking their doors when they're home or even worse when they aren't home, because "if a thief wants to, they'll break in anyway" I strongly disagree with this, because even though a professional probably can, the local teenagers who are looking to have some adventures or steal an ipod or laptop, probably cannot get past a locked door unless they can slip the latch, pick it, or kick it in, or break the glass and turn the thumb turn. Always lock your doors.
If a thief is going to attack your property, make him work for it.
Squelchtone

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by fjardeson » 23 Apr 2010 13:26
Excellent point re: the initial shock of how lousy most standard locks are. I wanted to throw in my $.02 on the "high security lock on a low security door" situation. In one word.
Insurance.
If you get your door kicked in, it's pretty easy to prove forced entry. Also you know to call the police before you go in (or at the least, go in carefully...). If you get "picked into" you may find yourself in one of these nasty situations
1) Someone in your home and you don't know anything is wrong (I assume you don't borescope your lock before you open it every night). 2) Can't prove to the insurance company that you were burglarized (U.S. insurance companies are BAD about that, they will say "ah, you just sold off some stuff and claim it's stolen).
As always YMMV.
--Fjardeson
I'll call your S&G 8500 and raise you a RKL-10!
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by nataz » 23 Apr 2010 17:53
annnnnnnnd squelch ends the discussion
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by raimundo » 26 Apr 2010 9:04
the brass plated? wraparound door strengtheners are usually used to repair a door that has cracked wood from a burglary attempt, the plate is cheaper than a new door. and it can make some of the force attacks more difficult.
there are other things that could be done to make kicking a door more difficult, one is to put square pyramid headed studs on the door around the lock area so that kicking will result in pressure back against the foot in the boot. you could also angle the lock mechanism or the parts surrounding it to make it hard to get a flat contact on it, perhaps causeing a twisted ankle. I used to have a sheet rock screw sticking out of my door below the lock, the target area for kicking, if anyone had kicked there without looking they might have found their boot stuck to the door when the kick was over, likly putting them on the ground on their back, the point of the screw was sticking out only about a half inch and the color was black on a dark colored door with enough stuff taped to the door or scars on the door to camoflage any small details like this.
Wake up and smell the Kafka!!!
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by globallockytoo » 26 Apr 2010 12:16
I noticed squelch, you conveniently left out the Strikemaster II Pro for door frame failure prevention.
Most kick in's rarely destroy or damage the door or lock. They most often damage the door frame (jamb).
The Strikemaster II Pro is a really great product and very inexpensive. (they just had a price reduction) Now under $100.
With a SMII Pro on your door, if you use a kwikset smartkey lock, you'll probably stop the majority of lock pickers and door kickers for less than $150. (IMHO)
One One was a race horse, one one won one race, one two was a racehorse, one two won one too.
Disclaimer: Do not pull tag off mattress. Not responsible for legal advice while laughing. Bilock - The Original True Bump Proof Pin Tumbler System!
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by Squelchtone » 26 Apr 2010 13:50
globallockytoo wrote:I noticed squelch, you conveniently left out the Strikemaster II Pro for door frame failure prevention.
Yeah man, I left it out out purpose just to cut into their market share.. Don't be so paranoid, I don't have an agenda to market one thing or another, mainly because I'm not a lockie who has invested in one product or another, or a brand of lock. I listed Door Jamb Armor because that's the brand that I know. I've seen it at Lowe's, Amazon.com, and on Securitysnobs.com And just to clear things up, in case you think I do, which seems to be the case, I do not work for securitysnobs in any capacity, they just happen to sell a lot of the stuff we are all into. And I know you mentioned they're a competitor of yours for BiLock, and if that is bothersome start an online store of your own and point your current customers to it. There's room enough for all brands and all locksmiths and all online lock stores. It's a big planet with plenty of Kwiksets that need replacing. Squelchtone

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by mhole » 26 Apr 2010 17:03
I'm always astonished by the position chosen for installation of locks in the US - the strike master site even lists the 6" or so gap between deadbolt and latch as being an industry standard.
The door is 6'6" at least - why on earth confine all the locks to a 12" span in the middle?!
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by globallockytoo » 26 Apr 2010 22:00
squelchtone wrote:globallockytoo wrote:I noticed squelch, you conveniently left out the Strikemaster II Pro for door frame failure prevention.
Yeah man, I left it out out purpose just to cut into their market share.. Don't be so paranoid, I don't have an agenda to market one thing or another, mainly because I'm not a lockie who has invested in one product or another, or a brand of lock. I listed Door Jamb Armor because that's the brand that I know. I've seen it at Lowe's, Amazon.com, and on Securitysnobs.com And just to clear things up, in case you think I do, which seems to be the case, I do not work for securitysnobs in any capacity, they just happen to sell a lot of the stuff we are all into. And I know you mentioned they're a competitor of yours for BiLock, and if that is bothersome start an online store of your own and point your current customers to it. There's room enough for all brands and all locksmiths and all online lock stores. It's a big planet with plenty of Kwiksets that need replacing. Squelchtone
I'm not paranoid (or so i keep telling myself). They are indeed a competitor of mine (Security Snobs) but they do not own any of their own equipment. They get their stuff pre-built from the factory (AFAIK). Door Jamb Armor is indeed a great product, but have you ever fitted one? or know of anyone that has? Do you know how long it actually takes to install one correctly? BTW.....I'm heading your way May 23. Wanna catch up for a pint? (your buying - for that Bilock cylinder from a few years ago)
One One was a race horse, one one won one race, one two was a racehorse, one two won one too.
Disclaimer: Do not pull tag off mattress. Not responsible for legal advice while laughing. Bilock - The Original True Bump Proof Pin Tumbler System!
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by Squelchtone » 27 Apr 2010 9:21
globallockytoo wrote: I'm not paranoid (or so i keep telling myself). They are indeed a competitor of mine (Security Snobs) but they do not own any of their own equipment. They get their stuff pre-built from the factory (AFAIK). Door Jamb Armor is indeed a great product, but have you ever fitted one? or know of anyone that has? Do you know how long it actually takes to install one correctly?
BTW.....I'm heading your way May 23. Wanna catch up for a pint? (your buying - for that Bilock cylinder from a few years ago)
Snobs has a Protec machine and "pin" each lock up on demand. AFAIK. I've never installed door jamb armor, I'm sure its an afternoon of fun and fraught with peril. and I don't have any Bilock cylinders, I think you must be thinking of Schuyler. I wish I had a Bilock cylinder... we may be having a TOOOL meeting around then.. I'll let you know man, See ya Squelchtone
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by raimundo » 30 Apr 2010 7:56
because of the frequent falsing, monitored alarm companies send thier own car out to check out the property and if a crime is evident, they call the police, many police departments do charge for false alarm calls and many do not answer alarms. I have known of one case, where the police had a policy against answering alarms but someone put in an alarm with the ablility to call police on their radio channnel, and one night while I was listenening to a scanner, that alarm was going off frequently stepping on the dispachers voice and generally being a nuisance. Presume that they located the alarm and came down hard on the owner.
Wake up and smell the Kafka!!!
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by Evan » 30 Apr 2010 9:15
raimundo wrote:because of the frequent falsing, monitored alarm companies send thier own car out to check out the property and if a crime is evident, they call the police, many police departments do charge for false alarm calls and many do not answer alarms. I have known of one case, where the police had a policy against answering alarms but someone put in an alarm with the ablility to call police on their radio channnel, and one night while I was listenening to a scanner, that alarm was going off frequently stepping on the dispachers voice and generally being a nuisance. Presume that they located the alarm and came down hard on the owner.
That may in fact be the case in Minnesota... But in other parts of the country, alarm monitoring centers immediately notify the local police where the alarm has been triggered and the police there treat it like any other emergency call... Most monitored alarm companies have no "own car" to send out to verify and aren't licensed as "guard service, watchmen service or private patrol service" in all of the states they provide central alarm monitoring services for... The police departments in your area that do not respond to alarm calls are setting themselves up for a an earth shattering lawsuit that they will lose... As far as your tale of the alarm system making use of the police radio channel, I am not aware of any municipality in the United States which has ever authorized non-law enforcement automatic devices to use their police radio frequencies for ANY purposes... ~~ Evan
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by globallockytoo » 30 Apr 2010 9:20
um....Evan, do you even know about anything you are talking about?
There are many alarm monitoring companies and most of them DO have their own patrol cars and alarm response vehicles. In fact most states are covered by at lest one or two companies.
I worked for a company in Australia 20+ years ago. I also answered alarm calls in UK and in California.
I am puzzled by many of your attempted answers to questions here. (something doesnt add up with you!)
One One was a race horse, one one won one race, one two was a racehorse, one two won one too.
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by Squelchtone » 30 Apr 2010 9:36
globallockytoo wrote:um....Evan, do you even know about anything you are talking about?
There are many alarm monitoring companies and most of them DO have their own patrol cars and alarm response vehicles. In fact most states are covered by at lest one or two companies.
I worked for a company in Australia 20+ years ago. I also answered alarm calls in UK and in California.
I am puzzled by many of your attempted answers to questions here. (something doesnt add up with you!)
Wait.. wait.. everyone.. If you mean something like Arrow security who patrols the mall parking lot at night in their Hyundai with an orange rotating light on the roof is the same company that monitors my home alarm, I have to disagree. Around here we have some local alarm companies such as IBS, Citizens, Friendly Security, ADT, etc. They come out in a van, wire up an alarm panel, hook it up to a phone line and leave. Then you pay them $30 a month for monitoring. I have been listening to police scanners in my area for almost 20 years and when an alarm is activated, the central station calls the police, then the owner, and the police always respond to burglar alarms, always 2 cops, never just 1, and when they arrive they usually ask for the key holder to show up and lead them through the building or reset the alarm if they don't find any open doors or windows. I've never heard of Arrow security driving their little Hyundai with rotating orange light to someone's house to check an alarm, unless and we don't have this around here, they live in a gated community with its own private security force and guard shack. This must be a large country indeed because in New England I have never seen or heard of an alarm response vehicle or anything like that. I'm sure I would have heard it on the scanner by now, or have seen one in the streets at night when I'm lurking around. It's funny, I just looked up at my office call monitor for our CCTV system and a large fire engine was just leaving our facility.. this is what happens when they knock things over in the racks of the warehouse and break the alarm wire causing a false alarm (the wire is at the top of the racks and if a real fire melted it, it would open the loop and cause a fire alarm) So my point is, no alarm company vehicle showed up. The real fire men came in a huge red truck right away. And we'll probably get a nice fine for having them come out to a false alarm. I suppose its time to use a forum acronym.. YMWV. Squelchtone

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by Evan » 30 Apr 2010 9:40
globallockytoo wrote:um....Evan, do you even know about anything you are talking about?
There are many alarm monitoring companies and most of them DO have their own patrol cars and alarm response vehicles. In fact most states are covered by at lest one or two companies.
I worked for a company in Australia 20+ years ago. I also answered alarm calls in UK and in California.
I am puzzled by many of your attempted answers to questions here. (something doesnt add up with you!)
Broadview Security and other larger monitoring companies might have such services in major markets where there is a demand for it like California and New York City... But show me a market outside of that where thousands of customers can be served in an area which can be covered by such a large alarm company without requiring ONE car manned round the clock in every city ? Outside of California your logic and understanding of how alarm companies work and how they interact with the police does not apply... The companies to which you refer are smaller boutique alarm companies which monitor and respond to alarms in the same city... Those companies are licensed as more than central alarm monitoring companies and can therefore DO more... The fact that you all seem to be lost as to why local police departments can't or won't respond to alarms and why they will eventually after they are sued comes from the "duty to care" that law enforcement agencies are bound by to provide protection to all persons within their jurisdiction and a lack of awareness of Section 1983 federal lawsuits against public officials particularly under the liability when "deliberate indifference" is a factor to either crossing the line and using excessive force or dangerous methods of apprehension of suspects, or when a failure to provide the basic protection services for which police departments exist... Choosing NOT to deal with alarm calls on the part of the police is acting in deliberate indifference to the citizens who have decided to protect themselves with alarm systems in the event they can not summon help using the telephone during an emergency... I am baffled by how you think your experience with how this worked in other countries and California (which is almost like another country itself) has any bearing on what exists in the other 47 states which don't have millions of people concentrated in fairly small geographical areas which are easily served by private guard services... ~~ Evan
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by yono » 6 May 2010 11:49
In my opinion there is really a certain degree of worry as far as lock security is capable of in protecting our properties. all of them has its own weaknesses. nothing stands to a determined burglar. The lock no matter how strong, can only delay the process. It is to a knowledgeable locksmith, or Security analyst which suite the user's best. An ordinary security lock can be a high resistance pick lock if rekeyed by an experienced locksmith. i dont trust originally keyed cylinder that comes out from the factory. And after that easy to picklock case is solve, i pray, you wont be trying next to bumpkey it.. that's another case.. 
hi everyone, im glad to be a member of this very interesting community, our community of locksmiths. i hope i could help others, within my ability, and hope you can help me too, God bless us all fellow locksmiths.
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