Security with an emphasis on european locks

[GWiens2001]

ARF-GEF is in hiding. Part of the witness protection program. He saw some wayward locks committing a crime, and reported it to their keys. Now the locks want revenge, and all he has to protect him are a few picks and his secret weapon - a Bogota set. I'll give ARF a fighting chance at winning. He will be back in force soon.

Gordon

[YouLuckyFox]

, not to mention the ninjas!
+1 at a fighting chance!

[ARF-GEF]

Now that Gordon gave away my secret there is no point of telling the cover story that I was on holiday without Internet. I'm checking my mails as time allows, I think I got them but I have soo many to reply to and not enough time. Soon my holiday is over and I'm back full speed
I wanted to spread an elaborate story about fighting with the mysterious people who open any lock without a trace (even after you replaced all locks with Evva MCS) just to misplace the newspapers and steal 2 spoonfuls of sugar but hey now my cover is blown..

[dicey]

I didn't misplace it I took it to read it...

And you really should check my mail there is some interesting picture with my desk in it

[dll932]

My 2c: Make sure there are clear sightlines to your house/condo/apartment, including shrubs obscuring entrances and easy to reach windows. Sheer curtains over windows not covered with drapes. Lights on timers and sensors. Alarm (or alarm signs!). Dogs (real or electronic). Reinforced strikes. Replace sliding patio doors if possible, or secure them the best you can. Internet-enabled vidcams.

[spoonzor]

- And if you HAVE TO post on social media that you are (going on) vacation, make sure it is not shared publicly.
Same goes for posting that you just bought that brand new whatever that is worth a lot to thief's... It is getting more and more common that thief's use social media API's to search millions of profiles at once for hit words.

- If you have a safe, for gods sake, bolt it to the floor/wall (I've seen this mistake to many times)
- If the lights are on timers, use the timers that have some randomness (for example a light sensor that turns on some light when it gets dark), if the light goes on every night at the same time they might notice. But actually if the lights go on but the curtains stay open, it just makes it easier to take a look whats there to steal.
- Ask neighbors to keep an eye out and tell them that while you are on vacation NOBODY should be in your house (they might think it's you long lost son that still has a key)
- Security light only in publicly visible locations, and make sure they don't go on all the time if there is nobody there (because of a tree or whatever). Having an automatic light in the backyard is just helping burglars, nobody will notice the light anyway.
- Put a bit of cash in a easy to find location, for example 50 euros, good chance they just take that and move on, leaving the rest of your possessions alone.
- An alarm helps, even is it is not connection to a security firm, as long as it is LOUD most burglars will shit their pants

And over all: make sure your (visible) security is (looks) just a little bit better then your neighbor. Burglars are often (not always!) lazy ppl (else they would have chosen another profession) and just go for easy targets.

[fgarci03]

Good advice!

And over all: make sure your (visible) security is (looks) just a little bit better then your neighbor. Burglars are often (not always!) lazy ppl (else they would have chosen another profession) and just go for easy targets.

This is just perfect. 99% of times this becomes true!

[ARF-GEF]

An idea I came across recently is to paint important, not wearing surfaces of the lock (or parts of it if you can do that and knwo where to, how and how not to cause problems with it) to a unique mixed up colour from different paints. Using that paint to cover the head of screws fixing the lock can be quite effective as a temper evident method.
Have a couple of other hidden places which are also protected from wear. Best is moveable objects so you can take it to a lock and compare the exact share of colour.
make sure the paint you use is a resistant one which remains intact for a long term.
Avoid having the examples in a greatly different environment than the lock (strong sun, humidity etc.)
Then if you suspect tamper or compromise you can check the examples.
It will be hard if not impossible to get the exact same shade mixed from different colour or replace every secret example of it.

Yes it's for the paranoid only, but it's still a cool and easy method

[GWiens2001]

Yes, I read your posts.

The paint is a good idea. However, as you say, it will be difficult to have the paint maintain even weathering and oxidation so the paint on the lock and paint on your control still look the same after a year or two.

Have seen a picture of a safe lock that is sealed with a lead seal, with a stamp impressioned into the lead. That might be an interesting type of verification.

Gordon

[ARF-GEF]

Lol, I was joking
Whoever wants to reads them whoever doesn't, doesn't It's not an obligation and I definitely don't take it personally

The lead is a good idea, much longer lived than paint.
As for paint I'm thinking of oil paint, which withstands weather very well or acrylic paint which is also very resistant. I think you can buy both in small vials in a creative shop or whatever they are called

[dosman]

After I put security cameras up at my house I learned that even though my house is on a highway and not close to town, there is a lot of foot traffic. I would have never suspected how many people knock on my door when I'm not there. I also get a lot of people driving through my driveway for some reason. I've also found people in my woods trying to collect scrap metal from my property before. Until I had the cameras I was oblivious. It's like zombies coming at my house from all directions once I leave.

I also don't subscribe to the "locks just keep honest people honest" saying. If you don't care to put any more thought into keeping your stuff from being stolen then sure that's true. But it doesn't take too much work to make your house fairly more difficult to enter. Security strike with 3" screws, 3" screws for the door hinges, and window security film for the easy-to-access windows on the ground floor. Upstairs too if you worry about agents repelling in from the roof .