Best Practices - Residential Break-Ins, Securing Your Home, and Insurance

[morgin]

Hey all - so last night a neighbor was the victim of a residential break in. Fortunately, he arrived home with the dude still in his place, and was able to force him to drop everything and scare him off and nothing ended up being stolen.

It got me thinking about the best ways to secure a house and inventory your stuff for insurance purposes. Anyone ever dealt with a break in and then their insurance company after the fact? Any tips on what insurance companies like to see? I figured this was as good a reminder as any to start taking some photos of our valuables. I'm assuming serial numbers and such are good to include. I was also thinking of maybe finally going cloud backup for all my important data along with hard copy backup on-site - if someone stole my computer and my external hard drives, I'd be pissed (and out some data!)

Also, anyone use a home alarm with regularity? We're fortunate our place came with one pre-installed (have a large dog too!). I wonder how effective they really are?

Anyone in a newer place wire your home up with exterior security cameras? Any thoughts on whether that's overkill?

[Bill Bumface]

Dogs are way better than alarms.

These will send them on to the next house:

[GoinAllTheWay]

Only part I can chime in on really is the insurance side. You aren't really required to keep reciepts for purchases, even the big ticket ones, but it sure does simplify the process if you have them handy. Only exception to this rule is scheduled items like bikes, jewlery, art, etc. These items require appraisals or recent bills of sale. I think it should be common sense for receipts to be kept for big ticket items. And not just for insurance purposes.

As far as safes go, I tend think they are a bit of a waste of money. They just scream "SOMETHING VALUABLE INSIDE!!" and apparently even expensive safes aren't overly tough to get to defeat. Best to keep valuables hidden. Personally I think false walls are the best way to go.

Home alarm systems. Not sure I'd ever bother with the Alarm Force type companies. Places like that are really just in it for the monthly subscription. I've heard so many horror stories about the Police arriving well after the fact. In fairness I have heard a few stories of them being there in minutes as well.

I think a dog with a good, deep bark is your best bet. Don't buy entryway doors that have glass running down the side. If you have the finances, upgrade the framework in your entryways to something stonger than wood studs. You can also buy film that you apply to your ground level windows that prevents them from being shattered. Drawback here is getting out in a fire.

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

Only part I can chime in on really is the insurance side. You aren't really required to keep reciepts for purchases, even the big ticket ones, but it sure does simplify the process if you have them handy. Only exception to this rule is scheduled items like bikes, jewlery, art, etc. These items require appraisals or recent bills of sale. I think it should be common sense for receipts to be kept for big ticket items. And not just for insurance purposes.

You also can use a photo that shows the item in your house. Like a family photo with the TV in the background. I also used a screen shot of my iTunes account to cover my iPod. My wife just gave them a ballpark number for miscellaneous jewelry and sent them photos of her wearing it. Actually was very painless.

Home alarm companies may cover deductible, ours did.

If someone breaks in, and gets away, your stuff is gone. CPS told me that unless the guy cuts himself or doesn't wear gloves, he's Scott free.

From an alarm sales guy and CPS, both will tell you that signs (even with no alarm) and a big dog are about the best you can do. Oh and shut your blinds when you leave the house.

[You Need a Thneed]

I've never understood the "make sure the area around the door is well secured" bit. If I seriously wanted to enter a specific wood frame home, all the security around the door isn't going to prevent someone from cutting a hole through any random place in the wall, which would only take a minute to make a hole big enough to climb through.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

[snip] which would only take a minute to make a hole big enough to climb through.

That's the point. A modestly framed door can be busted into within a second. One loud bang which may not be enough for the neighbours to figure where the sound came from.

Somebody spending as minute with power tools to cut a hole might raise some additional suspicions.

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by ken0042

That's the point. A modestly framed door can be busted into within a second. One loud bang which may not be enough for the neighbours to figure where the sound came from.

Somebody spending as minute with power tools to cut a hole might raise some additional suspicions.

It's even easier than that. I had a locksmith over and he basically told me builder quality locks can be taken apart with pliers and a screwdriver in under 2 minutes. Builder locks (ones that come on new homes) are more decoration than anything.

The guy who robbed us broke the basement window with a pillow though. So even if I had hardcore locks it would have done nothing.

[Byrns]

Go to the dollar store and get one of these.

Spoiler!

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Byrns

Go to the dollar store and get one of these.

Spoiler!

Get some of these:

And place them in the window, they don't even have to be plugged in to anything!

(This is what my neighbour does)

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

I've never understood the "make sure the area around the door is well secured" bit. If I seriously wanted to enter a specific wood frame home, all the security around the door isn't going to prevent someone from cutting a hole through any random place in the wall, which would only take a minute to make a hole big enough to climb through.

I've never, ever heard of anyone gaining entry into a house by cutting a hole through an exterior wall. That would make a TON of noise and would likely wind up cutting through and electrical wire which bascially ends his night.

Having a strong looking front door is a great deterent. Makes them look elsewhere most commonly a ground level window. Hence where the security film comes in. They try to smash it and all it does is spiderweb and stay in the frame.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by fotze

One of the best practices is to not live in Bridgeland.

Zero in Bridgeland in the last 3 months.

7 in Crescent Dumps.

2 in Slummy-Side

2 in Kill-arney

13 in Crime-tadore

http://crimemap.calgarypolice.ca/con...aimerPage.aspx

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Get some of these:

And place them in the window, they don't even have to be plugged in to anything!

(This is what my neighbour does)

Is that just a dummy camera? If so, not a bad idea. If functional, how good are the images?

Ya, an alarm sign is a great idea. Doubt many would be willing to call the bluff on that one.


The one thing I will give alarm companies is you can get sensors that fit to your windows and door frames on top of the motion sensors in the house. So bascially if your wife and or g/f are home alone they can arm just the perimeter so if glass is broken or a door is opened, alarm goes off.

[troutman]

My neighbour was a former NHL enforcer. We have no issues with crime.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

I've never, ever heard of anyone gaining entry into a house by cutting a hole through an exterior wall. That would make a TON of noise and would likely wind up cutting through and electrical wire which bascially ends his night.

Having a strong looking front door is a great deterent. Makes them look elsewhere most commonly a ground level window. Hence where the security film comes in. They try to smash it and all it does is spiderweb and stay in the frame.

The reason why you never hear about it is because thieves will pick an easier target. My point is that all the door protection in the world isn't going to even slow down someone who wants inside YOUR house. Thankfully, most of us probably have nothing that is that valuable to someone.

But a saw could be interpreted as a lawnmower/gas trimmer/construction sound too. If it was an area where some of those things were going on anyways, it might be unlikely that someone stops to peek out their window.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

My point is that all the door protection in the world isn't going to even slow down someone who wants inside YOUR house.

Absolutely. A guy living above Sarcee Trail had something thieves wanted, and they kept coming back for. He went absolutely nuts with the security measures. He made the mistake of using hardened steel to protect his door instead of something soft. The thieves tied a chain to his door and pulled most of the back wall of his house off.

[GoinAllTheWay]

What the hell did he have that they kept coming back for?

In a case like that, that's a VERY motivated theif. Making your place look tougher to break into usually makes them go off and find an easier target.

[Rudee]

Originally Posted by fotze

One of the best practices is to not live in Bridgeland.

You can add the majority of NE Calgary to that

[TurnedTheCorner]

Have security doors. Have bars for the basement windows. Have an alarm system. Have a dog. If someone breaks in, give them whatever they want no questions asked.

[InSutterWeTrust]

As recommended by other dogs are some of the best deterrers. My parents have lived in Temple for the past 20 years, they have 2 dogs, every other house around them has been broken into except my parents place.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by troutman

My neighbour was a former NHL enforcer. We have no issues with crime.

Was a former NHL enforcer, eh? What is he now?