So, What do you do to insure that your home is safe?  If possible, I would prefer to NOT have to defend my home and family with force or as a last resort deadly force.  With that said I will but would like to have a good amount of deterrence for your more common home invaders.  There is a large variety of options out there and I would like the input of people that I think have the same mind set as me with experience... There are alarm systems, security doors, motion sensor lights, video monitoring etc.  I would love to have a dog, but currently that is just not an option.  The reason I ask is I will be moving to an area where I can foresee the benefits of adding some type of additional security.  As far as my family goes, we have set a good habit to lock all doors/windows when not home or sleeping.  We also leave a talk radio station on while away to mimic someone home.  Call me paranoid, but I just want to be extra safe...

So far this is my what I plan on adding: (recommendations are welcome  )
1. One way screw security doors (heard stories from my father who is a retired Firefighter who says that they are extremely difficult to open when locked, even with the tools they use)
2. Outside motion sensor lights

I'm on the fence in regards to investing in a home alarm system. (won a DSC alarm system from the gun show ).  The reason I'm on the fence is that there is a monthly fee and I've heard good and bad reviews when it comes to home security systems.  Some say it gives peace of mind, while others say that it causes more issues (false alarms) than it is worth.  Any personal experience anyone? 

Motion sensor lights are a win. We have those all around our spot.  Wire them to a toggle so you can over ride it and turn the lights on when you want to.
I'm using trail cameras as security cameras around our spot.
Fortified our front door.
Our sliding door we leave a wood in the track to show were aware. Also a adjustable bar thing diagnose of the door so you can't wiggle it open. There's also a few hidden tricks I won't mention here.

A good investment is those cheap siren things that go off when separated.
We were gonna put a dead bolt with key on both sides, but decided against it in case we needed to get out of the house fast for whatever reason.
I also sleep in different areas of my house every so often to keep up on things.

Good luck in your pursuit.

Wood in track of sliding door = great simple additional measure that I didn't think of... Thank you bass monkey

aloha ku
what is a
1. One way screw security doors
?

i am not picturing what you are talking about here

dogs and security company signs as a first resort
that will keep out kids and dumb chronics
the smarter ones and the desperate/violent ones are the ones we hafta worry about

good luck with your project

aloha

steve

Sorry didn't explain that well.  Basically it is a security door installed using "security" screws / one way screws.  One thing to keep in mind is that if you don't line up everything and you drill in those screws  crooked.... well, your kinda screwed lol.  They are every difficult to get out for a "redo".  I want to say specialty tools are required but I'm not completely sure.  I've used that type of screws, just not at home.  A coworker and I ruined a locker by rushin a job...

ok, thanks man
am having one of my contractor patients install security screen doors to my front and garage doors in a couple of weeks
currently no screen door in back (limits cross breezes)
and one of those cheap home depot ones on the front door (the kind you can just yank on to open the latch)
my mom puts a bungie cord on the door when i'm not at home, but that's not a perfect solution

i'll ask my patient about one way screws, but i was mostly concerned with the door latches before
he is going to build me new door jambs, so i assume they will be pretty securely attached

aloha

steve

Sorry didn't explain that well.  Basically it is a security door installed using "security" screws / one way screws.  One thing to keep in mind is that if you don't line up everything and you drill in those screws  crooked.... well, your kinda screwed lol.  They are every difficult to get out for a "redo".  I want to say specialty tools are required but I'm not completely sure.  I've used that type of screws, just not at home.  A coworker and I ruined a locker by rushin a job...

Use some big ass screws for your mounting, so they can't rip out as easily if your door gets kicked in.

Also yes agree with the security/alarm signs as well as beware of dog.  Cheap and easy.

Exterior motion detector lights
Alarm system w/door and motion detectors
Cellular backup alarm notification system w/battery
Safe bolted to concrete slab


I would like to add video monitoring, that would be nice.  Of all of this the single most expensive item is the backup cell service at about $640/year.

That reminds me i have to change one of the doors to in-swing. Someone pulled a butter knife special on the last tenant. The jalousies are the non-slip out kind which are a definite improvement over the older ones. I wedge sliding windows shut with pieces of wood so even if they jimmy the locks they still have to break glass and make a lot of noise. Was considering investing in a chihuahua to bark when strangers come around. Mrs Barrels wants a big dog but i'd rather not have the food bill, giant poop, potential liability and short lifespan.

Bought a 1k cam system at costco and returned it after figuring out how crazy the instal was going to be, plus it might make my neighbors think I am spying on them. Love the idea of a game camera, though. Not many people know what it is and if the power goes out it still works in the dark.

i'd rather not have the food bill, giant poop, potential liability and short lifespan.

Sounds like my ex wife

I've been using about all my inner google and bing-ku and come up with kinda a limited amount of results about LEO response time to triggered home alarm systems in Hawaii.  From what I understand they (LEO) consider a call to a triggered home alarm system a "low priority".  Is there any LEO on this forum to help give me some enlightenment?  Thinking about getting a home alarm system with a short contract obligation and then using it as a stand-alone with no monitoring...  Kind of the same idea of a car alarm I guess.  Any thoughts of a stand-alone vs monitored home security system?

Does anyone do anything special for your garage doors?  Where I currently live every home on my street was hit and majority was from the garage door.  The person or persons would use a crow bar or something like that to pry the locks/interlocks on the sides of the garage door and enter that way.  Everything from hand tools to full tool boxes were taken.  Luckily my garage was not broken into, but I can tell a attempt was made from the bends in the metal around the frame and door itself.  I now just tie 200 lbs to the garage door and call it good...

Sorry for all the questions, just tryin to cover everything

^^^I have an old house so my garage doesn't have a door that connects to the house, but I see your issue.

My system is monitored, so I get a call to check if the alarm is false or if I'm potentially being held hostage.  The key pad also has direct fire, police, emergency keys on it.  As stated earlier I like the idea of video monitoring because with today's smartphones you could monitor so long as you have cell service.

Aloha,

I am in the security industry and can say that a security system and video monitoring is a great idea.  I can view my house from where ever im at on my phone, or computer and see whats the status at my house.  If you get high end equipment you can even trigger the cameras to have an output, (open gates, make siren noises or turn on lights) from your phone or computer.

A local system which is not monitored depends on a few things
1, do you have good neighbors that would respond for you if your not home?
2,  Or using it for a notification for you when your home that someone is trying to enter.

A monitored system is great for the fact that they can dispatch the police for you.  I would recommend looking into the company you choose and check their false alarm record as well as their quality of work.  If they know what they are doing that would limit the false alarms a lot.

Reinforcing your door frame is good only if you have a solid wood/steel door.
If they cant get in any other way they will look at windows.  There was a company that sold a film (like tint) that would stop the breakage of the window.  It may be a little expensive though.
Possibilities are endless it just depends on how much you want to spend.
I hope this helps.  Good luck!

Dboy

Thx for your input dboy.  You happen to have a company name for the hard window tint?

Thx for your input dboy.  You happen to have a company name for the hard window tint?

I don't remember the company name, it's been a while.  What you can do is call local tinting companies and ask if they do shatter proof tinting, if they don't I bet they know who does.

If I remember I'll let you know

Dboy

For front door security, it might be worth it to invest in something like the Strikemaster, which is a big chunk of metal that reinforces the door jamb to prevent it from being kicked in.  Even if you've got a huge heavy door with a good deadbolt, the jamb is still just sort of screwed in.  The Strikemaster allows your door jamb to basically be lag bolted into the framing of your house.  I don't have one, but it seems like a great idea.

Thx for your input dboy.  You happen to have a company name for the hard window tint?

TnT tinting.  Their shop is on Koapaka st by the airport

TnT tinting.  Their shop is on Koapaka st by the airport

Thx, I'll have to check them out.  Hopefully it's within my budget...

TnT tinting.  Their shop is on Koapaka st by the airport

thanks for the info!