Any ideas for home defense?

[JoshW]

The neighborhood I am in was generally considered to be pretty safe. Very little crime. Nothing beyond the odd break in and kid stuff. But in the last month there have been a couple murders and worse a home invasion. I generally believe that in this neighborhood if you don't look for trouble you won't find it, but random home invasion hit pretty hard.

I have had my gun days in the past, but now I generally don't feel it would be a overall advantage to keep one in the past. So I am looking for non-gun ideas on how to make a house more secure.

So far I am leaning toward motion detection lighting. Anyone have any experience or thoughts on home defense and/or crime prevention?

Also have a dog, but she is not much defense beyond barking at potential intruders until she starts licking them.

[swede96]

Have you considered a big dog? Motion sensor lights are good, I'd say if you are really worried, you go with a good alarm.

[WileOut]

The dog barking helps tremendously. Also, you can get an ADT sign and stick it in front of your house if you dont want to go the whole alarm system route. Usually the sign by itself works.

[Brady2Moss]

most alarm systems suck. I live in a rough neighborhood, for protection all I have is.

1) windows with bars
2) a gun
3) video alarm system

Make sure you get the video system

[swede96]

Hell, for that matter, I'm pretty sure you can buy a recording of a barking dog and put it on a motion sensor. I would bar the windows, though. If there's a fire, you can't get out.

[SBR Lou]

Motion detection lighting sounds alright, but I don't know that light alone would do the trick. Maybe get one of those signs that says house alarm protected blah blah, even if you don't legitimately have one that could also throw someone off your trail.

If you're really worried you could always get extra resistance/locks on your windows, install a home alarm system as well. A good tip may be trying to break into your own house (without seriously damaging anything) as if you lost your key. If you can easily climb through or break a window and get in, that's not good.

[fiveteamer]

Do what Ohio State does. They have great Home D.

[pico]

desert eagle

[pico]

if you want non-gun. try a whistle...maybe your neighbor will hear you an call the cops

[tacomax]

Have you considered a big dog?

He's already married.

[compaqDikk]

put a massive poster of JJGold on your door. no one will step 10 feet from your pad

[pavyracer]

Invide your gay friends for a toga party at 3 in the afternoon. Noone will mess with you anymore in the hood when they see you are loco.

[NEP Dynasty]

Where do you live? Get an alarm, its easy and best defense.

[daggerkobe]

Our 100LB Australian shephard attacks anyone that's foolish enough to even stick their arm through the gate.

[pavyracer]

Our 100LB Australian shephard attacks anyone that's foolish enough to even stick their arm through the gate.

I want to see the picture of the 100 lb aussie. I thought I had a big one at 65 lbs.

[JoshW]

Honestly. I have one dog at the moment and that it about all I can handle.

I appreciate all the ideas.

I live in Kansas. Compared to where a lot of people live, it is very safe. Just a recent crime wave has made me rethink some safety.

I have a fence around the whole property, so that combined with motion sensor lights, is a good start I think.

[topgame85]

If you want the best protection obviousley a gun but since you dont want to go that route put up cameras and motion lights make the camera visible but unreachable, It sucks not having a gun because then when you see that SOB trying to creep in your house on your survelliance screen all lit up by the motion sensors you cant blast his ass

[Justin7]

Motion-sensor lighting is inexpensive and effective. It bothers bad guys when lights start going on and off.

Make sure you don't have any shrubbery or plants that shield access points to your house. Trim them so the street has a view of any places they would break in.

[Helmut]

[MonkeyF0cker]

Bushmaster M4 AR-15

[SBR Lou]

Bushmaster M4 AR-15

Best idea yet.

[swede96]

He's already married.

Dammit Taco!! I just spit coffee all over myself!! I have missed you terribly.

[pavyracer]

Bushmaster M4 AR-15

I would use a pistol or a sawcut shotgun before I use a 4 ft long assault rifle for home defense. If you are chasing someone in the house you can't be running with a rifle trying to shoot them unless you live at a mansion like Tony Montana in Scarface.

[pavyracer]

You can't be serious. This weighs about 100 lbs with ammo and you need two guys to operate it. Is your wife a wrestler?

[Willie Bee]

I want to see the picture of the 100 lb aussie. I thought I had a big one at 65 lbs.

Maybe it's kinned to that 150 pound Doberman in that story about the farmer shooting the dog a couple of months back which not one law enforcement agency nor media outlet in the Atlanta area knew of

Move to Texas; everyone just assumes the home owner has a gun. Seriously, if you have kids then I understand the non-gun approach, but it really just takes a little effort to educate/train yourself and the kids about guns.

Video surveillance is pretty cheap and easy to install. We've got wildlife cameras in addition to video on our property.

[The Prick]

pump shotgun....back when i was bustin' inta houses, er, I mean a friend of mine who used ta bust inta houses sez aint no confusin the sound of that pump action 'specialy at night when yer robbin somebody. drop the goods and run

[Helmut]

You can't be serious. This weighs about 100 lbs with ammo and you need two guys to operate it. Is your wife a wrestler?

Mount it so it can easily been seen by anyone on the outside looking in. It will show any intruder that you mean business.

[MonkeyF0cker]

I would use a pistol or a sawcut shotgun before I use a 4 ft long assault rifle for home defense. If you are chasing someone in the house you can't be running with a rifle trying to shoot them unless you live at a mansion like Tony Montana in Scarface.

4 feet? You've obviously never shot one before. With a collapsable stock they are about 2.5 feet long with a standard 16" barrel. They can also be modified with shorter barrels.

[MonkeyF0cker]

In all honesty, if you don't want a firearm, I'd suggest digging a mote full of sharks with laser beams attached to their heads...

[JoshW]

The gun might be an option eventually. I just don't think the crime hasn't gotten to the point were it makes sense to have that level of responsability. When I lived in a rural area, I had dozens of them. But I just feel I have moved on. I know a Concealed Carry Instructor who doesn't carry a gun, because he doesn't feel the risk of him shooting someone by accident and going to prison, is worth the added safety benefit, given the low crime risk in the town we live in.

I am not married. But good joke.

[pavyracer]

Mount it so it can easily been seen by anyone on the outside looking in. It will show any intruder that you mean business.

If you mount it you will have to keep guard of it all the time and maintain it. If you leave it mounted overnight it will be stolen and eventually rust from moisture. It needs to be cleaned and oiled daily. The ammo will also rust and become unusable.

[pavyracer]

4 feet? You've obviously never shot one before. With a collapsable stock they are about 2.5 feet long with a standard 16" barrel. They can also be modified with shorter barrels.

Try to run up or down the stairs holding it with two hands in the house chasing an intruder. The pistol is the better option for home defense because it can be holstered easily and provide mobility in case of an intrusion to your house.