Without rambling about 'obvious' some crimes are, and how easily some could be prevented, I thought I'd just ask:

What security measures do you take in day to day life?

Eg.
The last thing I do before I go to bed is remove anything that is a favourite target of burglars (keys, laptop, handbag, ipaq...)from sight, lock doors and remove keys (but leave them in specific places for 'fire exit')

I also have opening restrictors on some of the downstairs windows, and the one that gets opened most has had it's lock replaced with an automatic one (because somebody doesn't bother with it's manual one :suspect: )

When driving, my handbag goes in the footwell behind me, where it's most difficult to find/remove it.

Originally posted by Strix
Without rambling about 'obvious' some crimes are, and how easily some could be prevented, I thought I'd just ask:

What security measures do you take in day to day life?

Eg.
The last thing I do before I go to bed is remove anything that is a favourite target of burglars (keys, laptop, handbag, ipaq...)from sight, lock doors and remove keys (but leave them in specific places for 'fire exit')

I also have opening restrictors on some of the downstairs windows, and the one that gets opened most has had it's lock replaced with an automatic one (because somebody doesn't bother with it's manual one :suspect: )

When driving, my handbag goes in the footwell behind me, where it's most difficult to find/remove it. :suspect: now you have told everyone where your handbag is while you are driving :hihi: think you need to change your security.

When driving I lock central locking so no-one can just jump in at lights etc and also I have handbag on passenger seat but with MY seatbeat around one of the handles etc

I always lock front door of the house so no-one can just walk in when in house alone with kids etc

I shut ALL windows in house when going out...yes even in the summer....:hihi:

I don't own anything particularly valuable just the usual TV, DVD Hifi system...no jewellery or expensive paintings etc!!

Double glazing for a start! Some monkey once removed next-door neighbour's front window and stole their tv and video!

Dug up and totally removed front hedge - it screened burglars who broke into my house through a front door panel!

Always leave lights on downstairs, and a radio playing, whenever I'm out of the house (day or night). Keep blinds & curtains closed when out.

Give neighbours a contact number when I am away from home -in case of emergency.

Trip light in open rear yard.

Originally posted by Jon
:suspect: now you have told everyone where your handbag is while you are driving :hihi: think you need to change your security.

I'd like to see them get the back seat off it first :D
Zafiras are so flexible :thumbsup:

I Let my pet Squirrel travel in the car with me.
No Problems, SEE HERE (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v689/viking99/forums/doorman.bmp)

I always shut the windows when we go to bed, even if it is warm.

I have a big dog to protect, so I feel safe.

Originally posted by rosie
I always shut the windows when we go to bed,

So do we. Silly leaving the computer on all night.

Always lock the front door - even when in the house

Have large locked gate at side of house to prevent anyone getting in that way

Prickly hedging around the fencing at the side of the house

Downstairs windows closed and locked, in summer the upstairs windows can be locked in a 'vent' position

ALWAYS check the kitchen and put away any sharp knives - i'm a bit paranoid about leaving knives around just in case anyone does happen to break-in and grabs one

Security lighting

Sensor camera linked to tv over front door

I have my lovely pooch to look after me when hubby is away and hubby has me to look after him when he's at home :heyhey:

Oh and we have a burglar alarm and on the neighbourhood watch

Always have mobile phone and handset for housephone next to me in bed

Hide car keys (can't tell you where)

...... paranoid, moi? not according to that personality disorder test .... :heyhey:

Originally posted by viking
So do we. Silly leaving the computer on all night.

Ahhhh, viking, such a wag!

:)

I tell you what - you're all making me feel like a right liability now.

My only security is an alarm when I'm out and a 4 foot staff and a pair of nunchucks when I'm in. I never central lock my car either, and only ever lock the house when I'm going to bed.

Am I being nieve or you guys being paranoid? Discuss.....

When in my car i always lock the doors
Always hide my valuables (the few i have)
If im at home alone i lock the front (and porch) and back doors
I always lock my hotel room door (some bloke walked in one night...)
Always park my car under a light when possible
Keep my wallet in a deep pocket
Clip my car keys to my belt loop (mainly so i dont loose them)
Dont carry to much cash (rarely more than about £40)
Keep my desk drawers locked
Loads of passwords on my PC
PIR lights at the fornt and rear of the house
Big gate on the "entry" at the side
Thats about it....

Originally posted by Avalon
Keep my wallet in a deep pocket


I've heard that about you, when it comes to your round.

Originally posted by Saifa
I tell you what - you're all making me feel like a right liability now.

My only security is an alarm when I'm out and a 4 foot staff and a pair of nunchucks when I'm in. I never central lock my car either, and only ever lock the house when I'm going to bed.

Am I being nieve or you guys being paranoid? Discuss.....

I think it's a lot of paranoia.

I lock the door behind me when coming in (because the SO complains otherwise), we set the alarm when going out or going to bed.
I don't lock my door when driving, I do keep bags and stuff in the boot most of the time, but more because it's tidy.
We have a security light on the back, but mainly so i can find the door.
Turret mounted machine gun with laser and IR tracking mounted on chimney with panic button for all round area saturation firing.
electrified door handles armed from car interior with 10 farad capacitor for each.
Decoy laptop bag on passenger seat with claymore rigged inside.

(the last 3 are a joke, so don't call the police)

Originally posted by nick2
I've heard that about you, when it comes to your round.

Shhh! :D

in the home i dont have that many measures,
i have 2 fierce dogs who are aware of every little noise outside! they wouldnt harm a fly but they look/sound really nasty when barking at the noises!
i lock my car door when i am driving on city roads incase anyone decides to jump in,.
i never lock my door at night ever but its on a yale latch.
i have a trip security light on my back garden and six foot fencing all around. my back garden it fully enclosed and a padlock on the gate.
thats about it.

I have a hammer in the door tray in my van at work ...and in my car. I wouldnt think twice about using it.
:suspect:

sorry to alarm but try walking v e r y slowly towards your security light, it wont come on.......take a step ..stop.count three,...take a step etc........try it

In car: always travel with doors locked

At home: Burglar alarm
4 outside lights
All windows locked internally
Metal ext doors both with 5 lever locks and 2 bolts
Metal carpet gripper along top of all perimeter fences
Security/timer lighting when we are out
Gate to rear of property padlocked.

Oooooh ALWAYS lock my car doors (central locking) when i'm in the car - tis first thing i do before starting the engine! Only time I take central locking off is when i'm on the motorway (just in case of an accident don't wanna be trapped in da car) -

though I do have one of those emergency escape hammer things to cut seat belts and break glass .... oh and a reflective waistcoat should I break down .... and a warning triangle .... not forgetting the first aid kit .... and a supply of drinking water ... emergency phone charger .... fire extinguisher ... tool kit .... umbrella ... blanket in winter ... quiz book .... pen & paper ... hand wipes ... torch ...

.... soz, no room for passsengers!

When in a hotel room always dead lock the door/put chain on and if there's a connecting door (often is) prop a chair behind it. Check the fire escape exit route, location of fire extinguishers, sit next to emergency door on bus/coach ... prefer an isle seat on the plane so can get out quicker and check under the seat to make sure the life-jacket is there ... see no paranoia at all :hihi:

We have a heavyweight, English Bull Terrier bitch of 72 pounds in weight.She is the size of a large male of the species, but is yet to cease growing at only 18 months. Already, she is a ferocious guard to home and garden. She is exceptionally alert at night, and I would not like to be the fool who broke into the house. Tallie is a real 'manstopper' [as they say in the guard dog fraternity], with speed and agility to match her strength. I have seen her rage when we had a 'false alarm' a few months ago. I have no doubt whatsover that she would prove a terrifying opponent to any burglar. Anyone who ignores the sign, and breaks in, will get the shock of their lives. I am prepared to take the consequences.

My mum bought a rottweiler for security after she was burgled and she is the most pathetic beast! She doesn't even bark when people come in the gate.
As for me, I sleep with an iron bar and am not afraid to use it! (as my partner will testify). I always automatically lock the door as soon as I come in it and sleep with phones. Keys are removed from the vicinity of the door. I find the best security device we have is fantastic neighbours who aren't afraid to question strangers hanging around in our shared garden (as my brother found when he went out for a cigarette). I don't think these procedures are paranoia - just common sense.

you sleep with phones and an iron bar but you don't think it's paranoia.

Originally posted by psyn
My mum bought a rottweiler for security after she was burgled and she is the most pathetic beast! She doesn't even bark when people come in the gate.

They're like that. Ded friendly really. But they don't let burglars out, so you can catch the barstools when you get home :D

I will use deadly force.

That's all.

:D

Always keep windows shut when not at home. A friend of mine locked herself out the other day and I managed to break into her house in about 60 seconds as she'd left a small window open upstairs.

I kee p a baseball bat in the car while driving for security. and a cricket bat in the boot.

Originally posted by Hels
Oooooh ALWAYS lock my car doors (central locking) when i'm in the car - tis first thing i do before starting the engine! Only time I take central locking off is when i'm on the motorway (just in case of an accident don't wanna be trapped in da car) -

though I do have one of those emergency escape hammer things to cut seat belts and break glass .... oh and a reflective waistcoat should I break down .... and a warning triangle .... not forgetting the first aid kit .... and a supply of drinking water ... emergency phone charger .... fire extinguisher ... tool kit .... umbrella ... blanket in winter ... quiz book .... pen & paper ... hand wipes ... torch ...

.... soz, no room for passsengers!

When in a hotel room always dead lock the door/put chain on and if there's a connecting door (often is) prop a chair behind it. Check the fire escape exit route, location of fire extinguishers, sit next to emergency door on bus/coach ... prefer an isle seat on the plane so can get out quicker and check under the seat to make sure the life-jacket is there ... see no paranoia at all :hihi:

You sound awfully like me lol! Touch wood (Reaches for Chris' head) I've never had my security compromised, which is down to my being careful :thumbsup:

Originally posted by spyro2000
I kee p a baseball bat in the car while driving for security. and a cricket bat in the boot.

It's less suspect if ever pulled by the police if you also chuck a baseball or cricket ball in your car too. That way you at least have the pretext of being able to say you play the sport.

I just do the basics. I lock all windows and doors at night. If I'm home alone during the day I keep the door locked. I never answer the front door late at night I will open the landing window to see who it is. I keep a baseball bat in the bedroom. I would be no good with a knife, I really wouldn't want to get that close to an intruder. I would rather take my chances with the bat.

I always leave the front door unlocked at night, I dont want an intruders feelings to be hurt.
I always leave the outside lights on so they can see exactly where they are going, after all a burglar can fall too, just like us.
If he insists on breaking in, leave him a bottle of TCP on the ledge to swab any cuts he may incur, he could get an infection.
I leave the baseball bat on the front door step so as to give him a fighting chance, after all we should all be equal in todays world and I would not want him to feel inadequate.
Dont forget the food, leave him some tasty morsels to feed on. Have you ever carried a camcorder, dvd player and a portable colour TV for miles to your dealers house on an empty stomach ? Specially when your rattling.
I keep the house warm just in case his fingers become numb on those long winter nights spent waiting in the shadows, and in summer I keep a fan going to cool him with a gentle breeze and a cloth to mop his brow and prevent his DNA from being spilled on the furniture.
I draw a line on the floor, hospital style, that will lead him on the quickest route to the goodies he so desires. I paint it in rainbow colours so he is reassured of the treasures that await him.
Remember, we have no idea of the cruel twists fate has thrown in his face to make him take such drastic actions in life, we must be sympathetic to others needs.
And in the room marked swag, I leave him all my glittery goods and gadgets in one place so he can quickly fill his bag without the need to creep from room to room searching through drawers.
Then while his poor heroin filled fingers search through my electronic bling, I come out of the darkness from behind him with the machete I keep under the bed and mercilessly hack him to bits for his crimes against the community.
;)
Only messing, I would of course use a shotgun....I would only use the machete to cut the body into pieces so I could dispose of it easier.

We have lights (with PIR's) all round the house and it is alarmed. Always keep doors and downstairs windows locked at night too. Other weapons of various types hidden around the house but not for an intruder to find. We keep car keys upstairs and mobiles too and we have made the upstairs phone the main one and the dowstairs one the extension so they cannot cut the cable and disconnect us unless they have got ladders. We have a camera watching the cars too, all of which are alarmed and immobilised.

Its funny how nearly everyone says they would club or stab an intruder if they broke into their house. Truth is an intruder has so much at stake they would fight like ten men in order to get out. We all (specially blokes) think we could handle it relatively easily, but the truth is even a 14 year old lad could become an extremely dangerous handful if cornered in this sort of situation.

Originally posted by spyro2000
I keep a baseball bat in the car while driving for security. and a cricket bat in the boot.
I keep a Fruit bat in the dining room, a vampire bat in the bedroom :suspect: , A Mexican big eared bat in the living room and a common yellow shouldered bat in the kitchen.

In the Bathroom I have an Eastern pipistrell bat and in the loft, a cave myotis bat.

As Far as security goes, I have a 12 Bore shotgun and No concience.

Originally posted by viking
I keep a Fruit bat in the dining room, a vampire bat in the bedroom :suspect: , .

These measures are unreliable though, and can be a pain in the neck! :hihi:

I posted this on a different thread, but I think it is more appropriate here

Just in case a burglar enters my house at night, I keep a small card by my bedside, with some notes written on it. I have more or less memorised what I will say, so I have the notes in case I forget something. Here’s what the card says:

Welcome to my house. It’s a pleasure to meet you, even though the circumstances are somewhat unusual. Regardless of that, I would like to extend to you the same hospitality and courtesy to anyone who enters these portals. Don’t be alarmed dear boy, I’m sure we can have a rational discussion about what you would like to take and what I would like to dispose of – I have so much stuff I really don’t need anyway, so you may be doing me a favour (I need an excuse to get a Plasma TV and the a new DVD player and hi fi system). I am sure we can come to some rational arrangement. I will even help to carry stuff out for you, so that my remaining furniture is not damaged in the process.

Lets sit down in the lounge. I will wager that levering a door open must be quite tiring. – I’ll put the lights on and I’ll make you a cup of tea (coffee if you prefer) and have a plentiful supply of biscuits. I must say, I admire your proactive approach to the issue of the redistribution of wealth. So many of us are just concerned to just talk about this, or vote for a party which seeks redistribution in a very imperfect way through stealth taxes. Moreover, I’m impressed by your willingness to work very late at night – very few people are these days. Perhaps you have been inspired by Proudhon’s famous maxim that ‘All property is theft’. I remember discussing maxim this in a university seminar, but never thought that we had fully explored its ramifications on a praxiological level. Or perhaps it was the medieval conundrum ‘When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman’, an idea which is supposed to have inspired the Peasant’s Revolt’. Have you read anything by Jean Genet? I must say, the French have made an art form of outlaw chic. I think we staid British are a bit lacking in this regard. No, I’m not trying to diss you man, and I am trying to show you respec’ –I’ll get the tea and biscuits.

Then while he was relaxing in the lounge, I’d get the cordless chainsaw I keep in the kitchen, rip his head off and s**t down his neck.

oh so it was YOUR house i broke into!