what do you do to prevent electronics from being stolen from home?

[Zebo]

He's actually pretty friendly, but sure doesn't sound like it if someone is snooping around.

That dog wouldnt scare me. Looks puntable like a football.

 

[bombatwist]

I set a bunch of these at chokepoints in my home before I leave.

But it becomes a problem if I want to go back inside

i think i'm gonna have to go with this. seems like the best solution. i might lose some of my valuables in the process but at least that takes care of the burglar and brings justice!

edit: btw what do you call these types of bombs? o_0

 

[KaOTiK]

i think i'm gonna have to go with this. seems like the best solution. i might lose some of my valuables in the process but at least that takes care of the burglar and brings justice!

edit: btw what do you call these types of bombs? o_0

claymores

 

[jlee]

I have roommates and we work opposing schedules, so someone is almost always home (and we all have guns). That seems to work.

Barring that, if I were ever really worried I'd probably do something like this.

 

[Doppel]

Primary defense is live in suburbs. Secondary is see primary.

 

[dud]

so yeah, i'm asking this question because i've gotten robbed TWICE now within a 2 month time-span. once at my apartment near my college and just recently back at my parent's home. My parent's always keep the house locked but they still managed to break through.

I was just wondering what you guys specifically do for any electronics laying around and how to keep them from being stolen(or at least make it alot harder for them to get stolen). Electronics such as HDTVs, Game Systems(PS3,X360,Wii), DVD players, Laptops, etc. (because these are things that i've lost)

I know home security like alarms would be a good idea but sometimes that doesn't really stop burglars. I was thinking of wall-mounting any HDTVs I own in the future, and maybe get some sort of kensington lock for the rest, but anyone have any better ideas?

Didn't read the whole thread but isn't it obvious ... don't keep valuable electronics in your home?

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Not robbed.

 

[nageov3t]

heavy outside doors and not only do I lock the windows, all the easily-accessible windows are screwed shut with an L bracket.

I live on a pretty busy street, even at night... I'd have to think that if someone smashed through my front windows with a garbage can or something, the cops would be called pretty quick.

leaving packages out on the stoop, on the other hand, is a fool's game. I can't have anything delivered to my house because anything left outside unattended is liable to get swiped.

 

[vbuggy]

He's actually pretty friendly, but sure doesn't sound like it if someone is snooping around.

Problem with too friendly dogs: They do jack.

A friend got robbed with the entire family sleeping upstairs. Dog (Lab) was downstairs. Apparently they even fed the dog.

They'd taken the lot - computers, TV's, other valuables in sight. Even sneaked into the kids rooms to take their laptops and master bedroom to purloin the jewelry. That's as they're sleeping presumably feet away.

 

[apac]

I think someone would make it as far as one foot inside before they realized their mistake. I have a half pitbull mutt who goes from peaceful to full-on security dog the instant she realizes there is a threat. I'd walk through the worst party of town with that dog and not be nervous.

Re: the too friendly dog comment above, she won't even eat cheese when she is in security mode, even if I put it right in front of her nose.

 

[NetGuySC]

In addition to a security system, I suggest getting a nanny cam disguised as a plain wall clock. It is motion activated, always has the last 40 to 60 hours of video. If someone does break in at least you will have a good video of them to give to the cops.

 

[Imp]

Buy (bribe an alarm tech) some alarm system signs and plaster them over your doors and some windows.

Or make your house look like a crackhouse. Our house looks like a crackhouse. You can climb into my room easily, and the front basement window is secured from the outside. All the expensive shit is in my room - I keep a Maglite under my bed (I'll blind them?).

 

[Smoblikat]

Work out and have a 110lb american bulldog at home at all times. Needless to say one of us will stop whoever is trying to take my stuff.

 

[QueBert]

I bet there are statistics somewhere that houses outside of the ghetto are robbed more than ones in it. I live in the ghetto and 98% of my neighbors don't have shit worth stealing. Well unless you want a CRT tv or a 5 disc Fisher CD player. If I broken in either of my adjacent neighbors houses I would probably end up putting shit in the house for them. While I know homes in the ghetto do get robbed, a sensible thief isn't going to target poor people, it just doesn't make much sense. There are 2 houses on my street that are an exception, they're full of OMGWTFBBQSAUCE nice shit, but there's always somebody there who has a gun.

 

[wkabel23]

I bet there are statistics somewhere that houses outside of the ghetto are robbed more than ones in it. I live in the ghetto and 98% of my neighbors don't have shit worth stealing. Well unless you want a CRT tv or a 5 disc Fisher CD player. If I broken in either of my adjacent neighbors houses I would probably end up putting shit in the house for them. While I know homes in the ghetto do get robbed, a sensible thief isn't going to target poor people, it just doesn't make just sense.

A sensible thief is going to walk/drive in his POS car to the suburbs to rob rich people? LOL, no one will notice him! What a sensible plan!

Plenty of people in the ghetto have flat screens, xboxes, ps3s, drugs, cash, etc. And they frequently don't have alarm systems. You do the math.

 

[QueBert]

A sensible thief is going to walk/drive in his POS car to the suburbs to rob rich people? LOL, no one will notice him! What a sensible plan!

Plenty of people in the ghetto have flat screens, xboxes, ps3s, drugs, cash, etc. And they frequently don't have alarm systems. You do the math.

No, not plenty, I live in the ghetto, you watch too many TV shows or something if you think plenty have flat screens and nice shit. Most people struggle to pay rent, while sure there are exceptions, the majority won't have nice shit. My next door neighbor has a Sony 32" CRT and a PS2. If you bring 3 strong ass friends you can get a TV that was top of the line 12 years ago
My neighbor on the other side has a DLP that's not too bad, but nobody is going to steal a big ass DLP over a plasma. And I didn't say anything about robbing rich people, middle class would be better targets actually. Many try to live like they're rich, so they have a good amount of decent to nice things. As for the shitty car, a lot break into middle class houses that have a car in the garage, and end up loading the car with shit from the house, and stealing the car. Happened in my sisters neighborhood twice so far this year, and it's definitely not a poor area. The dudes broke in on their feet and left in a stolen ride.

The exception would be a crack head, they'll break into a house regardless of how shitty it is if they think they'll so much as find a $5 bill.

 

[wkabel23]

No, not plenty, I live in the ghetto, you watch too many TV shows or something if you think plenty have flat screens and nice shit. Most people struggle to pay rent, while sure there are exceptions, the majority won't have nice shit. My next door neighbor has a Sony 32" CRT and a PS2. If you bring 3 strong ass friends you can get a TV that was top of the line 12 years ago
My neighbor on the other side has a DLP that's not too bad, but nobody is going to steal a big ass DLP over a plasma. And I didn't say anything about robbing rich people, middle class would be better targets actually. Many try to live like they're rich, so they have a good amount of decent to nice things. As for the shitty car, a lot break into middle class houses that have a car in the garage, and end up loading the car with shit from the house, and stealing the car. Happened in my sisters neighborhood twice so far this year, and it's definitely not a poor area. The dudes broke in on their feet and left in a stolen ride.

The exception would be a crack head, they'll break into a house regardless of how shitty it is if they think they'll so much as find a $5 bill.

Yes, plenty. Where the fuck do you live? The slums of Rio? Where do thieves take their stolen property? To the middle class neighborhood? Don't be dense. There's plenty of shit to steal in the hood. And there's plenty of shit not worth stealing. Also, who's less likely to report the crime to the police? And yes I'm basing this off TV shows and not anything like burglary prosecutions, police reports, or a little thing called common sense.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I've lived in more poor neighborhoods than middle or upper class ones and there are fewer break ins and thefts in poor neighborhoods because you know your neighbors and someone is always around.

 

[nageov3t]

I think the worst problems with break-ins I've ever experienced was when we lived in a working class neighborhood in Portland, OR... I think that house got broken into like 4 times.

it was a ranch-style house, though... practically anyone off the street could just walk up, jimmy a window open, and hop inside.

one thing I appreciate about the north east is that homes generally aren't built at that level out here. I live in a first-floor apartment, but my windows would be about shoulder-level for someone standing on the street. someone would have to come up to my house carrying a ladder on a street with a lot of foot traffic.

 

[jaysen]

No, not plenty, I live in the ghetto

Where's ghetto for you - what City do you live in?

As to the OP... If someone really want's your stuff, they're gonna get in and do whatever it takes to obtain it. Some steps you can take to prevent or dissuade a burglar have been mentioned already but I'll elaborate, or reiterate some for you;

A
An alarm is both GOOD & BAD - it's designed purpose is honestly pretty useless for a few reasons;once it is "tripped" your keypad sends a signal to the monitoring company, the company then tries to reach you multiple times, and only AFTER their unsuccessful attempt at reaching you, do they call the Police and request a response... Now if you live in a CITY that your local PD/Sheriff actually responds to alarms (MOST do not anymore due to budget cuts), take in to account other priority calls for service they need to respond to before a "burglar" alarm. Chance are, at the very best it'll take at minimum 7-10 minutes for an actual person is at your door AFTER it has tripped.

However, having said that... an alarm can be beneficial and act as a deterrent if you set it up properly. Purchase an EXTERNAL - L.A.F Siren (LAF = Loud AS F*CK) so if and when your alarm sounds, the NEIGHBORS will know. If you live in the sticks and your nearest neighbor is 2 miles out this defeats the purpose. Chances are a thief wont stick around too long after hearing a LAF siren going off with no reset.

"nanny"/indoor cameras are ONLY good if you wanna know they they shit in your toilet prior to stealing your $1,000 camera, or helped themselves to a bite to eat before pocketing your jewelry. Cameras are only good in two places - At entry points when they are eye-level so you can actually obtain a good, clean, and clear picture of the perp however this doesn't even guarantee you'll catch the SOB. Facial recognition is only in the movies, sorry to disappoint you. The second place is on your exterior shooting the Street/Driveway - good placement will improve the chance of obtaining a license plate if these guys are in a vehicle.

Dogs can be good if trained properly but you open yourself up to a world of liability training a dog to bite...

among all this, obtain a good insurance policy, keep receipts and boxes for everything, notate all serial numbers, and engrave shit with your drivers license/telephone # on stuff...

 

[FM2n]

You can get a security camera setup (4 cameras) with infrared for about $300. Throw in a 2 TB hard drive and you're looking at up to 60 days of footage. Most of the DVR recorders interfaces with the home alarm system and has LAN network connectivity where you can customize the DVR setting to email you a snapshot whenever it detects motion, or you can connect remotely using your browser to control the DVR or watch the feed Live. I'd say if someone wants to break in and they're determined enough to, they WILL get in. The best you can do is hopefully catch them on film and hope the cops arrest them eventually.

 

[lxskllr]

I've lived in more poor neighborhoods than middle or upper class ones and there are fewer break ins and thefts in poor neighborhoods because you know your neighbors and someone is always around.

^^^

Suburbs are easy to burgle. Cable install van, flower delivery, lawn care... Houses are spread farther apart, so there's less likelihood of being noticed, or interrupted. Living in the suburbs decreases your chances of being robbed, while increasing your chance of being burgled.

 

[OCGuy]

I live in a...er......not very multi-cultural neighborhood.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

File 2 claims within a short time period(3 years) and you won't. 2 people I know did this and were cancelled, State Farm.

2 claims before termination? that's unusually generous of them.

 

[rudder]

You could also get dremel and write:

This xbox was stolen from <insert address here>

Cause you know that all the stolen crap goes straight to the pawn shop.