Do I need a home security solution?

I know home protection can sometimes be controversial. Security is not one-size-fits all, so please help me figure out what is best for my family.

Background: In the middle of the night last week I heard noises like someone was walking around in my house. It was probably the most frightened I have been in the last 20 years. In that moment I realized I had no weapons besides a large pocketknife. I did my manly duty and searched the house but found nothing. Afterword, I decided I needed to have something because that has to be better than nothing.

What I am NOT trying to protect:

  1. Thieves breaking into my house when we are away: I don’t have any possessions worth speaking of. Past experience has indicated that thieves are mostly interested in less traceable items such as gold jewelry and cash. We have very little of that in our house (less than $500). If they break into my house and find nothing, who cares? It will probably cost less to fix than most security solutions.

    1. Family during the day: My wife and kids stay home most of the day. Although I do not live in a gate community, it is a lowish crime area. I have neighbors that come and go during the day. The single family homes are fairly close together. I have no enemies. I don’t think physical harm to my family during the day is a likely scenario. I do not think most security solutions are going to help much here anyway.
  2. My pride: Some people (probably mostly guys) take home protection as a very fundamental part of their manhood. This is not me. I am not looking to be the badass or hero.

    1. Fire/carbon monoxide: I already have all of these covered.

What I AM trying to protect: I am looking for personal protection of my family, mostly at night.

Foundational Question: Is this a real threat? How many people are really harmed by night invaders anyway? Of those harmed, does it usually happen because the homeowner confronts them? Do I really just want this so I can not wake up in the middle of the night and not be scared?

Security Solution Options:

  1. Non-monitored security system like Semplisafe: Looks like it would be about $600 to cover windows and doors. Kids walk around at night, so motion sensors are worthless. Assumption is that alarm will scare bad guys away.

  2. Gun: My kids are responsible enough not to play with it, but I DO NOT trust their friends. If I have it all properly locked up, I have no faith in myself to be able to unlock it and load it before it is needed. Also, if I use it in a half-asleep adrenaline-pumping panic, I do not trust myself shooting bullets in my house with my wife and kids in their rooms.

  3. Baseball bat and or samurai sword: These options are looking better and better.

Conclusion: Did I miss something? Any thoughts on my Foundational Question or Security Solution Options? I am open to your thoughts.

I would just add that you might want to think more about your fear reaction and how that is driving your decisions and actions.

Does you being really afraid automatically = there is a viable threat?

You say you checked it out and there was nothing, yet you remain in an active mode trying to solve for a threat.

I don’t have concrete suggestions for this, just wanted to add it to the mind-mix.

A first step may be simply outdoor lights set on a motion detector. Installation depends on what outdoor lights you may already have, of course.

The home security systems that you can get from just about anywhere have two modes: one for when you leave the house, which typically allows for osmething like 30 seconds after a door is opened for the user to disarm the system before the alarm is sounded. It would be common for the alarm to go off immediately if a motion detector was set off (like a guy sneaked in through the chimney, not through a door or window, but was caught by the motion detector = instant alarm).

The other mode is basically for nighttime with occupants in the house: motion detectors are off, but if a door or window with a sensor is opened, the alarm goes off immediately.

There are gun safes that open with your fingerprints.

It may not be the solution for you but it’s a big reason a lot of people own dogs.
Dogs have very keen senses especially for odd out of place sounds at night. They know if something is not right and would bark up a storm if they thought an intruder was in the house.
Most intruders would also retreat immediately if they knew they were detected by a dog.

I would say these questions are pretty much my main question.

If evidence says that effectively no one breaks into homes at night to hurt people, then I won’t spend any more time on it.

That is a pretty good idea.

Yea, the cost and effort needed for dog is a bit high. But definitely a good thing if you already have one.

Personally i have one that requires a combination, although the buttons are designed as one per finger. It doesn’t require electricity so I don’t have to worry about changing the battery and it requires some level of mental work so I’m less likely to be half asleep when I try to open it. I can get it open in about half a second and i store it in there with the magazine already inserted. It’s screwed to the bottom of my bed so i can reach it without lights on and it can’t be easily stolen. My pistol also has a combination flashlight/laser sight so i can be sure of exactly who I’m aiming at.

Based upon the description of your fear reaction, I wouldn’t recommend a gun for you as a home security tool.

Just invest the $600 in simplisafe. It will bring you peace of mind, and is about the same cost as a decent handgun.

There was a great article series on McSweeneys a while ago called Fear, Inc, about the various ways in which fear is used to sell things.

The article on Home Security Systems is worth reading. They are overwhelmingly sold by implying that they provide personal security, that is, that they help keep people safe.

But they don’t

A gun or a big dog might help (although they do have their downsides), but a security monitoring system is really only good for preventing theft while you’re not there.

Is it a real threat? Not particularly. Yes, people are rarely harmed by home invasion, but it’s quite rare. And we’re pretty bad at reasoning about scary-sounding very-unlikely risks.

I expect that driving to the store to buy a security system is likely far more dangerous than whatever you’ll prevent with it. So whatever you decide to go with, have it delivered.

For your own peace of mind,buy a bat and install the motion sensor lights first. Also, if you have the right to do so plant broad, sturdy bushes around your house, specifically under the windows; do not let them grow taller than the sill height. They’ll be a visible deterrent to a thief looking for an open or easily-opened window.
If you have a sliding door there are a variety of blocking apparatus you can install that will prevent the door being opened at all.
There are door stoppers that can be lifted up to block the exit doors from being opened better than a chain will; they either fold down or are removable when not in use. You can put bars on the doors and windows, of course, but to me that always looks ugly and as though the area’s unsafe whether it is or not.
If the unthinkable happens and someone still breaks in somehow, call 911 and hide in a closet w/ the bat prepared to jam it hard into the torso of whomever comes after you. Even if you don’t speak when they answer 911 will send a car out.
Lastly, make sure everyone who lives in the house is aware of the security level you want to achieve. Often a break-in occurs b/c a door has been left unlocked by a visitor (especially after a party) or a forgetful family member.
When you hear noises in your house, remember that inside and out it’s made of materials that swell and shrink depending on weather, etc; and that noises from the roof can seem to be coming from the floor below it.

Why don’t you try contacting your local police department and getting some statistics on crime in your neighborhood? It may put your mind at ease.

I would also suggest that you seriously consider a dog if you feel that you need to do something. Adopt a full grown dog that will be a companion for you and the children, because puppies are a lot of work, and because a full grown dog can be on the job immediately. Let the dog sleep inside, either with the kids, or with you. Anyone casing your house in advance will notice the dog and likely move on. If the dog is inside with you, if someone gets in, the dog will be more help inside than outside. They can alert you there is a problem, barking might scare away an intruder, and so on.

If you can’t stand dogs then don’t do this, obviously.

The other thing the police may be able to do for you is to look around your house and make suggestions for how to make it more secure. If you call ADT or another such company, they’re only interested in selling you a security system (and, more importantly, a subscription to the monitoring service, which is I think where the real money is).

I’ll see the motion sensors/lights bid. And I’ll raise you a sign that says you have ADT or whomever. Just the sign. Don’t bother with the service.

The lights in the hallway outside your bedroom should be on a motion switch. That way you don’t get surprised by a toddler standing next to your bed at 3am. Or a teenager sneaking in after curfew. Lights the way to the bathroom plus you can get un/dressed without using the bedroom light. We also have the main floor light on a motion switch. Plus a few outside lights.

You can buy such signs online. For additional cheap deterrent*, you could install a couple of dummy security cameras that look real but are not hooked up to anything.

Simplisafe by the way does offer monitoring service but it’s optional. And you can install sensors on windows and doors that trip when they’re opened, and do without motion sensors.

*dogs are relatively cheap to start with but maintenance costs add up. :slight_smile:

I use a key-lock gun safe. It is in my bedroom. Before retiring each night, I put the key in the lock. If anything happens during the night, I can turn the key and have access to a gun. In the morning, I remove the key. Fingerprint locks and combination locks are also available, but this solution has satisfied me for 30 years or so.
I’m not going to push you to buy a gun, but I strongly urge you to reconsider baseball bats or katanas. They are less than ideal indoor weapons. Also keep in mind that impact or edged weapons will, by their nature, require you to close with an opponent and apply your weapon with a will. There will be screaming and blood and other unpleasantness. Is your personality such that you can do this?

I’ll raise you an “NRA Member” sign and a confederate flag, conspicuously displayed. Don’t actually join the NRA or buy a gun.

After a bit of thought, if you are still wanting an impact weapon, I have a suggestion. Go to Home Depot and get a replacement handle for a sledge hammer. Just the handle, not the whole hammer. Learn to do some two-handed thrusting attacks. There are plenty of books and videos that can teach you the basic idea. If you encounter an intruder in a part of your house where there is room, you can still swing it like a bat. Again, though, use of a weapon like this means closing with an opponent. People whose jobs involve violence, like LE and military, learn some close combat but they prefer stand-off weapons for a reason.