# What is the best way to prevent home invasions? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 6, 2009, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-prevent-home-invasions/484754 "2009-02-06T21:47:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![MichaelJohnBertrand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dfb087/32.png) [@MichaelJohnBertrand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelJohnBertrand)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-prevent-home-invasions/484754/61 "2009-02-08T17:09:28Z")
1. Crime is rare. Statistically, it’s not something you should spend a lot of time worrying about. The media makes it look like crime is happening everywhere, all the time. But it isn’t. Crime is rare and violent crime even moreso. Which leads to… 2. Home invasions are INCREDIBLY rare. It’s not a popular kind of crime. It gets a lot of press because it’s a homeowner’s worst nightmare/male testosterone fantasy, but it almost never happens. So relax! The odds are better that your house will get hit by an out of control bus, and you’re not gonna blow a whole lot of money putting up concrete barriers around your house, are you? 3. If this sort of thing is still keeping you up nights, get a dog. It’s really the best solution, because the dog will deter the criminals who haunt your nightmares, and the rest of the time, hey, you’ve got a dog, dogs are cool. 🙂 4. Above all, remember that the media is concerned with making you watch, not with giving you an accurate view of the world. Even the news. Heck, ESPECIALLY the news. If the truth is boring, unsexy, and gets bad ratings, you will never hear it. They are constantly making it seem like the rare and exciting (therefore, “news”) is the everyday and normal. The world is full of people who benefit from keeping you scared and playing into male fantasies of protecting the home from the wolves at the door. Don’t buy into their bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-prevent-home-invasions/484754/62 "2009-02-08T18:21:42Z")
> [@MichaelJohnBertrand](#): > > Well that’s just the point. What makes it not courage? So you think it’s courageous to burgle? To rob, steal, or thieve shows courage? Wow. I was brought up a bit different than that. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-prevent-home-invasions/484754/63 "2009-02-08T21:13:22Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > You want to attribute the word courage to thieving scum? Have at it. People can be much, much worse than “thieving scum” and still be brave. The Nazis had no shortage of courageous men. > [@enipla](#): > > So you think it’s courageous to burgle? To rob, steal, or thieve shows courage? That depends on the opposition. More importantly, there’s no connection between any of those things and cowardice. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-prevent-home-invasions/484754/64 "2009-02-08T22:41:26Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > What a great idea for an alarm system! A few “Warning: Guard Dog on premises!” signs, a motion sensor that gives off a few loud barks for activity within a few feet of your house and louder out for blood beast barks if it detects actual entry - along with the usual call to police etc. Probably more reliable a deterrent than my two dogs (a whippet and a greyhound) who might love an intruder to death! (And don’t bark much either.) I agree that this would work. A burglar will definitely look for greener pastures if he hears a dog barking. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-prevent-home-invasions/484754/65 "2009-02-08T23:43:46Z")
I think people ought to define “courage”: is it the ability to overcome fear (which Nazis and home invaders both may well have, and certainly do in some cases) or is it the ability to be righteous despite opposition (which home invaders and Nazis more probably lack). I tend towards the former definition. **enipla** , what would you call the ability to overcome heart-racing fear in order to commit an evil act? ---
**Author:** ![mutantmoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@mutantmoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mutantmoose)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-prevent-home-invasions/484754/66 "2009-02-09T00:19:56Z")
> [@](#): > > I think people ought to define “courage” I was wondering about this because I think enipla has a point - courage is something one would normally associate with a good person. According to [Dictionary.com](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/courage) it means: > [@](#): > > n. The state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger, fear, or vicissitudes with self-possession, confidence, and resolution; bravery. The root of the word is “heart”: > [@](#): > > [Middle English corage, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin \*corāticum, from Latin cor, heart; see kerd- in Indo-European roots.] Interestingly it has this note: > [@](#): > > Usage: See Heroism. – Courage, Bravery, Fortitude, Intrepidity, Gallantry, Valor. Courage is that firmness of spirit and swell of soul which meets danger without fear. Bravery is daring and impetuous courage, like that of one who has the reward continually in view, and displays his courage in daring acts. Fortitude has often been styled “passive courage,” and consist in the habit of encountering danger and enduring pain with a steadfast and unbroken spirit. Valor is courage exhibited in war, and can not be applied to single combats; it is never used figuratively. Intrepidity is firm, unshaken courage. Gallantry is adventurous courage, which courts danger with a high and cheerful spirit. A man may show courage, fortitude, or intrepidity in the common pursuits of life, as well as in war. Valor, bravery, and gallantry are displayed in the contest of arms. Valor belongs only to battle; bravery may be shown in single combat; gallantry may be manifested either in attack or defense; but in the latter ease, the defense is usually turned into an attack. Maybe “bravery” would be a better word? I dunno, I’m still none the wiser. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-prevent-home-invasions/484754/67 "2009-02-09T00:52:12Z")
With criminals, it’s greed or fear of failing their bosses that masquerades as courage. ---
**Author:** ![Category5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Category5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Category5)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-prevent-home-invasions/484754/68 "2009-02-09T02:12:00Z")
4:00am a week ago, my three dogs start barking wildly. Never ignore a barking dog. I grab glasses and stumble to the back of the house, force my way between the dogs and peer out the window at dog’s-eye-level. Two cops with a K9 are in my back yard. Mrs. Cat5 opens the window and asks cops “what’s going on?” Cop 1: “We’re looking for some people…” Cop2: “Don’t worry, noone is going into that house with those dogs in there.” ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-prevent-home-invasions/484754/69 "2009-02-09T03:16:48Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > With criminals, it’s greed or fear of failing their bosses that masquerades as courage. How do you know ? What makes you think that criminals are shorter on courage than anyone else ? ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-prevent-home-invasions/484754/70 "2009-02-09T03:41:01Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > How do you know ? What makes you think that criminals are shorter on courage than anyone else ? Because the criminals with whom I’ve had to deal hadn’t many good qualities. Impulsiveness was their chief unifying characterstic. When you aren’t capable of thinking beyond what you want to do right this second, you can sometimes appear brave to onlookers. Similarly, when your fear of what the criminal above you may do to you outweighs your fear of performing a particular act, you may appear brave. Generally, criminals lack the fortitude it takes to lead an honest life. I’ve known bunches of them and they were all fundamentally weak. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-prevent-home-invasions/484754/71 "2009-02-09T03:54:24Z")
I think the best way to prevent home invasions is to get Little Timmy’s mom that operation so he can turn away from his life of crime. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-prevent-home-invasions/484754/72 "2009-02-09T05:34:54Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Because the criminals with whom I’ve had to deal hadn’t many good qualities. Impulsiveness was their chief unifying characterstic. When you aren’t capable of thinking beyond what you want to do right this second, you can sometimes appear brave to onlookers. Assuming all that to be correct; what makes you think that isn’t what courage often is ? Or that courage is a “good” quality in the first place ? It’s morally neutral. ---
**Author:** ![reef\_shark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bbe5ce/32.png) [@reef\_shark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/reef_shark)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-prevent-home-invasions/484754/73 "2009-02-09T08:34:03Z")
> [@achilles\_bogart](#): > > Dogs don’t work, unless it goes running with teeth bared towards the person getting ready step on the property. > > Do you pay any fucking attention to what the rich have been doing? They have been systematically stealing, robbing and conning everyone, even other rich people. You get rich by being able to throw morality out the window. You stay rich by being crooked and donating just enough so no one really looks at how crooked you are. Take the Clintons for example. [http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2009/jan/bill-s-donors-got-hillary-s-senate-clout](http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2009/jan/bill-s-donors-got-hillary-s-senate-clout) > > Of course if everyone is rich, then everyone is poor and almost no one wants to be poor. > > The best way to prevent home invasion? Lock your doors and windows. Don’t make a conspicuous display of wealth. Keep objects that could be used to gain easy entry to the house (shovels, axes, prybars, rakes, etc) in a locked shed. An alarm system probably wouldn’t hurt either. Hey, I know I stepped on some toes with my 9/11 stuff, but is this guy for real? Ive been reading through this thread and this post seemed almost laughable to me. Hey achilles, dogs do work. They got ears. They hear things. Hopefully you dont have your shit-su chained on the front lawn like i think you do. What do the Clintons have to do with protecting your home? Is your shed locked better than your house? Do you own a house or haven’t you made it out of your parents’ basement yet? Dude get some action, go out to a bar or something ffs. ---
**Author:** ![reef\_shark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bbe5ce/32.png) [@reef\_shark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/reef_shark)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-prevent-home-invasions/484754/74 "2009-02-09T08:52:45Z")
By the way, I remember there being a thread about whether it was ethical to shoot a burglar in your house. There were about 8 pages of the same two points being recycled back and forth. Moral of the story: You can get 20 years for ‘murder’ in self defense, in your own home (at least here in las vegas). Get your german shephard to do the dirty work. If you dont like dogs youre a d bag anyways get a shrink ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-prevent-home-invasions/484754/75 "2009-02-09T09:46:31Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > How do you know ? What makes you think that criminals are shorter on courage than anyone else ? If you think of courage as a willingness to risk harm to yourself for the sake of a goal, I would think that a willingness to harm bystanders for your own benefit is inherently cowardly. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-prevent-home-invasions/484754/76 "2009-02-09T10:55:59Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > If you think of courage as a willingness to risk harm to yourself for the sake of a goal, I would think that a willingness to harm bystanders for your own benefit is inherently cowardly. That’s ruthlessness, not cowardice. Plenty of brave people throughout history have been willing to slaughter innocents by the truckload for their own benefit. ---
**Author:** ![Mellivora\_capensis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mellivora\_capensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mellivora_capensis)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-prevent-home-invasions/484754/77 "2009-02-09T11:31:12Z")
Circles. Start with a wide outer circle, and gradually work your way to the smallest circle, being your bedroom. Try and find (or start) a gated community with 24/7 security officers, or a walled complex with access control. Next circle is your perimeter. Wall it, fence it, moat it. Top it with razor wire, razor ribbon or electric fencing. Install motion sensors in your garden. Be sure to set them higher than your biggest cat. If you live on a farm or smallholding, get a couple of geese. Noisy fuckers, them geese. Bar all windows, fit security gates to all external doors. Then select a safe room inside the house, where you can slam shut a security gate, and where you have permanent access to a mobile phone. More often than not this would be your sleeping quarters. A word of caution - make sure your bedroom window is barred with trellidoor which can be opened with a key in case of fire. You don’t want to be trapped in your own house when it burns to the ground. Keep your dogs inside. Poisoned meat has claimed the life of many a South African dog. Know your neighbours, keep their contact numbers on hand, have regular community get-togethers. And if the fuckers get past all that, aim at centre mass. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-prevent-home-invasions/484754/78 "2009-02-09T13:36:49Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Assuming all that to be correct; what makes you think that isn’t what courage often is ? Or that courage is a “good” quality in the first place ? It’s morally neutral. Rescue workers travelling into a hurricane to evacuate people is courage. Criminals travelling into a hurricane to loot is greed. Both happened during Katrina. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-prevent-home-invasions/484754/79 "2009-02-09T14:02:19Z")
Get dog. Or has someone already mentioned that? I’m surprise nobody has mentioned: Get to know your neighbors. If someone tries to crawl through my window when I’m not there, my neighbor may notice. They know my habits and they have a pretty good idea that people aren’t supposed to be crawling through my windows. And they can call for help when my dog is done with his job. ---
**Author:** ![Mellivora\_capensis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mellivora\_capensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mellivora_capensis)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-prevent-home-invasions/484754/80 "2009-02-09T14:58:58Z")
> [@shiftless](#): > > …I’m surprise nobody has mentioned: Get to know your neighbors… See post #77. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-prevent-home-invasions/484754.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-prevent-home-invasions/484754.md?page=5)