By Robert Jones
The best security strategy is that of an onion. Each time you peel the skin off of an onion, you find another layer below it. Security should be the same way.
At this point all of your other deterrents have failed. If you’ve implemented the previous four layers effectively, you’re probably dealing with a “Wolf” style criminal (see the previous post about vultures and wolves).
At this point we’re moving to the final “last resort” layers of your security onion.
Many homes are built with a hallway separating the bedrooms from the rest of the house. An outside door (like the front door) in a steel frame should be installed in this hallway. It should have the same locks as the front door. This internal barricade is the fifth layer of your security onion.
The sixth layer of your security onion is the door to your bedroom and/or safe-room. This door again is an exterior steel door in a steel frame, with quality locks.
This is the room that you and your loved ones retreat to while waiting for help to arrive. The room can be as simple or as fortified as you wish to make it. Make sure at the bare minimum there’s a cell phone in this room to call for help. I would recommend getting a cheap pre-paid phone from Wal-Mart for this purpose. (Make sure it stays charged and gets good reception in the safe room)
The final laver of your security onion is: YOU, armed with the most effective weapon available to you. A weapon you have practiced with, and made your peace with using. You are the only thing left standing between your loved ones and the criminal intent on harming them.
My personal weapon of choice for this situation is a 12-guage shotgun loaded with 00 Buckshot. Of course, I have a quarter of a century experience with this weapon. What you chose to use will depend on your experience, training, physical condition, finances, and the local laws where you live.
It is an unfortunate fact, that the more an honest citizen needs a firearm to defend himself and his family. The more difficult most governments make it for that honest citizen to get that firearm.
By Robert Jones
The best security strategy is that of an onion. Each time you peel the skin off of an onion, you find another layer below it. Security should be the same way.
A this point the criminal has moved through your perimeter barriers, across your yard, and into your house. It’s time to discuss the fourth layer of your home defense: your alarm system.
The alarm system should be set-up so that every door and window into the house is covered. You should also be able to turn on the alarm system and freely move around the inside of your home. Look for a system that a “panic” button so you can immediately summon the police.
You will need to be VERY specific with the alarm company as to what you want your system to do. Many alarm companies rely heavily on a few strategically placed motion sensors to protect a home. They do this because it is cheaper, (their term is cost effective).
The problem is: you get what you pay for. Most alarm systems are set-up to protect your stuff while you are away, not to protect you and your family while you are at home.
If you don’t understand the need to have an alarm system turned-on while you are home, I strongly suggest that you Google “Polly Klaas”. Polly was 12 years old when she was kidnapped from her home in the middle of the night and murdered. Her parents were sleeping in the next room.
What’s the difference between Polly’s family and the average American family? Polly lived in a low crime area where this sort of tragedy was much less likely to happen.
Most of the alarm systems are set-up with two modes, “home” and “away”. In the “away” mode, all of the alarms sensors are turned-on. In the “Home” mode, some of the alarm sensors are turned-off so you can move around inside of the house without setting-off the alarm.
A friend of mine is a perfect example of what not to do when installing an alarm system. My friend found that someone had tried to break-in his back door, but had not succeeded. He called in a nationally known alarm system company. They installed a standard alarm system and left.
A few weeks later we were visiting my friends home when he decided to show-off his new alarm system. I quickly showed my friend that even in the “away” mode, a criminal could enter the master bedroom. Steal the T.V., DVD player, laptop computer, and a coin collection. Then, walk across the hallway, enter the kid’s bedroom, and steal their TV, Gaming systems, and desktop computer.
The criminal could enter the home from either bedroom without setting-off the alarm.
In the “stay” mode, it was even worse. Every alarm sensor was turned-off except for the contact switch on the front door. A criminal could enter through every door or window in the house (except the front door) without setting off the alarm.
The “panic” button was built into the alarm system control panel, next to the front door. The “panic” button needs to be where you can easily reach it. Not where you have to fight your way past the criminal to reach it.
The window alarms need to activate when the glass breaks, not just when the window opens. Of course, the alarm system needs to send a signal to a central dispatcher who will call the police or dispatch an armed security officer.
An alarm system that just makes noise is not effective. It will soon be ignored by the neighbors in the same way that car alarms are now ignored.
By Robert Jones
The best security strategy is that of an onion. Each time you peel the skin off of an onion, you find another layer below it. Security should be the same way.
We’ve discussed the perimeter of your property line and your yard. Today we’re going to move in to the third layer of your home defense – the outside of your house.
When the criminal reaches your front door, does he see a flimsy wood or aluminum screen/storm door?
What he SHOULD see a sturdy door consisting of bars and grills, mounted in a steel frame, with a high quality lock on it. Beyond the storm door, is there a solid steel door (no glass windows), mounted in a steel frame, with both a high quality door lock and a dead bolt.
Is the criminal able to reach the windows? The same thorn bushes I talked about planting along your property line, if planted below each window, will keep people away from you windows.
Do you have bars on your windows (that open from the inside incase of fire). Do you have shatter resistant glass in the windows (3M makes a clear tough plastic film that is applied over ordinary glass). Have you replaced your basement windows with glass block?
If you have a sliding glass patio door it needs shatter resistant glass or a roll-up metal storm/security shutter. Alternatively (on the inside) you can use a folding security gate, like schools use to close-off hallways. Make sure there’s a real lock on the slider, not the piece of junk that comes with most patio doors.
Any other outside door must be as secure as your front door. If you have an attached garage, all doors and windows, including the overhead garage door, must be as secure as your front door.
Do not shortcut your home security by installing an automatic garage door opener, and then leave the remote control in the visor of your UNLOCKED car! This is about as smart as taping your house key to the front door. People who should know better have done this.
Finally, the door connecting the garage to your home should be as secure as your front door.