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Do you secure your front door in a special way?
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 1:09 pm
by lawrnk
I.E Cameras, 2 way audio, etc.? A well known football player in my neighborhood was home invaded recently and after I keep reading things like this, I'm thinking about beefing up security.
http://www.buffalonews.com/258/story/265820.html
24-year-old Parkdale Avenue man was shot this morning when he answered a knock on his door and was attacked by two to three men, Buffalo police reported.
Joseph Watkins was taken to Erie County Medical Center, where he was listed in fair condition at mid-morning. Initial reports indicated that he may have been shot in the abdomen.
Following the shooting, his attackers entered the home and took some undisclosed items before fleeing.
Northwest District detectives are investigating the incident in the city's West Delavan-Grant area. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Buffalo Police Department's confidential tip line at 847-2255.
Re: Do you secure your front door in a special way?
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 3:00 pm
by bpet
I use an inexpensive (very small) color security camera with audio to screen visitors at the front door. I also have the front porch light connected to a motion sensor so that night visitors do not have to approach a dark doorway and may see my doorbell (and more importantly I can see them without going to the switch near the door).
The primary reason for this is for security of course, but it also allows me to monitor who's at the door so that I don't waste a trip on salesmen.
Re: Do you secure your front door in a special way?
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 3:04 pm
by lawrnk
bpet wrote:I use an inexpensive (very small) color security camera with audio to screen visitors at the front door. I also have the front porch light connected to a motion sensor so that night visitors do not have to approach a dark doorway and may see my doorbell (and more importantly I can see them without going to the switch near the door).
The primary reason for this is for security of course, but it also allows me to monitor who's at the door so that I don't waste a trip on salesmen.
Is the camera wired or wireless?
How do you power it? And does it transmit to a dedicated monitor or a tv?
Re: Do you secure your front door in a special way?
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 3:39 pm
by bpet
The camera is wireless sits on a window sill inside the house, is powered with a simple AC/DC adapter, and transmits to an aux port on my TV. Very inexpensive and easy to use.
Re: Do you secure your front door in a special way?
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 3:40 pm
by lawrnk
bpet wrote:The camera is wireless and transmits to an aux port on my TV. Very inexpensive and easy to use.
How do you power it?
I have one that uses a standard power plug, but the power plug is at waist level. someone could just unplug it. I guess I'll need an electrician to wire up something higher.
Re: Do you secure your front door in a special way?
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 3:42 pm
by bpet
Sorry, I edited the prior post while you were asking about power.
I have a window that overlooks the porch with a convenient ac receptacle. You can't access the camera from outside the house.
Re: Do you secure your front door in a special way?
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 4:30 pm
by LedJedi
I dont have one now because they're not allowed in my apartment complex but when we move (very soon) I plan on getting one.
Re: Do you secure your front door in a special way?
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 4:43 pm
by propellerhead
I have a bar I got at Lowe's for under $20. It goes from the door knob down to the floor. The bottom piece has a rubber foot. I've tried to gain entry before and if I bump the door it will move maybe a 16th of an inch. It took me probably a minute of throwing my shoulder into it before it opened enough for me to undo the bar.
A LEO friend of mine said the toughest ones he had to kick down were the ones where a bar goes horizontally across the entire door then another piece from that bar down to the floor.
Re: Do you secure your front door in a special way?
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 5:01 pm
by jbirds1210
I have the same bar on my metal front door. I could not defeat the bar without damaging my door and that would still take at least a couple of minutes. It is an excellent device for the money and would give someone plenty of time to retrieve a firearm and get a good sight picture before the door fell.
Jason
Re: Do you secure your front door in a special way?
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 5:30 pm
by Saulnier
Only feed him when someone knocks on the door or rings the door bell...........
Saulnier
LedJedi wrote:I dont have one now because they're not allowed in my apartment complex but when we move (very soon) I plan on getting one.
Re: Do you secure your front door in a special way?
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 6:20 pm
by PAR
lawrnk wrote:
24-year-old Parkdale Avenue man was shot this morning when he answered a knock on his door and was attacked by two to three men, Buffalo police reported.
Joseph Watkins was taken to Erie County Medical Center, where he was listed in fair condition at mid-morning. Initial reports indicated that he may have been shot in the abdomen.
Following the shooting, his attackers entered the home and took some undisclosed items before fleeing.
Northwest District detectives are investigating the incident in the city's West Delavan-Grant area. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Buffalo Police Department's confidential tip line at 847-2255.
I use to live just around the corner from here (Grant/Amherst), while I went to SUNY on Elmwood. In fact, my in-laws use to live one block north of this incident. It was one of the original Italian neighborhoods and no matter what time of day you use to be able to walk the street safely, now that those families have moved out in the late 70's, it's not the best area of town and one that you don't drive through without a gun in your lap. The short of it is that there's more to this story and likely suspicious activity went along with this knock on the door.
Re: Do you secure your front door in a special way?
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 9:03 pm
by JasonH
The majority of home break-ins are done via kicking the door down. It's very simple to do on most doors.
Many companies make products to prevent it but this is just one example:
http://www.invasionproof.com/
It's very easy to install and makes your door virtually impossible to kick in without a lot of effort.
At the very least it's usually suggested to replace the screws on your plates with something long enough that they'll reach the studs. The above type is a much better solution, though.
Re: Do you secure your front door in a special way?
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 9:57 pm
by CJATE
Drives me nuts when folks have standard ded bolts next to glass. I hope all of you that have glass on or near your door, need keys on both side of your deadbolts,,, and take the key out.
Re: Do you secure your front door in a special way?
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 11:09 pm
by boomerang
Steel door. Steel frame. I took a magnet with me when I was apartment hunting.