DIY home security systems

[Steve]

Found this article about DIY home security system (http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/19/ask-engadget-best-diy-wireless-home-security-and-fire-system/) options / products.

You have to read the comments at the bottom to find the user recommendations (Elk M1 Gold, Lifeshield, SimpliSafe, etc). These might come in handy for someone building their own home, if you don't want to sign a 3-year contract with ADT. Also it looks like the monthly rates are a lot lower than ADT if you build your own system. It looks like some of them integrate with various home automation packages as well.

[edkemper]

Home security around my area is posted. The sign at the beginning of the road clearly states: "We don't call 9-1-1." That is also because we have little cell coverage and no phone lines. Law Enforcement tend to be report takers this far out of town. This is one of the reasons I like my property.

[rreidnauer]

I have a security system which protects all 10 acres of my land.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/titantornado/savage_laminate.jpg

Pennies at 100yds
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/titantornado/pennies.jpg

[ChainsawGrandpa]

Here's a book I found very helpful:

Secrets of a Super Thief by Jack MacLean

A little scary. You're sitting there reading and start thinking about how vulnerable you really are.

The bad news is this book is out of print. Think my copy (used) was something like $20. I now see them for $150 and up!

G'pa

[Jane Doe]

If you've got an E-Reader then download the E-Book from here:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/6935597/JackMacLeanSecretsofaSuperthief

[Jane Doe]

Or purchase it used from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Superthief-John-MacLean/dp/0425056457

[LogLover]

cool but ....... I'm planning on building to get away from people, not locked up in a big house with many many many men. lol:eek:

[Shark]

Dogs loose in the house also helps :) Small one barks, big one is there for backup....

[hemlock77]

My little puppy Koko helps with home security.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u64/hemlock77/family%20stuff/002-3.jpg
Notice that the entry way door is missing. That is because Koko ate it:)

[loghousenut]

That knob is gonna hurt on the way out. Poor ole Koko seems to be worrying about it as we speak.

[Tom Featherstone]

Got one too, it's the only job he thinks he has..

433

[rreidnauer]

Don't mess with my dog
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/titantornado/pepper06.jpg

[Jane Doe]

I would just like to post a follow up regarding the book Secrets of a Superthief by Jack MacLean. I read the book in one sitting and wow, I was blown away at how easily accessible I, personally, make myself to robbery. Not just burglary, but more robbery than anything else.

I live where I work and am generally always home during the week. I leave entry doors and windows unlocked and I rarely close the garage garage door. The front door doesn't even have a peephole let alone a chain. To make matters more inviting to burglars I don't take in the trash until the evening and I don't retrieve the mail every day, which the book states is a signal to burglars that the home may be currently empty. Sometimes I even let the delivered news papers pile up in two or three day increments. The home has no security alarm of any kind and the front door (I checked today) is not even a one inch thick dead bolt.

I was really glad to have read this book and I'm super thankful for the OPs for posting it. I tried to follow up on researching the history of Jack MacLean but couldn't find anything on him except one article claiming that he moonlighted at the Gentle Rapist. Vomit. There aren't any photos of him published on the Net as far as I could find, either. One huge favor in my corner is that there's a dog here who generally only barks aggressively at outside movement and outside noises.

http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20112756,00.html