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CTyankee

(63,773 posts)
Sun Jun 6, 2021, 09:52 AM Jun 2021

We have alarmed our house. Our next door neighbor had a 3 am break in by a couple of men who

might have considered our house but chose their house for reasons I cannot know.

So we got an alarm system and sign outside the company gave us.

A friend of ours said he would have just gotten the sign and that would be enough of a deterrence. But the invaders just ripped off their sign and threw it on the lawn.

Would just a sign saying our house is alarmed be enough? Our friend says yes, it probably prevented some would be marauders to go elsewhere.

Any proof that just the sign is good enough?

23 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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We have alarmed our house. Our next door neighbor had a 3 am break in by a couple of men who (Original Post) CTyankee Jun 2021 OP
For one thing, piddyprints Jun 2021 #1
I didn't think about the homeowners insurance company's view. That makes sense. CTyankee Jun 2021 #2
If I were going to put up a fake sign, piddyprints Jun 2021 #4
FWIW, a friend of mine had his house broken into while he was at work... TreasonousBastard Jun 2021 #9
Nothing is 100% piddyprints Jun 2021 #10
We have two large dogs. Polly Hennessey Jun 2021 #14
We do too. piddyprints Jun 2021 #19
Every time I've moved into a new house, the old bamagal62 Jun 2021 #8
We had a house across the ravine that was broken into...twice! The couple had died and the kids Frustratedlady Jun 2021 #22
I suggest use the Google and look up "cheap home security". multigraincracker Jun 2021 #3
A tech savvy buddy of mine made up a neat little gizmo. Motion detectors around his house. mitch96 Jun 2021 #15
Well, they had a sign and it didn't stop the bad guys... TreasonousBastard Jun 2021 #5
I was told that the wealthiest areas of the state (like Greenwich) are where people arm their homes. CTyankee Jun 2021 #13
Are your neighbors OK? Were they home at the time? Did they encounter the men or Scrivener7 Jun 2021 #6
They were sound asleep but our neighbor got up and went to investigate. CTyankee Jun 2021 #12
I think it's worth it! Your neighbor is very lucky. There's usually a lot of panic Scrivener7 Jun 2021 #20
Thank you for having the empathy MontanaMama Jun 2021 #16
I have a sign. It says Beware of Dogs. Lochloosa Jun 2021 #7
The dog signs might be more effective than alarm signs. bamagal62 Jun 2021 #11
I have no sign, just a large German Shepherd RainCaster Jun 2021 #17
if they are bold enough llashram Jun 2021 #18
Dogs MissB Jun 2021 #21
An ex-burglar wrote a book MOMFUDSKI Jun 2021 #23

piddyprints

(14,600 posts)
1. For one thing,
Sun Jun 6, 2021, 09:56 AM
Jun 2021

Those signs belong to the alarm companies. You can’t usually get one without signing up for service. And if you can, it may or may not be illegal, but is definitely unethical.

Also, most homeowners insurance companies give a discount if you have alarm service.

CTyankee

(63,773 posts)
2. I didn't think about the homeowners insurance company's view. That makes sense.
Sun Jun 6, 2021, 10:00 AM
Jun 2021

I don't know where our friend got his fake sign. But he figured that with any other house on the street WITHOUT a sign, marauders would just move on to another house. He never had a break in so that is his proof.

piddyprints

(14,600 posts)
4. If I were going to put up a fake sign,
Sun Jun 6, 2021, 10:05 AM
Jun 2021

It would say, “Beware of dog.” My dogs are more of a deterrent than my alarm system, I think. Our neighbor has a fake alarm system sign, and his house was broken into while he and his wife were still living somewhere else, even though there were cars parked in the driveway. Now they have dogs who bark constantly (and I do mean CONSTANTLY). They’re mean little shits, too. I love dogs and those are the only dogs I have ever disliked ... maybe because one of them came after me while I was walking in my driveway.

In any case, burglars generally don’t like to target houses that come with dogs.

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)
9. FWIW, a friend of mine had his house broken into while he was at work...
Sun Jun 6, 2021, 10:10 AM
Jun 2021

He has two Great Danes, and one of the burglars will never father children.

piddyprints

(14,600 posts)
10. Nothing is 100%
Sun Jun 6, 2021, 10:14 AM
Jun 2021

and some burglars are just stupid. Hopefully that one learned a valuable lesson.

If someone really wants your stuff, they’ll get in and get it. Locks, alarms, and dogs mostly deter the mischief makers. Professional thieves can get in no matter what you do.

Polly Hennessey

(6,747 posts)
14. We have two large dogs.
Sun Jun 6, 2021, 10:25 AM
Jun 2021

Scout and Alexander have hearing for the ages. They bark if a leaf falls on the ground. Alex is a Great Pyrenees and takes his job of protecting the flock (us) seriously. Did I mention he is excellent at his job. I may give him a promotion. 😊

piddyprints

(14,600 posts)
19. We do too.
Sun Jun 6, 2021, 11:38 AM
Jun 2021

Ours live outside with the horse, all with access to the barn. The horse feels comfortable enough that she will lie down for long naps, even though she doesn’t have the protection of a herd. She absolutely knows that they will alert her if anything moves.

The only thing they don’t bark at is the UPS truck. I think they think it lives here. It goes in and out more than our own cars do.

We also have a house alarm, but I feel completely secure with the dogs. Also, you can’t see our house from the driveway entrance and there is only one way in and out, so it would be a huge risk for someone to come down the long driveway and hope no one’s home, no alarms, no dogs, etc. We don’t live in town or in a gated community, or even a remotely wealthy neighborhood ... and I use “neighborhood” rather loosely, as it’s just individual houses on some acres, some divided by cow pastures and hay fields.

bamagal62

(3,218 posts)
8. Every time I've moved into a new house, the old
Sun Jun 6, 2021, 10:10 AM
Jun 2021

Alarm sign was left there. One house I moved into had 2 -two different companies. I’m not sure marauders care about those signs. I had a friend, while at my house picking up her kid, had theives kick in her back door and steal every electronic device in her house. She was gone for about 30 minutes. She did not set the alarm as she was only going to the other side of the neighborhood. But, they were so fast, I’m not sure it would have mattered.

Frustratedlady

(16,254 posts)
22. We had a house across the ravine that was broken into...twice! The couple had died and the kids
Sun Jun 6, 2021, 02:51 PM
Jun 2021

had yet to put the house up for sale. It was pretty modern with walls on the ravine side almost entirely glass/glass doors. The people broke in and spray-painted the windows/doors with black paint so they could turn on the lights. They ripped off all the electronics and stole whatever they could load up.

When the kids found out what happened, they installed cameras. In a few days, the people broke in again, but tore out the cameras first. This was in an area of similar houses and the thieves were so good at what they did, none of the neighbors saw anything suspicious, so we figured they must have come in via the ravine, which would have been tough at night. They couldn't park in the drive or in the street without being seen.

I've never heard that the police arrested anyone connected to the break-in.

multigraincracker

(32,532 posts)
3. I suggest use the Google and look up "cheap home security".
Sun Jun 6, 2021, 10:00 AM
Jun 2021

Found some great cheap ways to stay safe. Like 3 inch screws in all door hard ware. Put a giant dog food bowl on the porch that says Cujo on it. They make a film you can apply to glass windows that make them almost impossible to break in, plus they make your windows more energy efficient . Number one is lighting, motion lights are great along with dummy cameras.

They most likely will pick the home that looks easy to break in and not get caught.

Good luck and stay safe.

mitch96

(13,822 posts)
15. A tech savvy buddy of mine made up a neat little gizmo. Motion detectors around his house.
Sun Jun 6, 2021, 10:28 AM
Jun 2021

with speakers by the motion detectors. A recording of Dobermans barking would go off near where motion was detected. If the "perp" moved so did the sound. Corner? woof. Side? woof.Backyard? woof.. Worked like a charm... Personally if I had to do this stuff or gates on the windows, I'd move if I could.. Like others have said robbers are opertunists.. if it's easy they will go for it.. Like car thieves most likely wont steal a stick shift car cause they don't "do " stick... YMMV
m

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)
5. Well, they had a sign and it didn't stop the bad guys...
Sun Jun 6, 2021, 10:07 AM
Jun 2021

Several schools of thought on this:

Some say that the sign indicates something of value in there.

Some say that there are plenty of houses without the sign, so they will just pass by the houses with one.

I say that actually having an alarm and camera is being safer than sorrier.

I also say that there are plenty of neighborhoods (like mine) where such break-ins are rare enough that it may not make a difference. It really sucks when that changes.

CTyankee

(63,773 posts)
13. I was told that the wealthiest areas of the state (like Greenwich) are where people arm their homes.
Sun Jun 6, 2021, 10:20 AM
Jun 2021

We also have strong outdoor lights that automatically go on/off.

Scrivener7

(50,774 posts)
6. Are your neighbors OK? Were they home at the time? Did they encounter the men or
Sun Jun 6, 2021, 10:07 AM
Jun 2021

were they sleeping?

Right next door! That is terrifying. I'd pay for the full service and ask for extra signs.

CTyankee

(63,773 posts)
12. They were sound asleep but our neighbor got up and went to investigate.
Sun Jun 6, 2021, 10:16 AM
Jun 2021

He confronted them after they had rifled through the wife's purse and found the keys to their SUV. They then ran out, started the car and drove it across OUR front lawn (I saw the track marks). The police department found it deserted in another area of town.

This all happened when we were sleeping. It freaked out my husband so much that he called the house alarm people right away and we now have a fully "armed" house.

The only problem I have is that I have to remember to disarm the system before I get the morning papers.

Scrivener7

(50,774 posts)
20. I think it's worth it! Your neighbor is very lucky. There's usually a lot of panic
Sun Jun 6, 2021, 11:42 AM
Jun 2021

on the part of the culprits in burglaries, and god knows what else, so anything can happen.

Your husband is a smart guy.

So glad they passed you by.

RainCaster

(10,691 posts)
17. I have no sign, just a large German Shepherd
Sun Jun 6, 2021, 10:37 AM
Jun 2021

She greets everyone who comes down our driveway. I'm sure our house gets crossed off the list.

llashram

(6,265 posts)
18. if they are bold enough
Sun Jun 6, 2021, 10:53 AM
Jun 2021

to contemplate a home invasion, no. They will look for other proof the house is wired. Wi-Fi and other types of battery-operated noise-making alarms work best against bold thieves. My windows all have warnings applied. Enter uninvited at your own risk. After that...

MissB

(15,800 posts)
21. Dogs
Sun Jun 6, 2021, 11:57 AM
Jun 2021

Our neighborhood has a security patrol. I don’t use them, but many neighbors do. We have never had an issue- we bought the crappiest house in the nicest neighborhood and no matter how much we make the house nicer it’ll never be as nice as the many beautiful estates here.

There is a neighborhood Facebook page that many residents are active on, including the security patrol.

If someone’s car breaks down in the neighborhood it won’t be there long- the patrol will get it towed. If someone is lurking about, the security patrol gets called. I’ve called them before for those sketch door to door magazine saleskids where the van drops them off. Most of us have no soliciting signs and the terrain of the neighborhood is unfriendly to casual salespeople. No one wants to walk the hills unless they’re actually out for exercise.

But dogs- they seem to be the best deterrent. I have two and one is always on guard. We are finishing up the fencing of the property this summer and he will have full range of the half acre. He does not like strangers on our property.

When we moved in there was an alarm sign. We took it out.

MOMFUDSKI

(5,209 posts)
23. An ex-burglar wrote a book
Sun Jun 6, 2021, 08:46 PM
Jun 2021

(can't remember his name) but I remember him saying the BIGGEST deterrent is a DOG. Said then he would just go on to the next house that was dogless. Every dog I have had was always a great guard dog. Currently dogless now but sure wish I had one around just to alert. One summer we were all asleep ( husband, me, both kids) and our dog slept on the floor next to my side of the bed. There was a creepy high school kid lived around the corner with really bad home life that had previously stolen a load of bikes around the neighborhood that the cops found when they opened the shed. So it was summer and we had all the windows open and all of a sudden the dog jumps straight up barking at the window, my husband runs to the window to see the kid running across the yard. He was window peeping until the dog heard or smelled him and stuff hit the fan. Good Boy.

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