[Elizabeth Swann]

I had a company out yesterday to give a quote for security screens. He told me he could only put them on one half of each window, the part that slides open, because it is illegal to put fixed security screens on every window.

When asked about the ones that go on the inside that can open, he said it can't be done here, only fixed ones, and that in a fire or other emergency we need to be able to smash the glass to get out.

I said that was the point, glass can be smashed by intruders too. I want security screens to keep people out! No point paying when it'll do nothing!

He said security screens do nothing these days anyway, crims are walking around with battery operated cutters, they're even getting through crimsafe and metal bars.

Then he said to tell my hubby to buy a gun and bring in 2 or 3 rotties, it's the best defense.

Still have another coming today, but that left me feeling unsafe and helpless!

How do you keep safe in the home? How do you secure the house, and is it enough to feel safe?

I've just had a sleepless night

[kerrie23]

Buy a gun???

That would make me feel less safe personally.

[bellygood]

Security screens, half-pane like you say.

Just the sight of them is a deterant.

Rottie and guns? Where's this bloke from? Liberia?

The screens are fine, you will have great peace of mind with them.

I don't have any experience with crimsafe but have heard these are great too.

[HeroOfCanton]

That was really tactless on the part of the salesman.
I think he is right about it not being legal to install screens over both halves of the window. Our security screens are only on the part that opens too.

I figure (and I may be wrong) that if someone wanted to break in while we were home, the thought of having to break glass to do it, rather than just pushing out a flyscreen, is deterrent enough.
They break glass, we all wake up and they have a fight on their hands - hardly worth it for any of the stuff they might want to take.

^ This is how I make myself feel safer. If there was a gun in the house, I'd feel 100 times LESS safe!

Also, I look at the security screens as an element in bringing down our insurance premiums, as well as the visual deterrent for any opportunistic criminals who might be wandering around.

[countrymel]

That man was TRYING to make you feel unsafe - that way you spend large amounts of money with HIS company getting HIS product installed.

Stop and take a moment to think about it - would the average burglar looking to 'do over' the average home REALLY have equipment to cut through steel bars? Of course not.

I imagine in a highly planned thievery operation on a factory/commercial premises where there was a big reward for the effort involved then maybe? But not a couple of junkies looking for a flat screen telly, some cash and a laptop... no, no you would not.

You are safe.

Your home is safe.

Your family is safe.

I would ring a different company, tell them upfront on the phone that you were not happy with the other company you dealt with who went out of their way to scare you, and could a nice, non doomsday scenario tradesman please come out and give you a quote.

FWIW my sister worked in the police forensics department for several years (so actually KNOWS what the crime patterns are in her city), she lives in the inner city and has 0 locks on her windows, a deadlock on the front door and a spindly little snip bolt on the back door.

They all sleep calmly at night.

[ScrumptiousHobbi...]

Get an alarm installed that allows you to alarm the windows and doors when you are inside.

[Elizabeth Swann]

The guy who broke into our home did get through the single lock security door, he then smashed the other door. He tried the windows. Had they been only half secured, he'd have gotten in quicker than he did, meaning more time in the house before police arrived. He had a fight on his hands, but it was still awful to experience.

[librablonde]

OP, that sales guy is a DISGRACE.
Imagine how often he's been peddling that scaremongering?? Ugh
While I do agree that dogs are very helpful for their barking alerts (you don't need a savage guard do for this though! Just a noise-maker), I'm amazed he suggested a gun..... WTF???
I used to live in East Brunswick, Melbourne, and a guy was shot and killed in my street. My rental house didn't have a security alarm and you could easily jimmy open the sliding timber windows. There were no flywire/safety screens. So I bought a puppy and used lengths of wooden dowels on windows to jam them shut if we weren't using them. I felt safe and all was fine. I think if you take basic measures then there's just no need to lose sleep over home security.

My parents were victims of crime (multiple home burglaries) when I was a kid, I even woke up to find my Dad holding one robber in a bear hug while waiting for the police to arrive. Those experiences still haven't made me uneasy in my own home, I just feel that reasonable home security is enough and unless I was guarding the Crown Jewels then why would anyone be so interested in breaking into my house??

This post has been edited by librablonde: 27/02/2013, 07:43 AM

[belindarama]

OP I know you had a very bad experience but turning your home into a fortress isn't a total solution. What you really need is some counselling to help you deal with it.

I went through what you are going through but I was younger and still living at home. My parents got a monitored alarm installed with a panic button and an at home setting. This helped while I dealt with the trauma but I am fine now. The only reason I am fine is a lot of counselling. I was not attacked in my home but I did not feel safe anywhere.

The guy was trying to scare you. There are not bands of marauding burglars roaming the streets. What happened to you was rare, and very very unfortunate.

One of the things that used to help me was thinking 'well, what are the chances of this happening to me twice?'.

I am really sorry you are going through this and I hope you find a solution that lets you feel safe in your home.

[MoonPie]

Its all about visual deterrent. Half screens are better than nothing. We also installed a couple of sensor lights along the front of the house, set to go off as soon as someone comes off the road and onto our land. They are an excellent deterrent, we haven't had the cars broken into once since they went in. We are on the 'nice' street in a dodgy suburb so we are a real target area. Big beware of the dog signs on the fence and gate (it doesn't matter that the dog is a white fluffball.)

The idea is to be less appealing than the neighbours for a quick and easy break in.