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My home was broken into - home security thoughts.

J

JohnC

Veteran Member
Senior Member
I live in the Bay Area only part time for work. I have a nice big property (by Bay Area stardards) that backs up to open space. Neighbor messaged me (I was out of town) to tell me my home alarm was going off. He called the police and it appears they broke the sliding glass door behind the house that leads to the master bedroom to gain entry. This was about 7:30 pm on a Tues night. Windows and doors are on sensors that activate when doors are opened so by breaking glass, it wasn’t triggered. What triggered alarm was when they tried to leave the master bedroom to check out the rest of the house, there is a motion detector in the hallway outside the bedroom. They left quickly but got my Walther PP which was on a shelf in the bedroom and a small lockbox that contained old prescription pads. They didn’t even have time to search the area closely because they missed digital cameras, jewelry box (mostly cheap stuff, wife keeps the good stuff in Idaho) and a lock box (containing documents not money).

I’ll be out $750 for new glass.

My video camera system caught video of 3 young guys covered head to toe (Nike and Adidas hoodies). They spent at least a few minutes walking around in my secluded back yard making sure no one was home.
 
I need to do a better job with lighting and simulating that someone is home.
I just installed dusk to dawn bulbs by my front door that light up the front entryway light it’s daytime (almost). I installed dusk to dawn flood lights in the backyard plus 4 more motion activated flood lights.
I’ll also be buying some flood light bulbs with integrated motion detectors for other fixtures around the house.

I had a light on a timer but obviously that was a pretty poor effort of simulating someone was at home. This is where I really need to do better.
The thieves gained entry to the back yard via a gate on the side of the house. I plan to put sensors on the gates that would alert my phone when the gate is opened. Theoretically that might give me a few minutes to turn on interior house lights remotely so simulate that someone is home and heard them. I thought about this line of products by TP link:

www.tapo.com

Tapo H100 | Smart Hub with Chime | Tapo

90 dB, Up to 64 Devices
www.tapo.com www.tapo.com

They have cameras with 2 way talk, sensors, motion detectors etc. The cameras can record to Micro SD cards or you can pay for cloud storage.

I’ll do more of the Wi-Fi, app controlled light twitched so I can have lights turning on and off more frequently.
 
I'm sorry to say it, but the best security for me would be to sell the place in Mexifornia. Problem solved. You can thank me later. 🤠

Edit: Should have hid your gun better before you left, now it's gone.
 
On the cheap but probably pretty effective end, a friend recommended this. Basically a light that varies in color and intensity. You shine at a closed window shade and it simulates a TV being on. Turns on automatically and runs for either 4 or 7 hours.



It’d be great to be able to turn on a TV remotely but only a handful of TVs have a timer that turns the TV on.
 
Let me know if you have any other ideas. Some kind of a motion detector that automatically turns on interior lights would be a great idea. Haven’t found that specific product yet.

There are also devices that play a barking dog sound but some of them look a little cheesy and not sure how the motion detection would work from inside the house.
 
Molly's 70 said:
I'm sorry to say it, but the best security for me would be to sell the place in Mexifornia. Problem solved. You can thank me later. 🤠

Edit: Should have hid your gun better before you left, now it's gone.
Click to expand...
Leaving is not that easy. I am close to retirement and a very generous pension. I can’t walk away this close to retirement and give that all up.
 
First things first, I'd get a glass break added to your alarm system. They are cheap and can be added to any and all rooms.

Next, make sure any video or photos are sent directly to email so in case they pull the system out you have it in your email.

Next as a quick deterrent, they have motion activated sprinklers you can put outside. It won't be a huge deterrent, but it'll leave them questioning what other surprises await.

I could counsel you on all kinds of automations, but it depends on how far you want to go. My house (my last one, and my new one) have automation that turns lights on and off automatically, varies times, uses motion as well, and also takes snapshots of everything going on and emails them to me. It'll turn my tv on which then triggers other automations that turn on lights, ceiling fans, and a few other things, but your imagination (and wallet) are the only thing stopping you.
 
Some of that stuff I’m already working on. But the things that would be most beneficial are
1. Automated things that might lead someone skulking around in the back yard to believe that someone is actually home. This might include motion detectors or gate sensors that activate interior light, etc.

2. things that would alert me ASAP when someone is creeping around outside so I can remotely active an alarm (before they enter the house) or at least review my cameras in case it’s a raccoon.

I’m looking for user friendly, reliable and low maintenance. Any brands or specific product recommendations would be helpful. I’d be most interested in integrated product lines. Same app works with cameras, gate sensors, motion detectors. that's why the Tapo (TP link) products above seemed intriguing.
Thanks
 
Doubtful you'll find any all in one solution. It'll require integration. I use Home Assistant and have alot integrated (fans, lights, locks, HVAC, and camera to name a few), but it all costs money and may not be as tech friendly as you'd like.

I'm a semi / mostly retired Sr. Systems Engineer that works with fairly advanced technology, so Home Assistant is kids play to me, but you might not find it that way. This site is hosted on one of my servers in a data center, so I'm very tech savvy.
 
I've seen a smoke deterrent system as when someone breaks into your house it goes off and fills the house with odorless smoke, can't steal what you can't see. I thought it was a pretty neat idea.
 
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