SAK & MT storage, opinions wanted!

[Mechanickal]

So I'll start out with sketching out the situation, before asking my question.

Last week I moved from a rental apartment to our own full size, 4 bedroom house (girlfriend and me).

The rental apartment was (ofcourse) alot smaller, but had alot of built in cabinets and closets.

As a result, we have a lot of stuff now, but not that much furniture to store our stuff in.

I'm an alarm tech and I installed a brand new, full option alarm system.
wiring was a b*tch, but everything worked out perfectly in the end.
Ground floor is fully covered, top floor only on the overpass.

On top of that I've seen to much of damage and losses by forced entries, to not think this through.

Now for my SAK and tool collection:
I like to store it close to me, like in a nightstand drawer. But the master bedroom has a window that is reachable by a flat roof, making chances of burglary in this room higher then in the other top floor rooms. Securing this room electronicaly is not an option without causing difficulties (opening window during hot summer nights etc)

The study has a nice cupboard with drawers next to my desk, which also contains my Dremel, polishing compound, etc.
Storing my collection there means I can secure the window and door with magnetic contacts without interfering with us sleeping (no need to enter the room at night)
The window of this room is at the backside of the house, top (1st) floor without anything between it and the ground (straight down).

Which option would you choose and why?

PS: off to bed now, 22h30pm here, so I'll read any replies tomorow.

[eddie1115]

Would you be up for splitting the collection over the two rooms?  Personally I keep my users in my nightstand drawer (locked up since I have toddlers).  I keep the more specialized or collection pieces in a tool chest in my home office.

I do this for convenience, and not annoying my wife by cluttering the bedroom.  But I think there's also a security-related benefit of not storing everything in one place.

[Mechanickal]

Would you be up for splitting the collection over the two rooms?  Personally I keep my users in my nightstand drawer (locked up since I have toddlers).  I keep the more specialized or collection pieces in a tool chest in my home office.

I do this for convenience, and not annoying my wife by cluttering the bedroom.  But I think there's also a security-related benefit of not storing everything in one place.

Very good point!
Will definitaly give that a thought
Thanks

[BleaKrytE]

Is there a basement or attic? You could even make into a small workshop and forced entry would be difficult to these rooms


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[tosh]

I'm assuming the Exterior Alarm box pulses either if active or not.
Personally I would simply install dummy PIR's into the corner of the ceiling that can be seen from the window. I suspect most thieves if not all wouldn't gamble upon it working or not. (How about cordless PIR's? )
As for storing, if the collection isn't too vast a strong cupboard fitted with a good internal 5 lever lock with the doors preferably close fitting and recessed slightly would be surprisingly difficult to access...especially if a stop is fitted internally to prevent the doors from being kicked in.

We were burgled about 18yrs ago. The thrives totally ransacked the house, needless to say the house is now fully alarmed with 2 active bell boxes fitted externally. Everything of value is under lock and key, I built 2 walk-in brick vaults in the garage both with steel doors and internal hinges and 5 lever locks. Even these are alarmed with the house alarm, plus I also intend on fitting bird boxes out side with hidden cameras ( the cabling is already in place) that will alert me on my phone should anyone trip the PIR beam!

Overkill?? No, I don't think so. I hate thieves, they should be dragged to the gutter and their throats slit open, their corpse then dumped on the landfill sites for the rats to feast on.....they are not even worth a bullet!

[moonweasel]

What type of window for the bedroom? I assume some type of sliding/sash/double hung window, just use two magnets and position the reid switch a bit further up/along the window frame and a decent window lock or two, to take into account the open and closed positions of the window if you want to store your collection in the master bedroom.

[sLaughterMed]

Geez Tosh, that is some extreme anti-burglary measures.

as for SAK and tool storage, Currently I have a pair of cigar boxes I use....

[Mechanickal]

Is there a basement or attic? You could even make into a small workshop and forced entry would be difficult to these rooms


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There are,
But the attic is only accesible through a hatch with folding ladder.

Although this makes it a safe room, it's not convenient to enter every now and then just for the heck of it.

The basement is becomming a workshop as I type this, but it's still a little humid because of a (now fixed) rainwater leak. So this is not an option at the moment.

[Mechanickal]

I'm assuming the Exterior Alarm box pulses either if active or not.
Personally I would simply install dummy PIR's into the corner of the ceiling that can be seen from the window. I suspect most thieves if not all wouldn't gamble upon it working or not. (How about cordless PIR's? )
As for storing, if the collection isn't too vast a strong cupboard fitted with a good internal 5 lever lock with the doors preferably close fitting and recessed slightly would be surprisingly difficult to access...especially if a stop is fitted internally to prevent the doors from being kicked in.

We were burgled about 18yrs ago. The thrives totally ransacked the house, needless to say the house is now fully alarmed with 2 active bell boxes fitted externally. Everything of value is under lock and key, I built 2 walk-in brick vaults in the garage both with steel doors and internal hinges and 5 lever locks. Even these are alarmed with the house alarm, plus I also intend on fitting bird boxes out side with hidden cameras ( the cabling is already in place) that will alert me on my phone should anyone trip the PIR beam!

Overkill?? No, I don't think so. I hate thieves, they should be dragged to the gutter and their throats slit open, their corpse then dumped on the landfill sites for the rats to feast on.....they are not even worth a bullet!

The outside siren/bell is yet to be mounted, but the cable is in place.

Outside doors contain a sticker from the company I work for, warning any possible trespassers of an alarm system.

I've got 3 wireless reed contacts still laying around that are able to communicate with the alarm through RF (rolling code, protected+reserved signal)
I was thinking of storing my "users" in the nightstand as mentioned before and placing the rest in the study.
1 contact on the door,
1 on the window,
1 on the cupboard itself.

The strange thing is:
I would tell customers with this setup that they are really well prepared and shouldn't worry about anything.
Now that I'm securing my own house however, I feel the need to do more
But then again, I only visit the worst burglarised homes... :/

I'm starting to understand my clients who purchased a fog generator...

[Mechanickal]

What type of window for the bedroom? I assume some type of sliding/sash/double hung window, just use two magnets and position the reid switch a bit further up/along the window frame and a decent window lock or two, to take into account the open and closed positions of the window if you want to store your collection in the master bedroom.

Not a bad idea, but honestly...
A contact placed like that is not safe for people with the same knowledge as me

Appreciate the idea though!

[Mechanickal]

Geez Tosh, that is some extreme anti-burglary measures.

as for SAK and tool storage, Currently I have a pair of cigar boxes I use....

Do not take this as a negative comment, because it's everything but that!

I wish I could be so careless...

[moonweasel]

What type of window for the bedroom? I assume some type of sliding/sash/double hung window, just use two magnets and position the reid switch a bit further up/along the window frame and a decent window lock or two, to take into account the open and closed positions of the window if you want to store your collection in the master bedroom.

Not a bad idea, but honestly...
A contact placed like that is not safe for people with the same knowledge as me

Appreciate the idea though!

I have some knowledge too, I know you are aware the reeds don't have to be placed within reach, or within view. My handicap is I have no knowledge on the construction however (type of window, or al/wood frame, brick/concrete/plaster walls, roof space, wall cavities etc.). Since you own the place that does provide an opportunity to get a little more involved in hiding/reccessing some stuff that you woludn't do normally.

Whether you keep your collection in either room, (I'd go the study option personally) sounds like your bedroom window is still an entry weakpoint and requires some attention.

[gregozedobe]

Many years ago my brother lived in a "lower-socio/economic" neighbourhood where there was lots of low-level crime and he had problems with a "snowdropper" regularly climbing over his back fence and stealing his wife's underwear.  He rigged up some wires with 240V electricity running through them* and the stealing stopped straight away.

Kind of drastic but effective 


*  NB I do not condone or recommend setting anything like this that could be considered a "man trap"  (sympathize and understand, yes, but not condone or suggest).

[Mechanickal]

What type of window for the bedroom? I assume some type of sliding/sash/double hung window, just use two magnets and position the reid switch a bit further up/along the window frame and a decent window lock or two, to take into account the open and closed positions of the window if you want to store your collection in the master bedroom.

Not a bad idea, but honestly...
A contact placed like that is not safe for people with the same knowledge as me

Appreciate the idea though!

I have some knowledge too, I know you are aware the reeds don't have to be placed within reach, or within view. My handicap is I have no knowledge on the construction however (type of window, or al/wood frame, brick/concrete/plaster walls, roof space, wall cavities etc.). Since you own the place that does provide an opportunity to get a little more involved in hiding/reccessing some stuff that you woludn't do normally.

Whether you keep your collection in either room, (I'd go the study option personally) sounds like your bedroom window is still an entry weakpoint and requires some attention.

[Mechanickal]

Many years ago my brother lived in a "lower-socio/economic" neighbourhood where there was lots of low-level crime and he had problems with a "snowdropper" regularly climbing over his back fence and stealing his wife's underwear.  He rigged up some wires with 240V electricity running through them* and the stealing stopped straight away.

Kind of drastic but effective 


*  NB I do not condone or recommend setting anything like this that could be considered a "man trap"  (sympathize and understand, yes, but not condone or suggest).

Lots of my clients tell me they'd love to do this, but unfortunatly, it's illegal (what isn't?)

What is legal over here though, is an elektrified fence that is tested at 10000V with very low current consumption.

It's 3m high and gives out quite a punch!

Not something you'd want around the house though

[BleaKrytE]

Over here in Brazil we don't use fences, we use walls and gates surrounding the house, and many people put small electric fences over the walls. Quite effective I guess


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[tosh]

Best defence by far would be a mute, bad tempered, extremely territorial Rottweiler.
I'd love to see the look on a thief's face as he dropped into a room and suddenly caught sight of the shadowy shape in the corner and thus realising he'd probably just made perhaps the biggest mistake of his life.

It would make for great YouTube entertainment!

[Thunderpants]

You could always try the Mitch Hedberg solution to home security:

I've got a sliding glass door that has a sticker that says: "Warning! Alarm system!"
It's a real simple alarm, too. It consists of a sticker...
If I'm going to threaten people with words it should be a more intense alarm system:  "Warning! No air inside..."

[Mechanickal]

Best defence by far would be a mute, bad tempered, extremely territorial Rottweiler.
I'd love to see the look on a thief's face as he dropped into a room and suddenly caught sight of the shadowy shape in the corner and thus realising he'd probably just made perhaps the biggest mistake of his life.

It would make for great YouTube entertainment!

My cat won't agree...

[Mechanickal]

You could always try the Mitch Hedberg solution to home security:

I've got a sliding glass door that has a sticker that says: "Warning! Alarm system!"
It's a real simple alarm, too. It consists of a sticker...
If I'm going to threaten people with words it should be a more intense alarm system:  "Warning! No air inside..."

The stickers are there, the system too.

But preventing is better then curing.
Rose bushes are planted behind the fence now, so the thorny stuff is going to help them pass my place.