Hardening security / burglar alarms / cost
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2018 12:30 pm
During the course of getting a variation last year the local firearms officer made mention that come my FAC renewal I might be obliged to install additional security in the form of an alarm system because I had "so many guns".
For "so many guns" read thirteen not terribly desirable (to criminals) fireams comprising the generic collection of pistol calibre lever actions, a few muzzle loading revolvers (I'm a bit of a cowboy), a couple of .22s, some WWII bolt action warhorses, and a break action shotgun. Nothing your self 'rspectin' gang banger would be interested in.
I live in a large town that had 43 burglaries in the last twelve months - almost all of them well away on the other side of the river (which literally backs the rear of my property).
My house is rarely left unattended for any long period. My brother and I live together and took my mother in when my father died a few years back. I work from home. We have a yappy dog.
Over the years we've had all the windows and doors replaced with modern double-glazed impact resistant affairs. All the doors have those multiple deadlocks on - seven or more. All the windows lock with a key.
As well as the required gun safes bolted to the wall (and drilled and bolted to each other (good luck lifting those fully laden as one huge unit) they are in a room with a door secured with three deadlocks - all requiring a different key.
Outside the house on the drive there is a beat up old Land Rover and a well used old Nissan hatchback - none of the trappings of wealth my neighbours like to display in their precious BMWs, Discoverys, and Audis.
On the rare occasions the house is completely empty for a few hours I tend to have a telly on loud enough to discern from directly outside. I often stick the radio on in the garage too. At night the house is always occupied.
To be honest any burglar would be very disappointed in their haul. Jewellery, fancy cars, expensive gadgets, the latest must-have phones, sound systems and similar - that's for other people.
So for the most part I think we're pretty secure.
I'm not mad keen on an alarm system. For one thing I'm concerned my old mum might be confronted with having to try and remember a password after the thing has accidentally been triggered when I'm not there. Also, when the flash new neighbours on the corner of the street moved in one of the things that immediately flagged my interest was the introduction of a CCTV camera and an ADT box. "They must have something worth pinching" I thought.
However ... it may be the firearm officer charged with the inspection may be difficult over this and I'm musing on my alarm options.
As someone who loves their money staying in my wallet I blanch at the prospect of spending a heap of cash on a monitored security system. I was wondering how much it might cost without some bothersome salesman coming around trying to flog me stuff.
Ideally I'd just have a modest system that focussed on my firearms room. I'm thinking a wireless alarm and CCTV setup that could notify me and be controlled via my mobile phone.
Any info on how others have tackled this requirement and cost would be gratefully received.
For "so many guns" read thirteen not terribly desirable (to criminals) fireams comprising the generic collection of pistol calibre lever actions, a few muzzle loading revolvers (I'm a bit of a cowboy), a couple of .22s, some WWII bolt action warhorses, and a break action shotgun. Nothing your self 'rspectin' gang banger would be interested in.
I live in a large town that had 43 burglaries in the last twelve months - almost all of them well away on the other side of the river (which literally backs the rear of my property).
My house is rarely left unattended for any long period. My brother and I live together and took my mother in when my father died a few years back. I work from home. We have a yappy dog.
Over the years we've had all the windows and doors replaced with modern double-glazed impact resistant affairs. All the doors have those multiple deadlocks on - seven or more. All the windows lock with a key.
As well as the required gun safes bolted to the wall (and drilled and bolted to each other (good luck lifting those fully laden as one huge unit) they are in a room with a door secured with three deadlocks - all requiring a different key.
Outside the house on the drive there is a beat up old Land Rover and a well used old Nissan hatchback - none of the trappings of wealth my neighbours like to display in their precious BMWs, Discoverys, and Audis.
On the rare occasions the house is completely empty for a few hours I tend to have a telly on loud enough to discern from directly outside. I often stick the radio on in the garage too. At night the house is always occupied.
To be honest any burglar would be very disappointed in their haul. Jewellery, fancy cars, expensive gadgets, the latest must-have phones, sound systems and similar - that's for other people.
So for the most part I think we're pretty secure.
I'm not mad keen on an alarm system. For one thing I'm concerned my old mum might be confronted with having to try and remember a password after the thing has accidentally been triggered when I'm not there. Also, when the flash new neighbours on the corner of the street moved in one of the things that immediately flagged my interest was the introduction of a CCTV camera and an ADT box. "They must have something worth pinching" I thought.
However ... it may be the firearm officer charged with the inspection may be difficult over this and I'm musing on my alarm options.
As someone who loves their money staying in my wallet I blanch at the prospect of spending a heap of cash on a monitored security system. I was wondering how much it might cost without some bothersome salesman coming around trying to flog me stuff.
Ideally I'd just have a modest system that focussed on my firearms room. I'm thinking a wireless alarm and CCTV setup that could notify me and be controlled via my mobile phone.
Any info on how others have tackled this requirement and cost would be gratefully received.