burlar alarms/home security need help o/t

Example:
Good locks
Sticker bushes planted outside of ground floor windows
Outside motion lights
Monitored alarm system
Cell backup for the system
Large/heavy TL30 safe for guns and jewelry
ScH trained GSD
Angry armed homeowner and wife

Along those same lines, don't brag about what you have. Keep your safe hidden out of view.

I also put wireless motion in my barn, which is tied into the main monitored system. It's kind of slick, I can partition the barn so it's always armed, even while we're home. Ya, it's all kind of expensive but to me the piece of mind is well worth it.

It's also a real good idea to inventory everything you have of value and keep the list in two separate locations (home, work or trusted friend). Then when/if you get ripped off you can proved a list of serial numbers to the police.

If you live near neighbors, the loud siren or horn type system is usually quite effective. But be a good neighbor and tell your neighbor how to turn the thing off. You WILL make your neighbors mad at you if your alarm siren sounds for an extended amount of time and no one knows how to turn it off.

A dog that acts intimidating is an excellent deterrant to burglars. Although someone who really wants to get to your stuff will just shoot the dog, most burglars will go elsewhere if a dog acts like it will not let them out of their vehicle. But have your liability insurance paid up.....

I like systems that are activated as someone approaches. Having a real or fake TV camera covering the front door might make a burglar think that their image has been recorded, and they might move on. Inside, motion detectors usually work great, however are a problem if you have pets inside.

Another thought is to make it difficult to find your valuables if a burglary does occur. An old favorite trick is to cut out a hollow in the pages of a book on a shelf with lots of others, leaving a great place to hide cash or jewelry. Guns can be hidden inside the wall of a closet, invisible unless the burglar knows how to remove the covering. And make it difficult to break into security areas of your buildings so it takes extra time to load things up. Never leave the keys in the ignition of any of your vehicles, or leave them all on a key board in the kitchen or shop.

You can spend a lot of money on an alarm system or can get by fairly cheaply. Most monitored systems run into a bunch of bucks very fast and will not prevent your place from being burglarized if the response time for law enforcement is likely to be very long. You probably cannot totally prevent a burglary, but if you make it seem too difficult or dangerous, most burglars will go bother someone else. Good luck!