ᐅ What type of burglary protection do you have? And what is the estimated cost?
Created on: 30 Oct 2016 13:14
M
MizitThis topic might not be exactly right here since we are not building new but buying, but it also relates to planning and idea development.
We are buying a house from 1995. The front door has a multi-point lock, and the basement has a fireproof security door, which probably can’t be opened quickly when locked. That’s all.
Due to a personal incident related to burglary, I am currently somewhat more sensitive to this issue. I am often alone with the children, and the house is in a remote location, with open fields behind us. Although the area is mostly rural and, according to the owner, there have been no incidents in the village so far, I don’t want to rely on that. In short: we want to allocate part of our budget to security investments.
We will schedule an appointment with the local police to get advice.
Regarding the front door: a multi-point lock sounds good – is that enough initially?
Next to the front door there is a glass panel, double-glazed, without a window handle. This could probably be broken quickly, but because of the muntins, it is probably not possible to enter the house quickly this way. We are considering installing a glass break film on the inside. Possibly combined with an acoustic alarm if someone tries to strike the glass?
The main issue is definitely the numerous windows, especially at the back of the house. None of these are visible from the street. As mentioned, the windows are double-glazed from 1995. There are no mushroom head locks installed. We couldn’t find a clear cost estimate for retrofitting such mushroom head locks. Can you share any insights? Possibly that alone would be so expensive that it might be more worthwhile to replace the windows? However, I think that would likely exceed our budget given the number of windows…
While researching mushroom locks, we came across these EM3 locks, which cost about 60 euros each. Do you have any experience with these, and can they be a practical alternative to mushroom head locks?
Regarding alarm systems, there are all kinds available. Mechanical security should probably take priority over acoustic alarms, right? Personally, although my husband sees it differently, I don’t really believe these alarm systems are that effective. Anyone planning a professional break-in, possibly after some reconnaissance, will know in such a rural location that the police won’t arrive in two minutes and neighbors probably won’t be outside immediately either. And what good would it do us if the alarm goes off while we’re sleeping? Acoustic alarms certainly aren’t bad, but depending on the price, I question whether the cost-benefit ratio is reasonable. Probably it would need to be that various alarms are also visible in a way that hopefully has a deterrent effect? Motion detectors, cameras, or even a connection to a security service?
How have you approached this topic?
We are buying a house from 1995. The front door has a multi-point lock, and the basement has a fireproof security door, which probably can’t be opened quickly when locked. That’s all.
Due to a personal incident related to burglary, I am currently somewhat more sensitive to this issue. I am often alone with the children, and the house is in a remote location, with open fields behind us. Although the area is mostly rural and, according to the owner, there have been no incidents in the village so far, I don’t want to rely on that. In short: we want to allocate part of our budget to security investments.
We will schedule an appointment with the local police to get advice.
Regarding the front door: a multi-point lock sounds good – is that enough initially?
Next to the front door there is a glass panel, double-glazed, without a window handle. This could probably be broken quickly, but because of the muntins, it is probably not possible to enter the house quickly this way. We are considering installing a glass break film on the inside. Possibly combined with an acoustic alarm if someone tries to strike the glass?
The main issue is definitely the numerous windows, especially at the back of the house. None of these are visible from the street. As mentioned, the windows are double-glazed from 1995. There are no mushroom head locks installed. We couldn’t find a clear cost estimate for retrofitting such mushroom head locks. Can you share any insights? Possibly that alone would be so expensive that it might be more worthwhile to replace the windows? However, I think that would likely exceed our budget given the number of windows…
While researching mushroom locks, we came across these EM3 locks, which cost about 60 euros each. Do you have any experience with these, and can they be a practical alternative to mushroom head locks?
Regarding alarm systems, there are all kinds available. Mechanical security should probably take priority over acoustic alarms, right? Personally, although my husband sees it differently, I don’t really believe these alarm systems are that effective. Anyone planning a professional break-in, possibly after some reconnaissance, will know in such a rural location that the police won’t arrive in two minutes and neighbors probably won’t be outside immediately either. And what good would it do us if the alarm goes off while we’re sleeping? Acoustic alarms certainly aren’t bad, but depending on the price, I question whether the cost-benefit ratio is reasonable. Probably it would need to be that various alarms are also visible in a way that hopefully has a deterrent effect? Motion detectors, cameras, or even a connection to a security service?
How have you approached this topic?
Hello,
in our new build, all windows will have RC2N (formerly called WK2) burglar resistance. The price was quoted at a maximum of €75.
In this context, according to the builder, triple glazing also provides some protection, since a burglar might be more likely to try to break the glass because of the RC2N protection. However, since they would have to break three panes, it takes too long, so they would likely give up.
Additionally, roller shutters offer a minimal extra layer of protection. It takes a few seconds to push a roller shutter up, and it may already make some noise.
As far as I know, electric roller shutters cannot be lifted manually because the motor mechanisms cannot be moved by hand, except maybe a few centimeters.
in our new build, all windows will have RC2N (formerly called WK2) burglar resistance. The price was quoted at a maximum of €75.
In this context, according to the builder, triple glazing also provides some protection, since a burglar might be more likely to try to break the glass because of the RC2N protection. However, since they would have to break three panes, it takes too long, so they would likely give up.
Additionally, roller shutters offer a minimal extra layer of protection. It takes a few seconds to push a roller shutter up, and it may already make some noise.
As far as I know, electric roller shutters cannot be lifted manually because the motor mechanisms cannot be moved by hand, except maybe a few centimeters.
T
Traumfaenger30 Oct 2016 21:25Hello Mizit,
if you want something efficient, not just a "toy" from the hardware store, probably only a professional intruder alarm system with monitoring connected to a service and emergency response center will help. However, you will have to pay for every dispatch in case of an alarm, including false alarms (depending on the provider, 40–70 EUR per response), plus annual maintenance costs for the system and possibly basic service fees.
Of course, you can also install WK2/WK3 (or RC) rated windows. However, the police will also explain how a professional locksmith can open those (if breaking in through the front door is too expensive). Roller shutters are, in their opinion, just decorative, since they can be forcefully pulled out of their guide rails with a strong tug.
The question is whether it is worth the money to you and whether you actually need this level of protection. Try searching for "The police resign before the burglary gangs." We have also noticed that the police do not necessarily check after an alarm has been triggered. For them, it is probably as interesting as illegal parking on the roadside. If you don’t have watchful neighbors and are not a fan of large dogs, a private security service is probably the most effective solution.
if you want something efficient, not just a "toy" from the hardware store, probably only a professional intruder alarm system with monitoring connected to a service and emergency response center will help. However, you will have to pay for every dispatch in case of an alarm, including false alarms (depending on the provider, 40–70 EUR per response), plus annual maintenance costs for the system and possibly basic service fees.
Of course, you can also install WK2/WK3 (or RC) rated windows. However, the police will also explain how a professional locksmith can open those (if breaking in through the front door is too expensive). Roller shutters are, in their opinion, just decorative, since they can be forcefully pulled out of their guide rails with a strong tug.
The question is whether it is worth the money to you and whether you actually need this level of protection. Try searching for "The police resign before the burglary gangs." We have also noticed that the police do not necessarily check after an alarm has been triggered. For them, it is probably as interesting as illegal parking on the roadside. If you don’t have watchful neighbors and are not a fan of large dogs, a private security service is probably the most effective solution.
I was told that the RC classifications are standardized and indicate how long a knowledgeable professional would need to break through them. I recall hearing something like 3 minutes for RC2N, as far as I was informed.
It was also mentioned that after such a period, most intruders give up.
I don’t actually know for sure.
By the way, I think lighting, such as motion detectors and possibly floodlights, can help alert someone at least.
However, I have also often heard that burglars sometimes break in during the daytime. For example, there have already been two attempts at my sister’s place, but they were driven off by her watchful mother-in-law. Still, the kitchen door was damaged initially.
It was also mentioned that after such a period, most intruders give up.
I don’t actually know for sure.
By the way, I think lighting, such as motion detectors and possibly floodlights, can help alert someone at least.
However, I have also often heard that burglars sometimes break in during the daytime. For example, there have already been two attempts at my sister’s place, but they were driven off by her watchful mother-in-law. Still, the kitchen door was damaged initially.
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