Typical burglar?

[gcimmino]

This item in another thread caught my eye:

When we are not home, my real goal is to discourage people from breaking in in the first place, and scare them away (alarm, lights, etc.) if they do. If someone does break in, and trips the alarm, they are not likely to stick around until the police get there.

Every once in a while I'll watch "It takes a thief" on the Discovery channel.

In multiple episodes, the "thief" will continue on his way after tripping the alarm, knowing that he had X minutes before the outdial, check-in call from the central station, call to the police, police arrive. In one case, they tripped the alarm, located the panel and killed it.

Does anyone have any real info on the likelihood of this scenario vs. the case where they trip the alarm and turn around and run?

Thanks

 

[nightwalker]

That would depend on how the panel is setup. It doesn't have to have a delay before dialing out and most installers don't set it that way, there should never be minutes before the dial out, seconds at most. The central station can be instructed to notify police first if that's what a customer wants. There really isn't a rule for this as there are lots of variables. It all depends on the level of security you want, most residential security is not at the same level as a bank or a commercial account, not that it couldn't be, it certainly could, it's just that most residential customers don't want that level of protection because of the associated inconvenience that it can bring.

 

[Digger]

It would be easier to cut the phone line before you go in than find and kill the panel. So unless the home has a radio backup cutting the phone/cable line gives the thief a lot of time. A high school kid or local drug addict wont think to do that. Someone who has thought it out more would.

If you dont have pets you could put enough sirens to make it very uncomfortable for the thief to remain for an extended period of time (more than 3 to 5 mins).

 

[aehusted]

As far as the phone line cutting goes, if your house is set up like mine, there is a single cat5 cable that pokes out from the foundation and goes into the grey plastic telco box. Since I only have one phone line, I am planning on setting up one of the unused pairs as an EOL NC zone. That way if the line is cut, it will immediately trigger the siren.

It would be easier to cut the phone line before you go in than find and kill the panel. So unless the home has a radio backup cutting the phone/cable line gives the thief a lot of time. A high school kid or local drug addict wont think to do that. Someone who has thought it out more would.

If you dont have pets you could put enough sirens to make it very uncomfortable for the thief to remain for an extended period of time (more than 3 to 5 mins).

 

[123]

After my home was burglarized, I documented the lessons learned here. In a nutshell, he cut phone/satellite/cable lines, kicked in two doors, tore the interior siren off the wall and ransacked our bedroom. He moved very quickly; I lost a watch, some money, and my peace of mind.

I replaced the antiquated alarm panel with an M1, added a concealed exterior siren, several interior speakers, added an exterior strobe light, and reinforced the doors. There's a few more things on my todo list including the "bait wire" described by aehusted.

 

[aehusted]

"bait wire" makes it sound so diabolical. I like it

I replaced the antiquated alarm panel with an M1, added a concealed exterior siren, several interior speakers, added an exterior strobe light, and reinforced the doors. There's a few more things on my todo list including the "bait wire" described by aehusted.

 

[Digger]

"bait wire" makes it sound so diabolical. I like it

I replaced the antiquated alarm panel with an M1, added a concealed exterior siren, several interior speakers, added an exterior strobe light, and reinforced the doors. There's a few more things on my todo list including the "bait wire" described by aehusted.

My idea of a "bait wire" would have at least 5Kv

 

[drozwood90]

My idea of a "bait wire" would have at least 5Kv

The unfortunate thing is, it's illegal to make "boobie" traps. So, if you did that, you could get sued.

--Dan

 

[beelzerob]

But what if they really are a boobie? Being a thief I'd think they would be.

Maybe if you just ran 120v through it, it'd just be a surprise and maybe not completely lethal.

 

[beelzerob]

I lost a watch, some money, and my peace of mind.

That's ultimately what led us to move from where we were living to peaceful central PA. It felt like us being invaded was just a matter of time in AZ, and I knew all the sensors and deterrents in the world wouldn't make me feel confident being at work while the wife and kids were at home during the day.

 

[CollinR]

As far as the phone line cutting goes, if your house is set up like mine, there is a single cat5 cable that pokes out from the foundation and goes into the grey plastic telco box. Since I only have one phone line, I am planning on setting up one of the unused pairs as an EOL NC zone. That way if the line is cut, it will immediately trigger the siren.

It's almost easier to just add another plastic box and 5' of direct burial Cat5, then you can short the Cat5 underground. The other way around only works if they cut the phones on your side of the demarc, why would they do that?

 

[Photon]

"The other way around only works if they cut the phones on your side of the demarc, why would they do that?"

Because the wires from the Telco Ped in the back yard run underground and up through a steel pipe to their Demarc box on the side of the house. It wouldn't be too hard to dismantle the pedestal box, but it would be much easier to cut the line on my side of the demarc.

 

[Photon]

My idea of a "bait wire" would have at least 5Kv

The unfortunate thing is, it's illegal to make "boobie" traps. So, if you did that, you could get sued.

--Dan

I wonder if photographic flash bulbs are still available. I've often thought a simple flash bulb inside a suitably impressive box out of reach over the demarc boxes on the dark side of our house would have potential to scare off a perp. I think if I was breaking into a house and cutting through the various lines of communications before hand, if there was suddenly a burst of a jillion candle power from above it might lead me to think I was just photographed and maybe I should change my plans. Rather amateurish, but really cheap if it scares the perp off before he cuts the real phone cable.

 

[aehusted]

Indeed, same here.

Because the wires from the Telco Ped in the back yard run underground and up through a steel pipe to their Demarc box on the side of the house. It wouldn't be too hard to dismantle the pedestal box, but it would be much easier to cut the line on my side of the demarc.

 

[drozwood90]

I like the idea about burying a "dead" Cat 5 cable...use a few wires shorted to make something that the security system could monitor.

When it's cut, have the system go CRAZY...esp. if I can get my phone lines into a metal pipe...then I don't have to worry as much. They'll think they cut the phone...which will set-off the alarm. THEN Use the REAL phone to call! Hopefully I can make the pipe look like it's NOT something to mess with long enough to get the call out.

It might even be worth while to re-route the phone in a way so it looks like the power feed into the house. THEN I doubt anyone would try to cut it (for fear of cutting into a 220V line.

--Dan