Where To Start With DIY Home Security?

secretrobotron writes "I'm a recent university graduate from a co-op system which has kept me on the move every other semester, so I've never really had a permanent place to live, and I've never had the opportunity (or the capital) to buy expensive things. Now that I'm working, those restrictions on my life are gone and I'm living in an apartment with things I don't want stolen. I would love to build a DIY home security system, but I don't even know where to start since Google searches reveal things like diysecurityforum.com, which help only to an extent for a curious newcomer. Has anybody out there successfully built a home security system on a budget? If so, where did you start?" Related query: When similar questions have come up before, many readers have recommended Linux-based Zoneminder (last updated more than a year ago); is that still the state of the art?

Peace of mind or deter thieves?

[noidentity]

If you want peace of mind, yeah, put surveillance and monitoring, or just get insurance and back your data up. If you want to deter thieves, you just need to make it an unattractive target. You could put fake cameras and blinking lights, but that might tell a thief that there's something worth stealing.

Do you really want to build your own?

[aphelion_rock]

I went down this path years ago only to have a system plagued with the occasional false alarm. I spent years tring to figure out why. The cause was discovered by accident when the police, who was nearby, commented that the alarm went off as soon as he pressed the button on his two way radio. The system was not immune to RF interference. I have since settled on a good quality commercial system that I have installed myself, it is programmable and covers all of the areas of the house that I want and sends me an SMS if it is set off. Someone else has done the painstaking R&D leaving me to get on with enjoying life.

Risk Management

[Wolfling1]

OK. This is all about Risk Management. There are four strategies to Risk Management (check out the ISO on Wikipedia - 31000 I think?): 1. Mitigate the chance, 2. Mitigate the damage, 3. Insure it, 4. Accept it.

It sounds like you're not too keen on Accepting it, so lets consider the other three options. The magic here is to budget for it. Don't spend $1M to protect your $1000 stereo.

Chance mitigation is all about making it less likely for you to be invaded. This is about taking away temptation (eg tint your windows, good curtains), making entry harder (locks, security screens), and discouraging attackers (those cool stickers that threaten trunk monkey attack)

Damage mitigation is about reducing the damage once they're in. Alarm system. Connected to local security firm. Be prepared to pay $1 per day for monitoring.

Insure it. Nuff said.

There is nothing in this about video-ing the perps. There is nothing in it about having a gun, or traps or anything weird. When you assess the possible outcomes, those things don't reduce your loss, and likely increase your trauma.

Good luck!

Re:a gun

[peacefinder]

And a dog.

Re:a gun

[SleazyRidr]

Actually, come to think of it, a well-trained dog is probably one of your better security options.

Stickers & Insurance

[Tester]

The odds that you will get your stuff stolen are pretty low. Security systems are mostly a waste of money. Just get some realistic looking ADT stickers (from eBay) that will make the thieves think you have a security system. Having an actual system will get you ZERO extra security, just costs.

In case you get your stuff stolen, get home insurance, they will give you money and then you can buy newer toys! Actually, get insurance anyway, if the building burns or something and you are responsible, you really want insurance.

It seems obvious...

[jamesdood]

A moat of course. A water barrier is quite effective keeping out the vandals and goths, not to mention pesky viking raiders.

Solution

[sexconker]

Dog

Better auditory detection capabilities.
Better olfactory detection capabilities.
Better friend-or-foe algorithms.
More reliable than any electronic equipment.
More trustworthy than any security system vendor.
Faster response times than any security or law enforcement.
More immediate and satisfying effects than any justice system.
Fluffier.

Re:a gun

[Anonymous Coward]

Fuck me. Don't you like colloquialisms?

Re:a gun

[ashkar]

I've heard of some straight up horrible things happen to dogs when their owners were away. One of my friends came home from work a few years ago and found his dog with a screwdriver through its head. I've heard of oven cleaner being used. Truly fucked up.

I'm a decent sized guy that has been attacked a couple of times by dogs as well (a pit and a doberman), and while I have some good scars, I wasn't ever too worried about handling myself against them. I am scared of rottweilers, but I can easily out run one of those fat fucks. Multiple dogs are really needed to scare off an experienced thief. Even then, don't grow too attached to a guard dog. They don't have great chances if someone wants what you have.

Re:a gun

[Idarubicin]

Actually, come to think of it, a well-trained dog is probably one of your better security options.

...Assuming that the original poster actually likes dogs, and will enjoy taking care of one.

The likely cost of dog, plus regular veterinary maintenance, plus daily feeding, plus pet-sitting while away on holiday or business is substantial. (Remember, you can't board your security system at a kennel, or even store it at a friend's place while you're away -- it doesn't work, then.) You're out of pocket for quite a bit more than the typical homeowner's insurance policy, and the cost of dog food is probably comparable to most security system monitoring charges.

Meanwhile, the typical security system doesn't need to be walked twice a day (rain, snow, or sunshine), isn't going to shed on all of your clothing, and won't chew on your shoes.

Re:a gun

[jeillah]

Yes but will your fancy 'lectonix give you puppy kisses when you are feeling blue???

Re:Solution

[EmagGeek]

>> I tend to slip into the kitchen for a snack or a drink and I can do it easy enough to avoid waking the dogs.

I assure you, you don't. They just know it's you :)

Re:a gun

[Fred IV]

It really depends on if the thief wants to break into a house or if they want to break into your house specifically. Dogs are like thorn bushes under your windows...they won't stop someone who really wants in, but they can be enough of a deterrent to convince someone less motivated to rob someone else instead.

Re:a gun

[KahabutDieDrake]

"There is no problem that cannot be solved by the suitable retroactive application of high explosives".

Had you blown up the nutter first, your house would be fine.

Re:What's that coming over the hill? Is it a monst

[BeaverCleaver]

Dogs are useful and all, but bear in mind that your neighbours won't be very happy if the damn things bark all night, or whenever a pedestrian walks past your house. They will also be unimpressed if when you take the brutes for walkies you let them shit all over the sidewalk, nature strips, and their front lawns.

OK, so maybe everyone else in your street should stop being so whiny about your lovely, loyal pets. This is true, but it's also true that if I saw a burglar breaking into the house of the redneck with the big noisy dogs that bark the whole damn night and shit where I walk, I probably wouldn't report that burglar.

Social engineering. Make friends with the people next door, and look out for each other. That nosy neighbour who stays at home all day can be your greatest security asset if you're on good terms.

Re:Peace of mind or deter thieves?

[Runaway1956]

You do realize that most doors can be kicked down by a moderately healthy guy? Many people have locks on their doors that are worth more than the door. If a person is going the route of barring windows and buying good locks for the door, we better remind them to really LOOK AT their door. Is that door really suitable for use as a security device, or is it more suitable for a dressing room, as prevention of voyeurism? What holds the door and it's frame to the studs in the wall? What secures the door itself to the door frame? Believe me, six or nine little #2 phillip's screws aren't going to keep me out of anyplace that I really want to be.

Homeowner's (renter's) insurance

[DeanPentcheff]

Seriously.

Any security system, starting with a locked door, is simply a polite request to have your things left alone. Someone who chooses not to will not.

If you're techie enough to have real data (including music, etc.), then make sure you have daily offsite backup. The hardware is trivial to replace (given money), but getting your information back requires an offsite backup.

Anything else and you're basically wasting your time.

make your place less attractive to thieves

[lophophore]

I subscribe to the theory that thieves are lazy, they will seek out the easiest target.

Technology will only get you so far. Video surveillance will show you the perps after the fact. Alarms might scare off kids and amateur criminals. Shotgun traps will get you thrown in jail.

If you have ground floor windows, plant thorny bushes in front of them. Roses look nice. Invest in motion detecting exterior lighting. Put up a fence. Reinforce your doors. Install better locks. Make sure all points of access are easily seen by your neighbors and the police. Don't leave expensive stuff where it can be viewed from outside.

The goal is to make your place a less attractive target than the neighbors.

Re:a gun

[fuzzyfuzzyfungus]

Is there some virulent new strain of libertarianism going around that finds voluntary, contractually based, private-sector risk pooling to be insufficiently individualistic? Seriously?

Re:Four Words: Fry's Electronics

[Jester6641]

This could be a good case study. Someone stole your camera and you have a great shot of their face. Am I to understand you still don't have any identification or progress in this case? You haven't recovered anything? That video was dated December 28, 2009. Anything new since then? I'm being honest here, I'm not trying to be snarky, but that doesn't sound at all like you had any success with your system. I know it's hard to quantify the thefts that hadn't happened because of this, but it's hard to justify on account of the one that did.

Re:a gun

[russotto]

No, but there's a nasty old strain of authoritarian who thinks that simply because you are in the same insurance risk pool as he is, he has the right to control your behavior to reduce your risk.

Re:Risk Management

[Jarik C-Bol]

Hail the castle doctrine.

Re:ZoneMinder is not all it could be

[jasno]

Yep - If the maintainer is out to lunch you would be doing us all a favor by forking it.

Re:a gun

[pspahn]

Defense in Depth. Buddy dog is just a layer. He's only really there to WARN you, and if he must, protect you by attacking so that you have enough time to make your escape... or to grab a vase or other living room-type of heavy object so you can make your Hollywood counter-attack.

Re:Four Words: Fry's Electronics

[GrumblyStuff]

Heh, you make an earlier comment [slashdot.org] all the more insightful.

Re:obvious suggestions

[nomadic]

As the lawyer, and police officer both told me. Don't wound people. Either let them walk away, or kill them. Wounding them just puts you in court for the next 2 years while the thief rakes you for money. Point being, dead men tell no tales, and while it's possible next of kin will sue you, its your word against a dead thief (that tried to kill you, remember?). A guy in a wheel chair is sympathetic. Stories of a thug with a knife don't lead to sympathy.

What about that whole philosophical impact of having killed another human being? I'd rather be sued for 2 years than have to kill someone.

Re:Went through it

[mshieh]

That only works if you lock up your server, otherwise you've just provided a thief with more portable electronics to take.

...mixed with snake-oil

[RichiH]

So, I read the FAQ.

It's atomized pepper. Does that mean they actually break down the molecules? Apparently so as without cleaning up (it's optional!) there is no harm for humans, cats and dogs after three to four hours. Your toddler and pets will appreciate this fact as they are a lot closer to the ground when that stuff is stirred up again and again.

Also, even though it is a fine-grained powder based on pepper, it's not flammable.

That, or the FAQ is a steaming pile of lies and half-truths.

Re:ZoneMinder is not all it could be

[mcrbids]

Sounds to me like a fork is in order... you find the project useful enough to patch it, why not just fork the project if you aren't getting any traction?

Don't think you are getting into some obligation, you aren't. You are no more obligated to do anything than the guy you're pulling a fork from, you will see your good work benefit the community, and you just might save the project over the long haul.

Re:obvious suggestions

[muckracer]

> I'd rather be sued for 2 years than have to kill someone.

Agree with the basic sentiment of preferably not killing anyone ever. But are you really sure about that? Perhaps when asked again *at the end* of those two years? Or *at the end* of 20 years, when you still have half your pay check seized for the damages awarded to the intruder(s family), even though he went out of his way to mess with you, had the worse outcome of the fight but a better lawyer in court?

Re:Four Words: Fry's Electronics

[Anonymous Coward]

Really? I mean REALLY?

You spend x hundreds of dollars on a "security" system, only to have part if it stolen. You end up in one of the most optimistic situations for the system: using your "security" system to capture the perpetrator in the act of theft. Hell, you even have the guy's face and voice on video and have crowd sourced a search for him (youtube + slashdot), but you still can't get your property back.

What REAL value did you get for you X hundreds of dollars + time?