Leave the lights on?

[Cellarman]

So, you leave a light on when you're out and it may indeed prevent a burglary. Okay, it's wasting energy, but how much energy will be wasted in having to replace all the electical gadgets that will be pinched if the burglars get in? Frankly, I'm happy to waste a bit of energy to protect my home, especially since most burglaries don't just result in stolen items but with vandalism and worse.

[SheffieldLass]

Originally Posted by Cellarman

So, you leave a light on when you're out and it may indeed prevent a burglary. Okay, it's wasting energy, but how much energy will be wasted in having to replace all the electical gadgets that will be pinched if the burglars get in? Frankly, I'm happy to waste a bit of energy to protect my home, especially since most burglaries don't just result in stolen items but with vandalism and worse.

In my case, if the burglar(s) had bothered to look through the window they'd have spotted that my tv was black and white, and the hifi didn't have a cd player, so not worth the effort .... they ended up just making a mess of the door, took the hifi which had a broken cassette player (serves them right!) ... and took my cycling cape to hide it in. The cycling cape was a special one from Germany, and the one thing I couldn't replace ... My two bikes were locked together, so they didn't take those, thank goodness ...

I used to leave my lights on, one on a timer, and another on random on a light level sensor, but I don't do these days. Instead I've just made sure my locks and doors are better quality and better fitted than my neighbours' ...

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

.......... Instead I've just made sure my locks and doors are better quality and better fitted than my neighbours' ...

That does seem to be the best way to deal with the threat! Most burglaries in ordinary homes are casual and amateur - not professional and high-tec. Most burglars will move on if they find well locked doors and windows ...

[Fourwings]

Originally Posted by Phoebe

A single dog would not be enough deterrent for a professional burglar.

Depends on the type of dog really. They are brilliant deterrants.

This is my little baby called Sky, dog number 3 to be exact, the image was taken by my daughter in April when Sky was just 6 months old.

Looking at this image now she has at least doubled in size, I have never had a GSD before and she is very different to any other dog I have ever had, devoted to me, happy to be with her close family, but totally lacking in any sort of polite social skills when meeting anyone else unfortunately

We dont get as many vistors as we used to and you can possibly see why when you see her standing on her back legs looking out of the window, lips curled, showing every tooth in her head and growling.

In my opinion far better than any alarm system!

[glsammy]

She's a beauty Steve. I had a GSD dog along time ago now and should I ever have another dog I can't imagine having any other bread. The only reason I've never had another is purely down to my cowardly behaviour when it came time to lose him. I still regard that day as the worst day in my life.
One point I will make, our dog was just like yours to anyone calling at the house. Jumping at the window, teeth bared, very impressive. However, one one occasion one of my employees called around and I'd left the door unlocked with the dog inside. I was in the rear garden. He had no fear of our dog and came straight into the house. Our dog never raised a murmur! He had met the dog many times before so I hung onto that as the reason for his behaviour.

[valleyforge]

Here's a technological solution for you all to consider ... costs less than £30 and next-to-nothing to run:

Fake TV at Gizoo