The best defense inside, besides guns, is trained dogs...
Our dogs are trained to rip into anyone with a weapon. They even go nuts when they see me with a pistol, knife, etc. I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of those "locking jaws". I agree Re: the double deadbolts, double keyed, etc. Lock the garage, etc. But, I have to share with you what the dealer who sold me my Cannon vault said,
"Given time, opportunity and tools, ANY crook can get into ANY vault, no matter how secure. So, get your things insured and just make them have to 'work' for it!" Best thing to do is communicate with the neighbors you trust and hope you truly can trust them.
I reflect back on the neighbor to the right who hired the neighbor to our left to sit his dog. She was about 13 and fully trustworthless!!! Within hours, she had herself, her two derelict brothers and their (seriously) about 5 equally derelict friends THROUGHOUT the house, all the lights on, on all levels, "lost" the house keys, etc. When the neighbor came home, he was, ah, let's say, upset. So if you hire the neighbor kid, secure the interior of the house too. We have HIGH quality locks on ALL doors, even interior doors. Talk about having to "earn" it.
Best of all, get a security camera that snaps photos and saves to somewhere "secure" like the gun vault. Then, even if they "borrow" your tools, etc., you can have the police get it back for you.
This was a timely post! Thank-you! It's always nice to receive reminders to not let my guard down.
It reminds me of when I was a high school principal and two kids broke into our house...DURING school hours!!!! I cross-referenced 3 data bases (attendance, driving and discipline). It came down to 3 students, one car, and two sets of foot prints. The one student I knew would NEVER do so...besides, that student was with a parent at the doctor. The other two, could, might and DID! The tires tracks matched. BOTH sets of foot prints matched. BINGO!!!! BUSTED!!!! The detective told me, "Man, you're in the wrong business! I've never solved a B&E this fast!" (About 1 hour). Within 24 hours they had their car impounded and had been fired from the store where they worked. It would have been comical if it weren't so aweful. Although, they had already "fenced" the items. I never got my computers, etc. back.
Doc2005