Sometimes, you really have to listen to the DGI's arguments. A co-worker I was trying to persuade pointed out that I'd have one of the few lit houses after dark (like a beacon) identifying me as a target for trouble. He said if he and his buddies were desperate they'd visit the first night and break out all the windows (from cover) so that the second or third night they could return and while a few occupied us defending one end of the house the others could quietly enter the other end. That got me to thinking it would perhaps be useful to have heavy plywood for each window that would be attached by heavy hinges to the studs over each window and that could be swung open during the day and hooked to an eye bolt on the ceiling so we could have light and fresh air in the daytime and by lowering and securing at night we would avoid becoming an easy target and have a little more secure sleep in a difficult time. Not that such an idea makes a hill of beans difference to the really determined troublemaker, but people do tend to pursue the course of least resistance and may decide to move on to easier pickin's.

-- Ann Fisher (zyax55b@prodigy.com), December 12, 1998

Answers

Why not Security bars?

-- burg (sense@dollars.com), December 12, 1998.

Security bars dont block the light coming from your house at night and may be too hard to open from the inside in an emergency.

-- Ann Fisher (zyax55b@prodigy.com), December 12, 1998.

If your neighborhood acts as a community, you should not have to worry about such stringent security measures. It is time to begin rallying for neighborhoods to pull together in solidarity.

Cheers

-MC

-- MC Davey (UFOskyBLUE@aol.com), December 12, 1998.

One cock of a 12 gauge shotgun will get their attention way before they even attempt to throw a rock breaking a window. One blast from a shot gun will send them either to the promise land or running like hell. I prefer sending them to the promise land myself.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), December 12, 1998.

I have on my "most important" list Plywood,16d nails, and a 20 guage pump shotgun (was told they don't have quite the "kick" on the shoulder). Buckshot and regular bullets. Also a German Shepherd pup I acquired last year, who is in protection training (Shultz). She is inside, and an older protective Malamute/Husky male out back, inside 5' fenced yard with heavy duty chain/padlock on gates. I plan on having alot of sleepless nights in the beginning, but a few of my neighbors are going to be on neighborhood watch with me. This is the time to get to know your neighors well. But we have always been of this nature. This is a rural area. Close enough to see, but far enough to kept our privatey.

-- Elaine Hammons (elaine_h@bellsouth.net), December 12, 1998.

24 hour security watch, layered defense, overlapping fields of fire, reliable adult defenders, and binoculars/night vision devices are a real neccessity in these circumstances. Prepared and *practiced* intruder response plans are a real neccessity - everybody (including noncombatants) need to know what to do and where to go both when an external confrontation starts (if someone tries to break out *our* windows they will be attacking us and will be dealt with in that manner), or if an intruder is spotted already on the premises (which will be dealt with as an assault in progress).

Arlin Adams

-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), December 12, 1998.

I read that security bars may actually increase the possibility of an attack since people may get the idea from seeing them that there is something behind them worth having... If you are concerned about lights one thing that has been mentioned is dark 'black out' type drapes for windows. Another thing is to consider 'securing' and staying in one room at night. These ideas may not be for everyone, they are just different things that I've heard.

I agree with those who say get to know your neighbors and work together as a community. IF things get to the point where they start looking bad consider having a place to bug out to. Do you have any 'get it' family or friends in a hopefully safer area?

-- Rob Michaels (sonofdust@net.com), December 12, 1998.

Remove all the light bulbs from all rooms except for one room that you will live in...use flashlights or oil lamps for bedrooms, which give off little light. Other people will be using flashlights etc so you won't stand out unless your whole house is ablaze with light. In the living area cover the windows with insulating material at night (in Canada we get some silver foil/felt combination material which can be made into boot liners or shades which can be velcroed on to the window frames). If it is dark inside I would guess that you could see anyone outside better too.

-- Laurane (familyties@rttinc.com), December 12, 1998.

Heavy-duty dark shades were used, "Blackout Curtains", during WWII. Perhaps, this will provide another level of security.

It is still wise to establish a neighborhood watch and other forms of neighborhood cooperation.

It's all y2k insurance.

-- Sara Nealy (saran@ptd.net), December 12, 1998.

Ann - this one gets batted around regularly. This time it is "your house is lit, in a dark neighborhood." Another time it was "smoke coming from your chimney", or "a big LPG container in the backyard makes you a target." I'd like to add, "you just made bread and the fresh smell brings out all sorts of low life you must deal with."

If you are now worried about security, _because of your prep, then you _need to form neighborhood community.

Much easier said than done, I know, boy, do I know. Much easier to prep on food, etc. than to form a cohesive neighborhood.

All prep is site specific.

-- Mitchell Barnes (spanda@inreach.com), December 12, 1998.