BiggerPockets

I need some help on this issue ASAP please!!!

I have a vacant property, newly renovated, which has been broken into a few times in just a couple of weeks. I need recommendations for security measures and things to help deter further attacks on this house.

First, 2 of my exterior doors with new deadbolts were broken. They pryed the door open, breaking the jambs and pinching the deadbolt beyond repair. Then, today, one of my contractors informed me they found drug paraphernalia inside this morning. We leave all inside and outside lights on all night. All doors are secured with deadbolts and latches and jamb reinforcement. Strangely enough, the only things stolen were a kitchen faucet (not yet installed) and an installed floodlight--both of which were very inexpensive, thankfully.

I'm very grateful that, so far, they've not vandalized the new work we've done inside. But that seems inevitable at this point.

I'm considering installing a full security system. It could be worth the expense. Any recommendations? I want to hurry and secure this place as best I can.

See related discussion link here:
http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/67/topics/48239-how-to-you-secure-a-property-while-rehabbing-

That thread has some links to other threads that are related too.

There was another post a while back with some links to those systems.

I've purchased an ADT system before and included the 2 year contract with the sale of the house. (It ran like $1,200 for 2 years upfront)

I've had MANY break ins!!! :( I'll tell you what doesn't help as much as you think is an alarm system. Well it could work but MAKE SURE YOU LOCK YOUR ELECTRIC METER!!! Most of you may already know this but if your power source is not locked they will turn off the breaker then wait for your battery to die to your alarm and enter your home. Last night they just broke in again after replacing the electrical wire that I just replaced. THEY CUT THE STEEL SECURITY BARS TO THE DOOR!!! :( Desperate people have all the time and energy in the world to get money unethically.
They're like water. Sometimes it seems impossible to seal it up. I'm researching steel security doors and windows that can be leased. I think they're expensive, but worth it because nothing else I've done has kept them out. One thing that's weird is I've never had one break a window. They will work on prying a door for hours before they'll break a window. I've also had pretty good luck with boarding the place using the funky screws but ... I hate them.
I hope no one puts a dog through securing a crack home.

I just contacted REO sentinel over the weekend, they have a product that works off batteries and the cellular network so there are no wires to be cut. It sends you a picture of anyone entering the property. I am planning to get one to try it out and see how they work.

I leave a radio on inside the house loud enough it can be heard at the entrances and windows before entering. I know this works to some degree because I have had contractors tell me it gave them pause to enter the house when they heard the radio. Security specialists with the police department recommend it too. I put a cage on the a/c compressor that I have because its brand new. I also ended up fencing across the front yard with a chainlink fence. Surprisingly people like thouse more with a chainlink fence in front. Who woulda thought? If you know any neighbors that are parked on the curb, you might see if they want to use your driveway for a while (only if you know them and feel comfortable wtih them). THis way the house appears to be occupied wtih lights and radio on.

I do not advocate bars. They are really ugly and/or expensive. THey make your your house look like s**t and help the neighborhood look like s**t. You cannot proof a property, just discourage. You can get an alarm at HD that runs off electic or battery (so I have been told). Noise is really the biggest deterent. Noise and light.

I also put 3 inch deck screws and oversized deatbolt recievers just to make it a little tougher to kick the door in.

With the lights, radio, door security, fence and compressor cage, my stratey is to make it just stressful enough to get into my house that the neigbor's house looks more appealing. I drive by about every other evening to check on it when its vacant.

Since you have already been burglarized, I would put up a fake camera with a flashing red light in plain site but out of reach and no trespassing signs and the HD alarm. Here you are giving the impression that A) someone knows whats going on, B) they are not happy with it, and C) they have taken action, so these cameras just might be real. If that doesn't work, you might have to install real video and hope the perps can be identified.

What I ended up doing (relative to the house in my original post last year) was--and you won't believe this--leaving the doors unlocked. This actually came at the suggestion of the local police. Against my better judgment, I left the doors unlocked, and--to my amazement--no one broke in anymore.

In the meantime, I've learned to take measures to make my properties less interesting to the dirtbags who cause us so much trouble. I lock access to power (or, better yet, move the breaker panel inside), lock access to the crawlspace, beef up the door jambs, install deadbolts with a longer throw, lay a big stick in the track of sliders (or replace them with traditional doors), leave lights on inside with blinds open so cops can see if anyone is inside (they recommended this), keep water shut off at the street (in case they get in and cut up your plumbing), and install chain-link fence posts around AC units. One of the best things I do is request stepped-up police patrols. I call in the request and then try to personally meet the officers in the area, give them my contact info, let them know what I'm doing and that I would love any advice they can offer. They see I'm doing a nice job on my renovation work--that I'm not a slum lord--and they seem to take an extra interest in helping.

I refuse to install burglar bars--it automatically sends a signal that this neighborhood is dangerous. The bars themselves are dangerous in the event of a fire.

The #1 thing I do is: Do not buy in the hood.

"Leave the doors unlocked."????? What in tarnation is the rationale for this? Anyone else heard this advice?

"Sh**, Joe, the doors unlocked?? What do we do now, what do we do now?" "Don't know, but this is weird and I'm getting the he** out of herrrrrreeeeee!"

Other things:
* Cell-based security system (simplisafe.com is good, and the alarm is loud, I think 86 decibels.). Can be removed and taken from project to project.
* Security system signs at all entrances, and stickers on windows (this one is critical).
* Motion-detecting lighting near access points.
* Fake cameras with blinky lights.
* Lights and radios on inside. Haven't done, but that sounds good.

I looked into that and I could not find any portable/temporary AC cages, except from one company that had a bad rating with the BBB.

The ones that are permanent and custom welded are anywhere from $300 to $600 for an SFH here in Florida. I found someone from craigslist do it for $300 on one of my houses (I was concerned because someone had sprayed grafitti on the side of the house). He installed the cage but didn't do a great job.

I am testing out a new system to monitor vacant properties, it is a combination of a few things and not designed specifically for this purpose.

The first component is a vuezone camera system. I bought mine at Amazon.com, it is also available at vuezone.com. Currently $230 for a gateway and 2 indoor motion detection cameras. A weatherproof case for the cameras is available for $32/camera.

Second, a wireless hotspot. I am looking at the truconnect mifi or the datajack mifi. I believe they are both available for about $80.

Third, a wireless bridge. I got a trendnet 640mb for $25.

The vuezone cameras can be placed virtually anywhere, they come with mounts made for attaching on a wall, but you can set them somewhere else or purchase table, window, and ceiling mounts as well. There are no power or connection cables to the cameras, they are completely wireless.

The cameras wirelessly communicate with the vuezone gateway. The gateway is designed to be connected to an internet router by ethernet cable and is not able to wirelessly connect. The problem is that the wifi hotspots usually do not have an ethernet port. That is where the wireless bridge comes in, you plug the gateway into that and the bridge wirelessly connects to the wireless hotspot, which connects wirelessly to cellular networks and internet access.

The cameras can be set to record a clip when motion is detected and send emails out to several addresses to alert you.

I've only had my system up and running for a couple hours at my personal residence to test it out, and I don't have the hotspot yet, so I am running it through my wireless router from the wireless bridge, but everything is working well so far.

The initial investment is about $335. Then there will be monthly costs of about $15 for the vuezone service and the wireless hotspot service. Vuezone has plans to have a lifetime membership of some kind available in the future, but when and how much is not known yet. These costs seem similar to many other security systems, but what I like is that I will be able to check in on my property without going there, just to make sure the furnace and ac are still there and the doors are not kicked in or windows broken. I will not have to investigate false alarms which will be good for me because some of my properties are a couple hours away and I will be able to travel as well.

There are drawbacks to the vuezone system, check out the reviews on amazon, though some of the issues have been fixed if you look at the new information from the vuezone website. I will try to update here what I find out as I continue to uses this system.