colonel
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Post by colonel on Jun 14, 2017 6:51:05 GMT 10
Hi all,
long time anonymous reader here who finally decided to join.
ok all, what are people's thoughts about turning a suburban home into a fortress?
the reason being, some of us cannot bug out to somewhere in the sticks. It just isn't feasible or practical. Likewise, a shtf scenario may come about very quickly and some not have the time to leave town, so to speak, and it may be safer and more beneficial to stay in.
ok, so with a 1000 sq/m block and a good suburban home, what you do to secure it?
my first thoughts would be to the following:
- get your neighbours on board,
- have a subtle system that doesnt draw attention,
- double glazed windows for strength,
- extra large rock gardens to prevent someone driving into your home,
- subtle/hidden camera system.
- water tanks, solar system etc
- if possible, have a raised house (not concrete slab house), build a secure bunker under the house
- maximum height colour bond fencing with some booby traps and hidden razor wire
- good dogs
etc
i do acknowledge that hitting the road to a specific location is preferable, but it just ain't sometimes practical. But if you had your wits about you, then how could you do it in the suburbs and what would you do?
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remnantprep
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Post by remnantprep on Jun 14, 2017 7:59:26 GMT 10
A big welcome colonel! Glad you decided to join.
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spatial
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Post by spatial on Jun 14, 2017 9:23:37 GMT 10
Hi all, ok all, what are people's thoughts about turning a suburban home into a fortress? There is plenty of stuff on the net even a few good books on how to harden a house, can get the kindle version for under $10.. A few of my thoughts below, why I took the time write it - I don't know, the info is all out there. I suppose an Aussie perspective is useful, or in my case more of an African perspective. Book Review: Prepper’s Home Defense survivalcache.com/book-review-preppers-home-defense/www.amazon.com/gp/product/1612431151?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1612431151&linkCode=xm2&tag=survcach-2017 Best Home Fortification Tactics To Keep Criminals At Bay www.skilledsurvival.com/home-fortification-tips/Fortifying Your Home Against Hardened Criminalswww.offthegridnews.com/self-defense/fortifying-your-home-against-hardened-criminals/It is a matter of addressing the issues associated with a residential area compared to a rural area. Security, sanitation, fuel for cooking. You need to be outside of a flood risk area. Post SHTF I don't see as big an issue as it is made out to be that you will get attacked by gangs and looters. Those guys will go for soft targets - and remember there are no medical facility so even a small injury and it creates big problems. Why attack a hardened prepared residence where there is a very good chance of being badly injured for a few mouth full of food. SecurityBarricades to prevent vehicle ramming is good. In South Africa it is high walls with barbed wire on top or electric fence, I was thinking of purchasing rolls of razor wire - post SHTF you ring fence your house with it - a simple V bracket is all it takes - or you can put it on the inside of your exterior wall, so if some idiot decides to climb over there is a surprise waiting on the other side. Putting up a chest high thick thorn hedge around the property. Prefer a brick house with cement floor - fire can be an issue, you can still build a bunker underneath or go from the patio under your house. Purchasing a number of sand bags that can be used to further harden parts of your house is a good idea. Just keep them ready and fill them up once things fall apart. It will take a few weeks prior to things getting so bad that security becomes an issue. Cameras even fake cameras are good or both Again in Africa windows are all burglar bars with all exterior door having steel gates. Most houses have internal steel gate in the corridor between the living areas and the sleeping areas- so if any person gets in, there is a safe retreat to prevent a surprise attack. Firearms and dogs in the house are very useful, less than 5% of Australians have firearms and most of those are retired pensioners. Go to the gun club and have a look around. Start a veg garden Sanitation is plenty of garbage bags to put over the toilet and when full dispose of them, Fly screens, rodent bait plenty of disposable latex gloves Cheap plastic chem suits to dispose of build up of toxic wasts or bodies in the neighbourhood with plenty of duck tape. Cloth masks and or gas masks I am not in favour of the grey man discrete options, but you can consider bury a substantial amount of your preps so if you get invaded just retreat and when they have moved on retake your property. Also have an alternate place to evacuate to (see vid below) can be within the city and and if you can get a group together you will be thriving not just surviving. Find an urban shelter site to commandeer, Mobile towers, abandon warehouses, primary schools with high fences etc... :might be useful if you have a group with a few families.
Home Defense: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide on Security Strategies and Defensive Tactics for Protecting Your Home Against Looters, Raiders, and Mobs in a Grid Down Disaster Scenario www.amazon.com/Home-Defense-Beginners-Strategies-Protecting/dp/1520985339/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1497399052&sr=1-3&keywords=prepper+home+defensePrepper Home Defense: The Tactics and Weapons to Defend Your Home and Your Family When SHTF Kindle Edition $3.18 www.amazon.com/Prepper-Home-Defense-Tactics-Weapons-ebook/dp/B017IZCNDQ/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1497399052&sr=1-8&keywords=prepper+home+defensePrepping Booby Traps, Prepping and fortifying your home with booby traps www.amazon.com.au/Prepping-Booby-Traps-Fortifying-Survival-ebook/dp/B00Z96QZCM
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Morgo
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Post by Morgo on Jun 14, 2017 16:27:29 GMT 10
There is lots you can do but it also comes down to how determined or spiteful the attackers are. Not much you can do if they decide to burn you out as eventually they will succeed.
A lot also comes down to your home, brick and concrete over timber. Elevated position over level block. Thick gardens walls/fencing etc to prevent access etc
Simple things that can be done to any home;
- Reinforce all door frames and replace screws with longer thicker gauge screws, this can make a huge difference to a standard door. - Additional deadbolt locks on all entry points - Roller shutters on windows - Motion activated lights (depends on the scenario, good for now but not so much into a bad SHTF event as it tells them you have power) - Security system, lots of noise and lights. - Non obvious security cameras, more so you can monitor than a deterrent. - Decoy/fake security cameras that are easily seen, hopefully act as a deterrent since you can't tell the difference between decoy/fake ones and the real deal from the road and its something for the determined criminals to find and destroy thinking they have them all they may miss the non obvious cameras. (during SHTF I'd remove them, it tells people there is something inside worth stealing)
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blueshoes
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Post by blueshoes on Jun 14, 2017 17:30:50 GMT 10
Welcome Colonel - Good question and I will be following answers too.
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token
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Post by token on Jun 14, 2017 19:24:11 GMT 10
Attack dogs that run the boundary fences, high strong fences, strong doors and windows, security cameras all linked in around the block with sensor lights also. A lock room, a 12guage and more dogs that have been trained to attack staying with you inside.
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Post by Peter on Jun 14, 2017 20:10:01 GMT 10
Tell the grandmother that the tresspassers are interested in hearing about her latest surgery. They'll either be bored to death or flee for their lives
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Ammo9
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Post by Ammo9 on Jun 14, 2017 20:16:26 GMT 10
It's a struggle many of us attempt.
One small suggestion I'll make is drop bars for doors. Hooks for the bar(s) can be disguised as coat/hat hooks.
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spatial
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Post by spatial on Jun 14, 2017 20:28:04 GMT 10
I stay on the very edge of a suburb there is one choke point if you blocked the road - the only way to access the section of residential houses would be by foot.
Parking one or two vehicles there and setting it on fire would be a major discouragement for any large group. Would also give a person plenty of time to fight or flee.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2017 20:36:43 GMT 10
I like the medieval approach. A few heads stuck on star pickets in the front garden should get the message across
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remnantprep
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Post by remnantprep on Jun 14, 2017 21:25:30 GMT 10
Just trash your yard! Throw garbage out on the lawn, clothing etc. Graffiti the place, make it look like its been raided etc
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Post by Peter on Jun 14, 2017 22:11:34 GMT 10
This is the very reason my front yard always looks unkempt. WTSHTF I'll have a head start on any other place wanting to look abandoned.
At least that's what I tell Mrs Pete...
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Ammo9
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Post by Ammo9 on Jun 15, 2017 7:05:46 GMT 10
Not sure abandoned is the look to aim for
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token
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Post by token on Jun 15, 2017 7:43:13 GMT 10
3 rottweillers and a .50cal machine gun in a hardened, elevated position is all you need. amen and amen lol
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2017 23:35:22 GMT 10
If any of you were starving hungry with families and you knew where there might be supplies locked up but they were guarded by people with guns, or dogs or high fences......but you felt you had no alternative since the shops did not open......are you going to avoid the location and walk away when you have nowhere else to go to get food? I think we all know the answer, and if it takes you to organize a group of other hungry people to help you would you do that or just say no those supplies are not mine I will go away and watch my wife and kids die of hunger? I think we all know the answer to that one as well.
If you have shit other people want then your only option is to ensure they don't know it is there, and you need to keep it that way.
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spatial
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Post by spatial on Jun 16, 2017 9:02:14 GMT 10
If any of you were starving hungry with families and you knew where there might be supplies locked up but they were guarded by people with guns, or dogs or high fences......but you felt you had no alternative since the shops did not open......are you going to avoid the location and walk away when you have nowhere else to go to get food? I think we all know the answer, and if it takes you to organize a group of other hungry people to help you would you do that or just say no those supplies are not mine I will go away and watch my wife and kids die of hunger? I think we all know the answer to that one as well. If you have shit other people want then your only option is to ensure they don't know it is there, and you need to keep it that way. There is some truth to that, but there are always easier targets or moving to a nearby town to scavenge for more resources. During the great depression (1930) people constantly moved between town etc. Yeah ok there was still an operating government - one is never quiet sure how things will go down. Starvation is a strange thing after a few weeks you stop feeling the constant hunger your body goes deteriorates into a shutdown mode. A person gets lethargic, your brain starts playing ticks on you and people start making very poor decisions. It is likely they will move into the woods and try and get food and simply never return. Watch season 3 of the History 'alone' show people just sat there and starved, if the produces did not go in to evacuate them they would of died with two of them having to be hospitalised for starvation. They did not break the rules of the show or tap out - just simply wasted away. Attacking a well armed and resourced group will only end in tragedy for the attackers - there is no medical assistance - so even the slightest injury could lead to death. If it truly becomes mad-max and it is the survival of the fittest and toughest!!! I am going to print false pamphlets saying that the gov or a group has started a big feeding farm scheme at say Gosford (+50km from where I stay) then put all the pamphlets in the post boxes, spread lots of false rumours etc.. Once the buggers/neighbours/walking dead those with no resources leave they will not be able to come back due to the distance.
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token
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Post by token on Jun 16, 2017 15:08:41 GMT 10
If any of you were starving hungry with families and you knew where there might be supplies locked up but they were guarded by people with guns, or dogs or high fences......but you felt you had no alternative since the shops did not open......are you going to avoid the location and walk away when you have nowhere else to go to get food? I think we all know the answer, and if it takes you to organize a group of other hungry people to help you would you do that or just say no those supplies are not mine I will go away and watch my wife and kids die of hunger? I think we all know the answer to that one as well. If you have shit other people want then your only option is to ensure they don't know it is there, and you need to keep it that way. Geek, i agree the end point is important, but i don't fully agree with the above as in many cases there is generally another place for folk to go to find foods without risking their life to get it. In the event that there isn't, yes agreed, its likely some will try.
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fei
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Post by fei on Jun 29, 2017 21:16:06 GMT 10
After my brother's house was broken into a couple of times, he applied to the local council for a large fence around the property. Of course, they disallowed it, on basis of a fence blocking visual access to the connecting road and therefore liable to cause an accident for drivers. The fact that there are now several large trees already blocking the view and that his neighbour over the road already has a 2 metre fence blocking view on that side didn't sway them. After months of backwards and forwards with the council and heaps of hassle, he was finally told by a sympathetic worker that the council cannot stop you growing high bushes on their side of the fence, as long as their not deemed to be a hedge.
The result - several types of thorny and prickly bushes all the way around the waist-high picket fence, forming a pretty much impenetrable barrier to within about a metre into the property. This is accompanied by a 2 meter high gate across the driveway (which is allowed as its technically not a fence), with the permissible "scray" pointed tips. Oh, and a new alarm that sets off a recording of blood curdling dog barking whenever anyone gets within about a foot of their fence.
Not quite as good as a barbed wire topped wall, but the council allows it and no more break-ins since it was all installed / planted last year.
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token
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Post by token on Jul 1, 2017 21:54:16 GMT 10
After my brother's house was broken into a couple of times, he applied to the local council for a large fence around the property. Of course, they disallowed it, on basis of a fence blocking visual access to the connecting road and therefore liable to cause an accident for drivers. The fact that there are now several large trees already blocking the view and that his neighbour over the road already has a 2 metre fence blocking view on that side didn't sway them. After months of backwards and forwards with the council and heaps of hassle, he was finally told by a sympathetic worker that the council cannot stop you growing high bushes on their side of the fence, as long as their not deemed to be a hedge. The result - several types of thorny and prickly bushes all the way around the waist-high picket fence, forming a pretty much impenetrable barrier to within about a metre into the property. This is accompanied by a 2 meter high gate across the driveway (which is allowed as its technically not a fence), with the permissible "scray" pointed tips. Oh, and a new alarm that sets off a recording of blood curdling dog barking whenever anyone gets within about a foot of their fence. Not quite as good as a barbed wire topped wall, but the council allows it and no more break-ins since it was all installed / planted last year. Nice! Nothing like a real dog that will bark and tangle though.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2017 22:50:56 GMT 10
Even better than a dog are geese, I kept some as pets and no one approached my shed unless I was with them......they are crazy at attacking. Only trouble is once they identify you as their master they like to be in places they can see you like near the back door etc and they have a incontinence problem! But excellent for guarding, so much so the Germans used them to guard fuel depots in WW2 with great success. Cheaper to feed than a dog too as they mow the lawn and who knows maybe much better eating!
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