🚨 Your house is your fortress.
In crisis times, robbers and looters often appear days after the disaster.
Prevention protects better than weapons.
1. Secure Access Points
- Doors: Solid wood or steel doors (at least RC2). Multi-point locking.
- Windows: Mushroom-head locking, lockable window handles, security film (shatter protection)
- Basement windows: Grille, bolt, light shaft cover
- Garage: Electric gate: block emergency release, reinforce access door
- Garden: Hedges instead of fences (harder to climb)
- Thorn bushes: Sow or plant bushes with long thorns under windows – the painful barrier deters burglars from climbing in
- Gravel as early warning: Cover access paths and some beds with gravel as audible as possible – footsteps on gravel are clearly heard even in the dark and deter intruders
- Lighting: Motion detectors (solar/battery-powered) at all access points
2. Visual Protection and Camouflage
- Hide supplies: Don't store visibly. Basement floor = not obvious.
- No signs: No empty water crate cartons, empty cans etc. visible disposal
- Light discipline: Light only in inner rooms, darken windows (film, blankets)
- Noise: Don't run generator outside (attraction!)
- Social network: Know neighbors, organize neighborhood help (more eyes = more security)
3. DIY Alarm System
- Window contacts: Self-adhesive, battery-powered, loud beeper
- Motion detectors: Solar/battery-powered, mount outside
- WiFi cameras: Battery/solar, local storage (not cloud-dependent)
- Whistles: Distribute through the house – and always keep one at the bedside within arm's reach. During a break-in: whistle = alert neighbors
- Message chain: WhatsApp/Signal group with neighbors (radio if network down)
4. Defense Without Weapons
- Barricades: Furniture in front of doors, bars through handles (door can't be pushed open)
- Escape route: Always have a second exit (back door, window, fire escape)
- Pepper spray: Legal, effective, range 3-5 meters
- Blinding light: Flashlight 1000+ lumens in the eyes (disorientation)
- Noise maker: Car alarm, whistle, fire extinguisher burst (irritating)
- Avoid: Avoid confrontation if possible – property is worth less than life
5. Checklist: House Security
- ☐ Doors: RC2, multi-point locking
- ☐ Windows: mushroom-head locking, security film
- ☐ Basement windows barred/locked
- ☐ Motion detectors (solar/battery) at all entrances
- ☐ Whistle at the bedside within reach
- ☐ Thorn bushes with long thorns under all windows
- ☐ Paths/beds covered with gravel (audible alarm)
- ☐ Window alarms (DIY, battery-powered)
- ☐ Supplies stored invisibly
- ☐ Light discipline: no visible lights to outside
- ☐ Neighborhood help organized
- ☐ Escape route identified (2nd exit)
- ☐ Pepper spray, flashlight (1000+ lumens) at hand