Would be thieves: warn or not to warn?

[beanz2]

I have been thinking making a set of window stickers for the house to advise would be thieves of a closed circuit TV system I had installed. The crime rate around here has been low, but reports of thefts are up and there was a home invasion less than 2 miles away not long ago. I wonder of the wisdom of stating in the window stickers that we are armed. On one side, we don't want to advertise that there may be valuable guns in the house. On the other side, we want would be thieves and robbers to choose an easier target.

What says the forum? Should we end up shooting an intruder (only in defense of our safety and life, of course) can this construed by an overzealous DA as premeditation to use deadly and excessive force?

Well, we keep little cash, no jewelry, expensive electronics or art objects at home. Forget drugs, the cough syrup is the strongest drug around here

[WDE91]

I dont see the need

[dls]

Yours must be hidden pretty good,the three cameras (domes) I have on the front of My Home tucked under the eves are easy enough to see if your checking out the house.

You could always put a sticker on your front door that says "Smile for the camera"

[blakdawg]

I don't think mentioning guns will help you.

A burglar who intends to break into an unoccupied house will think it's an advertisement and be more likely to break in.

Home invader(s) will appreciate the extra warning and be extra violent extra fast when they enter.

I guess it's possible there's some wimpy burglar out there who's gonna get scared away - but chances are if they're that inexperienced, a camera or alarm sticker will work on them. And for many/most families, it's really not that tough to figure out if someone's home or not - and often the burglar who's looking for an unoccupied home will just knock on the door before breaking in, and if someone answers, use some excuse about "Is Joe here?" or "Want to buy some magazines?" or whatever.

[USMC 82-86]

No they receive their warning upon entry!

[RTE]

Had a good looking girl come around selling home serurity systems carrying an ADT sign....
She didn't have a card.
I told her I wasn't interested as I have a dog, good locks and CCTV.
She looked around the outside of the house and questioned the CCTV....
About that time the dog barked and came to the open door

I just laughed and said what fun would it be to advertise.
Thanks but, I prefer not to.

[amd64]

Except for the usual alarm company sign, I don't list/advertise any of my layers of security on signs.

[taloft]

Advertising how you protect your home is poor strategy. It gives thieves the opportunity to plan accordingly. A sign will just ensure that they wear masks so they can't be identified by the CCTV footage. They might just take the CCTV system with them, since they now know to look for it.

[IrishPirate]

If you don't have signs/stickers about your security, you run the risk of someone thinking you're and easy target. If you do have signs/stickers, you run the risk of advertising what system they're up against and how to beat it.

Signs/stickers tend to keep out people who want things that would take a while to get. they know that an alarm will sound and they wont have enough time to unbolt your gun safe.

no alarm system is going to stop the guy who wants to smash your window and grab your TV. he'll be in and out before dispatch finishes making the call on the radio.

Something important to know....there is no real "security system" for homeowners. Just "alarm systems". Your ADT system doesn't make you secure, it just alerts you to problems. Security is a whole different animal. security is locks and break-in prevention measures. Alarms are the annoying things theives have to listen to while they rob you blind!!

Watch the show "It Takes A Thief" and you'll get some good ideas about what a real "security system" is.

[beanz2]

Thanks for all the good pointers, guys.

[sanjosebmx]

I have the ADT and the sign...but I made the decision to keep the NRA and 'protected by Smith and Wesson' stickers away so the butthead burglers wouldn't know that I have guns in the house.
No need to advertise to the gangbangers that you have something they want..

[calwoodbutcher]

Only sign I have is the "Beware of Dog" sign. If someone gets close enough to read it....... they already know I have dogs.

[SanPedroShooter]

[Scratch705]

good defense is good offense, i put bear traps and punji stick traps hidden all over the property.

(j/k.... or am i?)

[FF/EMT Nick]

"Get out of My house....BAM BAM BAM....I'm calling the cops!!!"

Thats MY warning.