gossamer axe wrote:
I think some of the people who argue these things lose sight of the
practical. For example, I know that the FBI or a competent locksmith
could pick the lock on my front door, but I lock it anyway and consider
that sufficient security for my needs. This is because my imperfect lock
offers sufficient discouragement for 99.999% of the people who I believe
might try to enter my house for bad purposes. I also believe that
99.999% of them would leave evidence of a break in when circumventing my
present locks.
Thats when you adopt a large dog, that barks alot... 90+ lbs is preferrable.
As a locksmith, I am often asked if it is possible to keep everyone out. I respond by asking them "Have you seen Mission Impossible or Die Hard 3?". They immediately understand that a determined person *will* get in given sufficient tools, time, intelligence, opportunity, skill, or even blind luck.
The best ways of discouraging a breakin are all mental. The large barking dog is one of the best examples of this. Most barking dogs are barking to be noticed so that you will pet them or play, especially the big ones. The smaller ones tend to be less so. Perhaps they are more cautious or nervous. But what stops the would-be burglar is his own mind when he hears the bark of the dog. Short of having a barking dog, one of the best deterrents to a breakin is a home made sign that messes with the mind. For example, "I may not be able to stop you from breaking in, but you won't get out alive." is an excellent mind trip for a would-be burglar. Whether it's true or not, and whether or not you would spend the rest of your life in prison, are not the issues, not to him anyway. He won't care to find out if you are willing to go to prison over his death. He'll be focused on the part about his possible imminent death. *That* is what will motivate him to find some other house.
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