Low Budget & Low Tech Home Security/Defense tactic

I read many books about disaster situations and survival (both fiction and non) and love when I come across an inventive nugget that I can use. Thought I'd share - and see if and ATSers have any good ones as well.

Reading "Holding Their Own" by Joe Nobody ... The 'S' has hit the fan and the main character is concerned about home invasion type of looters. Even with power (which they don't have at this point) he figures they have 1-3 seconds to react if well a organized group did a swat team type of entry. Not enough time to do much.

His solution to buy some time was pretty smart. He installed bungee webbing (the kind people use to hold down cargo in pickup trucks Like this one...) across all windows and doors using screw in hooks.

The idea is that if you use enough hooks and they're screwed into the studs - it'll be strong and flexible enough to slow down any sizable force. Windows will still let in light and air. Webbing behind a door would prevent it from easily opening. Also, he attached little bells along the webbing so that if anyone was cutting it he would be alerted.

Do you think this idea would work?

www.baseballbatstore.com...

If they're gonna storm the place SWAT style then I doubt they'll be unnoticed before they even get to the door so long as someones sober and paying attention, so probably some trip wire around the exterior of the property will be enough especially around the easiest point of access gates/driveways etc

Theres no point messing around too much with bungee cords etc, if you're that worried proper bolts and welded together bars will do the trick

reply to post by RedParrotHead


Yes it would work perfectly in the manner you describe.............until they toss in some tear gas that is!

reply to post by RedParrotHead


double post sorry.

tripwires .. claymores ... much more effective... then theres pungi pits... lots of little surprises can be rigged to deter uninvited guests... just depends how creative you are...

I'm gonna hire the kid from " home alone " to rig my home ! Seriously I'm getting out of the city first sign of trouble !

I think this could be a great thread if people added their ideas.....the problem (at this point, pre-SHTF) is that booby-traps and so forth are illegal. You're not allowed to injure someone just for trespasing. Poisoned punji sticks would land you in prison.

however- tripwires hooked to cans isn't deadly and can tell you when someone is coming. A laptop on a solar panel can let you video any movement in the area- dorgem is a good program.

I live off-grid in the middle of nowhere so these are things I think about a lot. Having a dog is about the best security, but if SWAT comes in like these posters are saying you'd better start running instead of shooting. "Shooter" is a make-believe hollywood movie.

reply to post by RedParrotHead


it sounds like a good way
to slow them down...

but would require you to
have enough of those bungee nets
& bells on hand to cover your ports
before TSHTF....

you can also drive Alot
of nails threw pieces of plywood.
Then leave them pointy side up
at all your entry points

something having to do with fire
might be nice to ....
But you may end up burning
down what you are trying to protect

The problem with the bungees is it might slow them down but it also poses a hazard if you have family in the house that have to get out in a hurry you would want to make sure it's easy to unhook from the inside to exit quickly if need be !

It also sounds like a trap if you ever had to exfiltrate the building.

Originally posted by IandEye
I think this could be a great thread if people added their ideas.....the problem (at this point, pre-SHTF) is that booby-traps and so forth are illegal. You're not allowed to injure someone just for trespasing. Poisoned punji sticks would land you in prison.

however- tripwires hooked to cans isn't deadly and can tell you when someone is coming. A laptop on a solar panel can let you video any movement in the area- dorgem is a good program.

I live off-grid in the middle of nowhere so these are things I think about a lot. Having a dog is about the best security, but if SWAT comes in like these posters are saying you'd better start running instead of shooting. "Shooter" is a make-believe hollywood movie.

1. I dont live in that cesspool you call a country.
2. when it comes to securing a perimeter anything that works is used ... been in enough warzones in my life that now prefer staying far from people ...
3. when tshtf you can forget damn laws and rules anything goes.
4. this thread was asking a theoretical question .... gave a theoretical response...

Door wedges work wonders to keep it shut tight and to resist kick ins

Reinforce your door jambs with thin steel bar stock screwed to the door frame/studs with 3 inch screws. Also to resists kick ins. It is also wise to have a steel door at this point...

For Windows sink 3 inch screws at ventilation height or simple screw the window shut altogether.

Window glass can also be reinforced with glass protective film or in the case of something more ominous you can protect your windows with plywood in hurricane style. You can use security screws if you're worried about someone trying to unscrew them easily.

1. A dog outside the house.

2. A dog inside the house.

Cops are scared of dogs. It's why they often get permission to shoot them in a raid. Burglars are escared of them too. You are 16 times less likely to be invaded, if you have a dog. Even if it's just a chihuahua. Bandits are afraid of DNA evidence left at the crime. Cops are scared of infection from bites.

The dog inside should be an alsatian or rotweiler---one of the breeds that can be trained not to bark. That will definitely make some noise and delay.

Yes, they will kill the dog. But that will buy you the time of them figuring out what to do, and the whole team taking a break while they try to take out fido. And once fido latches onto a leg, shooting him becomes less of an option, unless you hate your partner anyway. They will try to use a collapsable baton or some pepper, which usually fills german breed with rage. they tend to clamp down their jaws, shut their eyes, and slam their head back and forth. It's an instinct that comes from hunting rats and rabbits. But it will leave a wound on a human that no plastic surgery can ever really hide.

In the meantime, you are out a side window or up on the roof..

Don't bother going out the back door. They don't launch a raid unless the back door is already covered.

reply to [url= by Expat888[/url]



I thought we were talking about home-defense, not ATS-post defense...

nowhere in my post did I mention or reference you or your post, nor did I number anything like an anal hemmoroid.

I can see why you feel more comfortable being away from people- rage is severely anti-social.

on top: there are motion-activated paintball guns on tripods you can buy. Napalm balls instead maybe?

how about a motion-sensir hooked up to a load stereo of gunfire? Non-lethal but would buy some time.

If this is a post SHTF situation you are talking about a great little thing is to take the plastic crate that bullets sit in a thumb tack and a bullet put them together bury it a little and when they step on it they get a round through the foot.

reply to post by RedParrotHead

this sounds great!! thanks for sharing & think i'll invest in some netting.
i'm also studying & reading different books now to further my prepping education.
i figure perpare for the worst & hope for the best.

Buy time by stringing fishing line accross a corridor for about 6 feet leading from the door. The fact that it could be various tripwires, whether it is or not will buy you time to get out..

Door cross bars your grandparents use to use them and modern business's still use them.

The bungie door defense creates more problems than they are worth.

And they are low budget low tech.

There are small sensor-alarms you can buy. I'll see if I can find them online... if not I will try to take a pic of mine.

They operate on those tiny batteries... the flat ones...forget what they're called.

Sensors come in 2 parts, each of which can be attached to one side of a window or door. When the window or door is opened, the sensors disconnect and this thing lets out an ear-piercing alert.

I actually got mine at a dollar store for around $1 each.