Running a current through garage door handle?

[Darkness]

Also the fact that if a thief hurts himself on your property breaking in or whatever, they can sue.

Sad country we live in.

 

[AdamW]

Re: fitting bolts to an u&o door, you can even fit them on the outside. They aren't as well protected then but multiple padlocks reduces the ease at which any criminal can get in, so will hopefully make them think against it. Also, after locking up if you balance the padlock body on top of the bolts, if you come home and they have fallen below the bolts then you know someone has had a go (although with your CCTV you would know anyway).

Electric fences, well I can vouch that even with a jumper wrapped around your hand you will get a shock. Few people would be willing to go home and get their marigolds to do a break in, surely.

I was thinking "electric door opener" as then you can get rid of the handle, but the problem is if someone tries to crowbar the door open then you have got even more expensive damage to repair.

If the "normal" methods aren't working then I reckon an electric fence unit connected up to the door is a good idea provided the paint on the door doesn't insulate it.

You could always try less harmful deterrents too, there are automatic cat and dog deterrents that are connected to a hosepipe and shoot water when they detect movement. Permanently install such a system above the door and soak them. Perhaps you could even put a permanent dye in there somehow, tell the police to look out for a luminous purple scumbag. It's a shame the break-ins are relatively infrequent, otherwise you could hire in a local paintballing team and offer cash prizes for direct hits to the knackers

But whatever you do, don't give them any excuse to sue you. Getting them wet will tick them off, but I don't think anyone has ever successfully been sued or charged with hosepipe offences (oo-err!).

 

[securespark]

There are MANY legal ways to deter burglars without resorting to dangerous voltages - try a google search.

As for putting mains to the garage door - think of this and many other scenarios - child with ball, mentioned already - police investigating attempted break-in - kindly neighbour checking to see all is well - etc....

This is NOT South Africa, you know.

 

[breezer]

in SA they have fences and armed guards, even the milkman carries a gun

 

[securespark]

Have you seen their cars with flamethrowers under the sills?

If you get approached by a thief, just set these off and you get roasted crook in a jiffy.

Perfectly legal in SA, I believe.

 

[plugwash]

the problem with a state like britan is by restricting the weapons law abiding citizens can have we hand the thieves an automatic advantage in weapon availiblity

 

[Damocles]

Well never mind. Perhaps we shall soon have lots of unemployed ex-soldiers about who are used to shooting people and being shot at. If it's ok for them to go out and kill Iraqi bystanders, it must be ok to do it here. All in the cause of democracy. Or freedom to buy oil. Or something.

 

[pipme]

Re: fitting bolts to an u&o door, you can even fit them on the outside. They aren't as well protected then but multiple padlocks reduces the ease at which any criminal can get in........

I was thinking "electric door opener" as then you can get rid of the handle, but the problem is if someone tries to crowbar the door open then you have got even more expensive damage to repair.
....... try less harmful deterrents too, there are automatic cat and dog deterrents that are connected to a hosepipe and shoot water when they detect movement. Permanently install such a system above the door and soak them. Perhaps you could even put a permanent dye in there somehow, tell the police to look out for a luminous purple scumbag. It's a shame the break-ins are relatively infrequent, otherwise you could hire in a local paintballing team and offer cash prizes for direct hits to the knackers
But whatever you do, don't give them any excuse to sue you. Getting them wet will tick them off, but I don't think anyone has ever successfully been sued or charged with hosepipe offences (oo-err!).

Best no padlocked bolts on outside :- Extra security attracts attention. - Vulnerable to locks being 'glued up' either by frustrated breaker-in or vandals ...Believe it or not I was taught to 'pick' a padlock in about 5 mins !! given two tools one ground up from hacksaw blade the other similar to circlip pliers .. but you need working space around the lock barrel .. Cheaper padlocks can be easily broken with a hammer & cold chisel.

No padlocks required on 'inside' bolts, except at door bottom clamp restricted access to lock barrel preferred.

The 'bolts' prevent door being 'pulled out of shape' ... If break in occurs through the alternative entrance ... they still have to work to open main door via base padlocked clamp ... good set up I reckon.

I think there could be some mileage in the 'drenching' idea ... I like that ... Need it be water ?
Method to switch on pump or open valves etc required only in case of attempted forced entry !!

Electric roller door is very good, the side guide channels are hidden inside the garage .. working height and expense is a problem ..
Electric up and over has same problem as manual - prone to being pulled out of shape.
I am wondering, if door bending handle breaking is mode of entry, if is just idiots showing off their 'skills', then their mates trying it on too !

There you go not a hint of violence, just a bit of headwork and unfortunately a few quid too.
P

 

[Chuckles1066]

Well thanks to everyone who replied, I didn't get the "how-to" advice that I was looking for but I can understand why.

I guess it's back to google!

It's a great shame that confidence in the Police actually doing anything (let alone catching criminals) is so low that householders actually even feel the need to consider such drastic measures to protect their families and property.

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[plugwash]

one thing that would be fun (though probablly not cost effective) would be to give a blinding flash of light (the kind that in the dark would take several minuites to recover from) followed by pumping out large quantities of smoke

the problem is producing smoke on demand: smoke machines have to be kept hot and presurised if you want smoke instantly

 

[AdamW]

There are "instantaneous" smoke systems out there, I believe TOAD (the car security firm) make a system that fills a car with smoke in a few seconds after break-in. Presumably they have some kind of pyrotechnics in them, but seeing as they can install it in a car I would think there is no need for a licence (although taking your car over to the continent could prove troublesome)

So, it is reasonable to assume someone makes a big version of these smoke generators.

To further Pips ideas on how to accomplish a drenching, what about a standalone PIR module, switching on a shower pump or modified pressure washer? I have heard that being caught in the blast of a pressure washer is most unpleasant (i.e. very painful) so if you somehow rig one to fire at shin height, possibly swinging about, then you will cause them some nasty bruises without risk of blinding them.

 

[bathjobby]

Why not get a power washer fixed and aimed at the doors and full of something really bad. Wire it up to a PIR (more useful than switching lights on) and let them have it. Personally, I'd move if it was that bad,

 

[pipme]

Smokey ?
http://www.kellysearch.com/gb-company-3626945.html

I guess the poster was at the end of his tether .... My final suggestion would be, not palatable, maybe not possible - move !! You cannot fight alone !!
I have said before, the sh*t is rising steadily but surely.

P

 

[kedsy]

You could try and modify a car ignition system to do the job, could modify the plastic door handle and embed two metal prongs into it. When the intruder touches the handle/prongs they get a nice 20,000 volts through their hand.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

The trouble is, that anything you do that injures them is illegal, and as well as the law coming down on you, they or their family & friends will probably apply some retribution of their own.

Anything you do which does not injure them, but ****es them off, like drenching, electric-fence type shocks, blinding lights, will not get you into legal trouble, but they or their family & friends will probably apply some retribution of their own.

TRUE STORY:

I used to work with someone who was a serious martial-arts exponent (think it was kung-fu, but I could be wrong). But in any event, he was good enough in it to compete in the heavyweight class at international level.

One day he was burgled, and as well as the usual stereo/video/jewellery, the miscreants made of with all his trophies, which made him pretty upset.

The police warned him that it was not unknown for burglars to pay a repeat visit, to nick all the brand-new stuff replaced with the insurance money. "Oh really", he thought.

So he made sure that he very visibly replaced it all (back and forth from the car with big cardboard boxes one Saturday afternoon), and then proceeded to sit up in a darkened living room at nights.

He didn't have to wait long, and when the return visit happened, there were two of them, and within about 30 seconds he'd broken a leg and an arm of one, and some ribs, a cheekbone and the jaw of the other.

The police decided that no jury would ever find him guilty of anything, and that a prosecution "was not in the public interest".

It wasn't long though before relatives of the two guys in hospital paid a visit, threw bricks through all of his windows and torched his car. His wife was so terrified by all of this that they had to move.