I read somewhere, that you should keep your car keys on your nightstand while sleeping.

If you hear a prowler or other bad guy, you press the alarm button on your key fob. This might scare off the bad guy or create a diversion that might be helpful.

Of course, this only is useful if your car is within earshot and you have a car alarm button on your key fob.

Any thoughts?

They'd at least know they'd lost the element of surprise.

I also need to record the sound of a shotgun pumping -- would be an interesting sound over the intercom system.

Not a bad idea, since averting an armed confrontation is probably good survival policy.

I always thought about installing a master switch that turned on a whole bunch of bright lights inside and outside the house. There would be no doubt to an intruder that he had lost the initiative.

Of course, the Great Danes roaring out of the darkness sends that message with dramatic effect.

Aside: I always have a full set of spare keys in the bedroom, should I need to exit through the window (mostly in case of fire, but in another event I have a chance at getting to transportation and other useful items).

Hey, I'm an Old Hand. Who knew?

Most people don't even look at car alarms in the parking lot... at your house they may if it's been on for a couple minutes...

I think you'd hope the "bad dude" would be distracted by it at best...

They make remotes for most home security systems that'll arm/disarm the system, set the siren off and call the central station also. They can also be programmed to be silent.

My home security system is like this, and I keep a remote next to the bed in case I ever need to use the panic button to sound the siren to scare someone off or to at least attract attention. We never have car or home alarms go off around here so it would likely attract my neighbors.

I was just experimenting with my car's remote. The signal doesn't seem to penetrate the walls all the way to the car from my bedroom.

Did you try the 'hold against your jaw' trick to increase the range?

Extra Burglar Alarm.

Two GSD's

One Cocker Spaniel with the loudest bark I've ever heard, and one highly protective Shepard mix. Just one step onto the front lawn, and we know all about it. A home invader stands no chance of surprise whatsoever.

The Shepard was a rescue, maybe just under a year old, found tied up in the woods, starving, with a rope embedded into his neck and burn scars on his body, and the Cocker was a stray that just showed up. It took about six months to convince the Shepard that the cats were neither food nor toys, but he was immediately instinctively very gentle around my late mother and her wheelchair and just in love with all small children.

Once, a rather strange man approached and began to pester my mother outside. It proved to be a serious error of judgment. When my wife is out for a walk with him, it is not possible to get near her. But he'll go from a full charge to a dead stop on command (usually, he has a little problem with just some other dogs). Whenever my wife steps outside, say to carry out the trash, he's trained to go with her. He is my shadow, and even follows me from room to room. He goes most places with me, and loves to ride in the car and stick his head out of the sunroof, to the amusement of all who see him. He even has a doggie girlfriend and stepdad next door, and enjoys sleepovers there when we're out of town.