We had a few vehicle break-ins on our street a couple of years ago. We all thought it was kids in the neighborhood but nobody saw anything. Most of the parents took the responsibility seriously and put the fear of god into their kids. The rest of us put in motion-sensor lights, and the combo seemed to put an end to it.

We had a similiar situation a couple of years ago. It happened on a regular basis, so we thought the neighborhood was being cased. Turned out that a drug dealer lived down the street. He's now gone to the clink. After a few misguided buyers knocked on the wrong door a few times, the problem seems to be gone now. A couple of calls to the police really made a difference.

A definite problem. After enough false alarms, we tend to tune out those noises as annoying. Better safe than sorry, but alarms almost seem to make things worse sometimes.

I agree completely that a dog is a long-term commitment, but feel there are several additional benefits of dog ownership. There is evidence that pets can provide a significant amount of emotional comfort beyond their possible role as a security aid. Dog owners have the additional benefit of taking their “security alarm / deterrent” along with them on walks. I would venture to say that dog walkers are less likely to be attacked than their non-dog walker counter parts. While a dog is clearly not an option for everyone, it is an option, which I believe has several advantages (and some possible disadvantages) over traditional security systems.

Pete

A dog is indeed for the long term and is not just a cheap intruder alarm.
If a real dog is not viable, then at least pretend that you have one. Others have suggested leaving dog bowls and toys around, to which I would add, get an electronic sounder that sounds like a dog barking. This may be trggered by a motion sensor, or manually if you are in, or linked to a door bell.

Dogs are wonderful companions. Gidget's a certified therapy dog (pediatric oncology, psych). I just wanted to caution against an impulse acquisition of a dog that could live for 15 years simply to protect material possessions from an immediate threat. And dogs aren't cheap.

Most of us wouldn't walk much but for our dogs (no big yards here).

Several detectives and a 20-year police captain told us that homes with dogs rarely are burglarized. Hence the benefit of faking dog ownership and even if you have a dog, advertising that you do.

My biggest fear of a daytime burglary is Gidget's being harmed by a scared or desperate intruder. In that scenario, there's no insurance for her suffering, or mine. The security system protects her as well as my stuff.

Great info Dagny.

I concur with everything Dagny, posted regarding dogs and also add the time commitment necessary especially with the higher drive breeds that would probably actually protect yourself and possessions. I’ve owned Dobermans for 40 years and they need to have daily activity, training and be part of the family unit or they will find their own form of entertainment. You can’t just build a dog house and put these guys out in the back yard without fence running, nuisance barking, digging etc.

My biggest fear too would be someone hurting or taking my dogs, everything else could be replaced.

If a person doesn't already have a dog, telling someone to get a dog for security is misdirected advice. Dogs are like kids. You don't just get a dog for the sole purpose of security. It won't work like that. Over 99% of the time with a dog will be spent loving the dog in a way that has zero to do with security. If you're not a dog person and you can't provide that love that has nothing to do with security 99% of the time, then I advise DO NOT get a dog.

Wonderfully stated, Ireckon.

Excellent points, Rebwa. I hadn't calculated destruction in Gidget's $14k-and-counting tally. In puppydom, she destroyed three pair of pumps, one brand new pair of Lowas and ate all the plastic off some Maui Jims (fortunately, my optometrist was able to rebuild them).

Thankfully, her digging was confined to her water bowls.

I love her but she is my priciest indulgence.

Yikes with the shoes, Lowas and Maui Jims, I owned a male Dobe who pretty well chewed all the leather off of a steering wheel in about 10 minutes.