Burgler/Entry Alarms

[Don s/v Tellico]

Just found out that break-in/theft is a much bigger problem at my current downtown Baltimore marina than I had thought. This despite full-time security and more gates and card readers than you can imagine. Just goes to show you...they are smarter than we are.As a part-time live aboard, a couple of recent break-ins have me very concerned. I've see several threads in the archives, but wonder what solutions are out there?I see that Worst Marine has an Intruder Alarm (see link). I don't see anything at Defender, etc., but it seems to be a hard search term. I'm not expecting any alarm to arrest and handcuff the crooks, but what I want is an audible alarm that will ~hopefully~ alert neighbors and perhaps security/management if/when I'm not aboard. Anyone use this particular system?I know there are high dollar internet/video systems, etc., but that's not really what I want. There are probably cheaper options through RV sites and or Home Depot, etc? Thought I'd look for suggestions here too. Would be great if there were an audible alarm what would turn on the spreader lights or something like that.Suggestions welcome.

 

[Benny]

That piercing 10db inside a closed

cabin is not going to travel very far. See if you can hook up to it an external siren powered by your 12V system that you can install up in the mast. The alternative would be to get a big dog if you can propwerly take care of it and if the marina rules allow you to.

 

[Ross]

I think that I would go to Pep Boys

or Salvo Brothers and look at car alarms. This was discussed here about a month ago at some length. Check the archives.

 

[Don s/v Tellico]

I checked the archives and have access to a dog

Neither is much help when it's 7 degrees outside...

 

[Jeff Bacon]

Car alarm might...

... fit the bill. I have a proximity alarm on my Corvette which has 2 zones.... a Chirp zone if that area is violated, and a Full Alarm zone if furthur intrusion takes place.I have thought about one for my boat, and think it would work in general. More specifically, however, we would need to cope with birds, and objects propelled by the wind, that normally would not affect a car that much. Sometimes heavy rain would make my alarm chirp.The zones are adjustable, and can be independently turned on or off. They might be too sensitive for cockpit use, but would work well inside, with only a "bit" of zone intrusion into the cockpit. They also come in voice models, where you can have a male voice threaten the intruder.Manufactured by Clifford... happy customer onlyJeff

 

[Ross]

Don, Fantasy time! ; ) Program your onboard

computer to:A. Detect intruders by infra-red imaging, sudden changes in boat trim.B. Program the computer to cast off the dock lines and start the engine.C. Have the boat leave the slip and steer in circles in the harbor several hunderd feet from shore. D. Have the computer call the police and you.E. Arrive at your marina with your remote and have the computer bring the boat back to her slip and the intruders to the police.F. Patent the whole system and make several million bucks, buy your own harbor and hire live security guards.  ;-)

 

[Paul Akers]

Sometimes just a Light or a Sticker will do!

Sometimes just a bright light in the cockpit is a big enough deterrent to a burglar, provided there are people within sight.Sometimes a "$1000 Reward" sticker is also enough to deter a would-be burglar. BoatUS has stickers for all members (given to all customers at renewal or initial joining) that can be applied on the companionway hatch or nearby ports.I hope you are safe, in any respect. Good Luck!

 

[Alex]

Already exist

I got one of this on board. Our club has Wireless Internet.http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=365Too late to make that million.

 

[Don s/v Tellico]

Ross/Paul

Ross, a friend runs a company that monitors Russian pipelines, shipping, etc., by web cams and all sorts of bells and whistles. I can even go their site and watch various things. They can see the guys who come to blow it up ... and the explosion when they do. If they could just figure out how to prevent that darn explosion?!? I will forward your suggestions to them.Paul, I don't think the sticker will do much here in Baltimore. These folks are mean, real mean, and they don't have anything left to loose. As for the police, I won't say anything.... 4 of them have been shot (3 fatal) just this month. One was here for the funeral of another one! Nice place to visit, tough place to live.

 

[Mike]

Which marina are you at?

Don we also winter over in Baltimore, I suspect at the same marina. I know there was an attempted break in last year in the March time frame. They tried to steal my buddies Sea Ray. Fortunately they failed but did manage to damage the cabin door. Considering the security measures Cap. Bill has set up there it's believed they came in on a small boat. Seems there were 3 or 4 Sea Rays stolen around the same time. Baltimore's finest didn't bother to do anything more than file a report. This year my buddy installed and audible alarm. While it won't wake the dead he's hoping it's enough to deter any would be thiefs. The risk of someone discovering the noise while they're on board should be enough. Have you heard of other problems at the marina this year?

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

get even

it should be pretty simple to hook up the 12VDc supply directly to the companionway rails (if metal) or some other metallic object(s) which anyone would inevitably touch when entering the boat. Or better still, 110VAC!

 

[KennyH]

we installed a honeywell alarm

We had several break ins at our office. The solution was a honeywell alarm. It has 3 lazer sensors. They detect any movement in three areas of the office. It also has door open detectors that go off if one of the doors is opened. The system sounds a loud alarm as well as dials the owners home. If he doesn't answer it tries a back up number. It has the key pad like the one in west marine which allows you to enable it or disable it. It would probably mean having 110 volt electricity and a phone line. It was less than 1000 dollars and the owner installed it himself. We have had it for about 60 days and no more break-ins. I think they where close enough to hear the alarm when it was being installed and deceided to go elsewhere.

 

[Don]

Warning sign

I saw a fishing boat up north in a fairly remote location which read>" I sleep on board 3-4 nights per week with a loaded shotgun at my side - you pick the night!!"

 

[Shippy]

Protected by Smith and Wesson

Is that anything like the sign I recall seeing down on St Martins that read "This property protected by Mr Smith and Mr Wesson"? I have a picture of it someplace.

 

[Ross]

My favorite in that vein is :Go ahead ! The keys

are on the seat next to the rottweiler. Sign on the side window of a pickup truck. The dog was in the truck.

 

[Don s/v Tellico]

Mike of G'town...

I'm over in Canton at The An#$%$@#@. Are you there? I don't know of a Capt. Bill, but that place has waaay more chefs than cooks, if you know what I mean.There was a string of break-in over the holidays, someone I know was one of the victims. And, it's apparently fairly commonplace. In the summertime they come by water, which I sort of expected. And, I'm around so much in the summer that I didn't worry too much. But the latest are all via land. And given my schedule and the limited number of regulars around the piers, I am concerned. We now have a boat on our pier so close to the bulkhead that anyone can basically step off the walk, onto the boat and thus the pier. Plus, I see folks (boaters/guests/thieves?) jumping the gates routinely. (Please folks don't tell me to complain to the management. That's been done and gone nowhere (see above re chefs and cooks.) I do like Don of White Rock's suggestion. It's bascially true in my circumstance.

 

[Don s/v Tellico]

Don on Illusion...

With your suggestion I might well wind up supporting some worthless local for the rest of their life, plus possibly be in jail myself.And what about the dockhand who pumps out my holding tank? Or the neighbor who, with my permission, decides is checking things out.Booby traps are a well known legal no no. Ask your lawyer about the Texas shotgun case.

 

[Ross]

Intruder activated digital cameras securely

mounted inside the boat will give you something to put on posters offering a reward for information etc.... I don't think you should offer a bounty for ears or fingers.

 

[Doug Burton]

Depressing

But you damn sure don't want to defend yourself. You actually have something for the legal system to take. The crackheads don't so they get spit out before the cop finishes the paperwork. I'd be moving. Doesn't seem to matter how shiney they make the waterfront, 2 blocks away desperation and drug addiction are the norm. Sorry but I've lost hope for my ol' hometown.

 

[Mike]

Downtown marina

Don we're at Inner Harbor East. Not much difference in travel time for a thief. Capt Bill runs the place and does a good job of keeping watch on the docks 24 hrs a day. As I said there were problems last Spring but knock on woodjus none so far this year. We really do think they came in by water since the gates and docks are well watched. It just happened that this guys boat was somewhat hidden by a fly bridge type cruiser. It made it pretty easy for them to get on board unnoticed. There are live aboards on our dock and they've been keeping watch as well so I'm hopeful we'll remain safe. As far as preventing it I think your best bet would be to try an alarm and if possible keep anything of value out of sight. Your right it's a great place to visit but it's a city and living there will always have it's risks.Good luckMike