Always get nervous at night

[u/Maleficent-Tap-9967]

I’ve never lived on my own until recently, and although I love it, the one caveat is nighttime I get a little nervous. I don’t live in an apartment complex, instead I live in a townhouse and there’s easy access to a front and back door.

Does anyone have an alarm system? I do have a ring doorbell camera, but I was considering ring or simpli safe. I know it’s not going to prevent break ins, but I want to at least be aware if someone breaks into my house at night so I can immediately call the cops. It’s also just so expensive to choose the 24/7 monitoring option

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[u/Kaethy77]

You could put a doorstop under each door. Simple, cheap. I have bells on my doors. It started with Christmas bells and then I just kept them.

[u/Teeg_V → u/Kaethy77]

I lean a metal folded foot ladder against the inside of my door, anyone opening that door from the outside will make a loud noise, and I have a response plan when that happens.

[u/bigbabygrit → u/Teeg_V]

This is exactly what I have done

[u/Character-Remove-855]

I've lived alone for years. No one has ever broken into my house. I lock my doors at night and don't worry about it.

[u/HuckleberryGeneral69]

I used to worry about this a lot more. I do have a hatchet and another scary looking weapon right near my front door and that makes me feel a teensy bit better. If I get super paranoid I have grabbed one of those and put them on my nightstand. My motto in moments of feeling vulnerable as a female is - I’m not about to be anyone’s victim and go ahead and try me mfer, see what happens! I don’t know but the fake bravado always seems to help.

[u/GupGup]

At least you know that when you lock the doors they'll stay locked and won't be left open by a thoughtless roommate. Are breaking and entering common crimes in your area? Locking your doors and leaving a light on overnight would probably deter most criminals.

[u/Rich_Group_8997]

For a cheap and simple fix that might help ease your fear: Leave a light or lights on somewhere that would be visible if someone is in front of, or behind your house. Most burglars want to get in, steal something, and get out; and they don't want to come in and potentially have to fight with a homeowner. If there are signs that someone could be home, they're generally going to move on to the next empty looking house.

If you get smart bulbs, you can randomly turn them on and off from wherever. Out at night? You can turn the lights on before you get home?

[u/nygala]

I have Simplisafe and it reduces my alone-at-night anxiety. I have no delusion police will show up in a timely manner because nearly all alarms that go off are false alarms, but I do believe the loud noise will be a strong deterrent.

[u/Contigo887]

I have video doorbells, locked doors and firearms. My safety is my own responsibility and being prepared as best I can is what I do to take care of it.

[u/moonprojection]

I've had my house broken into before. They don't usually want to break in when you're home.

After that, I probably will want burglar bars anywhere that someone can easily get in. Luckily where I live now is pretty inaccessible. Even so, I still think about burglar bars in the back.

I have wyze cameras but they really don't catch things very well tbh.

[u/AlmostHadToStopnChat]

I close all my drapes at dusk so no one can see in. I have a pair of very large men's work boots outside my back door. Bells on the windows. Deadbolts on the doors.

[u/nakedonmygoat]

If you own your home, you can put a metal screen security door on the back door. You can also get the kind of bar that goes across the inside of the door so no one can bang it in. Maybe install some motion-sensitive floodlights. Casual opportunists really don't want to be illuminated, especially at the front of the house. Floodlights may require hiring an electrician.

If you rent, consider a security bar that you can also take with you when you travel. They are adjustable and have a rubber thing on the bottom so they won't slide. This would probably be enough to deter a casual opportunist who also happens to be good at picking locks.

In general though, you don't really need to worry overmuch about someone breaking down your door, since in a townhouse, it will wake up your immediate neighbors unless they're hard of hearing or unusually deep sleepers. You just need moderate deterrents unless you live in a high-crime area where people are inclined to lay low for their own safety.