Seeing your enemy coming is incredibly important, and so is the ability to force your enemy into a bottleneck and slow them down.
I think a CCTV or Aiphone system is very important in defending your castle. Aiphone is actually one of my competitors (from my main line of work), but a very good one. It’s not that expensive to install a standard three camera aiphone system. They are well worth it
Here’s a list of factors to consider when thinking of how to defend your castle:
– Standoff space: The visible distance between your home and a perimeter of some sort (more is better).
– Visibility: having some way to see outside without having outsiders looking in is ideal. If cameras are not possible, one way blinds or pull-downs will do.
– Deter: Dogs, cameras, motion lights, fences, heavy locks, steel doors, bars on windows, etc.
– Perimeter: Having a high fence is great and will give you more time to stop an intruder (shoot him). Motion detectors work great, the ones with the spotlights are even better. I’ve had them before, don’t have them now, but they are on my Christmas list.
– Fortify: Heavy locks, dead bolts, thick doors and longer locking hardware screws help a great deal.
– Defend: Guns, slingshots, knives, crossbows, bats, pepper sprays, mace, tasers, traps, etc.
– Logistics... beans, bullets and band-aids: Always maintain a 30 day supply of food and water, but some of us have a lot more than that stored. Also medical supplies, books, gear, spare batteries, etc…
– Communication: Radios, cell phones, 2 way radios, Ham radios, CB’s, hard-line phones, etc…
– Evacuation: Have a plan to evacuate and rehearse it with your family. Establish rally points not far from your home, so you and the family can meet up later. Have a plan make sure EVERYONE knows it and practice it a few times in advance.
– Safe-Haven: This is often overlooked, but it’s a great idea to have a single room (perhaps a big closet) that is used as a safe-haven…a place where you and you family can make a last stand, your own little ALAMO so to speak. Have everything in there that you would normally keep in your regular supply stash such as guns, lots of ammo, food, water,bug out bag and communication gear. Your safe-haven should be like Ft. Knox with hard-lined doors, fresh air supply, lots of ventilation, etc. If you can’t do all that, at least make sure that you have some sort of defensive cover to buy you some time while the intruders are beating on the door or when they knock it down and all crap breaks loose! Let ’em have it…unload! Remember it could likely be your last stand. Make it a good one. From your Safe Haven, you might finally force them away.
-Escape Route: Consider this, if you’re surrounded (unlikely but something to think about) is there away you can escape that let’s you be less likely to be seen? If not, prepare to defend.
Stay safe,
Bob Mayne
