Contents TABLE OF. List of Illustrations... IX. Preface... XV. Chapter 1: How the Burglar Breaks into Your Home... 1

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2 TABLE OF Contents List of Illustrations IX Preface XV Why You Should Read This Book Burglars Kill Every Security System Can Be Breached but Not by Any Burglar What You Will Learn from This Book Chapter 1: How the Burglar Breaks into Your Home The Burglar: Who Is He? The Burglar s Tactics and Techniques The Average Burglar at Work Sophisticated Burglary Common Mistakes That Give the Burglar an Easy Ride File Cabinets and Desk Drawers v

3 Chapter 2: How to Select a Reliable Alarm System The Security System s Three Lines of Defense How the Alarm System Functions Chapter 3: Alarm Sensors Magnetic Reed Switches and Wire Contact Systems Window Foil Windowpane-Mounted Glass-Breakage Detectors Vibration Detectors and Inertia Sensors Infrasound Detectors Field-Effect Sensors Sound Detectors and Heat Detectors Pressure Mats, Plunger Switches, and Contact Strips Ionization Detectors Photoelectric Cells and Invisible Beam Detectors Passive Infrared Detectors Microwave Motion Detectors Ultrasonic Motion Detectors Visible-Light Detectors Video Detectors Barrier Sensors and Analyzers Chapter 4: Personal Attack Alarms Chapter 5: Fire Alarm Systems Chapter 6: The Most Reliable Locks and How Intruders Pick Them Warded Locks Lever Tumbler Locks Disk Tumbler Locks Pin Tumbler Cylinder Locks Tubular Cylinder Locks Magnetic Locks Combination Locks Master Key Systems Common Lock-Picking Tools HOME SECURITY vi

4 Chapter 7: Other Common Locks Simple Suitcase Locks Padlocks Briefcase and Padlock Combination Locks Chapter 8: Reinforced Doors and Security Bars Reinforced Doors Security Bars Chapter 9: How to Protect Your Safe Safes and How Burglars Crack Them Combination Locks Chapter 10: Gun Storage Chapter 11: The Small Office or Shop Shoplifter Detection Systems Smoke Generators Chapter 12: Vehicle Security Vehicle Locks Vehicle Doors, Windows, and Trunks Car Alarm Systems Chapter 13: Personal Safety at Home Chapter 14: Security Away from Home TABLE OF CONTENTS vii

5 CHAPTER 4 Personal-Attack Alarms A deliberately activated alarm, or panic button, is a device designed to raise the alarm when the individual in charge of the alarm feels threatened or is under attack. Panic buttons are always fixed to a certain position, such as near a bed or at a teller s station in a bank. A personal-attack alarm is used for a similar purpose, but this device is not fixed to a certain location. The personal-attack alarm is carried on the person of the one to be protected and can be activated by its carrier wherever he might be on the premises. Personal-attack alarms are often carried by medical personnel, who regularly have to deal with potentially dangerous patients. These alarms are sometimes carried by the elderly, who fear attack by burglars. Most professional alarm systems, whether for use by pri- 131

6 vate individuals or corporate or government offices, include one or more panic buttons or personal-attack alarms. Alarm systems in private homes might have two panic buttons, one by the front door and another by the bed. Office alarm systems might have any number of these protective devices. Regardless of the number of these alarms, they all work in the same way. Panic buttons are wired to a circuit on the alarm system that is always live, whether or not the alarm has been switched on at the control unit. The user needs only to press the button at the first indication that an intruder is trying to enter the premises. The button is designed to be easy to find and press, even in darkness. Panic buttons used in banks and similar locations are more complicated. This is because most police departments take drastic action as soon as they receive the alarm, such as closing down all public transportation systems in the vicinity. Such responses are very costly and unpopular, and, for obvious reasons, the police do not want to use them unnecessarily. Therefore, panic buttons are designed to be almost impossible to trigger accidentally. They may be either handor foot operated and usually must be activated either by pressing with two fingers or by lifting with the foot to minimize the risk of false alarms. There is also a discreet indicator installed near the panic button, informing the person activating the alarm that it has been activated. This is usually an LED or a similar light that remains lit until the alarm is manually disarmed. There must be no question of whether the alarm has been activated or not. There is also generally a corresponding indicator, coupled with a buzzer, somewhere in the rear of an office, well out of sight and hearing of the front office where the alarm is sounded. The indicator informs a security officer that the alarm has been activated. At the same time that the buzzer sounds, the alarm will go to the local police department through an automated dialing system. In addition to this, it is also common that the security officer will verify the alarm by personally telephoning the police. HOME SECURITY 132

7 A personal-attack alarm is essentially a wireless panic button. This alarm is designed to be carried on one s person, and when activated will trigger the existing alarm system and warning device in the building. Personal-attack alarms rely either on ultrasonic sounds or radio transmissions. The radio transmitter used as a portable panic button is a fairly obvious design, in effect simply a transmitter capable of activating the alarm system. The transmitter will send a digital code that activates the control unit, and the code will tell who activated the alarm but not the location of the trouble. Of course, this is a disadvantage. However, the plus of a radio system of this type is that the range is generally fairly long: this personal-attack alarm can sometimes be relied upon even outside a house. One way an intruder might try to counter this alarm is by preventing the radio transmission, for instance by enclosing the transmitter in a metal box. Obviously, this would be no easy matter before the alarm is raised. An ultrasonic personal-attack alarm works in a slightly different way. The ultrasonic signal will be received by one of a number of special ultrasonic receivers, each of which is mounted in every room from which an alarm signal might need to be sent. The ultrasonic signal activates the receiver, which in turn triggers the alarm. An LED on the control unit indicates which receiver triggered the alarm and, consequently, in which room the person who activated it currently is. The identity of the user will not be known, however, if more than one of the personal-attack alarms are in use. Furthermore, the range of this system is much shorter than the range of a radio transmitter. Both these alarm systems can be connected to a personal paging system. The alarm can then be silent, but (for obvious reasons) this is seldom, if ever, the case. If a silent alarm really is desired, then anybody equipped with a personal paging system can be chosen to receive the alarm. Personal-attack alarms should not be confused with the so-called personal alarms sold in many retail shops. The latter are small devices that emit a painfully loud, high-pitched PERSONAL-ATTACK ALARMS 133

8 screeching noise that will surprise an attacker as well as call for help. But these alarms are not connected to any alarm system; they re only used by people who fear being attacked, especially when they go out. The efficiency of these alarms on a deserted street is not very high, though it might be enough to scare off the occasional mugger. There are various other kinds of personal alarms. Some, generally the smallest ones, are activated by compressed air and look like aerosol-operated devices. Others are powered by batteries or rechargeable power units. Some of them are activated by pressing a button or squeezing a trigger, but they only sound the alarm as long as the button is pressed or the trigger squeezed. This is especially true of the gas-powered types. More reliable personal alarms work somewhat analogously to a hand grenade: the alarm continues to sound until it is switched off or the power runs out, even if the alarm is dropped to the ground. This is especially helpful if a situation develops into a physical fight. Some individuals, especially women afraid of attackers of one kind or another, carry a whistle instead of any of the above types of personal alarms. The purpose is the same: to scare off the attacker and summon help. HOME SECURITY 134