How Do You Protect Your Firearms?

[pianoman9701]

A long time forum member got ripped off yesterday - another one. It seems to happen more and more with police being understaffed and meth being more and more a problem. So, what do you do to protect your assets? Security system, dog(s), insurance, safe, hide 'em, what?

I have a rider on my homeowner's policy for my firearms. It costs me about $100/year through State Farm. They have a complete list of all my firearms with estimated value, serial numbers, and photos. I also have a Cannon safe. In addition to that, I'm an NRA Life member, so I automatically have $2,500.00 in replacement protection. We also have a electronic security system and I work from home.

I've posted this as a reminder to everyone to at least keep a list of your firearms with the serial numbers. Without that, even if the po-po are able to recover them, you may not be able to claim them.

[Fl0und3rz]

Safe.  Obvious video cameras and adequate outside lighting on a busy street. 

Video proof of all guns with all serial numbers listed in an encrypted file on a thumb drive.  Proof of purchase retained separately.

I need to look into upping my insurance, however.

[huntandjeep]

I have a rider on  my homeowners for all my guns , cans  and optics. Have 2 thumbdrives with pics of every rifle and serial number , along with pics of optics and cans and their #'s. One drive in my house another at my brothers. All guns , optics locked in a Liberty safe.  Also have 2 signed lists from 2 local gun stores stating what it would cost to replace everything.

[Stickerbush]

I am way behind the curve on this, admittedly.

[ghosthunter]

Well I got broke into at home this past October.
They got a old handgun in a small safe.

They never got near my other guns. My home owners covered the gun and safe.
Since than I have added video. Bolted down a new small safe. And plan to purchase a lager safe in a. Couple months.

The best advice is don't put guns in the bedroom. They tore the bedroom apart.
Since I carry guns a lot in my rig. I have also tightened security there. I installed a stack on cabinet behind my front seats. Bolted and chained it down. Everything valuable in it.
I have two sets of gun records stored in different locations.
I also have pics of every gun.
Since I never sell a gun. I have marks on each gun that I can identify it without serial number.
On handguns I remove all grips and put my name in them. Plus other marks.

[JDHasty]

We have safes.  We have Protection 1. We have a rider on my Home Owners policy and I am an endowment (or some such, I forget) member of the NRA and my three kids are Life NRA members so that gives us an additional $10k ($2.5k ea) in coverage on top of what I have through PEMCO. 

I also keep guns in safes at different residences and so that spreads the risk too. 

[Mongo Hunter]

A long time forum member got ripped off yesterday - another one. It seems to happen more and more with police being understaffed and meth being more and more a problem. So, what do you do to protect your assets? Security system, dog(s), insurance, safe, hide 'em, what?

I have a rider on my homeowner's policy for my firearms. It costs me about $100/year through State Farm. They have a complete list of all my firearms with estimated value, serial numbers, and photos. I also have a Cannon safe. In addition to that, I'm an NRA Life member, so I automatically have $2,500.00 in replacement protection. We also have a electronic security system and I work from home.

I've posted this as a reminder to everyone to at least keep a list of your firearms with the serial numbers. Without that, even if the po-po are able to recover them, you may not be able to claim them.

A good quality safe, and BOLT IT DOWN! I have seen people with $10000 worth of guns have them locked in a cheapo "safe" that they bought at home depot or Costco that I could cut through with tin snips...or just pry the door off with a sturdy hammer.

Security alarms are helpful as well just make sure you set it, again I have seen people not use them (whats the point right).

Liberty makes a motion sensor alarm that goes in a safe. hooks to your wifi and if someone is bashing on the safe or the door is opened it will send you a email or text. For $100 it couldn't hurt.

Also common sense, don't leave guns out in the open. don't leave them in closets or under beds, bad guys know those hiding spots. Don't leave them in plain view in your car, if you can lock them up in the glove box at the very least. If you put your gun in some kind of bag (suite case, gym bag, purse), don't leave it in plain sight either. Most thieves these days are smash and grabbers, if they want it bad enough they will get it but that doesn't mean we make it easy on them.

[Fl0und3rz]

Liberty makes a motion sensor alarm that goes in a safe. hooks to your wifi and if someone is bashing on the safe or the door is opened it will send you a email or text. For $100 it couldn't hurt.

I like that idea.  Thanks for the tip.

[Mongo Hunter]

Liberty makes a motion sensor alarm that goes in a safe. hooks to your wifi and if someone is bashing on the safe or the door is opened it will send you a email or text. For $100 it couldn't hurt.

I like that idea.  Thanks for the tip.

Sorry its $200, still not bad

http://www.libertysafe.com/accessory-safelert-monitoring-system-ps-17-pg-85.html

[Fl0und3rz]

Yeah, you could probably beat it with something like this or similar.

http://www.amazon.com/D-Link-DCH-S150-Wi-Fi-Motion-Sensor/dp/B00KZHP102

FWIW, the dlink cameras are pretty cheap and easy to setup.

[Rainier10]

I don't have any guns. 

[smalldog]

Buy a good safe and put a few cameras in the house. Their is a sight in the pc that sells security cameras. Their are cameras that go on the wall and looks like a thermostat and has a motion sensor. Also it has an sd card in it.  They work very well and when plugged into the tv it is very clear.  I have been broken into twice and decided to get a good safe. Get one bigger then you will need, because you will find that you will want to put other thing in it also.