Security
Dec 2nd 2017, 7:35 pm
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 101
Security
Hi, from a beautiful Bussu..having just moved am looking for advice on security , house & outside.
Am thinking sensor lights for the immediate area & out building areas, any advice is most appreciated.
Also house security, our Hungarian neighbours have a PIR system, which I think is battery operated.
We don'twant to get a dog or a goose, so that is not an option .
Am thinking sensor lights for the immediate area & out building areas, any advice is most appreciated.
Also house security, our Hungarian neighbours have a PIR system, which I think is battery operated.
We don'twant to get a dog or a goose, so that is not an option .
Dec 2nd 2017, 9:12 pm
#2
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,095
Re: Security
The level of the security has to be a bit above the level of the threat and your property has to be less inviting than your neighbours.
So how real is the threat? From what I have heard burglars don't travel far so one village can be fairly safe and the neighbouring village can have problems. Every year the police responsible for our village give a report of the crime in the village (nil for the last 3 years). If you can get an understanding of the level of the problem then this could guide your decisions. (I won't say perhaps you should have looked into this before you bought -- Oops I just did !)
IMO CCTV is of limited value, it might deter the casual 'visitor' but the bad boys wear ski masks and dark coats and courts don't convict unless the pictures are so good they can't be challenged, even if the police are certain of who the bad boy is.
A lot of people think that a barking dog is a good security measure but the determined burglar only needs an hour or 3 day planning to negate the dog (an hour for the sleeping pills in the sausage to work or 3 days for the pins in the sausage to kill the dog)
If your neighbours have a PIR system probably a similar system might be an idea and if nothing else at least the lights come on for you when you come home at night. But as I said above IMO it depends upon the threat level.
We had a neighbour who didn't ever lock her door, said she hadn't locked her door for 40 years and she lived alone on the other hand I have a friend who has PIR and CCTV and still gets stuff stolen, but then his property is frequently empty and it is typically one of the neighbours doing the thieving. (That's how I know the courts need clear pictures - but at least being dragged up before the court seems to have deterred them for a bit!)
Of course the ex Budapest people will start talking about bars on windows etc. and in some areas the vineyard houses on the hills are left empty with the door unlocked, that way the bad boys don't break the door to find nothing.
So how real is the threat? From what I have heard burglars don't travel far so one village can be fairly safe and the neighbouring village can have problems. Every year the police responsible for our village give a report of the crime in the village (nil for the last 3 years). If you can get an understanding of the level of the problem then this could guide your decisions. (I won't say perhaps you should have looked into this before you bought -- Oops I just did !)
IMO CCTV is of limited value, it might deter the casual 'visitor' but the bad boys wear ski masks and dark coats and courts don't convict unless the pictures are so good they can't be challenged, even if the police are certain of who the bad boy is.
A lot of people think that a barking dog is a good security measure but the determined burglar only needs an hour or 3 day planning to negate the dog (an hour for the sleeping pills in the sausage to work or 3 days for the pins in the sausage to kill the dog)
If your neighbours have a PIR system probably a similar system might be an idea and if nothing else at least the lights come on for you when you come home at night. But as I said above IMO it depends upon the threat level.
We had a neighbour who didn't ever lock her door, said she hadn't locked her door for 40 years and she lived alone on the other hand I have a friend who has PIR and CCTV and still gets stuff stolen, but then his property is frequently empty and it is typically one of the neighbours doing the thieving. (That's how I know the courts need clear pictures - but at least being dragged up before the court seems to have deterred them for a bit!)
Of course the ex Budapest people will start talking about bars on windows etc. and in some areas the vineyard houses on the hills are left empty with the door unlocked, that way the bad boys don't break the door to find nothing.
Dec 2nd 2017, 9:34 pm
#3
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,095
Re: Security
I forgot to mention and perhaps more important - you need the level of security that makes you comfortable when going to sleep at night !!
Dec 3rd 2017, 3:14 pm
#4
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Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 0
Re: Security
Of course the ex Budapest people will start talking about bars on windows etc
Great until our front door mysteriously locked itself with the keys on the inside and us on the outside - & a flat that is like Fort Knox!
Dec 3rd 2017, 6:41 pm
#5
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2016
Location: Szeged
Posts: 284
Re: Security
A couple of things I would also suggest are:
1) Try and learn a little Hungarian in order to then make friends with neighbours and locals. Local villagers for example do not normally get burgled as they are normally born in that village, have their family history in that village and are well respected in the community.
2) Being expat you stick out like a sore thumb, especially if you have foreign goods in and around your house of good quality, a nice car and kids who go to a private school. In which case I would recommend blending in with the locals so that do not get, too, jealous - Shop where they shop (i.e. use the local stores as well as the big supermarkets), use local tradesmen, use local pubs, dress down a bit (i.e. do not swan around with gold watch and expensive clothes, but do not dress like a tourist either). Try and help in the community.
3) Make friends. Sounds stupid or obvious, but many expats do not make friends because of the language barrier. Just gesturing the international sign for "would you like a beer" or learning that sentence in Hungarian goes a long way with neighbours and locals alike. Better still, take some English jam or something around to them when you first move in. And if you have a car, offer to take them to the local markets, swimming pool or whatever.
My neighbours helped me when I had no electricity to do drilling etc when renovating. I only used the equivalent of 3 or 4 days worth of electricity (a couple of hundred forints), but repaid them by giving them about six weeks worth of electric money (5,000 forints) because I appreciated their thoughtfulness, kindness and generosity in doing me such a valuable favour.
My other neighbours helped me by giving me tools to borrow and helped tear out my old kitchen units. I repaid them by giving their kids toys at christmas from London.
I would also suggest attending local festivals and learning a little Hungarian history. For me, these little gestures go a long way. I have a HU GF, but I purposely do not always ask her for help. Many times I do things myself with her not around to help or translate. It is called integrating
1) Try and learn a little Hungarian in order to then make friends with neighbours and locals. Local villagers for example do not normally get burgled as they are normally born in that village, have their family history in that village and are well respected in the community.
2) Being expat you stick out like a sore thumb, especially if you have foreign goods in and around your house of good quality, a nice car and kids who go to a private school. In which case I would recommend blending in with the locals so that do not get, too, jealous - Shop where they shop (i.e. use the local stores as well as the big supermarkets), use local tradesmen, use local pubs, dress down a bit (i.e. do not swan around with gold watch and expensive clothes, but do not dress like a tourist either). Try and help in the community.
3) Make friends. Sounds stupid or obvious, but many expats do not make friends because of the language barrier. Just gesturing the international sign for "would you like a beer" or learning that sentence in Hungarian goes a long way with neighbours and locals alike. Better still, take some English jam or something around to them when you first move in. And if you have a car, offer to take them to the local markets, swimming pool or whatever.
My neighbours helped me when I had no electricity to do drilling etc when renovating. I only used the equivalent of 3 or 4 days worth of electricity (a couple of hundred forints), but repaid them by giving them about six weeks worth of electric money (5,000 forints) because I appreciated their thoughtfulness, kindness and generosity in doing me such a valuable favour.
My other neighbours helped me by giving me tools to borrow and helped tear out my old kitchen units. I repaid them by giving their kids toys at christmas from London.
I would also suggest attending local festivals and learning a little Hungarian history. For me, these little gestures go a long way. I have a HU GF, but I purposely do not always ask her for help. Many times I do things myself with her not around to help or translate. It is called integrating
Dec 3rd 2017, 8:04 pm
#6
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2011
Location: North East Hungary......for now
Posts: 646
Re: Security
I just bought 4 20w led lamps from this place: New Sky Led – led termékek széles választéka They only cost 1500ft each and arrived in about 2 or 3 days. They have a wide choice of lights.
Dec 5th 2017, 11:38 am
#8
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,767
Re: Security
One thing I would suggest is that if you have a BBQ and invite the neighbours do put away any sentimental or valuable stuff. Also lock any rooms they don't need to enter to get to the bathroom if they are allowed to use the one inside. If you have an outside loo insist everyone uses it.
Dec 27th 2017, 4:53 pm
#9
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 101
Re: Security
Thanks for all the very helpful suggestions & responses.
We are very lucky & have fantastic neighbours & also the local shop is next door so we pop in regularly. Everyone we have met seem really nice & very willing to help the new people who do try & speak the language.
Without wishing to sound racist or stereotyping, we do have several Roma on the edge of the village. We are just trying to take sensible precautions with sheds etc as I think we already have had curious night visitors.
Will certainly check out the LED lamps.
We are very lucky & have fantastic neighbours & also the local shop is next door so we pop in regularly. Everyone we have met seem really nice & very willing to help the new people who do try & speak the language.
Without wishing to sound racist or stereotyping, we do have several Roma on the edge of the village. We are just trying to take sensible precautions with sheds etc as I think we already have had curious night visitors.
Will certainly check out the LED lamps.
Jan 13th 2018, 1:19 pm
#10
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Joined: Jan 2017
Location: Zala County
Posts: 289
Re: Security
Interesting report in the Daily News Hungary today regarding where crime is highest and lowest…..
https://dailynewshungary.com/countie...rates-hungary/
https://dailynewshungary.com/countie...rates-hungary/
Jan 13th 2018, 2:17 pm
#11
Account Closed
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 0
Re: Security
Hungarian National Police Headquarters’ data shows that the Midwestern region (Zala, Vas, Veszprém) is the most peaceful area in the country.
(...)
Transdanubia, however, seems to be ruled by tranquillity.
Vas and Zala were the two counties with the lowest crime rate 16 years ago, when I bought my house.
(...)
Transdanubia, however, seems to be ruled by tranquillity.
Vas and Zala were the two counties with the lowest crime rate 16 years ago, when I bought my house.
Jan 13th 2018, 2:54 pm
#12
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 0
Re: Security
Yes, well us older people can't run away as fast as the youngsters!
