I have a fairly sizeable collection and I have them displayed in my den on some nice media shelves, but I'm starting to wonder whether this is such a good idea.
We are about to have some work done in the house and that is what has prompted my thoughts about security. Also, my kids are getting old enough that their friends regularly cruise through the house and occasionally watch movies in the den.
It is a simple fact that if someone randomly plucked a few titles from my shelves, I would not notice they were missing until the next time I sought one of them out to watch.
I have my collection on dvdaficionado to help me keep track of it, but I am curious to know if anyone has gone to a more secure filing system than display shelves where you keep the media under lock and key and, if so, what do you use?
Does anyone use anything like this, and if so how do you like it?
An ideal solution would be a walk in closet "wine cellar" type room that I could claim as my own and keep under lock and key, but that will never happen in my current house.
ShagMan
03-29-05, 11:40 AM
- In the case of major theft or my house burning down, I have renter's insurance (I rent my house).
- I like having my collection on an open shelf for easy access and viewing.
- Those shelves wouldn't hold NEARLY enough, I'd need like 3-4 of those things.
I'm not sure what you can do about workers going through the house... that's a problem that can affect more than just movies... When my DW and I build our next house, it'll have a seperate (lockable) home theater room, where the movies will reside.
Sex Fiend
03-29-05, 12:23 PM
I agree that the absolute best approach is to have a dedicated walk-in closet (or even separate room, as ShagMan plans). That will be my eventual plan when I buy a house. For now, I'm renting an apartment and simply don't have the facilities to store my collection under proper lock and key. And being in an apartment, I do have to deal with the occasional maintenance person coming in when I'm not home. So I have invested in three locking cabinets (smaller than the ones shown) that each hold about 200 DVD's. They were fairly inexpensive ($40 or so apiece) and are hardly impregnable, but at least the contents can't be accessed without obvious effort. Sadly, I still have another 500 disks or so that are sitting in boxes right now, because I don't really have the space for many more cabinets. So I may end up getting one of those larger capacity units so I can at least keep most of my collection under some sort of lock and key.
But to make a long story short, I absolutely beleive you need to put your collection under some sort of lockdown if you have strangers regularly coming through your home, because sooner or later someone is going to grab something and you probably won't notice it missing (at least for awhile).
Shap
03-29-05, 12:41 PM
Long term: lock & key. Short term: If your computer is anywhere near your DVDs, buy a webcam. It usually comes with software that will have a motion-sensor feature built in. Point it towards your DVD collection and it will record anytime there is movement wherever it's pointing. I did this in a previous house with several roommates - I caught someone rifling through my belongings this way. It may not be practical to monitor 24/7, but you could run it while the workmen are at your house.
mr_jbloggs
03-29-05, 12:54 PM
I have my DVDs high enough that my kids can't reach them. :D
Dabaomb
03-29-05, 01:16 PM
I lock my doors :p
cajun_junky
03-29-05, 02:11 PM
In the past I had my collection situated such that someone passing by our house could potentially see it from the sidewalk. It bothered me so much that I moved to a different wall. Too much of an incentive for a potential thief.
After my wife graduates we have talked about a little larger house with a basement setup as a game room/home theater. I will feel alot better if that happens.
Loc Nar
03-29-05, 02:25 PM
Thanks for the comments. The solution is clear - I need a bigger house with a finished basement. Until then, I might try one of those locking cabinets (that www.storehouserock.com site has a big selection). They're no great shakes in the looks department, but at least you couldn't stick one in your coat pocket.
That's a very good point cajun junky (re being able to see a wall of dvd's from the street).
MEJHarrison
03-29-05, 02:43 PM
They're no great shakes in the looks department...
Or the locks department. I'm not familar with the exact model you posted, but on most of these cabinets, the locks are nothing more than a joke. We have a cabinet and still had to baby proof it since the two year old had little problem opening the case, locked or not.
It may be that the particular cabinet you're looking at is much studier than ours, but I'd bet the lock is still not much of a theft deterent. It might stop neighborhood kids, but not a real thief. You'll get more security from it simply being "out of sight, out of mind". But it does help with dust. :)
dsa_shea
03-29-05, 02:46 PM
Does out of sight, out of mind mean your dvds at an unknown pawn shop? Thats what happened to me. Fortunately I did a little investigative work and got my dvds back and he got time in the pen. I'm a little anxious everyday when Im ready to unlock my front door. It's hard to get over that after it has happened before.
Loc Nar
03-29-05, 02:59 PM
Does out of sight, out of mind mean your dvds at an unknown pawn shop? Thats what happened to me. Fortunately I did a little investigative work and got my dvds back and he got time in the pen. I'm a little anxious everyday when Im ready to unlock my front door. It's hard to get over that after it has happened before.
That is a nightmare. I'm glad you got them back. How do you store them now?
Loc Nar
03-29-05, 03:02 PM
Or the locks department. I'm not familar with the exact model you posted, but on most of these cabinets, the locks are nothing more than a joke. We have a cabinet and still had to baby proof it since the two year old had little problem opening the case, locked or not.
It may be that the particular cabinet you're looking at is much studier than ours, but I'd bet the lock is still not much of a theft deterent. It might stop neighborhood kids, but not a real thief. You'll get more security from it simply being "out of sight, out of mind". But it does help with dust. :)
I absolutely agree it would not stop a determined thief (not much would) but I think it would help with neighborhood kid "borrowers" and would keep workers/plumbers/maids from being tempted. A house burglar alarm is a given precaution.
Shagrath
03-29-05, 03:10 PM
When we (the wife and I) move into a house next year or the year after, I'm definately gonna have a dedicated HT room with its own seperate lock.
MEJHarrison
03-29-05, 05:01 PM
I absolutely agree it would not stop a determined thief (not much would) but I think it would help with neighborhood kid "borrowers" and would keep workers/plumbers/maids from being tempted. A house burglar alarm is a given precaution.
Clearly you have the right idea here. The lock wouldn't keep a neighborhood kid out, but they also wouldn't want to break it to get to the discs. That should be enough to keep them out.
The "out of sight, out of mind" has more to do with those annoying people who think you're a Blockbuster. I can't remember the last time someone asked to borrow a disc. To me that's the greatest benefit of a locking cabinet.
Loc Nar
03-29-05, 05:05 PM
Clearly you have the right idea here. The lock wouldn't keep a neighborhood kid out, but they also wouldn't want to break it to get to the discs. That should be enough to keep them out.
The "out of sight, out of mind" has more to do with those annoying people who think you're a Blockbuster. I can't remember the last time someone asked to borrow a disc. To me that's the greatest benefit of a locking cabinet.
Yep, at least if I see a broken lock, I'll sure as hell know something is missing.
MisterHowie
03-29-05, 05:46 PM
Homeowner's insurance and not letting people who I don't see regularly borrow them.
Fok
03-29-05, 06:54 PM
I have mine in a dresser in my closet. Sure it doesn't look as impressive as having them display on a shelf (my preference). But I can't run the risk of visitors taking them or always asking to borrow them......I'm not blockbuster!
gutwrencher
03-29-05, 10:03 PM
Sorry to all the veterens of the boards who have heard this all before.
Walk-in-closet was converted into a private film vault. It holds all my films and film related books and reference material.
It's locked via electronic lock and alarm.
I have two very protective dogs....a rott(Titan) and a black GS(Dario). Steal my collection....get turned into hamburger.
I do have a nice gun...but I would never shoot anybody(in the head):D.
But a few shots to the knee caps hurts a little bit....especially with a dog on each arm.
Dabaomb
03-29-05, 11:23 PM
Sorry to all the veterens of the boards who have heard this all before.
Walk-in-closet was converted into a private film vault. It holds all my films and film related books and reference material.
It's locked via electronic lock and alarm.
I have two very protective dogs....a rott(Titan) and a black GS(Dario). Steal my collection....get turned into hamburger.
I do have a nice gun...but I would never shoot anybody(in the head):D.
But a few shots to the knee caps hurts a little bit....especially with a dog on each arm.
Gut you should just turn your DVD Closet into a Panic Room :lol:
MrE
03-30-05, 09:38 AM
Display the easily-replaced, loanable stuff your kids are like to watch with their friends. Lock up the expensive, OOP and collectibles.
eXcentris
03-30-05, 10:44 AM
Mission Impossible 3: The gutwrencher Film Vault Caper
spartanstew
03-19-06, 02:14 PM
I have a fairly sizeable collection and I have them displayed in my den on some nice media shelves, but I'm starting to wonder whether this is such a good idea.
We are about to have some work done in the house and that is what has prompted my thoughts about security.
Your DVD's are your most valuable asset? Wouldn't the workers steal jewelry, art, computers, etc?
gotrice487
03-19-06, 05:05 PM
Locking cabinets are not the greatest security for DVDs but I do use them mainly to keep the dust out.
mndtrp
03-20-06, 01:05 AM
I have mine in a dresser in my closet. Sure it doesn't look as impressive as having them display on a shelf (my preference). But I can't run the risk of visitors taking them or always asking to borrow them......I'm not blockbuster!
I'm the same way. Except for the whole not allowing others to borrow my films part. If someone borrows my movies, I get them back. If they are damaged, whoever borrowed them replaces them. If I can't trust a friend with something as simple as a dvd, why would I want them as a friend?
I also don't have people in my house that I don't trust. If someone breaks in, I have insurance.
Fincher Fan
03-20-06, 06:54 AM
I put spring-loaded razor blades into each case.
nemein
03-20-06, 07:09 AM
Your DVD's are your most valuable asset? Wouldn't the workers steal jewelry, art, computers, etc?
All of that would probably be missed easier/quicker than a couple of movies from a large collection. Not to mention it's easier for the workers to dispute a couple of "missing" DVDs than it would be jewelry.
NatrlBornThrllr
03-20-06, 07:20 AM
Sorry to all the veterens of the boards who have heard this all before.
Walk-in-closet was converted into a private film vault. It holds all my films and film related books and reference material.
It's locked via electronic lock and alarm.
You were actually the first person that I thought of whenever I saw this thread. Out of curiosity, do you have any pictures or specifics about what system you use (cost, etc)?
Your DVD's are your most valuable asset? Wouldn't the workers steal jewelry, art, computers, etc?
Not to reply on his behalf, but I'm a college kid, so I don't have art and jewelry laying around the apartment. As such, my DVDs are easily my most valuable asset. A majority of my very limited expendable income goes toward my collection. Sure, I have a TV, a stereo, a computer and etc, but my DVD collection is definitely the most valuable thing that I own (this includes my beat-up little 1991 Honda), and it's the one thing that I worry about the most whenever a break-in or fire crosses my mind. Bear in mind that there are a lot of people like myself; college kids with little to call their own. Not everybody here has begun that march down the path that we call adult life just yet.
Regarding security: naturally I have plans for my future home. I don't expect my first home to be large enough to have an entire room dedicated to a HT set-up, but I definitely intend to do something similar to what Gut has done by converting a closet into a "film vault" of sorts. As it is, my collection is simply displayed on shelves in my living room. I share a small apartment with my roomie, and the only people who come in and out are he and I (and our mutual friends), so the only worry would be a break-in...and there's not much I can do on my budget or in this location to prevent those guys from making off with whatever they had their mind set on stealing. I can only hope that something of that nature never happens.
-JP
Loc Nar
03-20-06, 07:38 AM
Your DVD's are your most valuable asset? Wouldn't the workers steal jewelry, art, computers, etc?
No, they are not my most valuable asset. Funny that this thread has come up again - it is a year old.
Anyway, expensive jewelry is easily secured in a safety deposit box. Computers and any art that went missing would be noticed immediately. The point I was making is that when you have a sizeable collection of DVD's on shelves, you simply would not notice if a few went "missing." That's what I was looking to guard against. I think I will get some locking cabinets this summer. I think they would certainly be a deterrent to petty pilferage.
It's interesting that my general concern was justified a few weeks ago when an 11 year old friend of my son's stole my Leatherman tool (a Christmas gift) I had out on the kitchen table. My son suspected that he took it and accused him of same, which he, of course, denied. My son even told the boy's dad about it, but he did not take the accusation seriously because my son did not actually see him do it and the boy denied taking it. I confirmed the tool was missing and, after talking to my son - who told me how he saw the boy put something in his pocket and that he acted very defensive when asked about it - I went to talk to the boy's dad. He doubted his son took anything but asked him to turn his pockets out, which, of course, revealed my Leatherman tool.
I only noticed that theft because of my son's concern and the fact that it was unusual for it to be out on the kitchen table.
rw2516
03-20-06, 10:35 AM
Go out and buy the biggest metal dog dish you can find. With a hammer and ice pick pound dents into it that look like big teeth marks. Then get some blood red paint and paint the name SATAN on the dish. Place dish in most likely spot an intruder will see it.
freudguy
03-20-06, 12:53 PM
I have lockable cabinets like those shown above, actually bought from www.storehouserock.com as also mentioned above.
Geez, just noticed that this thread was started a year ago. Nevermind.
Disc-Flipper
03-20-06, 02:14 PM
When work is being done in your house, simply get some painter's thick clear plastic sheets and wrap them around your shelving units and tape down distinctly with masking tape. You'll want to protect from dust in the air anyways. I doubt one of the workers will want to risk tearing open the plastic and tape to get at the discs. The covering could be done in such a way to make it obvious if anybody had broken the seal.
Take out the discs you intend on viewing during the period when the work is being done and store them separately locked away.
lordwow
03-20-06, 02:43 PM
I've definately lost more movies to "borrowing..." in fact... I've only lost movies to "borrowing." Luckily, all three that I've losted have been bargain-bin ($5 or so) movies, so it wasn't any big loss. But I don't lend out anything like my TV sets or anything to anyone I don't trust with my life.
Fok
03-20-06, 03:54 PM
I have mine stored in my closert, sure it doesn't look nice and I can't proudly show my collection. But if I had them out, people would treat me as a free blockbuster :mad:
FantasticVSDoom
03-20-06, 04:25 PM
3 words..."Sharks with Lasers"
Tarantino
03-20-06, 05:51 PM
I live in an apartment with my roommate...my DVD's are easily the most valuable thing I own. I keep them on shelving in my room (which only my girlfriend and myself normally go, my roommate if he has to print a paper or something). However, against break-in, I've got nothin'.
I actually had what the original poster was talking about happen to me recently. I went to watch Se7en, and it's gone...poof, thin air. :(
= J
SINGLE104
03-21-06, 12:52 AM
The best advice is to have your DVD collection, and other valuables covered by homeowner or renter's insurance.
mbs
03-21-06, 01:28 AM
Renter's insurance for me.
Artman
03-21-06, 02:15 AM
DVD's in the closet and renter's insurance.
MrDs10e
03-21-06, 09:53 AM
Minimal precautions here. I live in an apartment and I lock my front door. Having grown up in a crime-ridden area (unlike the low-crime suburb I live in now), I know that if somebody wants to steal something, more than likely nothing less than armed guards and a bank vault will stop them (and often not even that). I just don't let myself worry about these kinds of things as you can take all the precautions in the world and still get ripped off.
As for the repairman stealing an odd DVD, I have my DVDs in a particular order, and I'm blessed with a photographic memory, so if anyone swiped one, I'd know immediately, and be on the phone to whatever company dispatched them. But I never let repairmen in my place when I'm not home. I've got a few OOP or slightly rare titles, but nothing irreplaceable. So my motto: Don't worry, Be Happy :)
lizard
03-21-06, 12:32 PM
Security? :lol: I must live in a different world.
I will usually lock the front door when I am going to be away from the house for more than two to three hours... when I remember. Not that it would do any good if someone really wanted to break in since I live in a forest with the nearest neighbors a quarter mile away. Last burglary in my neighborhood I can recall was six or seven years ago and I am much farther off the beaten track. Crime is almost non-existent in this one stoplight county, population 4200.
The only DVD protection I worry about is keeping them out of the sun so the covers don't fade. And I am thinking about buying an enclosed cabinet, similar to that shown in the OP, to keep out the dust as well as the sun.
joshtown
03-21-06, 01:30 PM
I set up tripwire all around my DVD collection, which triggers an alarm that goes straight to the F.B.I. headquarters in D.C. From there, I have already prepaid for two fighter pilots and their jets, which are on standby, to fly directly over my house, open fire and injure any suspect, in or around the vicinity. Of course this is only the extreme route I would take.
Normally I have four guard dogs, who are trained in the art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu to take care of things. I spray all my DVD's with sour apple dog repellant, so they don't chew through the cases. They hate that stuff!
rw2516
03-21-06, 04:56 PM
Security? :lol: I must live in a different world.
I will usually lock the front door when I am going to be away from the house for more than two to three hours... when I remember. Not that it would do any good if someone really wanted to break in since I live in a forest with the nearest neighbors a quarter mile away. Last burglary in my neighborhood I can recall was six or seven years ago and I am much farther off the beaten track. Crime is almost non-existent in this one stoplight county, population 4200.
Until the van full of psycho-killing spree nutjobs drive by one night.
Pa Psycho: "Junior, let's check out that house in the trees".
Junior Psycho: "Goll Darnit, Pa! I aint cleaned my axe yet from the house a quarter mile back".
Ma Psycho: "I hope they taste better than that last batch".
Voice of trailer guy:
"A quiet, one stoplight community"
"Far off the beaten track"
"Population 4200"
"The nearest neighbor a quarter mile away"
"Where crime is almost non-existent....until..."
Forest House "Where no one will hear you scream and scream and scream......" -popcorn-
Just kidding.
lizard
03-22-06, 01:13 PM
^ rotfl ...First they have to find me...
Actually, one reason to leave the front door open on my two hour (six mile) walk to the mailbox—to check for DVD packages, of course—is so that I can get inside quickly in case I am being stalked by a mountain lion. Last month the Division of Wildlife trapped a mother lion and her kitten on my lot and used my garage to tag and GPS radio collar them before releasing them back where they caught them. They want to monitor how the lions are getting along in this growing rural mountain subdivison. The mother weighed 101 pounds and the kitten weighed 24 pounds. ("Here, kitty, kitty, kitty...")
Life is different here...
Star Wars Guy
03-23-06, 07:45 AM
I lock my doors :p
And hope they don't have blasters.
AllHallowsEve
03-23-06, 08:14 AM
I set up an axe that hangs over the collection. It's out of site.
If anyone happens to unlock and open the doors.....
Well, they shouldn't have been snooping.
P.S. I did know this guy who set up rat traps in his house. Seriously.
DrOBoogie1
03-23-06, 08:25 AM
For those of you worried about your collection ending up in a pawn shop, there is a simple precaution you can take: On each of the DVD cases, put a sticker that says "Stolen from the collection of (YOUR NAME)." That way, when you need to prove someone stole your discs and dumped them in a pawn shop, it's pretty hard to argue otherwise. Traditional keep-case DVDs are the easiest, just put the sticker behind the insert in the plastic. For box sets, there are any number of hiding places -- and clear labels with your info work well too.
For concerns of damage, get insurance - either renters' or homeowners, depending on your situation.
ShallowHal
03-23-06, 09:13 AM
I know this thread is old, but those cabinets pictured in the OP aren't safe at all. Even if it's locked, the hinges would be pretty easy to pop out. They can swipe whatever they want, pop them back in, and you'd wonder what happened.
I second the insurance, it's cheap compared to the alternative.
brainee
03-23-06, 11:04 AM
For you renters, Renters Insurance is super-cheap too (at least with some companies). So cheap its silly to not have it. Since I got it with the same company I have car insurance with, it came out to something like an extra $15/year.
MEJHarrison
03-23-06, 02:29 PM
Renters insurance is so cheap, you'd be a fool not to have it. It really came in handy years ago when our three year old decided to color his feet with four bottles on food coloring on the carpet. The carpet was toast and our insurance paid for it to be replaced. After our landlord saw how good the insurance was, he started requiring it on his rentals.
I don't know how they are on theft, but it's just silly not to add it if you're a renter.
I use a sawed off Mossberg 590/A1 12 guage, pump action, shotgun with pistol grip and folding stock.
eXcentris
03-23-06, 03:20 PM
Homeowner/Renter's insurance is fine but read the small print. I don't know about the US but where I live, a "normal" policy only insures media (tapes, CD's, DVD's, software, etc...) up to about $2,500 (or maybe it's $5,000 I don't remember exactly). The point is, it's not even close to covering a large collection. I bumped up the media coverage on my policy to $25,000 which was the max allowed for media. If you want even more coverage, you have to insure it as a collection, which is more expensive.
Buy: