I have lived in this location since 1985 and up till now never really been concerned about security. All that has now changed. Georgia Gwinnett College is across the street from my subdivision and is constantly expanding. There is a Wal Mart on the other side of 316. The 316/Collins Hill intersection will soon be turned from a 4 way stop to a freeway intersection with extended off and on ramps moving it closer to my back yard. A month ago my next door neighbor's house was burglarized and there was a drug bust at the house down the street. I have an alarm system and the back yard is enclosed by a chain link fence but I don't think that is enough. So here are a few more things I did to prepare for the worst:
A small safe to keep loose valuables.
A loaded Thunder Five kept in the safe for easy access.
In a week or two I'll be replacing my old wooden patio doors to steel patio doors with upgraded locks.
Just to prove that I am not completely paranoid, here are pictures I took of two suspicious characters apparently casing the neighborhood. Unfortunately I was unable to get a picture of their faces.