Melburnians go all-out to keep homes, cars safe
Chris Sallmann’s home is a monument to his 74 years of life.
The retired contract estimator designed the stylish Ashburton unit, which features a large open-plan lounge and kitchen to accommodate his family, and its walls are adorned with paintings of Australian landscapes.
In the living room hangs a portrait of his great-great-grandfather by five-time Archibald winner John Longstaff and portraits of his parents by the famous artist Paul Fitzgerald, known for painting prime ministers, the Pope and then Prince Charles.
In his garage there is a limited edition Audi and a red sports car that he has restored over the last 25 years.
Sallmann takes several holidays – “I don’t even know where Bali is” – preferring to spend his money rather than filling his home with sentimental keepsakes and luxury items. He says this is his sanctuary.
“I dreamed about it,” he said. “I thought about this for the 10 years I was planning my retirement.”
In the last five years, Google searches for “steering wheel lock” have increased by more than 5,000 percent nationwide.
But after a series of break-in attempts on his street, Sallmann went to extraordinary lengths to protect his home and his beloved cars.
Sallmann estimates he spent around $20,000 renovating his home, which once won a local council architecture award, to make it burglar-proof.
He is not alone. Security retailers say customers are increasingly upgrading their home protection systems after car thefts nearly doubled in the past three years and the public grows concerned about the risk of home invasions and theft.
Data released this month revealed insurance claims for stolen cars in Melbourne dwarfed any other capital city, and Victoria Police is now urging people to purchase simple crime prevention tools for their vehicles.
In the last five years, Google searches for “steering wheel lock” have increased by more than 5,000 percent nationwide.
Sallmann went all out with the security system.
Tall hedges surround his front yard, spikes placed at the corners. The windows on the side of his house are deliberately thin to prevent intruders from getting in. Two barriers paired with steering wheel and in-car diagnostic port locks and a signal-blocking Faraday key bag to protect their cars back up the driveway.
The property has two front doors. Made of steel with a tungsten frame and complete with three locks, the outermost part fits snugly into the doorway to prevent it from being pried open with a crowbar. The second door, made of heavy wood, also fits tightly into the frame and is equipped with a solid brass lock.
The windshields are double-glazed and break-resistant. The large sliding glass door on the side of his house that opens to his small garden is centimeter thick and bulletproof. At $7,000, it was his most expensive renovation, and even Sallmann admits that might be an exaggeration.
But a burglary a few years ago and numerous burglary attempts on his street turned him from a comfortable retiree into a “living on the edge.”
“There are things you can do that will protect you and make you feel better,” Sallmann said.
James Strachan of Melbourne-based Shug Bollards said more Victorians were now buying bollards for residential use.
“The problem with security cameras is they can still steal your car, where you’re going to have to put in at least some effort with a barrier,” Strachan said. He estimated that about half of his customers were now homeowners.
Barrier sales at occupational safety retailer Safety Xpress, which has an office in Keysborough, rose 23 per cent year-on-year as demand for housing increased.
“We’ve definitely seen that people want to invest in physical security, more of a physical deterrent, but also a visual deterrent,” said Alisha Dopper, director of operations and people.
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Angus Delaney is a reporter for The Age. Email him at angus.delaney@theage.com.au or contact him securely on Signal at Angusdelaney.31.Connect via email.
