Looking for a Home Security System

[rcaretti]

I just had a break in! Looks like just some small things taken, but now the wife and I are looking at home security systems.

Anyone else have one?, are you satisified?, costs?, any information would be helpful.

For starters, we will be leaving the dogs roam the house from now on.

 

[Inspector507]

I have never used any of the monthly subscriber types such as ADT, Honeywell, Teamguard..........etc.
I have used a Napco Magnum Alert system in my previous 2 houses and they worked very well.

 

[MossRoad]

We had one at our old house that was from Radio Shack. It was a hard wired system. It had window switches, motion sensors, light beams, pressure mats... all kind of fun stuff. I even ran a wire out to the kids' playhouse in case someone made off with it. Two loud sirens, too. I had about $300.00 into it. One night, it went off. Foot prints in the snow revealed someone had parked at the end of the block and walked down the street checking cars and garage doors. They broke our fiberglass garage door right next to the latch, reached in and pulled the cable. As soon as the garage door moved up an inch, the alarm went off. The footprints were very far apart back to where they originated. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

So, it was only used once in 11 years and payed for itself in that one instant. It did what it was supposed to do and scared the bad folks away.

For common sense reasons, I won't go into the type that we have in our current house(why tell the world).

In general, a monitored system is great for when you are not home. If the bad guy sets it off and no one shows up in an hour or so, he'll just go in anyway. Alarms are not only for break ins, but for fires, too. They also offer carbon monoxide sensors, water sensors in the basement, all kinds of stuff. Unmonitored systems will work, too, but only if it is loud and attracts attention.

Some companies offer cell phone systems that will call the monitoring company via cell phone. That way, if the bad guy cuts the phone lines, it won't matter. You can price yourself into the poorhouse, but the best bet seems to be cover all the doors and any windows that are away from view of the street first. Garage and service doors, too.

Monitoring prices vary from area to area and go up with the features that you add. Good luck in your search.

 

[rcaretti]

Thanks for the information. It'll definitely be monitored. We live about a thousand feet from our closest neighbor (and we can't see each others homes), which unfortunately makes us an easy target. You can bet your last dollar the wife will be making calls first thing tomorrow morning.

What really has me concerned is although they only took a few easily replaceable items (mostly electronics equipment), I could have easily been cleaned out of a lot more.

It's almost comical - the burgular walks right by an expensive set of binoculars and the computer to steal a container of loose change. Not too bright.

Of course I should watch what I say, the second I saw things messed up around the house I immediately started putting things back where they belonged - DUH - I shouldn't have touched anything and called the police.

 

[OkeeDon]

We don't have anything where we live now. The city has been named "Safest city in Florida" for it's size (around 100K population) for 4 or 5 years in a row, and we haven't even locked our door for 31 years (and, no, I won't post my address /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif).

The place we're building, however, is rural and on a state highway. My daughter lives next door, and they've had two burglaries - one was probably a transient, broke in and took the "quick money" stuff; the other was a crackhead, took a generator (mine) from the garage and skedaddled. They caught him and I got the generator back - it helps when the sheriff's chief of detectives is my granddaughter's godfather.

Anyway, because of the highway frontage, I've been thinking about alarms. The problem is, there will always be a fair amount of stuff of value that can't be protected by alarms. There will be a shed roof on one side of the barn, for example, that will have a lot of tools. Motion detectors are no good because of the dogs and wildlife.

So, I got to thinking about a boatyard where I worked many, many years ago. They had lots of open sheds with thousands of dollars of tools, plus expensive yachts in for repair with lots of goodies on them. They also had a dock where customers could arrive late and tie up for the night. The only security measure that could have been effective was a guard, but the owner was too much of a cheapskate.

Instead, we had signs made up and posted at the gate and the dock that said, "Warning! This area is protected by a silent alarm system." It must have worked, because we never had a break in. In fact, a few years after I stopped working there, I passed by and saw the sign was still there. Now, I knew there really was no alarm, because I was the one who had contracted for the signs. But, I wondered if maybe they really had installed an alarm since I left, and wouldn't have gone near that gate with a ten foot pole.

Similarly, our public works department has a signed posted that says, "This area is under constant video surveilance." They haven't had a problem since they put up the signs. Are there cameras, and do they work? Who knows?

So, I figure that's what I'll do - post a couple of signs at the gates (the property is all fenced), and another at the barn that says, "Smile - your picture is being transmitted to a monitoring facility."

We're also putting in electric gate openers. According to the chief of detectives, the guy they caught after taking my generator said he would have passed on by if the gate had been locked. According to the detective, thieves want an easy job. If they see any sign that there may be trouble at a location, they'll move on to easier pickings.

Of course, if any of this works, I'll never know if it worked or there were just no burglars in the neighborhood. That's fine with me. If it doesn't work, I guess I'll have to re-think my strategy. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[WVBill]

We had a break in about 10 years ago so I became a believer in security systems.

I had a Linear "Safekeeper" system for many years but all the remote keychain "clickers" you use to arm and disarm broke and it's out of production.

So I switched to a Protector Plus security system from X-10. This is a wireless system so it's very easy to install. When tripped it will dial four telephone numbers and play your recorded message. You don't pay for a monthly monitoring service but if you pick your numbers right you can make sure someone will get the message and can relay it to the police or whatever. Tripping the alarm also sounds a horn on the console and you can add horns anywhere else. X-10 lamp modules can control lamps but also will flash if the alarm sounds. I have my frond, garage, and back yard floods on controllers. I can turn one or more of them on manually from remote controls in several locations in the house if my wife or I are home and the alarm is not armed.

It's a pretty neat system. X-10 Security

 

[Briarwood]

Expect the thief to return. Now he knows how to get in and he knows what you have. Also, he knows you will have new things to replace what he took the first time.

I used commercially monitored systems for a residence and two businesses from both ADT and Honeywell. I preferred ADT for the residential system. You certainly should shop around. Some companies will charge you for the installation and some will provide a basic system at no charge with a contract period of one or two years. Make sure you are aware of your contract terms and how you can terminate the service and cost of termination.

I highly recommend a monitored system but also advocate that you make it as difficult as possible for a thief and let him know it won't be easy. Signs and even fake cameras mounted outside are helpful.

Good luck.

 

[fivestring]

97% of all alarm activations are false. No ifs ands or buts on this one. Here in Charlotte alone, we answer over 100,000 FALSE alarms a year. What most folks don't know is that Police are not paid to answer alarms. The Police are not responsible for answering false alarms. This has already been argued through the court systems throughout the US. According to judgements, if anyone is responsible for them, it is the entity that sells, installs or monitors said alarm system. Most Police answer them out of the kindness of their hearts. There are quite a few areas (and more everyday) that the Police Dept. will not answer alarm calls, period. I wish that comes here someday. The cost of the Police answering alarm calls rests solely on the non-alarm user's tax money.
Because of this, laws have been enacted that fine alarm users for excessive false alarms. An alarm activation for anything other than a break-in is a false alarm. Period. If a maid, real estate agent, storm, etc. sets your alarm off, that is a false alarm.
Check your area for such a law or ordinance before proceeding any further.
An alarm system can be a big false sense of security.
An alarm system will not mean you won't get broken into... quite the contrary. An alarm system only will limit the amount of time a burglar can spend in your alarmed location before he has to leave. Guess what the NATIONAL average response time by Police to an alarm call is??? 40 MINUTES! A thief can clean your house out in 10 minutes!
An alarm system is only another tool to help PREVENT break-ins. A barking dog is just as effective. Good lighting is just as effective. A radio playing is just as effective. And these are much cheaper!
Alarm companies will tell you that you can save 20% on your insurance if you have a monitored alarm system. Here's the math: $25 a month for monitoring times 12 months = $300.00. The 20% savings on your insurance = $180.00.
DUH, HELLO!!!! I think I'll save the $25.00 a month.

Am I anti alarm system? No. I am anti false alarm and anti taxpayers footing the bill for something the private industry benefits from more than the general public.
Name any other industry that makes a product to sell for profit and uses taxpayers to pay for it????

How do I know these things? I spent 10 years studying the system and drafted our false alarm ordinance here. Due to political reasons we won't cover, we could not get the "No response" ordinance passed, but we did get a version passed that reduced false alarms by 40% in the first year! Everyone gets 2 "free" responses, then fines start @ $50 and by the time you've had your tenth, the fine is $500.00. If you don't pay your fines, we don't answer your alarm. Period. Plain and simple. Not the best, but at least we recoup some of our costs for answering alarm calls so a private industry can make millions of $$$$$$$ from the taxpayers.

I, too, own an alarm system. I won't mention the name, but the initials are A.D.T. It is not monitored (for all of the above reasons). It is audible. If it is activated, the siren sounds for a pre-set amount of time. Bad guy knows by the sound that he has been detected. Bad guy grabs a few items and leaves. My losses have been limited. I've saved on my insurance and I've not cost the non-alarm owning taxpayers a dime.
SCHWEEEEEET!

Sorry to be so long-winded on this, but this one hits personal. If you would like more info, PM me.

 

[fivestring]

Thieves return only 2% of the time.
They have other people to see and places to be.

 

[Egon]

Fivestring:

Very informative report on alarms.

Egon