Let's talk about alarm systems

[cubicdissection]

Another thing...do you really need 30 seconds to turn your alarm off? Mine's set to 12. Why give the extra time?

[RayH]

Stuart,

Sorry to hear about your bad experience.

As to guns versus dogs versus alarms. I believe your location versus desires versus situation will probably direct the best answer, as has been pointed out in the many responses.

For my particular situation a monitored alarm system was my choice. With a complete installation, the available backups of cell phone contact, alarm if lines are cut, etc., you can get a lot of security. As DaveO pointed out, for the casual break in, the sign out front is probably the best deterant. Your choice should probably be driven by your life style and location.

Our system was installed when the house was built by a Raleigh company, NewWave. Our monitoring is arranged through them by a large central monitoring company. You can over-build the system so that your daily activities are likely to cause an alarm, but for us we have had one false alarm (ran into some friends and brought them in the wrong door as we were returning) in about 5 years of service. No service charge for that. The first thing they do is call and check (can't tell you how they do that or I'd have to shoot you).

I'm anti big companies like ADT. They seem to be local franchises that come and go, and are variable in quality. And cost more.

This turned out much longer than I planned, but it is my $0.02, for what it's worth.

Good luck to you,
RayH

[JimmyC]

Once again,

Any deterrent that can be seen, such as dogs or alarm signs will probably move the thieves over to the neighbors house. Most thieves only do what's easy, they want as little work as possible. Also keep anything that would be valuable to them out of sight from your windows and doors, because even with an alarm a thief will do a smash and grab for small electronics ( laptops, GPS, mp3's, cellphones, etc.) and cash, knowing that they can be out before the cops get there or sometimes even before that alarm goes off.

The bad news is that once a thief has been in your house, and has seen the layout and what you own, you stand a fairly high chance of them targeting you again if it's not hard for them. Cops are usually only there after the fact, because there aren't enough of them to be everywhere.

Good Luck,
Jimmy

ps. too many of us haven't protected our tools well either, and they are also easily pawnable.

[clowman]

Keep this in mind if you have Internet telephone.. ie.. VoIP... Time Warner phone... Most alarm systems don't work well with VoIP. Be sure you get a guarantee it works.

[RayH]

One more thought -- a combined smoke/intrusion alarm system that is centrally monitored saves me over $100 a year on homeowners insurance. That pays a good portion of the monitoring fee.

Or is extra funds for more

RayH

[dick541]

Anybody know where I can get a copy of somebody's yard sign to put out in my yard? Some body tried to get in my other house a few months ago and I put a sign on the door that say's SMILE YOU ARE ON CANDID CAMERA I do have a camera way up in the corner of the porch, and it does a good job of recording anything that moves.
dick

[cubicdissection]

You can get alarm signs on Ebay.

[Tar Heel]

Well, it was a week ago today that my house was burglarized. Today I committed to a monitored system from Power Home Technologies which will be installed on Tuesday. Pacific493 (Brian) mentioned that company earlier in this thread. I compared them to CPI also mentioned here. They were similiar in equipment furnished and cost. Probably couldn't go wrong with either. My wife will feel much better when it is installed and activated...and so will I. Thanks for all the comments. Now let's see....what woodworking tool could I get each year for the annual cost of monitoring. Hmmmm, maybe I should just cancel this deal. If I did that my wife would be an unhappy camper. We all know what they say about mama not being happy.

[gordonmt]

I bought my barkmaster motorcyle alarm and have been very happy with it. I did go for the attitude upgrade but it was worth it.