Home Security Systems

Bad guys have a lot of ways of dealing with dogs. As Jeff White says they can be a component of your system, but as gnappi points out if it's a well loved pet and companion then you won't want to put it in the position to be killed or maimed by a home invader.

I firmly believe in defense in depth or layered security. Start outside and work your way inward bearing in mind budgetary constraints. Arguably if someone wants in, they will eventually get in. Question is how tough can you make your fruit before the asshat determines it “not worth the squeeze” and moves onto an easier target which might afford more time for squeezing than your own.

Your system only works as good as it was intended. If you are happy with it, great. Personally, I have no use to be a servant to such a system, especially in a small town. No system is fool proof as you have found out. Gun Safes don't stop anyone, they just slow them down. (I saw a video of guys breaking into a gun safe in less than 2 minutes) My system has 4 legs and a tail. If you recognize my picture, she is a Rodesian Ridgeback mix. She needs treats and be recharged several times a day. My system deters anyone including relatives coming near my grand children without my permission. I know everything that is going on within a block of my house. My system failed last summer when a rioting shooter passed through my backyard in 10 seconds. On the other hand my (layered) friends help me out when needed. They are: Smith & Wesson and a guy by the name of John Moses Browning.

Here is a good article about how professional thieves handled professional alarm systems:

https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/s...ry-patriots-fan-stole-giants-super-bowl-rings

After reading this, I’m now in the market for an old WWII air raid siren, or some other device noisy enough to wake up the whole neighborhood.

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In some jurisdictions a false alarm will cost you or your security company. In others, they receive pretty low priority from law enforcement due to the number of false alarms. Think thousands of false alarms with real one being few to none.

My alarm system got two three-striker meth-heads who tried to break in my house put in prison (a vigilant neighbor getting the mail calling 911 gets credit too).

I have an audible siren that'll wake the dead, and a strobe that can be seen from passing airliners at 35,000 feet (even through the WA cloud cover). But it's my 360-degree camera coverage, motion-sensors and door/window alarms that I really like.

> Ring ... phone ... internet

You're just layering a new security problem on top of the one you already had.

What you *want* is something that will let you or the police know if someone is messing your your stuff, and maybe sound an alarm to encourage them to rob someone else, and take some pictures that might be useful for the police.

What you *get* can be a window for a different set of bad guys to watch *you*. And you're probably going to be dependent on more than one layer of outsiders who have access to your video feeds, or even the ability to tell the system not to dial for intervention.

Unless you're willing to take up network security as a new hobby, the best you can do is be aware that it's a potential security problem, and think about where you're pointing your cameras; that is, would the video stream be more useful to a burglar than to you? There's sometimes no real answer to that.

Security is like trying to plug the holes in a screen door. Plugging every hole may not be practical, but even the smallest plug is better than none.

We have Ring cameras, gun safe, & a 105lb+ highly territorial German Shephard.
Ok so, I just wanted to throw some negatives about the Ring camera;
live feed connectivity sucks...basically dummy cameras.
Privacy violations by the company.
Security violations on the platform.
If our guns were this shabby we would melt them down...

I'm not worried about an alarm system -- that's what the dogs are for -- but I want *wired* cameras for over the doors. (Nothing that can be hacked, thank you.)

My security system is handy when I'm home. It's also good because it can sense freezing temps or basement flooding.

It's useless against burglars if I'm not home. Police may or may not respond in time. The alarm company might not even call them.

Every false alert gets a $30 ticket. Every ticket also decreases your priority, and increases response time. I've gone through a ton of crap sensors. Sometimes I leave my alarm off when on vactation because of that.

Dogs are handy. But can only stop amateurs. My dog is hopefully just a barking alarm. I dont want them attacking anyone. Dogs trained to attack are easy to put down, if you know what you're doing.

Gun safes are too heavy to get out quickly. The work. My motorcycle is chained to my garages concrete pad with a very challenging lock.

Automatic lamps and just the right amount of outside lights helps a ton. Too much, will just make you a target.

And remember, people with nice decorative fencing, can afford nice stuff.

I cancelled my security service after having some false alarms and waiting for about 3 minutes for that call from the service that is supposed to be made moments after the service gets the alarm alert. The system has been off for nearly two years now. I do not feel at all insecure.

I've has my wired system in over 11 years, in that time had TWO false alarms both in the first year. One was a bad door switch, the other was my motion sensor went off on my dog. Upgraded the sensor for 100 pound animals, not a single FA since. My city even stopped charging me for the alarm permit as they explained without FA's they don't charge, go figure.

A monitored cellular based alarm is a critical component of a layered security set-up. A proper system with door (and potentially window) switches and zonal motion detectors can quickly discriminate between a false alarm and an active intrusion. Our local LE will promptly respond to a call with multiple sensor trips. We have run ADT at two houses over the past 15 years with zero complaints.

The "I've got my dog, Killer, and my friends, Smith and Wesson, to keep me safe." is really a rather insufficient response when supplemental tools are easily available to improve your security, especially when away from home.

The mine fields, fencing and barbwire along with lighting worked sufficiently but that was the last place the Marine Corps sent me to GITMO in decades past. Today I'm not going to speak of the security measures in place at the residence but layered would apply.

Well, I'm not digging an alligator moat, but I do have security lighting, good locks and doors, cats that alert me constantly, and nosy neighbors, along with a gun safe. I'm still researching alarm systems for what is best for me and haven't yet decided. At least I now live in a far less vulnerable area, where some still leave their places unlocked. Not me-too much on guard in the place I left.