Are alarm systems worth it

[Sharpdogs]

Thanks for all the replies. I spoke with a woman at work who's husband owns/runs an alarm and security business. She said that $40/month was steep and I should shop around. My neighborhood is pretty crowded and I have two sets of retired neighbors who watch my house when I am out. I checked out the company's website and I was not impressed, so I will shop around before I get anything. To quote my wife, "why do I need to spend $40/month when I spend at least that much on dog food and vet bills." I think the $400-500/year in monthly costs would be better spent on new gun safe. Plus I have the pleasure of filling up the safe with new toys.

 

[jwharris]

more questions

I'm intrigued by "The Reporter" K. Wheeler suggested. I may put that out on my driveway.

I also like the idea of the ones which tell you what has been opened (door, zone 1 window, whatever). Are those connected to a monitored system or stand along systems? What brands do that?

I've also been looking at the GE Smart Homes remotes for lighting systems. I like the idea of being able to turn the lights on/off on someone I know is in the living room (hopefully scaring or "blinding" them before I get to the room). Has anyone used this system? Is it worth the money?

 

[gryphon]

We recently got a monitored system. It is the kind with 2 way communication in the event that an alarm is tripped. Had the alarm tripped once by someone? Police arrived in under 2 minutes...found an outside door cracked open and the dogs going nuts.

I left the door unlocked and it appears that someone tried to just walk in. The dogs and the alarm prevented that. If not, my mistake could have cost us the whole house.

I like it because I go to work before the wife and we have had problems with her ex-husband. When I leave I set the alarm. Gives her and me piece of mind that if something happens, she does not have to call anyone, just not responding at all will have the police make a visit. Not to mention the dogs will be let loose and she is getting just as good with the .45 as me.

I agree that $40 might be a little much for monitoring, I only pay $29 a month.

 

[Soybomb]

To me they seem like a good idea if they're installed well. I'm a heavy sleeper. I'll probably hear if someone kicks my door in, if someone lifts a window I have open for air in the nice weather though theres not a chance. Showering pretty much ruins that too. I like the idea of an alarm as a sentry that would wake me. It also seems like you'd be less likely to stumble in on a burglary in progress however slim those odds are too. If it would get the FD out there before my house burned to the ground and I wasn't home that would be nice too. To me its more what it could do for me when I'm home than it is what it does when I'm not home.

 

[Jeff White]

Many places have outlawed direct dialers. Many jurisdictions allow you one or two false alarms a year on a monitored service and after that it starts costing you everytime they respond.

Over the years I have been sent to the wrong address several times by the company that has the little ones and zeros that spread out to protect the house in their TV commercials.

Most police departments will not make an emergency response to a burglar alarm because of the liability involved if there is a traffic accident on the way to a false alarm. A panic alarm is a different story, but a plain burglar alarm doesn't get an emergency run.

A nice loud alarm to scare the burglars and alert the neighbors is a good idea, but I agree with the others who say that most people don't need a monitored alarm.

Jeff