Home Security System Recomendations

[Husker_Fan]

Hopefully this isn't too off topic.

What would you recommend for a home security system? I would like to install a wireless system. I only have a cell phone, and don't necessarily want a monitoring service so I would ike a system that can send me a text or e-mail about status changes or alarms. I would like to do this through my internet connection instead of a cell dialer.

I have two large dogs (80 pound labs). Do the pet-safe motion sensors that some companies have work well, or should I just look at door/window sensors?

Thanks for any recomendations.

 

[Lex87]

Hey Husker,
I would probably just go with the door and window sensors. The pet safe ones that I've have experience with had a lot more false alarms. I would recommend two companies for a Security System. The first is a company called Gemini Computers (geminicomputers.com) They represent a ton of companies that sell security software and components. The second is a company called Alarm.com.They do a wireless system that will send updates to your Iphone or blackberry or whatever. Those are just two companies I know of, I'm sure there are more!
Hope this helps!!

Cheers
Lex

 

[stevemis]

http://www.homesecuritystore.com/c-73-wireless-alarm-systems.aspx

 

[BCPerry]

.

I have an APEX system. It is cellular design. If the power goes off, or the phone line is cut, it still works. Love it.

Actually had it go off accidentally twice in the 2 years I've had it. Both times I was called on my cell within about 10-15 seconds.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

BEFORE you put money into a system, and I am sorry if I am telling you something that you have already considered (but many folks omit this step), you need to beef up your home hardware first.

With or without a monitoring company, if they call or you call, the higher the overall level of police service calls in your community, the less likely you'll get quick enough response to catch the burglar. What most security systems do is get the police promptly to the crime scene, after the burglar is gone. Contrary to the ads, such systems don't always cause burglars to flee at the audible alarm, and in some cases alarm systems help the burglars narrow down their targets to the folks with the money and the concern to have a system. Some jurisdictions have policies or even laws prohibiting the police from going lights and siren to empty residences..., so your system will notify you when you are away, and the police will be called, and get there when they can.

You need to reenforce the metal plate where the deadbolt inserts from the door into the home, in each and every door jamb on the exterior of your home. I have seen many doors kicked in by burglars, but very few deadbolt locks that have failed. What does fail is the cheap arsed metal plate in the door frame, which is secured with short screws that don't actually reach the frame. Million dollar homes or double-wides, it makes no dif, the contractors will put in cheap cheap strike plates. :banghead: You need a steel plate, four steel wood screws, and the screws need to be at least 4" long to reach the frames (as a minimum).

Traditional window locks suck. Get good window locks, and lock the second floor windows too if you have them. Get photos and serial numbers on all of your valuable stuff, for insurance, AND for apprehension. It's no surprize that the cops often catch a burglar and convict him for one or two burglaries, but caught the guy with lots and lots of probably stolen stuff that nobody can connect to a victim 'cause the victim didn't have model number and serial number information.

THEN get the wireless system. It's much better if your system notified you of a break-in, you called the police, they got there and found you only had an attempted break in, cause your hardware upgrades slowed the guy down long enough to make him go looking for an easier target. Sure, somebody really wants in, they will get in, but most of the yahoos are simple opportunists. They can be deflected by good hardware.

LD

 

[al123]

... you need to beef up your home hardware first.

Absolutely 100% agree.

You need to reenforce the metal plate where the deadbolt inserts from the door into the home, in each and every door jamb on the exterior of your home. I have seen many doors kicked in by burglars, but very few deadbolt locks that have failed. What does fail is the cheap arsed metal plate in the door frame, which is secured with short screws that don't actually reach the frame.

I was wondering if anyone here has tried these dedicated products: Strikemaster 2 or Door Jamb Armor?

http://www.asafehome.net/index.html
http://shopping.netsuite.com/s.nl/c.474317/sc.2/category.1065/.f

Traditional window locks suck. Get good window locks, and lock the second floor windows too if you have them.

After getting good window locks, there are also protective window films. A lot companies out there make these products.

http://www.smashandgrab.com/residential.htm
http://www.shattergard.com/home.html

Home security systems at least get the clock ticking in an intruder's mind. But the smash-and-grab types will be long gone in the vast majority of cases. After good, strong hardware, I think having a good rapport with decent nosy neighbors is more important.

 

[glockman19]

Protection One offers just such a system. It hs the normal alarm with cameras that can alert you through your cell phone. I believe it is also possible to view video, through the internet connection on most smart phones.

I think it's a great Idea.

 

[sarge83]

Spring for the extra control panel in the master bedroom, worth the money. If you have a break in you can tell by the panel where it occurred and have an idea where the miscreant is coming from giving the advantage.

Also get a key FOB to arming and disarming the system and ask the company when installing to set the panel for you to enter an ambush code different than your normal code. If you are ambushed upon entering you can turn off the system in front of the bad guy but it will automatically send out a call that you have been ambushed, send the cavalry.

 

[mbt2001]

Pet safe sensors are not workable with larger dogs or any kind of cat. Despite what they say about poundage, they are looking for a certain hieght. So theoretically, an army of midgets could rob you blind WHILE the motion sensor is active because they are so short. I doubt it would work, but you get the idea.

That being said, I would get door and window sensors, glass breakage sensors and multiple motion alarms in the high traffic / choke areas. Put the dog kennel out of view of those sensors and let the dogs sleep with you at night and shut the door. That means you have full alarm coverage. Obviously you will need a panel in the Master Bedroom or key fob or something to accomplish this.

1.) Beef up your hardware by installing wrought iron gates / storm door / re-enforced doors or whatever makes sense for your budget.

2.) Don't worry too much about spending money on window locks if you have window sensors and motion sensors. Breaking the window is common practice, so the lock will not avail you.

3.) Any old cell phone will dial 911 whether active on a plan or not. So, when you upgrade, keep the old cell phone and charger ready to dial 911. It doesn't have to be added to your plan. I am saying this so that you don't end up being talked in to spending more on the latest greatest whizbang. If you don't have LAND lines, then get a cellular alarm unit. If you do, then don't worry about the cell unit.

If the power goes out, get a stand alone motion sensor like this one, put batteries in it and rest easy, you do have a warning system.

http://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Moti...f=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1262713863&sr=8-21

http://www.amazon.com/Strobe-Motion...ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1262714156&sr=8-4

 

[earlthegoat2]

I like steel doors, deadbolts, double panes, and Pembroke Welsh Corgis.

 

[mbt2001]

I like dogs, but I am tired of reading someone saying "get a dog", as if they are glocks that come combat ready out of the box...

Most "guard dog" breeds take 10 months to house train and raise before you see any kind of guard instincts and you can ruin them if you are not careful. Sure you want them for barking, but seriously, some people have allergies and kids and new carpet that they do not want to risk.

Think of it like this. You need:

1.) Buffer
2.) Alert
3.) Response
4.) Defense

Buffer in most houses are doors / windows / walls. Alert are dogs / alarms / cameras. Response if phone / radio / cell phone / Alarm calling the police / neighbors / the like. Defense are guns / bats / knives / swords / et cetera.

Address these issues in a layer system with overlaps and you are set.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

2.) Don't worry too much about spending money on window locks if you have window sensors and motion sensors. Breaking the window is common practice, so the lock will not avail you.

Breaking the windows to get to the latch is common practise, but not breaking out the window. The majority of burglars are not well skilled and well tooled individuals. They look to get in quick, without much noise until entry, and after entry they move quickly and are usually successful and out of the home in five minutes or less. Some look for homes where they can slip something inside to defeat a latch, and break nothing at all. The vast majority of burglars do not want to encounter folks within the home, so you are looking at trying to stop most scenarios where you are away.

The common lever latch is then thrown open after being reached through a broken window pane, or defeated with a thin metal or plastic piece from outside, and the window lifted. Locks with keys, and jamb devices, are much tougher to defeat even if the burglar reaches through the broken window. I'm sorry when I wrote saying "window locks suck" as I should've written the common window latch sucks, and is not really a deterrant, so get actual window locks.

LD

 

[Pyzon]

The point that many are making in their own fashion is to harden the exterior with better security, whether it be locks, lights or difficulty of access long before any effort is spent to evualuate what happens once a dirtball has already gotten inside. Once you have allowed them inside your perimeter, you have already lost the most important battle.

The best thing most of us can do to make our homes less of a target is to simply make the other guy down the street appear an easier target than we are. Light the exterior, put toys and lawn tools in the garage before dark. Close the garage door, for pete's sake !

And best of all, get to know all you can about your neighbors and their feelings and capabilities regarding security. Lastly, put the local police force on notice that you require a more regular appearance on your street. Call in the license numbers and descriptions of strangers cruising your streets. Learn how to quickly use the camera that came with your cell phone and snap the pic of people that don't belong in the area. Make life uncomfortable and they unwanteds will go elsewhere to the easy pickin's.

 

[Carne Frio]

There are many fine ideas provided here for increasing home security. I would add,
that for when your not on the property that one of the following be added:

http://www.flashfogsecurity.com/
http://www.burglarbomb.com/

 

[Husker_Fan]

Thanks for the recomendations. I live in a suburban development with lots of neighbors nearby. The valubles and guns are in an RSC made by Liberty that is bolted to the concrete floor in the basement and has poured concrete walls on one side and the back. I built shelving around the other side and top of it in the storage room. I realize the RSC is not a safe and don't want to start one of those discussions.

We have deadbolts on the exterior doors, but I will look at strengthening those. We don't leave tools out and keep the garage closed and use the exterior lighting. All in all, we try not to look like an easy target.

I realize the limitations of the RSC and just want to add a deterent to someone who does breach into the house or in the event someone makes a mistake and leaves a door unlocked.

The neighborhood is still being built out and there have been some thefts of building materials and equipment from job sites. I would guess such people might also try to smash and grab from a home they thought was unoccupied.

I'm thinking of door and window sensors with glass break sensors where needed. I would also put a motion sensor with 120db alarm in the basement storage room in case someone managed to get in there. The idea would be to make working on that RSC as unpleasant as possible.

 

[smoothdraw]

Have a dog. Have a cell phone. Get a good flashlight. Carry even at home and have a 12-Ga shotgun in a short reach.

 

[lebowski]

Breaking the windows to get to the latch is common practise, but not breaking out the window. The majority of burglars are not well skilled and well tooled individuals. They look to get in quick, without much noise until entry, and after entry they move quickly and are usually successful and out of the home in five minutes or less. Some look for homes where they can slip something inside to defeat a latch, and break nothing at all. The vast majority of burglars do not want to encounter folks within the home, so you are looking at trying to stop most scenarios where you are away.

The common lever latch is then thrown open after being reached through a broken window pane, or defeated with a thin metal or plastic piece from outside, and the window lifted. Locks with keys, and jamb devices, are much tougher to defeat even if the burglar reaches through the broken window. I'm sorry when I wrote saying "window locks suck" as I should've written the common window latch sucks, and is not really a deterrant, so get actual window locks.

LD

Do you recommend a specific product?

 

[Fishbait]

You wont believe the weaknesses of home security in the way of Door, Frame and Bolt/Knobs.

Even the cheap common locks can be "Bumped" open if done right. For this I recommend class two door deadbolts and knobs. You can find these very heavy items at your security store.

I reinforce the necessary idea that your door, door frame and house need to be strong enough to absorb the force of the charging 220 pound adult intend on battering in. Mobile homes, smaller old houses etc are flimsy.

Dont go buy a security system without a means of recording what does happen if someone did breach it. A bit of video or picture goes a long way.

My secret is simple. They can slash the lines, cut the power, destroy the DVR and trash the cameras.,.... but they wont catch the carefully hidden trail game animal cameras to and from the house.

Something to think about.

I get incensed when I see these Alarm commercials with weak females squealing in fear when someone walks into the front door and then runs on the alarm. If these actors had proper use of the 2nd Amendment, they would have a real defense against invaders who could care less about that alarm.

The best security in windows and doors are those in which it takes the SWAT Team a few good yanks on a chain to a vehicle to tear from the house to gain entry.

 

[millertyme]

Door sensors, glass break sensors, passive infrared motion detectors, a smoke alarm and the cellular primary are the only things worthwhile getting in a traditional home security system (ADT, APX, etc). If you put windows sensors on a window they'll just break out the glass. It doesn't make that much noise. Dogs are a deterrent to some, but not all, especially if the crook is after the dog or decides he has enough time to shoot your dog and get out of the house before the cops show up. Besides, dogs don't call the police; neither do unattended firearms. The camera system is good to help identify the crook after they leave assuming they didn't wear a mask or hat pulled down low. Technology helps, but the other posters have it right - make your house a less attractive target than your neighbors'. Put the security sign in the yard. It makes your place 90% less likely to be broken into. Get rid of sliding doors, reinforce the existing door frames, install motion lights, inform your neighbors when you're going to be out of town, which entails getting to know your neighbors since they could be the ones breaking into your place.