Advice re Home Security Systems

[Onomea]

I'm in the market for a home security system/vendor for my new house. I'm in a suburb, safe neighborhood, HOA, single family homes. (Unlike my condo downtown, no homeless/bums/crazies staggering around.)

For my house in Japan, I pay about $90 a month to a private security company for a system with one outside camera with motion sensor covering the entry to the property, and sensors on all first floor windows and doors. If an alarm goes off, and we don't turn it off in 15 seconds (?) or so, the security company calls us. If we don't respond, they send someone to check on the house. When out of country, like now, we can pay them a bit extra to come by the house twice a month and look it over.

So, what are you using and why? Vendors and prices? Pros and cons of hiring a security company to install and monitor vs DIY? Who responds if your alarm goes off? The police, the security company, you?

 

[bigwheelzip]

My inlaws had ADT in Florida, and were burgled when they went out to vote four years ago. Everything worked as promised (alarms and LEOs), with the result being they lost all their valuables in just a few minutes, and the perps got away with it. They had a safe that didn't get used because it's location was inconvenient.
Whatever you pick, my advise is harden the entrances and use a decent safe properly anchored, to slow them down enough for the troops to catch them.

 

[WR Moore]

Private residence alarm response in most communities is at the bottom of the priority list for most law enforcement agencies. Most will not agree to being a monitor for any system. Depending upon state laws and work load, private response may be little better. An unarmed rent-a-body, even if they show up quickly, is unlikely to stop any activity in progress. Actual armed response is very pricy and availability varies widely. As does competence.

Most alarm systems these days are programable systems and the wrinkles can get highly technical very quickly. I'd hire it done and a monitoring service is highly recommended. You're going to have false alarms, from klutziness, overly sensitive sensors or the family pets. Then, there can be environmental issues/system faults even with multi-million dollar systems.

Keyed deadbolts (double keyed if there's any glass on the door) on all exterior doors (which should be substantial), properly anchored into the backing studs and other stuff suggested above should be a good starting point. Have drapes/blinds on all windows and keep them closed. Most casual breakins are smash & grab. Get a dog, hope you have some old retired neighbors who like to mind other peoples business. If so, cultivate them.

About those "safe neighborhoods"..........there really aren't any. They're shopping centers for thieves. I once was the intended victim of an armed robbery in front of a Federal Court House in broad daylight.

 

[ladder13]

Around here, car “break ins” are escalating. Only most are not break ins but invites by dummies leaving electronics and valuables in plain sight.

Yeah, I know, no one has the right to steal anyone’s property. True, but it hasn’t stopped any thieves.

Some guy in a community down the road a piece, had his laptop stolen along with two handguns in an unlocked car in his driveway.

My cars are always locked, yes even in my garage, and I live in a fairly nice and quiet area except for the two idiot Mustang owners.

 

[bgrafsr]

Around here, car “break ins” are escalating. Only most are not break ins but invites by dummies leaving electronics and valuables in plain sight.
My cars are always locked, yes even in my garage, and I live in a fairly nice and quiet area except for the two idiot Mustang owners.

They would probably be better neighbors if they had Corvettes instead.

 

[Ziggy2525]

High security, fitness, and mental health therapy in one package. The downside is the monthly costs can be high and there would be boarding costs when you're in Japan.

 

[Onomea]

High security, fitness, and mental health therapy in one package. The downside is the monthly costs can be high and there would be boarding costs when you're in Japan.

Yeah, we'd like a dog, but since we travel between the two countries, not practical at this stage of our lives.

 

[Claymore33]

SIMPLI SAFE and DOGS

We just purchased a system from SIMPLI SAFE and have 2 dogs .
We live 12 miles from town on 80 acres behind electric gate.

 

[Jessie]

There are “ House sitters” that will camp out there and take care of the dog too.
Finding good reputable ones might be a challenge.
Maybe friends/family looking for a paycheck?

 

[mckenney99]

I've used Brinks/ADT at 2 different residences for the last 28 years. First residence, for 20 years, was the old hardwired phone system and monthly monitoring charges were $40-$50 a month. When I moved into new home I had a new ADT cellphone system installed. Nothing extensive just 3 door sensors, motion and fire sensors. I cannot complain about ADT's monitoring service as they have been extremely quick to call when I have set it off by mistake. ADT customer service also just sent me new replacement backup batteries for the main control panel without charge. However, ADT's monthly monitoring charges have almost doubled for my basic system in 8 years. I am looking at other monitored systems but so far looking at extensive reviews of all of them, they all currently have major flaws with hardware and quality of the monitoring.

 

[Rudi]

It is important to "harden the target". Layers of security, locked inside doors into rooms and areas. Slow the bad guys down. Systems can also have voice drivers, as the alarm is shrieking, inside and out, a loud voice will say that the police are on the way etc. Can be in various languages IIRC. Get and use a good safe or two. Keep a low profile, don't advertise. Set up a neighborhood watch, local PD will help with that.

 

[bgrafsr]

We just had ADT install an alarm system in our home and so far we are completely satisfied. Installer was very professional also.

 

[rockquarry]

I've never seen a need for a security system even though the last two homes I've lived in were wired and set up for it. Regardless, we all have different priorities.

 

[mckenney99]

If you know and trust your neighbors, let them know when you are gong to be out of town. I had GREAT neighbors when I lived in the country, we all looked out for each other.
I was having a new HVAC system installed in my old house and both my wife and I had to be at work, no choice. The HVAC guy is an older guy, works alone and is reliable/honest in the extreme. My wife and I went on to work, I hid the key to my back door for the HVAC/Dave to retrieve, we didn't bother setting the alarm, knowing Dave was coming, he pulled his van around the rear of the house where the unit was located. HVAC/Dave came out the back door to get a tool or part out of his van and was greeted by a half dozen Deputies. Dave said he looked down the driveway and saw at least 7 Sheriffs cruisers in the driveway. Apparently one of my neighbors had seen him pull in behind the house and called 911. After the initial tense situation was resolved, Dave called me at work to assure me I never had to worry about a burglary with my neighbors and the Sheriff's Deputies watching the house.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

We've had SimplSafe for the past 7 years and would consider nothing else. It's a simple do it yourself install, no contracts and is monitored 24/7 for $24.99 per month. Their lowest rate is $14.95 per month without camera access or being able to use the App to control your system, and again no contracts. We have installed entry sensors, motion detectors, glass break sensors and smoke alarms, along with 2 cameras.

We have a permit registered at the police station and have had 2 responses due false alarms which were both my fault...left the door open to the room where my gun safe is located and the cat wandered in. From the time the alarm sounded to the police at my house was less than 10 minutes. We get 2 free false alarms per year, then it's $25.00 for the 3rd one, $50.00 for the 4th and so on. I test the system once a month and the call center responds in 30 seconds or less. In the last 4 years we have never had another false alarm.

I had Brinks, then ADT, but got tired of the increases and a contract that tied me to their system. Dropped them as soon as the contract expired and have never reconsidered them.

SimpliSafe is simple and reliable.

 

[Mike 139]

If I were looking for a monitored system, Simplisafe appears to be a good choice....If the Alarm is activated, they notify LE.....Residential Alarms are NOT a priority call with most Agencies, it’s usually first available..They are low priority,Audible or Silent.99% of the time..either activated by Pets or Family Members....Most Cities start issuing fines to the Homeowner/ Business after a set amount of false alarms...


Some of The larger Companies, they have their monitoring staff in another state and frequently do not contact the correct Dept./Agency for your address...results in much longer response times.

Options include Blink...A camera system that can be mounted indoors or out and runs on alkaline batteries, it will notify your Phone and record activity. Including Audio.....Motion activated. No monthly Fee....Some People go with Ring, the Doorbell Camera...

Best is layers of security...Completely Fenced Yard with Locking Gate....Signs advising Video Surveillance....No Trespassing. ..etc...Outswing entry doors with one inch deadbolt..a Couple Cameras....Sams and Costco sell multi- Camera sets that record..and are motion activated with night vision and get a good quality Safe for your Firearms/ Valuables/ Jewelry that is bolted to the Floor.....Be careful who you ask to watch your property when you’re absent...People talk and a lot of Residential burglaries are committed by neighbors Kids.

Lots of choices, take your time and do what’s best for You. The attached pic is the BEST alarm system/ deterrent I ever had......

 

[Old cop]

We’ve used Vector Security for about six years and are very happy w/them. Excellent CS and state of the art equipment.

 

[billwill]

SimpliSafe is a good choice.

 

[Doug M.]

Most LE agencies are understaffed and have a heck of a time responding to calls in a timely manner. They have to prioritize, and often have pretty detailed systems for assessing the priorities to assign to a call. I have been to calls that would not have been answered for hours but for the fact that reserve personnel such as myself were working, and had shifts in which I used staggering amounts of gas driving like hell across pretty significant distances. Nowadays, there are agencies that are so abused that their officers stay out of sight and do no proactive policing. Combine all this and you have perfect examples of the saying "when seconds count, the police are only minutes away".

I'm with the crowd that advocates for target hardening, including the dogs in my attachment. If people feel comfortable coming to my house uninvited, I've failed.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

The way SimpliSafe works is if the alarm is triggered the monitoring company, C.O.P.S., will call you first to verify if there is a problem. If there is no answer they will then call the Police or Fire, depending on the sensor triggered. The alarm will also alert your cell phone and there you can see what sensor was triggered, as well get video from any installed cameras. That is handy if you are not home. The people at the monitoring center are very professional and very fast to react to any alarm.

I also have multiple Ring cameras where I can view my driveway, front door, and rear yard. The cost for multiple cameras runs $100 per year.