Questions on ADT and basic home security

[sarg1c]

I'm sure like most products or services a person can spend as much or as little as they want...BUT

I'm hoping you could recommend some basic home security items.

Has anyone had good luck with ADT or a similar service?

We are going to have deadbolts on doors. Suggestion on brands or anything?

I am also considering (not sure what they are called) but those door bells that have camera on them that we can access by smartphone.

Also considering some motion light detectors.

Probably a year or so out from a dog.

No tinfoil hat here, just looking at options when you are out in the country/rural setting. Thanks in advance

Don't forget the driveway monitors to the house and barn . Also some people want a silent alarm, but my house has two sirens plus an inside sounder. It will wake up the neighborhood. .If you are 45 min. from the law a silent alarm may not be of help to you , Always include a fire alarm , and always have a panic button for the wife in case you are out and about. There are a lot of good systems out there. Just like buying guns some people like different companies....

 

[Gamecock]

Plant ISIS flags in your yard.

DHS, FBI, sheriff's department, etc., will keep an eye on your house for free.

 

[ladder13]

Our hardwired alarm system is backed up by a cellular transmitter, and those systems are tied into my standby generator. We travel quite a bit and don't want the house, and our alarm system, to be without power for any length of time while away.
There's never been a home invasion in the 20 years I'm here, and only one break in that I'm aware of.
Better safe than sorry though.

To add, we recently had some high res camera's installed. I need to check up on the snow plow guy when we're away(when home I do it myself) to make sure we have that lived in look, otherwise I have to call my BIL and tell him to wear high boots and walk up and down the driveway.

I use an independent guy, he's a retired NYS trooper investigator, responds to any concerns quickly and is well versed in the latest equipment, and computer tech. He comes out on the job for trouble shooting or programming(most can be done right from the office), he has 2 other guys for the heavy work. He's a heck of a nice guy as well. He even tried to talk me out of the camera's, he never upsells me anything.

 

[Cal44]

I investigated a fair number of residential burglaries over the years. In my opinion, an alarm system that goes to a central monitoring site is money well spent. It limits the time a burglar has to toss your home. An alarm system that sounds a loud audable alarm is also helpful, as it can scare someone away, especially if their are neighbors nearby.

A quality fire rated safe for guns and other easy to carry valuables is also a wise move.

Good deadbolts on your doors make a difference, but I have found that many burglars will by-pass a secured door, and go thru a window, if one is present at ground level, and large enough. Motion detectors in addition to sensors on doors make a lot of sense.

Check the legality in your area, but in my case, my "gun den", that contains my reloading bench and safes, has no windows, a dead bolted, solid door, and a nifty little device that when armed, will flood the room with a bulk can of pepper spray. You can find them on the internet.

Even if they don't bite, dogs can be a good deterrent / early warning system. My GS misses nothing, and even friends are wary of entering the house, even though he is a 115 lbs lap dog..

When I am away for any length of time, I usually leave a few lights on in the house, and a radio playing, along with one of my vehicles parked in the drive, to give the appearance of someone being home.

Not always, but most burglars look for the safest and easiest targets, and prefer unoccupied homes. None of the above will stop all break ins, but will limit the possibility and minimize the loss.

Larry

Another thing is to cultivate relationships with neighbors who you trust.

We have an across-the-street neighbor who keeps watch when we are gone. Her 11 year old daughter is trustworthy and comes in to feel and care for the cats every day.

One time we let friends park their car in our driveway while we went on a month long trip. They picked up their car while we were away and the neighbor emailed us asking about it thinking someone stole the "new" car they say parked.

Doesn't work if you live far from neighbors, though.

 

[Jaysq]

I have had ADT for several years and have had a couple of alarms (mouse in basement) and they called me right away. I have also set the alarm off by accident and if you do not de-activate it right they will call. I also have the fire alarm. I put their signs on the windows and doors. I have had NO real attempts since I had the alarm installed.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

It's all about layering.

Good deadbolts - buy the best you can afford. Remember to use them all the time!

Alarm monitoring - I have used ADT for a very long time. 83 bucks per three months is about right if you have their high-tech gadgets installed. I keep cell/high tech connections and my old landline connected to ADT. There are many companies in the business.

Signs - I see no reason to not announce the use of an alarm company. Let the bad guys know; you want them to know the risks so they'll go away.

Cameras - if you can afford them, use them. That's why ADT starts to get expensive.

Dogs - if you can, great. I have two nice sized ones, a pit mix and a GS mix. They might lick burglars to death but the perps don't know that.

There are other things you might think of but layering with these various systems is the way to go. Add sharp eyed neighbors if you're not in the country without neighbors. Dallas PD has Volunteers in Patrol - trained locals in each neighborhood who cruise their own neighborhood with yellow lights and signs. They're watchers - not law enforcement. But in the day and age of easy phone communication reporting a suspicious person by the patrolers gets DPD into action.

What you do if you're home matters, too, and I don't mean your shotguns and M1A1 handy dandy pistols. Keep your eyes open when you go in and out. Don't think your wonderful neighborhood has no crime so you don't lock doors and windows. LOCK THEM. And one other item -

If you can do it, install a storm door that locks on each access door. Not just because of storms. It's so if some ne'er-do-well rings your doorbell and you don't realize it then when you open your door he is still one step away from getting in because there's a locked glass door in between you two - that could matter in a home invasion scenario, giving you just enough time to re-close your door, reach your weapon, call Kujo, etc.

 

[TheHobbyist]

I just want to send a quick note of 'Thank you' to the posters in this thread. You have given my wife an I several ideas and good supporting references. Heartfelt thanks

 

[Donn]

Steel doors and frames, motion sensor floodlights in the yard, living room lamp on a timer. Have a Vivint wireless alarm on the house & garage for a year or so. Response has been good, judging from the few false alarms I've inadvertently set off. They're a whole lot more reasonable than ADT or Guardian, who still depend mostly on telephone land lines.