Home security systems

[The Saltman]

having an alarm system is wise. having a sign out front is not as wise as you may think. I don't own a gun btw. I hope I don't lose street cred from the libs or reps over that.

So if I don't take down my sign will I be robbed?

[Darth Biscuit]

Umm for the crook it does. I have said this before. Signs are the WORST thing to do. You are telling the crook exactly what tools to use.

No sign means he isn't sure what you have, therefore he moves on.

Don't ask how I know.

Sure there are sophisticated criminals out there that can defeat any alarm system, but for the average guy out there looking to score while you're not home, they'll go to the house that doesn't have an alarm first.

[Scrumtrilescent]

That's cool. It was more of an honest question than snarky remark.

No prob...

And like Jase, the dog does most of the deterrent anyway (looks mean and barks like a mastiff at strangers) but always good to have.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

No prob...

And like Jase, the dog does most of the deterrent anyway (looks mean and barks like a mastiff at strangers) but always good to have.

Yeah, but what if Michael Vick is the burglar?

[Scrumtrilescent]

Except for the part where he cuts my phone line and my wireless system kicks in.

Or when he cuts the power and my automatic standby generator kicks in, and that is backed up by a battery.

Anyway, I like the concept better than my untrained ass packing heat.

The only person on here I'd trust in an honest to god throwdown with lead is Pantha-San, the rest of you would probably kill yourselves or a family member.

Even worse, a kid gets a hold of your unsecured weapon and shoots himself or something.

Not that I have an issue with gun ownership. Feel free. I fully support anyone's right to self defense or ownership of a weapon. I just think most of those that do own are too stupid, too untrained or would f-up somehow. The alarm system seems like a good option for those types.

Dunno. Seems like a relatively inexpensive and safe way of scaring off the amateurs and giving the pros the smart option of moving on to an easier target of opportunity.

Yep. I was doing some rewiring in the kitchen and my office the other day and the alarm system pinged me about the power being out and that it was going to backup. We don't even have a landline for robberistas to cut.

And like you said, if they want it, they're gonna get it when you're not there. Just seems like an easier thing to show the insurance adjusters when they look at your claim.

[natty]

It seems there are roughly 2 million break-ins per year out of roughly 70 million single family houses(doesn't include townhomes, etc). So 2% of houses every year are broken into with an average loss of $1600. So statistically how many times will my house get broken into over the course of my lifetime and how much would I pay to the security company vs how much I'll lose from theft?

That's all the peace of mind I need.

edit: I guess I'm saying I'd rather be robbed a few times than to be constantly robbed every month.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

2/70 isn't 2%... it is 2.8%!....

DUN DUN DUN!

[TheSaint]

Umm for the crook it does. I have said this before. Signs are the WORST thing to do. You are telling the crook exactly what tools to use.

No sign means he isn't sure what you have, therefore he moves on.

Don't ask how I know.

Explain this a bit more??

I seem to think if would have had a sign in my window/yard 3 years ago, 3 guys wouldnt have broken into my home while my wife was asleep upstairs and i was out of town. They didnt hit any of the other houses around us who have the signs.

BTW, i just upgraded to CPI InTouch yesterday, and got rid of my land line tele service. It cost $99 for the upgrade, and no increase in monthly fee.

I can set the alarm from my cell or computer from anywhere. I also get emails text whenever the status changes or alarm goes off.

[Epistaxis]

No doubt.

As far as I'm concerned, it is there for the protection of my people. I don't give a damn about our "stuff". All replaceable, and most of it aint worth a crap anyway.

I have it for the nightmare scenario "middle of the night break in" stuff, or in the unlikely event that something happens when only the babysitter is there with the kids.

[TheSaint]

See my post above...

We lost $6000 of stuff, which is not a big deal cause insurance replaced it, but the lasting impression left on my wife isnt going away.

It seems there are roughly 2 million break-ins per year out of roughly 70 million single family houses(doesn't include townhomes, etc). So 2% of houses every year are broken into with an average loss of $1600. So statistically how many times will my house get broken into over the course of my lifetime and how much would I pay to the security company vs how much I'll lose from theft?

That's all the peace of mind I need.

edit: I guess I'm saying I'd rather be robbed a few times than to be constantly robbed every month.

[Scrumtrilescent]

The arming reminders are a Godsend, too.

[pstall]

Just use some rule of thumbs. If somebody comes to do some work in your home, be advised they can tell their friends anything on what you have and where it's at AND your alarm system. This is why 90% of the time I try to get a personal friend to do work within in my casa.

Secondly. Location location location also works to a thief's benefit. Are there enough shrubs, coverage, easy access from the back/side etc.

When somebody gets robbed, the first thing I always ask is did you get anything installed or delievered recently. Easy connection there.

All I'm saying is don't be lured into a false sense of security because of what you have. You don't think thieves are able to get jobs working for ADT, CPI etc? Come on guys.

Alot of times it also depends on the neighborhood. How easy can you park somewhere and go get a score? Is it two many ways into a neihborhood etc?

I will have to go look up a study they did with cul de sac's vs other streets and the lack of dead end's and how it impacted crime.

It's crazy but so much psychology that goes into it.

Just so I'm clear. By no means am I down on systems.

[TheSaint]

So how do signs and window decals hurt?

Just use some rule of thumbs. If somebody comes to do some work in your home, be advised they can tell their friends anything on what you have and where it's at AND your alarm system. This is why 90% of the time I try to get a personal friend to do work within in my casa.

Secondly. Location location location also works to a thief's benefit. Are there enough shrubs, coverage, easy access from the back/side etc.

When somebody gets robbed, the first thing I always ask is did you get anything installed or delievered recently. Easy connection there.

All I'm saying is don't be lured into a false sense of security because of what you have. You don't think thieves are able to get jobs working for ADT, CPI etc? Come on guys.

Alot of times it also depends on the neighborhood. How easy can you park somewhere and go get a score? Is it two many ways into a neihborhood etc?

I will have to go look up a study they did with cul de sac's vs other streets and the lack of dead end's and how it impacted crime.

It's crazy but so much psychology that goes into it.

Just so I'm clear. By no means am I down on systems.

[KillerKat]

Knowing who put in the system doesn't matter. They all use the same devices. The only way a robber can be confident going into a home that has a sign is if he knows what devices are installed and where they are installed. Even then the house would have to be very poorly secured for them to be confident. A robber going into a house without a sign will just get a surprise when it goes off.

When a normal robber knows the house has a security system, almost all houses will have a magnetic contact or plunger in the doors. So getting through them wouldn't be an option. Breaking glass is too risky because the house may have glass break devices. Opening the windows is too risky because it may have wireless contacts. Dont forget the tricky PIRs. Theres so many devices out there, it would be too risky for a robber to break into a house that he/she knows has a system.

It also doesn't really matter if the robber worked for a security place. The only way to deactivate a sytem is to cut it. And even then theres a tamper to tell the police that it is cut. The robber would have to remember the house's account number and receiver and will have to give a company password, which changes, to the monitoring company (within business hours of course) to put it into test. Thats the only way a robber who once or is working with systems can get in when it's armed. Even then the monitoring company can just tell the name of who put it into test and they'll get caught. Or like I said above, if the house is extremely unsecured with few devices that leaves it vulnerable.