Home security system options?

[MLimpert]

I had one of the evenings ever last night. I came home from work and found my new detached garage had been broken into sometime during my shift. The punks broke the glass out of the door (which was deadbolted with a key on both sides lock) and used something to reach in and poke the garage door opener button. The thieves helped themselves to all of my power tools, including 4 pieces of nice 18v dewalt stuff, my buffer and a sawzall. It could have been worse though - my Impala was sitting there with the keys in it, and the Ram was unlocked. Neither of them were touched.



Needless to say I learned a few valuable lessons: I'll be moving the garage door button out of range of the window, I'll never leave keys in anything again, and I need an alarm system.



Can any of you recommend the best company to use for a home security system? What are my options to secure both the house and garage? How much should I expect to spend for installation and monitoring?



Thanks for your input!

 

[Woodenhead]

Few things make me as angry as liars and thieves. Thank God things didn't get too out of hand for you.



I've been thinking about this as well. Never been robbed, I live at the dead end of my own private rural road so chances are slim anyone would come pickin' unless they knew me and what I had and when I wasn't home. I do work on the road alot and it would be nice piece of mind for my wife and child to be able to secure the doors and windows with a security system at night. Give her a chance to get some iron ready :-laf.



I'll be keeping and eye on this discussion to hopefully learn something as well.



Mike

 

[ACoyle]

MLimpert - I had the same thing happen to me - twice. They kicked out the bottom panel of my garage door and crawled in on the floor. I had a motioin sensor in the garage, but it was the kind that thought that warm things on the floor were OK, probably dogs and did not go off.



Same deal on the door, deadbolt both sides. Here is what I did.



1) All garage windows have been replaced with Lexan (Bullet proof plastic). You can hit them with a hammer and they won't break.



2) Motion sensor has been replaced with one that is fussy. You can do this in a detached garage wireless.



3) Garage door was replaced with a steel one. No pannels to kick out.



Do not count on your friendly law enforcement folks for help - nothing was ever recovered. Also they told me that I should do something about theft protection. Funny, I thought that is what they were for.



Beyond that, I suggest video survellance. I am headed that way. If you can give the law a video showing the perps. Maybe, they can do something. Or maybe you will see them in the neighborhood again. Also the cameras around help deter. I lit the yard with motion sensor lights.



If you go video, don't forget IR cameras that see at night.



AC

 

[crobertson1]

We have ADT monitoring our home. I suspect all the major alarm monitoring companies are comparable. ADT tests the system once a month, which is nice to know. It costs about $107. 00 every quarter.



We have a back up system so that if the scumbag cuts the phone line (which they did), the alarm company still gets the signal in the event of an alarm.



I know the system works because we have come home to find a note from the police that they had been notified of an alarm and came to check it out. That time it turned out, our dog had opened the door from the garage to the house and came in the house. The door hadn't been shut tight so he was able to push it open.



I HATE thieves. Having alarm company signs in your yard may be enough to ward them off and make 'em go somewhere else. Maybe not though.

 

[MLimpert]

Thanks for the advice guys. I have adt coming out on Monday to give a quote. I think an alarm might be the hot setup.



This has been a tense couple of days between dealing with the insurance company and generally just feeling a little bit "violated. " At this point it sounds like the ins company is not going to give me enough to replace all of the stuff that was taken, but I'll have to wait a few days to know for sure.



I also agree with ACoyle - I'm getting the impression the extent of the police involvement in this case was just filling out a report for me.

 

[ccie]

If you dont want to pay for monthly monitoring Visonic has a nice alarm that you setup and configure yourself. It can call your Cell, neighbor, police, or any number you want when it alerts. It has lots of options.

 

[bwromine]

We have ADT also. Costs us $47. 00 per month. They also monitor fire and carbon monoxide. We also have motion detectors and alarms on our kids windows. Dropped our house insurance by half for a years worth. Talk with your insurance agent when you do get the alarm and I bet your insurance will go down.

 

[AWade]

In my experience, Remington and Mossberg are the top names in home security "systems"

 

[crobertson1]

Sturm, Ruger and Co. and Browning for me when I'm home. ADT for when we're not home.

 

[MLimpert]

I have the lead distribution side of security covered I think. Too bad I wasn't home the other night! The real deal security systems are going to be expensive by the time I get the garage included in the package. I think I might get one more quote and it looks like I may just have to bite the bullet.

 

[jnelson]

Put some bars on the windows and shut the powr off to the garage when your not home. Buy someting with a little red blinking light on it and put it where it can be seen from the window then steal a neighbors ADT sign ans sick it in front of your garage.

I'll garuntee it, or your money back.

 

[MLimpert]

adt yard sign - (eBay item 220172618851 end time Nov-22-07 06:39:07 PST)



Hmmmm?? I like it!

 

[BILLVO]

A Blue Heeler dog works pretty well also. That is the most trusted security system here in the upper plains states. Can pick them up for free in most cases and only cost about 15 bucks a month for a bag of food. Or less if you feed him scraps. Plus they are the best family companions. Natural born protectors with no training required. No lease or fence required either, It will sit at the front door and look real proud just waiting for anybody that doesn't belong on the property. :-laf

 

[Scot]

Go with a custom system. Wireless devices are the hot ticket now. If you do not want to run video all of the time, it can be wired in on the alarm contacts of the panel. There are all sorts of cameras out there that look like ordinary household things or you can make your own. An experianced thief will cut the phone wires before they ever get near the house. Cell and Radionet can supplement or replace copper phone lines.

 

[PToombs]

adt yard sign - (eBay item 220172618851 end time Nov-22-07 06:39:07 PST)



Hmmmm?? I like it!

The auction was pulled, I bet somebody stole the sign! :-laf

 

[MLimpert]

Well guys, after recieving estimates for $950 and $1100, I decided to do the diy route. I picked up an ademco 20p panel, along with sensors for all openings, a motion detector and a glassbreak detector. I installed it over about 2 days, and its working like a charm. I added a wireless expansion board, so I can disarm it using a keyfob remote. Needless to say I feel better, and I wouldn't mind seeing the look on the theives face if they decide to come back. If you decide to do an alarm yourself, It really wasn't bad. The instructions make it seem a lot harder than it is.



On a side note, State Farm came through for me and took care of all of my tools, and took my parts and labor off of my deductible for fixing the broken window myself. I have to recommend their claim service - It couldn't have been easier.

 

[KevinSmith]

I ve found only two security systems to be worth the money. Mad Dog and shotgun. Cameras and motion sensors get dirty and don't work very long. Then the sun and heat does thier damage as well. Window and door sensors are easily bypassed if the burgular has any common sense at all. My blue heeler / border collie mix was free and the food doesn't cost that much. He is great with kids but I dare anyone to enter the house or my truck without me there. The twelve gauge can get to be a sticky situation in some places but here you just call the cops to pick up the pieces. I live in a pretty ratty nieghborhood and these are what has worked for me.

 

[Skydiver]

Too much money for me, but I still want one at my home.

Purchase