Home Security Company Recommendations

[Pitmaster]

Following up on the Bed Bunker thread and reading the below linked thread.

It seems like it would be relatively easy to pry in the following type of manner, and it would be harder to position in a manner to make prying more difficult:

http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthre...inchester+safe (http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1041855&highlight=winchester+safe)

What commercial home security systems are worth looking in to. I have the dogs which definitely do their part. My neighborhood does a good job of keeping an eye on each other. We don't hesitate to call the cops.

I've been thinking about putting something in but not sure what. When I see TV commercials for systems I laugh because when the alarm sounds the guy runs off, the woman runs to answer the phone, and a very polite young man assures her everything is fine and they will call the police.:animlol:
Which seems to be a pretty stupid way to handle things.

[creophus]

Yeah, I always think those commercials are stupid. However, I do have my service with Broadview, the company that makes those ads.

A monitored system is definitely a good thing to have. If you're gonna get one, make sure EVERY door and window has a sensor on it.

I'm satisfied with Brinks/Broadview.

[sdyeti]

I've been happy with ADT. All of the motion sensors work well as do the perimeter alarms. Dogs and guns are for when I am home. If you get a monitored alarm you will have to pay to register it with the police. The first time my alarm went off, I was not in the area and the cops came. I had a neighbor go to the house after the alarm co. called me and he met the cops there. He was a little nervous that the cops would think he was the perp! I had gone shooting the day before and though the guns were locked up I had a couple of holsters and a silhouette target that was center mass hits only. The police were then worried about where my guns were. When the neighbor called me back about the guns I assured the cops that they were indeed locked up safely. Yea, the commercials suck, but the product is worth it.

[Steviewonder1]

I use an EMC Co., that has dual UL Listed monitoring stations, something most do not have, and they will call back for 2 rings and dispatch with no answer. They don't go down a long call list as the big boys do, they do it plain and simple. Got a problem answer the phone, you know the rules if you are there. ADT= A lotta damn Trouble..... You got false alarms, fix the issue. There is no excuse for an alarm system that goes off if nothing is wrong.

[BoltNut]

I used to do alarm systems of all kinds under my pervious degree's training...and Creo is correct...all entry points need an individual sensor.

The next most important thing to be sure of is a series of motion detectors that cover all rooms with the fewest possible sensors (a good installer will show you the overlap before they ever install anything).

Having the telephone line as a part of the monitored system is key too, since good crooks will know to disable the phone line BEFORE they even try to break in...our system would instantly call monitoring if/when the phone line box was tampered with.

Get several quotes, and tell them you are getting quotes from their competitors...you'll get a good system for less! ;-)

[BigSlick]

Go wit a microwave backup to da phone line too and an exterior alarm siren.

No use in you havin all da fun when somethin trips

[BoltNut]

If your neighbors bother checking sirens, then a siren is a good option...if not, they are an annoying thing that drives everyone batty without any real effect (although they can scare off petty crooks pretty good)!

[Pitmaster]

I like the outdoor siren idea. I won't have to shoot them in the back since they are leaving. Motion sensors are out unless I have the option of only turning them on when we go on vacation or take the dogs with us.

I do have some motion detector lights around the house.

[BoltNut]

Actually, motion detectors have an x & y axis of beams that are sent out, and if you angle them correctly, the horizontal axis will stay above the height of the dog's movements, and the vertical axis can be covered with a special tape that comes inside, which eliminates the bottom portion of the beams, and only allows the upper beams (human height) to remain in action. We would create what was called, "Pet corridors" in the house, especially if the dogs were confined to certain areas of the home (some folks close bedroom doors, etc.).

Cats were the wild cards, because most cats seek the highest ground, and would easily be able to jump up above the corridor restrictions getting on countertops, etc.

Dogs tend to stay below a certain height, and unless you think they'll be jumping up above certain heights, or walking erect on their hindlegs...you can still have the motion detectors (I HIGHLY ADVISE YOU DO)!!!

A good tech will go over all of that in detail with you BEFORE you decide on anything.

[Pitmaster]

I'll check into it. Our dogs have free run of the house. One's a Doberman and when someone comes to the door he grabs his large dog blanket in front of the picture window and shakes/throws it around like a dish rag. I'm pretty sure the ends would reach 5 ft high. That by itself would tend to give second thoughts to someone thinking about coming in. If I'm home when it happens they would only get in a foot or two at most. :gun_bandana:

I probably would want a motion detector in the garage as that could be one access point.

[MakeMineaP99]

PM, I'd get a safe for your stuff BEFORE an alarm system, unless of course you can do both. I don't mean a cheap safe either, call a comm. safe dealer and inquire about a used bank safe. Even a used bank safe from the 60s is going to be hard for a burglar to gain access too, short of having a torch.

[Pitmaster]

PM, I'd get a safe for your stuff BEFORE an alarm system, unless of course you can do both. I don't mean a cheap safe either, call a comm. safe dealer and inquire about a used bank safe. Even a used bank safe from the 60s is going to be hard for a burglar to gain access too, short of having a torch.

I know and I'm really thinking about it. The only reason I haven't really bit the bullet is the only place to put one is in the basement. I'm not sure how many more years we are going to be in this house.

I have been thinking about reinforcing the wall the door is on and the wall on the steps going down.

[MakeMineaP99]

An Isp. at the BPD we knew back when we we're in NY, had a couple bank safes and they stayed with his house after he died in the 90s. Kinda a one shot deal if you know what I mean. You'll be glad you have them though if you get hit. I still have three guns floating around from a burglary a few years back.

[Steviewonder1]

For motion detectors use Dual-Technology units. They require Infrared Motion plus Microwave Motion so your heat vent does not make things go off. My Dual-Tech's detect IR first then turn on the MW and if it is a go, then alarm goes out. The Motions cover the large spaces of the home inside the perimeter that has contacts on every opening with only two authorized delayed entry points to get to the keypad on the first floor. All other entry points are instant alarms.

[Panhead Rider 1]

If you're with USAA, they have a deal with ADT.