OT: Home alarm systems / companies

[beachlover]

Looking to have a home alarm system installed and need advice. We own a SFH, one story in Carmel Valley and we have two indoor cats.

What are the advantages/disadvantages to the wireless systems? The house is not wired.

Are the monthly/annual fees for the monitoring companies worth the $$? If so, should we go with armed response or does it really matter?

Advice, experiences, recommendations valued and appreciated.

[Hobie]

I’ve got a wired one that includes smoke/heat sensors and is not connected to a monitoring service. Loud sirens and soon to be added strobe light on the roof.

My thinking is:

First I’m not concerned with a home invasion.
If I was I’d get a gun and training but with kids, too risky.

However, I do have a fire extinguisher under the bed. I figure if some wack job gets in at night the alarm will wake me and a face full of white powder at 20′ should slow him down where I could clunk him with the extinguisher!

Next, everything is insured.

This may have changed but residential alarms do not have a direct link to the police dept. They first go to the monitoring service which calls the home for a code word before calling the cops.

Burglary is a target of opportunity. So several minutes is all the crook will need and will be gone before cops arrive. I think the alarm sounding will make the leave or at least shorten their time.

I am from the camp to have locks, lights, dogs, and watch for strange folks in the hood. Especially early in the am (I’m a very early riser).

Side note: If you live in a rural area ( I know you said CV) , then I would have it monitored.

Extra side note: There seems to be an endless supply of folks knocking on your door during the day selling all sorts of stuff. One time I was sitting near the front door and heard the door handle move. Someone leaving fliers actually check to see if the door was locked. I leaped up and confronted him and he said he was trying to tuck the flier in the handle. Cops notified, no further details. But now we have a dog that barks when someone is near the front door– very handy. (I know you have cats…just saying)

[Hobie]

I’ve got a wired one that includes smoke/heat sensors and is not connected to a monitoring service. Loud sirens and soon to be added strobe light on the roof.

My thinking is:

First I’m not concerned with a home invasion.
If I was I’d get a gun and training but with kids, too risky.

However, I do have a fire extinguisher under the bed. I figure if some wack job gets in at night the alarm will wake me and a face full of white powder at 20′ should slow him down where I could clunk him with the extinguisher!

Next, everything is insured.

This may have changed but residential alarms do not have a direct link to the police dept. They first go to the monitoring service which calls the home for a code word before calling the cops.

Burglary is a target of opportunity. So several minutes is all the crook will need and will be gone before cops arrive. I think the alarm sounding will make the leave or at least shorten their time.

I am from the camp to have locks, lights, dogs, and watch for strange folks in the hood. Especially early in the am (I’m a very early riser).

Side note: If you live in a rural area ( I know you said CV) , then I would have it monitored.

Extra side note: There seems to be an endless supply of folks knocking on your door during the day selling all sorts of stuff. One time I was sitting near the front door and heard the door handle move. Someone leaving fliers actually check to see if the door was locked. I leaped up and confronted him and he said he was trying to tuck the flier in the handle. Cops notified, no further details. But now we have a dog that barks when someone is near the front door– very handy. (I know you have cats…just saying)

[Hobie]

I’ve got a wired one that includes smoke/heat sensors and is not connected to a monitoring service. Loud sirens and soon to be added strobe light on the roof.

My thinking is:

First I’m not concerned with a home invasion.
If I was I’d get a gun and training but with kids, too risky.

However, I do have a fire extinguisher under the bed. I figure if some wack job gets in at night the alarm will wake me and a face full of white powder at 20′ should slow him down where I could clunk him with the extinguisher!

Next, everything is insured.

This may have changed but residential alarms do not have a direct link to the police dept. They first go to the monitoring service which calls the home for a code word before calling the cops.

Burglary is a target of opportunity. So several minutes is all the crook will need and will be gone before cops arrive. I think the alarm sounding will make the leave or at least shorten their time.

I am from the camp to have locks, lights, dogs, and watch for strange folks in the hood. Especially early in the am (I’m a very early riser).

Side note: If you live in a rural area ( I know you said CV) , then I would have it monitored.

Extra side note: There seems to be an endless supply of folks knocking on your door during the day selling all sorts of stuff. One time I was sitting near the front door and heard the door handle move. Someone leaving fliers actually check to see if the door was locked. I leaped up and confronted him and he said he was trying to tuck the flier in the handle. Cops notified, no further details. But now we have a dog that barks when someone is near the front door– very handy. (I know you have cats…just saying)

[Hobie]

I’ve got a wired one that includes smoke/heat sensors and is not connected to a monitoring service. Loud sirens and soon to be added strobe light on the roof.

My thinking is:

First I’m not concerned with a home invasion.
If I was I’d get a gun and training but with kids, too risky.

However, I do have a fire extinguisher under the bed. I figure if some wack job gets in at night the alarm will wake me and a face full of white powder at 20′ should slow him down where I could clunk him with the extinguisher!

Next, everything is insured.

This may have changed but residential alarms do not have a direct link to the police dept. They first go to the monitoring service which calls the home for a code word before calling the cops.

Burglary is a target of opportunity. So several minutes is all the crook will need and will be gone before cops arrive. I think the alarm sounding will make the leave or at least shorten their time.

I am from the camp to have locks, lights, dogs, and watch for strange folks in the hood. Especially early in the am (I’m a very early riser).

Side note: If you live in a rural area ( I know you said CV) , then I would have it monitored.

Extra side note: There seems to be an endless supply of folks knocking on your door during the day selling all sorts of stuff. One time I was sitting near the front door and heard the door handle move. Someone leaving fliers actually check to see if the door was locked. I leaped up and confronted him and he said he was trying to tuck the flier in the handle. Cops notified, no further details. But now we have a dog that barks when someone is near the front door– very handy. (I know you have cats…just saying)

[Hobie]

I’ve got a wired one that includes smoke/heat sensors and is not connected to a monitoring service. Loud sirens and soon to be added strobe light on the roof.

My thinking is:

First I’m not concerned with a home invasion.
If I was I’d get a gun and training but with kids, too risky.

However, I do have a fire extinguisher under the bed. I figure if some wack job gets in at night the alarm will wake me and a face full of white powder at 20′ should slow him down where I could clunk him with the extinguisher!

Next, everything is insured.

This may have changed but residential alarms do not have a direct link to the police dept. They first go to the monitoring service which calls the home for a code word before calling the cops.

Burglary is a target of opportunity. So several minutes is all the crook will need and will be gone before cops arrive. I think the alarm sounding will make the leave or at least shorten their time.

I am from the camp to have locks, lights, dogs, and watch for strange folks in the hood. Especially early in the am (I’m a very early riser).

Side note: If you live in a rural area ( I know you said CV) , then I would have it monitored.

Extra side note: There seems to be an endless supply of folks knocking on your door during the day selling all sorts of stuff. One time I was sitting near the front door and heard the door handle move. Someone leaving fliers actually check to see if the door was locked. I leaped up and confronted him and he said he was trying to tuck the flier in the handle. Cops notified, no further details. But now we have a dog that barks when someone is near the front door– very handy. (I know you have cats…just saying)

[Jim Jones]

[quote=Hobie]

Extra side note: There seems to be an endless supply of folks knocking on your door during the day selling all sorts of stuff. One time I was sitting near the front door and heard the door handle move. Someone leaving fliers actually check to see if the door was locked. I leaped up and confronted him and he said he was trying to tuck the flier in the handle. Cops notified, no further details. But now we have a dog that barks when someone is near the front door– very handy. (I know you have cats…just saying)[/quote]

During last summer this was a tactic used by a group of high school students when school was out. They would pretend to be delivering something or visiting, check the door find it unlocked an enter. Another method was ringing the door bell, waiting for no answer then going around back and making a forced entry. This is a good strategy in neighborhoods which are generally low crime as many residents don’t even bother to lock their doors or close their windows.

To stay on topic:

I have considering installing a wireless unmonitored system such as the one linked below. I am curious if anyone else has some experience with this product or something similar.

[Jim Jones]

[quote=Hobie]

Extra side note: There seems to be an endless supply of folks knocking on your door during the day selling all sorts of stuff. One time I was sitting near the front door and heard the door handle move. Someone leaving fliers actually check to see if the door was locked. I leaped up and confronted him and he said he was trying to tuck the flier in the handle. Cops notified, no further details. But now we have a dog that barks when someone is near the front door– very handy. (I know you have cats…just saying)[/quote]

During last summer this was a tactic used by a group of high school students when school was out. They would pretend to be delivering something or visiting, check the door find it unlocked an enter. Another method was ringing the door bell, waiting for no answer then going around back and making a forced entry. This is a good strategy in neighborhoods which are generally low crime as many residents don’t even bother to lock their doors or close their windows.

To stay on topic:

I have considering installing a wireless unmonitored system such as the one linked below. I am curious if anyone else has some experience with this product or something similar.

[Jim Jones]

[quote=Hobie]

Extra side note: There seems to be an endless supply of folks knocking on your door during the day selling all sorts of stuff. One time I was sitting near the front door and heard the door handle move. Someone leaving fliers actually check to see if the door was locked. I leaped up and confronted him and he said he was trying to tuck the flier in the handle. Cops notified, no further details. But now we have a dog that barks when someone is near the front door– very handy. (I know you have cats…just saying)[/quote]

During last summer this was a tactic used by a group of high school students when school was out. They would pretend to be delivering something or visiting, check the door find it unlocked an enter. Another method was ringing the door bell, waiting for no answer then going around back and making a forced entry. This is a good strategy in neighborhoods which are generally low crime as many residents don’t even bother to lock their doors or close their windows.

To stay on topic:

I have considering installing a wireless unmonitored system such as the one linked below. I am curious if anyone else has some experience with this product or something similar.

[Jim Jones]

[quote=Hobie]

Extra side note: There seems to be an endless supply of folks knocking on your door during the day selling all sorts of stuff. One time I was sitting near the front door and heard the door handle move. Someone leaving fliers actually check to see if the door was locked. I leaped up and confronted him and he said he was trying to tuck the flier in the handle. Cops notified, no further details. But now we have a dog that barks when someone is near the front door– very handy. (I know you have cats…just saying)[/quote]

During last summer this was a tactic used by a group of high school students when school was out. They would pretend to be delivering something or visiting, check the door find it unlocked an enter. Another method was ringing the door bell, waiting for no answer then going around back and making a forced entry. This is a good strategy in neighborhoods which are generally low crime as many residents don’t even bother to lock their doors or close their windows.

To stay on topic:

I have considering installing a wireless unmonitored system such as the one linked below. I am curious if anyone else has some experience with this product or something similar.

[Jim Jones]

[quote=Hobie]

Extra side note: There seems to be an endless supply of folks knocking on your door during the day selling all sorts of stuff. One time I was sitting near the front door and heard the door handle move. Someone leaving fliers actually check to see if the door was locked. I leaped up and confronted him and he said he was trying to tuck the flier in the handle. Cops notified, no further details. But now we have a dog that barks when someone is near the front door– very handy. (I know you have cats…just saying)[/quote]

During last summer this was a tactic used by a group of high school students when school was out. They would pretend to be delivering something or visiting, check the door find it unlocked an enter. Another method was ringing the door bell, waiting for no answer then going around back and making a forced entry. This is a good strategy in neighborhoods which are generally low crime as many residents don’t even bother to lock their doors or close their windows.

To stay on topic:

I have considering installing a wireless unmonitored system such as the one linked below. I am curious if anyone else has some experience with this product or something similar.

[weberlin]

Get a dog.

My parents home was burglarized, in spite of the ADT alarm system. Also, ADT’s payout was ridiculously low compared to the value of property stolen.

[weberlin]

Get a dog.

My parents home was burglarized, in spite of the ADT alarm system. Also, ADT’s payout was ridiculously low compared to the value of property stolen.

[weberlin]

Get a dog.

My parents home was burglarized, in spite of the ADT alarm system. Also, ADT’s payout was ridiculously low compared to the value of property stolen.

[weberlin]

Get a dog.

My parents home was burglarized, in spite of the ADT alarm system. Also, ADT’s payout was ridiculously low compared to the value of property stolen.

[Author]

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