Thinking of getting a security system...Suggestions

So in this wonderful economy, there seems to be an ever so increasing amount of crime in the county in which I live. Even the "safe" areas, if you will, have been subject to numerous crimes of late. I keep a gun next to my bed at all times, but would like that added peace of mind of a security system.

Just wanted to see what your guys suggestions are regarding what company to go with? ADT? BRINKS? Anyone else?

Also, how much did it run you for the equipment and installation. As well as what your monthley service fee!

Thanks guys!

 

German Shepards, Dobermans, and Pit Bulls work really good. All trainable withouth those service fees and contracts. Girlfriend has a Pit Bull, no chance of any break in.

 

Lol, well I do have a yellow lab...but she's friendly as hell. As of now, getting another dog is not an option. Or else I'd have a pitbull, german shepehered, and rottweiler

 

I have an ADT system in the house. It's attached to a cellular system for just in case, plus that's easier than getting a phone line run in. Never had a problem with the service...I set the alarm one day when the roofers were here and they called me and asked about it. I've changed windows and doors in the house and they came out and get everything wired back up pretty good.

 

Alarm systems are great. But a few comments:

1. Have windows and doors hooked up. Don't have a glass break sensor. They are sometimes set off by thunder, which causes false alarms.

2. Go with a local company by reference. Much more honest, and personable. Don't go with a large national chain which give you the system for free/cheap, in exchange for them to carry your monitoring service. (which brings me to #3)

3. Have it monitored if you want for $30 per month. However, know this: When your alarm is triggered, the monitoring company calls you first. This could take 10 plus minutes. Then when they do get you, and you say it is not accidental, they call the local police. The police then are dispatched to your house NON EMERGENCY. That could take 5-30+ minutes depending on your area, and if they are busy with something else at the time. Fine if you are cool paying for the monitoring service, but really not like the commercials play it up to be.

4. A loud external alarm is much better than monitoring. It scares off intruders, and notified neighbors.

5. Cameras are a great extra. They are getting cheaper everyday, and chances are, after you are broken into, you will probably recognize who it was. Like the snot nosed neighborhood punk.

Good Luck!


Edit: As far as cost; a full system with three external doors, and like 10 windows, should cost about $500-$800 installed. Unless you get the cheap system that comes with a monitoring contract. Ask around locally. Friends, neighbors, etc. Most companies will come out to give a free estimate.

 

Go with local companies..

 

Good info man, I take it you are in the business?

First off, I guess I assumed that buying the alarm system and monitoring went hand and hand.

Now that i think of it, I only have one door. Three large windows, all of which slide left to right. three small windows which slide left to right (although I don't know if it'd be worth arming the two of them as they are up on the second floor of the house and the person would need a ladder to get through of them). Other than that, I would be looking at 3 windows which go up and down. So looking at 9 windows and a door. Do you recommned the motion detectors or is the equipment around the windows/doors as well as the glass breaks sufficient. I'm not looking for an incredible state of the art system, but something to give me and my family added peace of mind.

Also, if there is no monitoring, in the event of a break-in (god forbid), do the alarms just sound off?

Appreciate the info, just hope I can get a few points clarified!

 

How hard would you say these systems are to install. I did a little bit of googling and came across numerous DIY systems.

 

^^^
What he said. I totally forgot about motion sensors.

My point of view was from a cop's experience. As far as the glass break sensors go though, stormy nights are extremely busy for us driving around, answering false glass break alarms due to thunder.

Everything Wolfpack said though is spot-on.

 

We never really looked into which windows exactly were showing glass break. Dispatch would just send us to the house with an "alarm showing glass break". With the motion sensors, they would tell us "alarm showing living room motion" or wherever.

I think the companies that come through town throwing cheap systems into homes probably didn't properly tune the glass break sensors like you described.

We used to go to false alarms all to time until they made it a local law that you had to register your alarm if it is monitored. You now get so many false alarms, and then you get fined for false alarms like $50. They added up how many false alarms we responded to in a year, and put it into a man-hour cost perspective. The city was spending like $95K each year on false alarms. That number has since gone way down after the new law forced people to become more responsible, and properly tune their systems.