Recommend a home security system?

[Sage55]

Great news two days before Christmas... our house was broken into sometime today, wifes jewelry gone, laptop gone, most Christmas presents gone, power tools gone, and safe destroyed.

They obviously was looking for quick easy grabs and easy stuff to sell or pawn. All my computer gear in place, xbox in place, tv's in place, etc. Thank goodness they didn't touch the firearms.

With that sad story over - I'm looking for suggestions on a decent home security system. Anyone use one and have any recommendations? Other than ADT whom should I check into tomorrow morning?

Big dogs didn't scare the crooks, instead they fed them hotdogs and locked them in a room.

 

[bluesman2a]

Re: ecommend a home security system?

We had a couple of break-ins a few years back in our previous house.

The best I found is www.alarm.com their local vendor happens to be our electric co-op so the bill comes right on the power-bill, and the cheapest local monitoring.

I particularly like:
1) You OWN the system, unlike a lot of others.
2) You can log into the website and see realtime status on all sensors/system and turn on/off.
3) app for my phone that has all the website functionality, can turn it on/off see alerts from my phone.
4) I can set emails up for certain events. For example, I want to know ANY time an external sensor is tripped during working hours monday-friday. I get an email, without a call to the police. This works well so I know when service people, dog walker, etc are at the house even if I'm not there for some reason.
5) no landline phone required. no power required. they could cut all wires to your home and it would still alarm.

I'm sold on it in case you haven't guessed.

 

[BBQ&Love]

Great news two days before Christmas... our house was broken into sometime today, wifes jewelry gone, laptop gone, most Christmas presents gone, power tools gone, and safe destroyed.

They obviously was looking for quick easy grabs and easy stuff to sell or pawn. All my computer gear in place, xbox in place, tv's in place, etc. Thank goodness they didn't touch the firearms.

With that sad story over - I'm looking for suggestions on a decent home security system. Anyone use one and have any recommendations? Other than ADT whom should I check into tomorrow morning?

Big dogs didn't scare the crooks, instead they fed them hotdogs and locked them in a room.

I can relate. Got hit a week ago myself. Sorry this happened.

This company was recommended by a member here. I have no experience with them but I sure like the looks of it. http://simplisafe.com/

 

[Steevo]

This:

 

[JimVonBaden]

I can relate. Got hit a week ago myself. Sorry this happened.

This company was recommended by a member here. I have no experience with them but I sure like the looks of it. http://simplisafe.com/

Sorry you got hit.

I would be very interested in anyone's experience with this, or similar, over ADT!

Jim

 

[geologist]

Find a reputable security company, then make sure you have an accessable handgun, hidden, but where you can get to it in the event of a home invasion. A pump shotgun is also nice.

 

[Bear]

Having had a monitered system that was PIA for unnecessary reports, I am wondering about one of these types of systems.

 

[gregusmaxis]

I checked several home security forums and the GE home security systems--specifically Simon XT have the best reviews.

 

[ajchien]

I can relate. Got hit a week ago myself. Sorry this happened.

This company was recommended by a member here. I have no experience with them but I sure like the looks of it. http://simplisafe.com/

Do you know the original member who recommended this? I am very interested. Would like to get some more first hand knowledge.

 

[Kevin54]

Wow man, what a bummer and right at Christmas. Any Pawn Shops close to your area? If so, I would hit them up first thing in th emorning as to be on the lookout for specific items.

I haven't been hit, but quite a few of our neighbors have. We have a dog with a loud barker that can raise her hackles in a minute. I think that is what spared me, but my garage can be vulnerable, so I usually sleep with the window towards it cracked.

I'm thinking about getting a security camera setup myself, so I will be watching this thread closely. I'd really like something wireless if possible, but I can run wire if necessary.

 

[slip knot]

Personally I have ADT and have not had a problem in 3 years of use. I have a 24/7 monitored system. Fire, CO2 and break in are monitered. cost @$55/ month. Home owner insurance gave me a 10% cut for monitored system as well. ADT was the only company in my area to offer a monitored service so I didn't have a lot of choice.

I had my home and my shop secured. The ADT advisor came in and looked at my situation and made recommendations. It cost@$1200 to have the house and the shop hardwired into the system but it was money well spent in my opinion. I don't trust wireless for this application.

 

[ddawg16]

Sorry to hear it.....your not alone....I was hit 3 weeks ago....someone else here, last week.....bastards......

I just installed video cameras.....Lorex wireless.

I'm looking now into an alarm system. Not going to bother with a 'monitored' system....about all they are good for is to tell you what time they broke in.....

What is more important.....talking to your neighbors....everyone working together to keep an eye on each other.

In most cases....80% of burglaries in an area are done by one or two people.

I just hope you had serial numbers on the electronic stuff.

 

[Northstar]

I used to design/sell home security systems (not for ADT or Brinks). Curious why you don't want them?

Aside from that, here's some basics:
1-A security system won't catch the thief, even video systems will only catch thier image. Most likely it will be poor quality and you won't get a clear enough image to be useful.

2-Monitoring. I always preferred out of area monitoring since then no-one locally has your info-including verbal password verification. Either way they can only report to the police. The best benefit is that if a fire, smoke, or flood sensor is activated, you will get a quick response. The alarm itself should scare people off.

3-Dogs-like mentioned, big dogs are usually not effective. They are easily swayed or lured, plus they're lazy. Unless they're kept on the violent/starving edge, they're house pets. A good thief has a dog solution in a squirt gun.

4-Guns-great for if you're in your home. You better take it with when you leave, or it's now someone else's.

I could go on, but honestly, the best thing you can do is remember thatt thieves want a quick, simple grab and go. Lock windows and doors and use reinforced jambs or at minimum security strike plates. Metal framed doors when attached correctly, won't be able to be kicked in. Plant thorny bushes under accessable windows. Don't store anything they can use to access the upper windows outside or unsecured. If you have a window right next to a door, that door better be double keyed so the glass can't be broken and then the lock released by hand. Same with garage door windows. When the door is down, a quick pop of the window and a 2x2 with a groove cut in it could pop the manual release string.

If your house looks like a hassle and a neighbors looks easier, they will move on.

Think like a common thief. Simple tools, simple resale. If they have a specific target they have to plan for, the stakes go up. I don't care how secure your place is, I could cut the power and chainsaw through the wall in under a minute. Best place is 8" from the side of any door or window since there's no power running right there. Then I'd back in a shot deck dock truck, grab everything I could in under 2 minutes and bail. If I took another 1 minute, I'd open the garage ad have a buddy repo your car and anything we could quickly put in it too.

Take an honest walk around and look for vulnerabilities. Don't get cutsey, don't get too creative thinking as a thief. Feel free to message me privately if you have a specific concern or post for everyone's ideas on here. I'm no longer in the business, but my former career was in the security industry. I have plans to teach community education classes on this very subject in the near future once I get settled into the new house.

 

[tncatadjuster]

We got hit Thanksgiving 2007. 22K. They caught the perp from finger prints on a package.

I went with a local company that has been in business for many years. I have heard horror stories about ADT.

No problems, and the Mrs feels secure.

I just put a camera system at my business. Swann at Costco, four cameras with eight channel system for $299. DVR back up for seven days at high resolution.

Sorry for you loss.

 

[mikec35]

I purchased an "Einstein" wireless alarm system from ebay. All window and door contacts are wireless. Very easy to install. It dials me if there is a break in. I have 2 cells so it will dial each cell until I pick up. If I get a phone call I can call the police. In essence, I am my own monitoring system, saving the monthly fee. I also have a detached garage, about 60 ft from my house and it is protected with wireless motion sensors and door/window contacts. I searched for a long time before I decided to by. I am very happy with this system.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Northstar has some good advice.
- In every one of these threads, people post pictures of big guns and big dogs but those don't do any good if you and the dog aren't home.
- A decent security system will be tied in with smoke and heat detectors, as well as a low temp alarm if you're in a cold climate.
- Loud alarm horns do work - someone broke into my garage in the middle of the night a few years ago and the 140db alarm horn out there scared them away. In the meantime, the monitoring company called, told me where the breakin occurred and called the cops. By the time I got my clothes on and ran outside, the intruder was gone and the cops had arrived.
- Burglars are looking an easy mark, so make it hard for them.
- The one thing different I'd suggest is to check into local monitoring companies. The place that installed my security system also provides the monthly monitoring, and their office is only a few blocks away. I figure that it's better to be monitored by someone who knows the neighborhood rather than someone in a call center on the other side of the country. I've been using them for more than 20 years now, and they've provided good service in that time. Their fee is only about $23/month, too.

 

[Chris Adams]

Always a worry.
I have an alarm, a few hidden cameras. I mean HIDDEN. I got a buddy who always tries to find my cameras when he is hanging out. The one time he did, I promptly moved it.

Make your place look difficult to break into.
In my case, I have bars. We used to go out of town for months at a time, bars were worthwhile. Done fancy, they don't annoy the neighbors.

Lots of clear area around the house. No shrubs, lawn junk, etc. for them to use for cover. You want them to be as visible as a fly on a birthday cake as they approach your house.
Motion detectors, or as I do, bright lights running all night.
Make them work for it.

Good relationships with the neighbors helps, but remember, most burglaries
are local.
Not your friend (usually) but his idiot kid, his daughters near do well boyfriend, and most popular, the nice neighbor ladies nephews.

Noisy dogs beat dangerous dogs ten to one.
A dog can not defend your house.
He can alert you, and make the burglar nervousness about being there.
Be on a first name basis with your neighbors DOGS. No, not kidding. If at all possible make friends with neighbors dogs, but allow them to bark at visitors and strangers on your property. I have dogs on three sides of me that will raise heck when anyone is in my back yard. I don't yell at them for it. They add to my dogs alert system.
Always lock up. Always.

Vary your schedule.
Don't always drive out the same way. We have three streets leaving our property. We go all different ways, pretty much at random.
Forget things a lot and drive back to the house 1-5-10 minutes after you leave. Make a habit of that and everyone knows that just because you left doesn't mean you won't be back shortly.

Encourage your nosy neighbor to keep an eye on your place at all times.
They will anyway, but this way they may call you...

Keep your travels, even to lunch, PRIVATE. It's nobody's business when and how long you are gone. Keep it to yourself.

'Accidentally' set of your alarm just enough to make sure the neighbors kids KNOW you have one.

Optional; have your buddy in the police park his car in your yard occasionally, and hang out with him. You may be surprised how many people notice you have a cop buddy, and avoid annoying you.

 

[Zeke]

I am convinced that most burglaries are not random. Like the "buddy" who likes to locate the camera. wtf? He's some kind of latent thief if not outright. Watch who comes to your house and what they have access to. Just posting pics of your garage on the Net is not too smart.

I don't. With ZabaSearch and Google Maps it doesn't take much to find someone with a little info.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I got a Lorex system the day after ddawg was robbed as well. I have it set to email me If there is any movement in certain parts of the images. That is good for now, but I still want to put in a code pad and loud alarm bell.

Chris

 

[57210]

We installed a SimpliSafe system a couple of weeks ago. They were very easy to work with and reasonably priced. We get text updates for everything that happens. I would recommend them to anyone.

 

[JimVonBaden]

We installed a SimpliSafe system a couple of weeks ago. They were very easy to work with and reasonably priced. We get text updates for everything that happens. I would recommend them to anyone.

This is what I want to hear. Did you go for the basic monitoring, or full monitoring?

Jim

 

[Chris Adams]

I am convinced that most burglaries are not random. Like the "buddy" who likes to locate the camera. wtf? He's some kind of latent thief if not outright. Watch who comes to your house and what they have access to. Just posting pics of your garage on the Net is not too smart.

I don't. With ZabaSearch and Google Maps it doesn't take much to find someone with a little info.

I have to laugh at that.
You are DEAD on, with this guy. Would he steal from me? No. Would he steal from you? Faster than I could type this.
I've known him since he was 14, but trust him?
Never.
I moved the camera.

Although, spotting the cameras is more just a one upsmanship thing.

My worst security threat neighbor is a very honest guy. He asks lots of questions, then tells anyone he meets every detail of whatever you say.


He's been burglarized about five times, that I know off. Then he asks everyone what they do to prevent it, then tells everyone what they do...
A burglars *********.

 

[Shadowdog500]

If you really want to hide the cameras look to purchase specialty hidden cameras. There was a spy shop in the Tropicana Casino in AC that sold devices like clock radios, trophies, picture frames, etc. that had wireless cameras in them. You couldn't see the camera in the thing even when you were holding the darn thing in your hand and were looking for it.

I don't have any friends that I wouldn't trust holding my wallet, but when friends bring other friends over I get a little leary, especially when you can see them taking inventory with their eyes.

My big fear is kids. The damage they cause while burglarizing the place is usually worse than the value of the tools they steal. When my dad was a cop he said most kids would smash a $500 plate glass window to steal a six pack of beer and a carton of cigarettes.

Chris

 

[toyotadriver]

I am a police officer. Currently I'm an investigator and I've investigated and interviewed many burglars. Here are some notes that I have found from interviewing burglars and investigating their crimes.

There are good comments in this thread so some of my comments are echoing earlier comments.


Above all else, remember that you can't keep out a determined thief. So, carry enough insurance to cover you in the event that your place is burglarized. If someone is dedicated to getting in your house, they are going to. However, thieves, by nature, are lazy. As a result, don't think that you can stop them. Instead, look around your neighborhood and make your house harder to get into than your neighbor's house! They will usually go elsewhere for easier pickings.

Most thefts are committed by someone the owner knows or by an acquaintance of someone they know. Pay attention to your friends. Pay special attention to their kids and their kids' friends.

Do you have a drug user in your family? Friend's family? Everyone thinks that meth users are the biggest thieves. Well, they are big thieves but pill abusers are MUCH MUCH MUCH bigger thieves than meth users. If you are prescribed prescriptions that abusers like, DON'T let ANYONE know you have them. Don't store them in bathroom cabinets. Store them in some secure hidden area of your house. ALL pill addicts are thieves. They have to. $200-$400 per day in pill costs is very common for pill abusers. A pill addict will steal from EVERYONE to support their habit.

Motion lights are the cheapest way to increase security to a house. Put them everywhere.

Alarms are good. A lot of burglars won't hit a place with an alarm. They consider it to be too risky. I personally think that monitored alarms aren't worth the expense for a house. Noise maker alarms are the easiest way to ensure that burglars either won't break in or will only be there for a few mins and only grab easy to get to stuff. I would make sure that you have some sort of sign that says that the house has an alarm. Even if you don't have an alarm system, I would strongly consider the small signs.

Cameras don't do anything to stop burglaries but can help the police solve them. They are not a garantee that they will help the police solve the crime because if the police don't know the suspect, the video won't help. If you are going to install a camera system, make sure that it's night vision capable AND HAS A GOOD PICTURE!! A fuzzy camera system doesn't help at all. Make sure that it has a decent battery backup. All new houses in my area have breakers at the meter and the meter is outside. It only takes a second to throw that breaker and then alarms don't work and neither do cameras. A couple of GOOD game cameras can be pretty useful too. The latest trend in my area is for burglars to steal the entire recording system. So, if you have a camera system, don't advertise that you have one and HIDE THE RECORDING SYSTEM!!

Secure your house. Don't leave windows open while you are gone and lock your doors!! I know it seems common sense but MOST of the buglaries that I have worked the suspect came in through an unlocked window or unlocked door.

Deadbolts on doors. Buy good quality. I prefer Schlage for the best value for the money. MOST people buy cheap locks like KwikSet. Most of KwikSet's dead bolts can be kicked in with 1-2 decent kicks.

Look at the strike plates on your door. There is usually only about 1/2 inches of wood between the outside and the inside of your house. Replace the striker plates with the strongest plates that you can buy. Then, screw them into the framing with 2.5-3 inch screws. I have seen some door reinforcement kits available for sale. I have not bought one but have been impressed with what I have seen.

Replace at least 1 screw per hinge with 3 inch screws screwed into the framing.

Wood doors aren't very secure. I prefer steel doors for durability.

Get rid of basement windows. Basement windows are easy to kick out. Glass block allows light in but are hard to kick out.

Stay on good terms with your neighbors(if you have good ones). If you have bad neighbors, get to know them too. Let them know that you like to keep an eye on what happens in the neighborhood and tell them that you write down license plates and such(even if you don't). They will tell their thief friends to stay way from your house. Keep an eye on their place and ask your good neighbors to keep an eye on yours.

In my area, we have thieves who like to pull up to houses and knock on the door. If someone answers, they make up a BS story and move on. If no one answers, they pick up anything of value that they find in the yard (toys, mowers and such). They usually won't break in a building but they will try the doors and go inside to steal if the doors are unlocked.

Don't mail outgoing mail in your mailbox. Mail theft is out of control around here. They steal your checks and print new ones and then go on a spending spree. Only mail outgoing mail at your local post office.


In spite of your best efforts, sometimes someone still breaks in. So, carry insurance to cover the damages. At LEAST yearly, walk through the house and video tape the inside. Take pictures of everything commonly stolen such as TVs and such. Write down serial numbers of expensive items. MOST people don't have any idea what their serial numbers are. If you have guns, PLEASE write down the serial numbers somewhere. We recover guns regularly IF the owner had the serial numbers. If the owner doesn't have the serial numbers, guns rarely get recovered. Proving that your toolbox had $15000 in tools inside might be hard. If you have pictures of each drawer and claim $15000 (or whatever) the insurance company usually won't argue too much.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I agree with everything above except blocking up the basement windows. If your house catches on fire and you're in the basement, they are your way out!

Perhaps you can put something on them to keep thieves out but still give you egress.
I believe some codes require that they be there.
Chris

 

[Chris Adams]

I agree with everything above except blocking up the basement windows. If your house catches on fire and you're in the basement, they are your way out!

Perhaps you can put something on them to keep thieves out but still give you egress.
I believe some codes require that they be there.
Chris

You put on bars. With an inside release. My bedrooms are all required to have quick release on the bars. Easy to install, works great. Test them every year.

 

[toyotadriver]

I agree with everything above except blocking up the basement windows. If your house catches on fire and you're in the basement, they are your way out!

Perhaps you can put something on them to keep thieves out but still give you egress.
I believe some codes require that they be there.
Chris

Well, I would agree with that part. In my area, most basements are walkout so there is a way out. Codes around here (in the places that they apply to) state that you can't have a bedroom in a basement without an alternate egress point such as a door or window. As long as the basement doesn't have a bedroom, you don't have to worry about having an alternate egress point.

The main concern with basement windows is that they are too easy to kick out. Any window can be broken out (although hurricane impact rated windows make it much harder to) but the easiest windows to break out are basement windows.

Another area that people don't think about is the front door. Many newer houses use those nice looking decorative windows down both sides of the door. They certainly look nice but those are super easy to kick out and simply reach through and unlock the front door. I like the looks of them but I would never install them in my house.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Another area that people don't think about is the front door. Many newer houses use those nice looking decorative windows down both sides of the door. They certainly look nice but those are super easy to kick out and simply reach through and unlock the front door. I like the looks of them but I would never install them in my house.

Our house already has those. I have a key lock inside and out to limit that. The key is in a drawer 6 feet from the door. Easy access, but not for the bad guys!

Thanks for your input, and others. Lots to consider here for our new house!

Jim

 

[Hmrhead]

Lots of good suggestions here so far. I've used a local alarm company for close to 20 yrs in 2 different homes. In addition to door,and window contacts I had them add a couple of glass break sensors and a couple of motion detectors to the house after a neighbor's house got hit. They threw a heavy patio chair through a door wall and walked in and cleaned out most of the house and never set off his alarm by only using the broken door wall.

The alarm also monitors the smoke detectors and has a wired float in my sump. We lose power fairly often so if the sump starts flooding the system calls the alarm co. and they let me know so I can get home and fire up the generator. Can't afford a built in generator yet. Also since we switched from standard phone to VOIP the alarm company put in a cell transmitter if the alarm goes off. The battery backup on the system can power it for several days.

Also the siren is terribly loud and announces "Intruder alert, Intruder alert, you have enter this home illegally" as well as the standard "wooping" If the smoke detectors go off it announces "Fire alert, Fire Alert leave the house immediatly" If the sump alarm goes off the siren just goes off. Closest neighbor is about 250 yds away and can hear the alarm quite well. I now let him know when I am going to set it off every qtr. when I test the system. First time we tripped it he said it scared the hell out if him, he called 911 and showed up with a shotgun. Had some explaining to do on that one.

 

[1BADLS1tuner]

For the garage Im just installing motion lights inside and outside... along with motoin sensor alarm, door/window alarm, and glass break alarm. Keeping it simple with no monthly fee's and less anoying false alarms, been there befor lol...

In my experience audible alarms and bright lights are a burglars worst enemy!

 

[Stuntmonkey]

First time we tripped it he said it scared the hell out if him, he called 911 and showed up with a shotgun. Had some explaining to do on that one.

That's a good neighbour right there. Living out in the country is hard in terms of security as its so much easier and less likely that someone will hear your alarm even if they do break in.

 

[RobSmith]

This:

That fat ******* would be too slow to react and the thief would jump him in no time. You can't move quick in a suit. ha ha ha

 

[pro machine Engineering]

HOW TO INSTALL A REDNECK HOME SECURITY SYSTEM

1. Go to a secondhand store and buy a pair of men's used size 14-16 work boots.
2. Place them on your front porch, along with a copy of Guns & Ammo Magazine.
3. Put a few giant dog dishes next to the boots and magazines.
... 4. Splash a little watered down rusty red paint on the sidewalk.
5. Leave a note on your door that reads:

"Bubba,

Glad you made it. Duke, Slim, & I went for more ammo and beer. Be back in an hour. Don't mess with the pit bulls; they attacked the mailman this morning and messed him up bad. I don't think Killer took part, but it was hard to tell from all the blood. Anyway, I locked all four of 'em in the house.

Better wait outside. until we get back.

 

[ddawg16]

I concure with ToyotaDrive....

The only thing I can add....make sure you have the serial #'s recorded on everything.....and look at me....about half the stuff taken, I did not write down the S/N.

Without a serial #, it's pretty hard to get your stuff back. But more importantly, if the S/N is entered into the system as stolen....it makes it a lot easier for us to take said dirtbag to jail.....we may not be able to prove he stole it....but we can prove he was in possession of stolen property....

 

[Sage55]

I can't begin to explain how horrible it is it have someone break into your house. Put away everything they stole, the feeling alone is terrible.

Here is the story as we've uncovered it thus far...

The crook(s) came to the house between 1:30-5:30 (my wife came home for lunch at 1), they entered the house through the back of the garage. We have a people door with a small doggie door (was already there when we bought the house in July). They kicked the plastic cover and reached in and up to unlock the deadbolt. By the looks of the aluminum trim around the door they used something or tried to use something to pry it open first.

Once in the garage they grabbed my brand new circular saw and a dewalt power drill. While there they also grabbed a hammer and two of my new Williams screw drivers and then entered the house. Proceeded to beat the tar of out my fireproof safe only to find tax paper work, mortgage info, passport, social security cards, and credit cards. All of which was left by the crook. They spent all that time to open it and took nothing.

From there they grabbed two pillow cases from the spare bedroom and proceeded to fill it with two cell phones, charging cables, laptop, mouse, Christmas presents, wifes jewelry, gift cards, camera, wrist watches, and other items.

The very odd thing about it was that they where very clean in their break in. At least as far as they show on TV. Throwing stuff everywhere, breaking stuff, just making a total mess of the house. This was NOT the case, when I first walked into the house I had no idea we had been robbed. The house was clean, everything in it's place. Even in the dresser, we could tell clothes had been shuffled around, but nothing messy. Even pushed all the draws back into place.

The safe was even turned sideways and pushed back into the closest. I'm assuming pushed sideways to hide the initial damage? They left every firearm in the house. They had to have seen at the very least one of them if not all of them.

One firearm, my S&W M&P .40 was in our nightstand next to the bed - being that they went through every drawer by the looks of the shuffling of the clothes and the missing jewelry. The .40 was the only thing in one drawer next to the bed, so it had to be seen - but again was left untouched.

My brand new Mossberg 500 shotgun also left untouched, this was tucked into a corner of the closet surrounded by clothes, this one they might not have seen. The other gun is a Ruger LCR which I normally carry on me everyday, but that day I had a meeting out of town and didn't want to keep it out in the truck all day, so left it tucked under my paper tray on my desk - this too also left untouched.

Nothing was broken, the doors of the house all closed after they left, along with everything of ours they stole.

The feeling is certainly horrible knowing they where here, finding new things missing every day now since it's happened. Along with trying to have our first Christmas in our newly purchased house this year knowing all this as well as missing presents that she should have opened but can't.

I have ADT coming in tomorrow to take a look and see what they can do for us to better secure the house. My main concern is that my wife does not come in while someone is in the house. Take all my **** I don't care, I have plenty of insurance for it, don't hurt my family!

 

[57210]

We did the full monitoring and text alerts. $19.95 @ month

 

[toyotadriver]

Many professional thieves will not touch firearms. They know that there are enhancement penalties for possessing firearms and they often aren't willing to risk it. While I don't recommend that you leave your firearms accessible, it doesn't surprise me that they didn't touch the weapons. We see that fairly regularly.

 

[Cars&Classic]

how are motion sensors wired? is it an open close circut? or somthing like a relay? can you wire it as a swithch to activate a siren? or does it have to go through a circut board or system for that.

 

[charged355]

'Accidentally' set of your alarm just enough to make sure the neighbors kids KNOW you have one.

I like to do that with my work van. One day there were teens out on there bikes by our house. I was outside with my fiancee and said "Hey hun want to see how sensitive my alarm is?" Then I slapped the door of the van and all the the bells and whistles went off.

 

[ddawg16]

Many professional thieves will not touch firearms. They know that there are enhancement penalties for possessing firearms and they often aren't willing to risk it. While I don't recommend that you leave your firearms accessible, it doesn't surprise me that they didn't touch the weapons. We see that fairly regularly.

Yep....most are x-felons......who do not even want to be in the same room with a firearm. Here in California, just being caught with one is enough to revoke your parole and send you back for a year or more.....have one on you while commiting a crime? Serious time.

You can actually tell a lot about the person by how he does the break in....Unlike woodie above....our house got ransacked...duchbag emptied one of my wifes backpacks and filled it with what ever would fit. Didn't take any large items....so I figure he was on foot.

Side note......they got good prints at my house....but otherwise, no news. Contrary to what many people think, I don't get any special treatment....my case gets assigned to a detective and he works it like any other case. At the end of the day, I'm no different than any other tax payer. About the only advantage I may have....I don't have to pay $10 to get a copy of the report....I can just go in and make a copy myself.