Home Alarm Systems - Info please
- Thread starter Rain Man
- Start date
Yes and no. My alarm system has a moisture detector in the basement, smoke detectors on the main floor and basement and a flame detector in the garage that all are pretty much useless without a monitored system. That said from a B&E POV ya the window stickers and lawn sign are a good deterrent....all you want to do is make your neighbors house look like a easier score than yours.craiglist-lover said:
I've been with Chubb for the past 5 years and am pretty happy. Previously have been with Telsco but they pissed me off with their shitty customer service (have been told its since improved).
I used to manage a business in Calgary with an ADT system. Came in on a Sunday and forgot to call in my code. About a half hour later got a call from them because they noticed someone had entered the building and I told them I was just getting some stuff done, they said okay. Later realised I could have been cleaning the place out for all they cared.
Save your money and just get some signs. You can glue a fake keypad next to your front door if you want to go all the way.
Save your money and just get some signs. You can glue a fake keypad next to your front door if you want to go all the way.
I use ADT at home, the office and it's the one I use to protect a campaign office.Rain Man said:
The biggest mistake people make is using too many motion detectors. These lead to too many false alarms because of pets, street noise, strong winds, etc.
The other mistake people make is mounting the door and window sensors on the inside frame of the opening. The door or window should be removed and the sensor made an intregal part. This makes it much harder for the person looking it over to detect where the wires and sensor are.
There should also be sensors on the internal doors and on your expensive equipment. (intregal with the built in shelves or desks) This makes it easy for the alarm company to determine if it's you not reaching the keypad in time or someone is actually removing computers and electronics.
The alarm company and most cities charge for false alarms, so it's cheaper in the long run to spend the extra money for a proper installation.
I agree about the dog. If you can stand all the responsibility and shit everywhere ya can't beat a barking dog when strangers come around.
That said I have no dog. Just Chubb. Stickers on all windows and atleast the stupid fukks call when any funny shit happens. Been with Chubb alot of years now.
That said I have no dog. Just Chubb. Stickers on all windows and atleast the stupid fukks call when any funny shit happens. Been with Chubb alot of years now.
Nothing beats a fenced yard and an electric security gate!! Parking on the street and carrying your TV and sterio out to the truck is not on a thief's short list of things to do. In the long run it is cheaper than ADT and IMHO it is much more effective!
Chubb also have patrols? Or is it strictly alarm services and emergency services? I'm with ADT right now and haven't had a problem. Except the yearly cost. My place in Van. has a camera as well. One of the best investments ever. You can buy a decent cam for under $200.00 and a VCR. The VCR gets locked into the safe which is bolted to the concrete floor.gravitas said:
Most criminals fear the camera, signs, and Rottweilers. Cameras are the best way to go. A lot of the higher end systems are digital and can be viewed from your office at any time on the net.
One of the reasons that I asked about Alarm Force is their advertising about their 2 way communications. As my kids are getting older they are getting to the point when they will be left alone in the house and I am mostly concerned about their safety incase someone breaks in while they are there.westwoody said:
To be honest I don't care much about the possibility of theft, the TV is replaceable at the end of the day but safety of the family is something I worry about.
Ya but no dog. Can't stand the shit, hair, barking and the rest of ithitrack said:
well, start frisking their friends -- most 'thefts' and B&E's are done to people by people they know! the chances of some crackhead breaking in are pretty rare ... they are more likely to break into your car for spare change (or take the car) than try the house.Rain Man said:
but once the teens start coming and going, so will your booze, money and stereo equipment.
and more than likely it will happen while you are home ... or your teens will tell their friends the PU's are out of town and it will happen.
save the $$ on the alarm system and use it to send the kids to military school!
I have my place alarmed & monitored. On my recent trip to Europe my home was broken into and everything happened as it should. Alarm went off, police were despatched. A few items (one was a broken camera) were grabbed when the guys ran out but nothing major. I use a local monitoring co. Golden Gate Alarms. Cost - about $22. / month.
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If you live in BC why would you want to use an alarm company that is going to monitor your home and family from Adberta ( ADT, ADT Dealers, Voxcom & Voxcom Dealers), then you have Brinks....You never own it and it is monitored out of TEXAS, Alarm Force....monitored out of Ont.....and why would you want the burglar in your home before the alarm goes off...just so they can talk to them.
If you are looking for an alarm system, look for a company that is not part of any "Dealer PRogram" --- all they do is put in a basic system so they can sell you off to a larger company that will then be responsible to take care of your needs.
When looking for an alarm company:
1. Where are they monitored from? Every alarm company and monitoring station in BC is supervised by the Provice of BC, those that are outside of BC the Solicitor General has no control over. In 1995 the Government issued a warning about and their concers for the use of out of Province monitoring stations.
2. What kind of warranty do you get? A reputable company will provide you with a 100% parts and labour warranty while you are monitored.
3. Monitoring should be no more than $24.95.
4. Make sure you own the system and it is not a lease or rent and it is not a system the installing company has an exclusive on. This way if are not happy you can switch you monitoring to another company without having the system replaced.
5. Motion detecors should have built in Pet Immunity, this will reduce false alarms from mice in the colder months, and your pets.
Rember in most cases the "Free Stuff" is just the basics, you might need more. And try to get more than one quote. We found that the services and equipment varied from one to another.
I just went through all this last month having our alarm put in.... after our house was broken into.
I know, locking the barn door after the ..TV, DVD player, Laptop, her moms old ring's....and on, and on....
If you are looking for an alarm system, look for a company that is not part of any "Dealer PRogram" --- all they do is put in a basic system so they can sell you off to a larger company that will then be responsible to take care of your needs.
When looking for an alarm company:
1. Where are they monitored from? Every alarm company and monitoring station in BC is supervised by the Provice of BC, those that are outside of BC the Solicitor General has no control over. In 1995 the Government issued a warning about and their concers for the use of out of Province monitoring stations.
2. What kind of warranty do you get? A reputable company will provide you with a 100% parts and labour warranty while you are monitored.
3. Monitoring should be no more than $24.95.
4. Make sure you own the system and it is not a lease or rent and it is not a system the installing company has an exclusive on. This way if are not happy you can switch you monitoring to another company without having the system replaced.
5. Motion detecors should have built in Pet Immunity, this will reduce false alarms from mice in the colder months, and your pets.
Rember in most cases the "Free Stuff" is just the basics, you might need more. And try to get more than one quote. We found that the services and equipment varied from one to another.
I just went through all this last month having our alarm put in....
after our house was broken into.I know, locking the barn door after the ..TV, DVD player, Laptop, her moms old ring's....and on, and on....
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I wonder, would it be illegal to booby-trap your house such that if they touched something, 1000000 volts of electricity is sent through their body so that they fry to death?
I hate the B&E mother fuckers and could care less if they snuffed it.
And I wonder if it would likewise be illegal to have a dog that would maul someone to death if they broke in.
I hate the B&E mother fuckers and could care less if they snuffed it.
And I wonder if it would likewise be illegal to have a dog that would maul someone to death if they broke in.
in our pansy assed uber left leaning court system you'd probably be considered the criminal......if you do have the system and fry the fucker then just go to the brick and pick up a big freezer and put the douche bag on ice......no fuss, no muss and no trialgeorgebushmoron said:
Alarm companies monitor out of local for the same reason that your service rep when you phone Shaw, Telus or any other business isn't going to be local after 9 in the evening. Nobody is willing to pay the off shift wage rates.napcodog said:If you live in BC why would you want to use an alarm company that is going to monitor your home and family from Adberta ( ADT, ADT Dealers, Voxcom & Voxcom Dealers), then you have Brinks....You never own it and it is monitored out of TEXAS, Alarm Force....monitored out of Ont.....and why would you want the burglar in your home before the alarm goes off...just so they can talk to them.
If you are looking for an alarm system, look for a company that is not part of any "Dealer PRogram" --- all they do is put in a basic system so they can sell you off to a larger company that will then be responsible to take care of your needs.
When looking for an alarm company:
1. Where are they monitored from? Every alarm company and monitoring station in BC is supervised by the Provice of BC, those that are outside of BC the Solicitor General has no control over. In 1995 the Government issued a warning about and their concers for the use of out of Province monitoring stations.
2. What kind of warranty do you get? A reputable company will provide you with a 100% parts and labour warranty while you are monitored.
3. Monitoring should be no more than $24.95.
4. Make sure you own the system and it is not a lease or rent and it is not a system the installing company has an exclusive on. This way if are not happy you can switch you monitoring to another company without having the system replaced.
5. Motion detecors should have built in Pet Immunity, this will reduce false alarms from mice in the colder months, and your pets.
Rember in most cases the "Free Stuff" is just the basics, you might need more. And try to get more than one quote. We found that the services and equipment varied from one to another.
I just went through all this last month having our alarm put in....
I know, locking the barn door after the ..TV, DVD player, Laptop, her moms old ring's....and on, and on....
Most police forces take 10 or more minutes to respond even if the alarm company has a person there and has validated the threat.
Your building has to be able to stop the person for that 10 - 30 minutes.
That means:
Lights that lite up the area when the perimeter sensors are activated.
Fake and real cameras. (they hate lights and they hate cameras)
Steel doors. They look just as good and should be on every external entrance.
Hurricane Glass. All windows should have hurricane glass.
No sliding doors or windows. Everybody knows how to get past them.
An intelligent alarm system that is monitored. And yes, you need to own it.
The payback is immediate. Insurance companies charge less if you demonstrate a well designed system to keep people out, keep people safe and eliminate hazards. I had a neighbour refused insurance because his "beautiful" gravel and rock stairs were likely to have someone hurt on them. He was using 2 X 8 boards to hold the rock and gravel in place and the insurance company figured it wouldn't be long before they got a claim on it.
Sadly, this is true. However, in the event of a break in, a good loud alarm (mount speakers outside the house, under the eaves) If you have concerned or nosy neighbours, they'll get a feeling for whether or not someone is actually breaking in really quick.LonelyGhost said:well, start frisking their friends -- most 'thefts' and B&E's are done to people by people they know! the chances of some crackhead breaking in are pretty rare ... they are more likely to break into your car for spare change (or take the car) than try the house.
but once the teens start coming and going, so will your booze, money and stereo equipment.
and more than likely it will happen while you are home ... or your teens will tell their friends the PU's are out of town and it will happen.
save the $$ on the alarm system and use it to send the kids to military school!
As for the cops responding - good luck. Theives know that they probably have a good 10 mins in the house. They're going for cash, booze, jewelry, or anything else that can be quickly and easily sold.
Personally, I'd like to see the larger companies like ADT, Brinks, Chubb offer first responders with a 5 minute response time. If they could sign up enough subscribers in a given neighbourhood, the security company could set up an office (similar to the community policing offices). I'd pay a premium for this kind of security.
this is why 'gated' communities are becoming so popular ... it may not be any safer but its easier to secure even if it is only a rent-a-cop.scubadude said:
Vanity Fair had a good article awhile back about robberies in Hollywood, celebrity homes getting cleaned out by people who knew exactly what to look for and where it was. The two main groups of suspects were housekeepers and security system employees.
Outside lights with motion detectors are good, but most breakins occur during the day when occupants are at work/school, so an alarm with a siren or whatever is good. And if you have sliding patio doors you are just asking for it, those are so easy to get into it's not funny.
The best thing I've seen are the camera systems that notify you of trouble and you can look at your house over the net. I'm thinking of getting one of them right now, for about 1500-2500, I like the idea of just checking for myself whenever I want to.
Outside lights with motion detectors are good, but most breakins occur during the day when occupants are at work/school, so an alarm with a siren or whatever is good. And if you have sliding patio doors you are just asking for it, those are so easy to get into it's not funny.
The best thing I've seen are the camera systems that notify you of trouble and you can look at your house over the net. I'm thinking of getting one of them right now, for about 1500-2500, I like the idea of just checking for myself whenever I want to.
