I'm looking for advice on home security systems. My parents live outside of a small town (only a few hundred people) in a big country house. They both sleep upstairs with the door closed, and there's a door connecting the downstairs and upstairs they'll sometimes close to keep a cat and dog separated. Anyone could just walk up the driveway and smash a window and enter and I bet they'd have no idea, especially with my dad drugged to sleep on ativan. Hell it could easily happen during the day when my mom's home alone. There really aren't any neighbors nearby observant of what's going on. It's a small, quiet town and they leave just on the outside of it. So they don't live in the most dangerous neighborhood (far from it, actually) but all it takes is one weirdo willing to try something. I think they would benefit from a little more awareness of what's going on.
Does anyone have home security systems? I took a quick glance at Brinks (I think they're called Broadview now) webpage and saw a few different prices. Looks like you have to pay for the installation and equipment -- is there a monthly or annual fee after that? I was thinking about making it a Mothers/Father's day gift. I know my mom would definitely feel better about some added security. My teenage sister also lives there and is home alone quite a bit.

http://www.alarmsystemreviews.com/top-5-complaints-of-home-security-customers.html

I'd say a NRA sticker on the door would be the best bet for a security system.

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Do a few simple things first:
Motion Flood lights on the corner of the home and at the midway point of the drive way.
Dump the dumb ass cat and dog and get a pet mid size dog that can be trained to stay down stairs.
Put wooden stop in the windows ..Criminals break one window to open the window
Here a simple request: Call the police dept to stop by for coffee or just to pull into the driveway a few seconds. Criminal don’t like the idea breaking into friends of police…

There's no real substitute for an alarm system, but in the meantime, you can buy the ADT signs off of Ebay. Also, motion lights are a good idea along with dummy cameras.

I have ADT because I was working nights and the wife didn't feel safe alone. Three months after getting ADT, I got a day job. Not worth the $40/mo IMO. The 20-gauge with buck shot next to my bed makes me feel safer...

I actually have broadview. Most home security companies will charge you almost nothing to $100 to get your signed up. I pay $25/month for my security system with no contract. All exterior door, motion sensors & three key fobs. The key fobs turn the alarm system of/off and I rarely use the keypad but you still need it. The key fobs also control my garage door.
You also get a discount for your home security system on your yearly home owners insurance. I have the system because I work various shifts and my wife will be home alone(she does have access to my guns) at home also.
We also have line cut feature on the alarm. So, if you don't pay the extra for the wireless outgoing alarm if it activates, if the criminal is smart to cut your phone line, the alarm will sound when the phone line is interrupted and go off until you silence it. This will get the attention of all your neighbors and/or the police. My neighbors called the police one day when mine was going off and they got a hold of me(we had yard work done & they were digging and cut the line). So, it does work.
One of my biggest concerns is how long it will take the police/sheriff to get to my house....Broadview calls immediately when the alarm is sounded, so the do good on the part. If i'm not home and my wife's sleeping with the newborn, she knows for the both of them to stay in the bedroom, answer broadview call & and my gun in hand......

I have Brink's (Broadview) they installed everything for free, 29.99 a month. Gives the wife peace of mind when I'm offshore. Her knowing how to use the Sig in the nightstand gives me peace of mind.

Buy a Dog, the bigger the better.

sleeper wrote: the bigger the better.

Thats what she said.

sleeper wrote: Buy a Dog, the bigger the better.

I agree...or at least get one that is a big yapper at strangers. I think of Riley dismantling the alarm system in National Treasure II and saying that people should just get a dog!

We have had ADT for years with the Cop Line. We are now just using their installed system and paying nothing without the phone hook up, which caused a lot of hassle. I figure that if the alarm goes off, that's good enough to scare off an intruder. I also have a mouthy dog and a gun.

Post this on your house....




Buy one of these...



and back it up with another sign...




Problem solved. Protect your family, don't rely on a button and wait for cops.

Seriously...

Think about this for a minute. Security systems are a very nice thought... But thats it. If someone really wants to grab something in your house or even hurt you, they are not just going to do it randomly. They are going to watch you and your patterns for leaving the house. They will want to meet the least threat possible (no one home or wife and child home). Say someone breaks in your house, the security company calls, police are dispatched... How long of a response is it for police to travel to your home? Most cases I have seen, police don't even use lights or siren to respond to these types of calls. In 2-3 minutes time, a thief knows what he is looking for, can grab it and get out. Or he can cause harm if thats his intention. Whats to say the police are not tied up at the moment and it will be a few minutes before they even respond? Test the theory at your own home... use a stop watch, start at the front door and time yourself running through the entire house into each room. Now imagine someone who knows what to look for doing the same thing. Its not rocket science, buy a gun and protect your house and family.

If a criminal enters your home, you have seconds to react. gather your family into one room, grab your gun and wait behind the door. If the criminal does not enter the room you are in, you have avoided incident. If he does, give him lead poisoning.

"How long of a response is it for police to travel to your home?"

Less than 5 minutes. Found out the hard way when my dumbass self forgot to unset the alarm walking the dog at 6:30 a.m. when my wife was out of town, came back and saw a cop standing on my stoop and my cell phone had about a dozen calls. Fortunately for our contract the first false alarm responder fees are covered.

Manhattan Buckeye wrote: "How long of a response is it for police to travel to your home?"

Less than 5 minutes. Found out the hard way when my dumbass self forgot to unset the alarm walking the dog at 6:30 a.m. when my wife was out of town, came back and saw a cop standing on my stoop and my cell phone had about a dozen calls. Fortunately for our contract the first false alarm responder fees are covered.

You live across the street huh? Or next to a doughnut shop? LOL

The precinct is about a half mile from our house, but there are always prowlers in the immediate neighborhood. Our neighborhood is fairly low crime (and they want to keep it that way) but 6 blocks south or 6 blocks north and you're in areas that made us the murder capital of the U.S. a few years ago.