Home Security Systems

[willn513]

Unfortunately home invasions and burglaries are up 10-15% in the greater Cincinnati area, and it's really something that has been bothering me.

Just wondering what some of you guys are doing as far as home alarm systems. I have been considering getting an ADT or similar basic alarm system, but I really don't want to get locked into any monthly contract or anything like that.

I have also considered just buying the ADT sign and stickers off of eBay for $30 and putting them up around the first floor of our house. I am not sure of the legality of this but I can't imagine anyone from ADT would bother hassling me about it.

If you guys could share with me what some of you all are paying each month or yearly I would definitely appreciate it. Just looking for a little advice here.

 

[tblazerdude]

Before I closed on my house someone broke in and stole all the copper in the basement. Good for me because I got all new pipes for free. Bad because it was broken into. They did however catch the people that did it, my house was one of 25 or so they hit. I was looking into ADT but for now some window reinforcement and a reliable firearm are my in house solutions. iirc ADT is $50 a month for the basic first floor set up.

 

[Voymom]

We use a 200lb highly aggressive dog.....if someone has the balls to break in, I can promise they won't have those balls when they leave.

We are also armed to the teeth, the dog is our advanced warning system, if they get through the dog they have to get through a barrage of bullets from 2 very protective parents lol.

 

[Conner299]

Our(Me and the Wife) house got broke into about two months ago. The cop who responded to the call, gave me the best advice. Buy two game-tracking cameras. Infrared if you can afford it. The ones used by hunters. Use these with or without a main security system. You'll be amazed, by who actually comes to your door during the day. And for about 200$, one time fee, you'll have something ADT can't give you. Pics of the perp. One for the front, and one for the back.

 

[Voymom]

Our(Me and the Wife) house got broke into about two months ago. The cop who responded to the call, gave me the best advice. Buy two game-tracking cameras. Infrared if you can afford it. The ones used by hunters. Use these with or without a main security system. You'll be amazed, by who actually comes to your door during the day. And for about 200$, one time fee, you'll have something ADT can't give you. Pics of the perp. One for the front, and one for the back.

This is actually a good idea, and the $200 would be worth it. But if the perp got inside while you were asleep you should STILL have some form of protection. If you don't have a gun, I suggest really considering one for your house at least. If you were out with the boys one night and someone got into your house, wouldn't you want to give your wife/kids the best chance at survival?

It could take up to 10 minutes for a cop to get to your house, no matter where the local department is located...in 10 minutes an intruder could have beaten, raped, and or murdered your family for a flat screen TV....Just my 2 cents.

 

[Conner299]

No worries there... Fully loaded at all times. No children on premises. 2! Spare clips of 30-06 on hand as well. Plus, the wife can field strip and fully take down as well as I can! Love her to DEATH!

Sorry. . Was trying to ad that to my last post.

 

[Mark20]

Long story short, lawn mower clipped my camper and denied it. Of course no way for me or my insurance to prove he did it. $1000 damage with a $250 deductible. Needless to say he now has an open time slot for mowing.

I would like to put an outside camera and record the area so if it happens again, I have proof.

Any ideas?

I also just read the car DVR thread and will look at some of the stuff on eBay.

Oh, the wife and I like the idea of the game cameras in the house.

 

[hrddrv]

We have a few things. We never had anyone in but we have had damage to the house and vehicles. We both work in the school system so we are sure these were all kids. We now use ADT for our alarm system. It is not perfect but it helps. We also have a few internet cams that I had lying around. Plus a rottie who is nice but makes a lot of noise and looks scary. We also have several home defense weapons both loud and silent kind. All of this and I still do not feel 100% safe in my house and this is one of the many reasons we are moving in hopefully 2 years.

 

[johnstonjohnr]

Probably not in anyone's best interest to break in here:
View attachment 26135
Never had a problem go figure!!

 

[Voymom]

Probably not in anyone's best interest to break in here:
View attachment 12068
Never had a problem go figure!!

In case of zombie attack....run like hell to his house ^^^^^

 

[willn513]

Thanks for all the responses guys and girls. Keep it coming! I'm not much of a firearm enthusiast. I have a .22 Marlin bolt action (1st gun from Dad when I was little). I also have a 12ga Remington 870 Express with Rifled/Smooth changeable barrels. Always have used the shotgun to turkey and deer hunt but I have never left it loaded in the house.

I have been considering getting a handgun, but really don't think I will. CCW has gotten my attention some, but I still haven't taken it yet.

 

[johnstonjohnr]

In case of zombie attack....run like hell to his house ^^^^^

Just make sure you knock before entering LOL

 

[BO TIE SS]

Never had a problem go figure!!

Must be the well-built fence.

 

[Black_tb]

i had a break in while i was sleeping i was in a hurry one day left the garage door up somebody came in made to the basement before my two dogs started barking and i went down stairs, they were gone, all they got was my wallet which i canceled everything the next morning, we now have adt which i work late at night , so with the two dogs and adt the wife is pretty happy about that .....




also where about u live at will i work around cincy almost everyday

 

[NewfieEnvoy]

I installed home security system for 5 years; burglar alarms and video surveillance. While doing so I worked closely with the local police and learned a lot analyzing how someone got around a system and what worked and what didn't.
1) If it's visible through a window/door and they want it, then they're coming in for it no matter what you have. So don't leave things out in plain sight etc purse on a table
2) When given the choice between two homes, one with an alarm system and one with out, they'll choice the one without everytime. All others being equal.
3) There is actually no better deterrent then a big scary dog. No amount of electronics I installed could compete.
4) Beware of low prices alarm systems that give you a false sense of security. The stickers and signs alone will help, but an experienced thief can walk around a cheap system in a minute. ADT canvased an area locally in NL. Most home owners bought the basic system; panel/2doors/1motion. A load of breakins happened by putting a ladder to a second floor window to gain entry. As long as they stayed up stairs the one motion sensor on the main floor would never hit them. The police estimated in one house that in took two guys 3hours to break open a safe in the master bedroom, never triggering the alarm system.
5) If you go with video surveillance make it visible! Big sign and very visible cameras, its no good hiding them thinking your smarter than them. Its a good deterrent but unless your willing to spend a great deal of money then you will just end up with a creepy video of someone robbing you which police can't use to make a positive ID. Yeah he had on jeans and a hoody but they all do.
6) If you get an alarm system installed, TEST IT! After the technicians leave, maybe the next day, tell your neighbors that you going to test your system. Arm the system and walk around, open the door, etc. Let the alarm fire for a 10-20 secs turn it off and wait for the call. You would not believe how many systems do not transmit properly. Also, while your alarm is firing take your home phone off the hook and try to make a call. You shouldn't be able to get a ringtone as the alarm panel should have control if it was installed correctly. If its not, then the thief can just pick up your phone to disable the call out to the monitoring station.

That's the big stuff at the top of my head, maybe more to come.

 

[willn513]

I installed home security system for 5 years; burglar alarms and video surveillance. While doing so I worked closely with the local police and learned a lot analyzing how someone got around a system and what worked and what didn't.
1) If it's visible through a window/door and they want it, then they're coming in for it no matter what you have. So don't leave things out in plain sight etc purse on a table
2) When given the choice between two homes, one with an alarm system and one with out, they'll choice the one without everytime. All others being equal.
3) There is actually no better deterrent then a big scary dog. No amount of electronics I installed could compete.
4) Beware of low prices alarm systems that give you a false sense of security. The stickers and signs alone will help, but an experienced thief can walk around a cheap system in a minute. ADT canvased an area locally in NL. Most home owners bought the basic system; panel/2doors/1motion. A load of breakins happened by putting a ladder to a second floor window to gain entry. As long as they stayed up stairs the one motion sensor on the main floor would never hit them. The police estimated in one house that in took two guys 3hours to break open a safe in the master bedroom, never triggering the alarm system.
5) If you go with video surveillance make it visible! Big sign and very visible cameras, its no good hiding them thinking your smarter than them. Its a good deterrent but unless your willing to spend a great deal of money then you will just end up with a creepy video of someone robbing you which police can't use to make a positive ID. Yeah he had on jeans and a hoody but they all do.
6) If you get an alarm system installed, TEST IT! After the technicians leave, maybe the next day, tell your neighbors that you going to test your system. Arm the system and walk around, open the door, etc. Let the alarm fire for a 10-20 secs turn it off and wait for the call. You would not believe how many systems do not transmit properly. Also, while your alarm is firing take your home phone off the hook and try to make a call. You shouldn't be able to get a ringtone as the alarm panel should have control if it was installed correctly. If its not, then the thief can just pick up your phone to disable the call out to the monitoring station.

That's the big stuff at the top of my head, maybe more to come.

This is AWESOME info- exactly what I was looking for! Thank you for taking the time to put this down for me I really appreciate your input and it has given me much to think about!!!

also where about u live at will i work around cincy almost everyday

We are in Anderson Township close to Riverbend and Coney Island- smells like a mini meet???

 

[Black_tb]

This is AWESOME info- exactly what I was looking for! Thank you for taking the time to put this down for me I really appreciate your input and it has given me much to think about!!!



We are in Anderson Township close to Riverbend and Coney Island- smells like a mini meet???

hell yeah they built that quaker steak and lube in florence maybe this spring or summer ??

 

[willn513]

Yeah warmer weather first for sure!

 

[blazinlow89]

When we bought our house it had an APX/Vivint alarm installed. I did not switch it over for about 2 months and was told that it had been de activated. Well during the reno we had a friend over helping out and he had drank a lot the night before. We would still arm it in case someone decided to come in as it would still sound when a door opened, etc. Well he opened the garage door and the alarm beeped for 30 seconds then started blaring. I hit disarm and went back to bed. About a minute later I hear "the cops are here". Total taps me from activation to police arrival, 2 minutes and 28 seconds. Turns out the old owner never de activated it.

Well a few weeks later a Giving employee came by while he had his guys installing a neighbors system. I did have to sign a new contract, by I also 6 extra sensors, a new panel and an interior camera. It is $52 a month and works flawlessly. After we signed it over over to is we had the grave door sensor act up, my fault. We were in Kings dominion at the time, within 30 seconds of the alarm activation Vivint called me. They sent a cop out and 5 minutes later the cop called to let me know he did not find anything out of the ordinary.

 

[NewfieEnvoy]

If you get an alarm system installed on monthly payments then technically its their equipment until you fully pay for it. So read your contract and ask questions as to when the equipment becomes yours, ex 3yrs @ $x/mth and then reduced to basic monthly payments. If you buy the equipment outright then its yours. So here's the kicker, the panels have a default installer code just like a wireless router if you catch my drift. There's only a couple of big name alarm panels out there and a quick google will tell you all the default codes. So two things can happen; 1) a lot of installers/companies won't change the default code for fear that they'll lose it (something else to record). With this I can reset/change/disarm your system in seconds, and I'm the good guy imagine what the bad guys can do. 2) with out the installer code your system is locked. It can't be reset, the panel will have to be replaced if you don't have the code. So if you own your system and they change the code, they will not tell you the code unless you demand it, no one can ever fix/change/maintain your system except this company. The hardware you purchased is now useless. They may try to tell you that the installer code protects their intellectual property, the knowledge of how to program the panel. That's a load of crap. What I have seen the big guys do is reset the panel back to factory and then give you the default code. That's fine, take it and call the next company in line. Tell them the equipment you have and they will gladly come program it for you and take your money.

If anyone's curious. My company was an independent privately owned security company. We used a mainland monitoring station which is very common, its extremely expensive to maintain a reliable 24/7 monitoring station and only the big 3 or 4 have their own. We paid out $6/mth to monitor a home alarm system. So if you had all your own equipment installed I might come by and program/test in 2hrs at most. I would then charge you approx $24.95/mth ($19.95 was the cheapest) for monitoring and most likely never speak to you again Maybe a 30min fix here and there, answer a phone call question, but that was it. Even as a small independent company once you build up a client base your on the gravy train :wootwoot:

 

[johnstonjohnr]

Probably not in anyone's best interest to break in here:
View attachment 12068
Never had a problem go figure!!

Just had to have one of these. What a blast to shoot. HA...what a blast...get it. :wootwoot:

 

[triz]

I used to install alarm systems at one point. You can get the basic system from ADT usually for nothing. It does not cover much usually 2 doors and motion detector. If you want anything more than that it starts to get expensive. Your probably looking at around 100-150 per window. Best bet is to haggle with a ADT authorized installer and get as many free sensors that they are willing to give you to earn your business.

If I were a bit closer I could finish up the rest for 1/2 to 1/3 the cost that they would charge. This is one of those businesses were I made more money on the side than working. Where they might charge 2k-2.5k for an install I could come back and finish it for about 600-700 dollars. Sometimes less.

They are worth it in the end. I would recommend a cell back up system over the cable/landline system.

Guns are great for when your home. But if your not home and you just have your guns laying on top of closet that becomes a problem. At the very least if you have a firearm or firearms keep them locked up in a good safe.