Home Security Systems - Worth it?

[hdatontodo]

I have a Simplisafe self installed system. We live outside of Baltimore.

I work from home and, weekly, get shady characters knocking on the door asking if I will be home tomorrow for an estimate.

[waltworks]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_the_United_States#mediaviewer/File:Property_Crime_Rates_in_the_United_States.svg

Don't waste your money.

-W

[skinnyindy]

We were motivated to buy a security system in order to monitor all the doors and windows downstairs.  We were robbed one evening while we were all sleeping.  They were very clever about it because they quietly opened doors and drawers but didn't close them.  The spooky thing is that they didn't grab and dash - they went all the way to the third floor looking for things while we were sleeping up there.  Downstairs they stole things that were right next to my dad's bed.  We thought about a security system then but were too busy to get one but the police highly recommended one or a big dog.  There has been so many robberies in our town lately.  Anyway, what got our immediate attention was my dad - he wandered off one night and despite having bells on the doors we didn't hear him.  Luckily a neighbor was up sick and heard his squeaky walker rolling by his house (this was 3 am).  He called us and let us know.  We got a security system quickly and they have rigged up the doors to say what door is being opened so I can keep track of where my dad was and where my kids are.  The controller is upstairs with a panic button in case there is an intruder.  I slept much better knowing that I would know if my dad was flying the coop!  Oh, and our cars have been riffled through since but they didn't come in the house - due to the security system.  We are working on motion detection lights and maybe cameras.  Lots of these thieves are drug addicts - I don't want one near my kids or the rest of the family.  I don't know what they would have done to my dad if he had woken up. . .

[hdatontodo]

I would suggest to fortify your doors and windows physically first (metal door jambs, clear security film on ground floor windows, pin any sliders.) No recurring monthly cost.

[Cassie]

WE recently inherited my son's big dog which I think is a huge determent plus we have 3 small dogs.  YOu can easily hear the barking from outside.  I prefer the dog to a security system.  That is terrible that your home was emptied over a period of days & no one called the cops.

[oinkette]

I lived in a neighborhood where everyone had a system.  A series of robbers went through kicking in doors to grab and run.  I found out after the fact, the police take their sweet time getting to the scene.  About 45 minutes.  I canceled my contract (kept the sign though :) ) and had security doors put in along with everyone else.  The robberies ended.

[hdatontodo]

I think the term for an unoccupied break in is burglary. I think robbery is taking something by threatening a person.

[wkumtrider]

I have a SimpliSafe system without the monitoring.  No monthly fees.

[Bucksandreds]

I lived in a neighborhood where everyone had a system.  A series of robbers went through kicking in doors to grab and run.  I found out after the fact, the police take their sweet time getting to the scene.  About 45 minutes.  I canceled my contract (kept the sign though :) ) and had security doors put in along with everyone else.  The robberies ended.

That depends on location.  I live in a bedroom community with little crime.  I called the police last winter because my neighbor's front door was open for 5 minutes and it was like 30 degrees out.  Within 3-4 minutes an unmarked car pulled up and 2 guys in khakis pulled handguns and entered the house.  The neighbors were upstairs napping.  Talk about timely response, though.

[CGooden]

I have a SimpliSafe system without the monitoring.  No monthly fees.

This is definitely an option, but I always like to stress the idea of layered security. I don't think that you were suggesting only buying this one product, but I just want to clarify. You want to get good locks, strengthen the door and lock hardware, add a bit of window protection, maybe even a gate/fence/wall. After you take care of the physical security, then you can start getting into the electronics. Things like cameras, motion sensor lights, and alarms (monitored or otherwise) are additional precautions. You really want a baseline of defense. The issue with any of this stuff is that it can get a little expensive. The cheapest stuff is going to be the physical security. Locks can get pretty expensive, but they are one of the first lines of defense. More than picking resistance, you don't want a lock that can be bypassed or forced open. That means you need to get something that is quality made with strong metal.

Hard metal, and a lot of it, is going to protect you against people just trying to kick in the door. In most cases, one well-placed mule kick will open any door. That is why you also need the door itself to be secured. Because a door needs holes drilled in it in order to have locks installed, the door is going to be made weaker. Invest in a product like a door devil, or something like it, and secure the hinges, hardware installation holes, and strike plate (three weak points on a door). Windows are glass, so there is not a lot you can do, but there are security films that you can buy. This will not make your windows unbreakable, but they will sure put up a fight. Again, this stuff can get a little expensive, so I would recommend doing a risk assessment. Follow these instructions, and you should be able to figure out exactly what the best investment is going to be: http://united-locksmith.net/blog/is-your-home-safe-how-to-assess-your-home-security-like-a-professional

Once you know what you need, just be sure that you reassess your security ever so often. The article gives a pretty short time frame. I would say use your best discretion. There is no need to redo your security unless something dramatic happens in your area.

Good Luck!

[iris lily]

Monitored systems are a joke. They're only as good as 1) the time for you to rush home from work (15 minutes for me, 1 hour now that I'm on a bike); 2.) Police response (in my city, whenever they feel like it).

The only time our house was broken into was when we had monitoring. Takes less than 10 minutes to kick down a door and rip electronics out of your house. What alarm system can help with that?

agreed. i live in the crime capital of the U.S. and the home invasions are here are usually smash and grab jobs.

We installed an unmonitored system years ago but never turn it on.

The one time our house was robbed, it was when we were not home (perps were watching) and they kicked in the steel door in back, ran in grabbed the smallish tv, and ran out with doors open. We had three small yapping dogs inside but they were not a deterrant.

Now, what people around here are using at the moment are porch cameras that are getting lots of package thieves on video. That is somewhat useful.