Home security advice, please!

Shimmyhill · 23 Jul 2015 at 20:35

Police linked alarms will be attended, you pay for that tho monthly as I understand.

As said, Police do not attend for non linked alarms unless someone sees something sus like doors open or chaps with swag bags etc!

mothermachine · 23 Jul 2015 at 21:49

Yeh I really don't think I need a linked alarm and monthly package like that. Surely the alarm going off would be enough to put a burglar off rummaging around? I mean they might run in and grab something easy then leave, at best. For me that's enough of a deterrent. That and the visual element of it on the house to further dissuade.

CaptainRAVE · 23 Jul 2015 at 22:47

Not sure if I am going to get cameras on our new house...almost makes it look like you have something worth stealing and surely a burglar would be covered up anyway? An alarm seems well worth it though. If you have an alarm and the house next door doesn't, guess which one is going to be broken in to...

Going to go monitored though this time I think.

Street · 24 Jul 2015 at 00:08

I've been broken in to twice over the last 5 years, once when I was in, once when I was away. I now have ABS locks on all doors with internal catches around the frames and a decent monitored alarm. I've put spikes on the fences and gate around the house and I've got a dog.. Although he'd probably be rolling around on the floor on his back in front of them!

Now whenever I am out of the house or away, I set various lights on timers and have just invested in some LightwaveRF kit so I can automate it a bit easier. Anything like spare keys, I no longer keep in obvious places as last time the tore the place apart looking for things and took all my spare keys.

I would say the audible alarm is quite useful. There is always a chance someone will look out their window if they hear it. I always check outside if I hear an alarm going off nearby and my neighbours do too.

lewism · 24 Jul 2015 at 08:20

LeeUK said:
Police won't attend just because some alarm company told them that there is an alarm going off. Someone needs to see burglars going in before they will attend.

I was a key holder for a high street retail chain once and this was the case.

Police will attend all confirmed alarms. Unconfirmed alarms divert to keyholder response first.

The time it takes for them to get there on the other hand is anyones guess.

Mark M · 24 Jul 2015 at 14:06

Im going to change my euro locks on the doors and I remember reading somewhere that a foreign brand might be a better idea as the keys would be harder for a thief to get a hold of?

Edit - while Im at it Im also going to get the alarm changed! The electrician I use spoke to the wholesaler and they have recommended a Scantronic system? They look pretty rubbish but I guess looks arent very important. Are they a good make or would you go with something else? Ideally I would like to do something for the cleaners, perhaps a fob to arm and disarm or a separate code perhaps that only them use?

D.P. · 24 Jul 2015 at 20:11

mothermachine said:
Yeh I really don't think I need a linked alarm and monthly package like that. Surely the alarm going off would be enough to put a burglar off rummaging around? I mean they might run in and grab something easy then leave, at best. For me that's enough of a deterrent. That and the visual element of it on the house to further dissuade.

Personally, even in the day time i don' bother investigating neighbors alarms, probably just someone walked out their backdoor forgetting the alarm was on (done that several time).

Think about how many people will go investigate at 3Am when it cold and raining?

When you go on holiday or are simply working in the office do you trust your neighbors will go investigate? That is the most important part in my mind.

The there is also the fact that fairly quickly they can disable the alarm sound which makes it even less liekly someone will come and investigate.

Then there is the fact that you can get a good discount on home insurance with a properly linked security system.It more or less pays for itself in out experience, we pay $30 a month but get over $20 a month insurance discount and never have to worry about maintenance.