People are scum - Best home security system?

[cstreit]

I'm too effing pissed to write much now...

...but my stepdad died 3 weeks ago. So as a gesture to my mom some scumbag breaks into her house while she's at work and robs her place.

It was obviously a neighbor because they took their sweet time in the house, broke in, in broad daylight, and took high value items after a careful search of every room, drawer, and closet. Not a typical smash-and-grab.

Tomorrow she is calling security companies. Suggestions for type of system and company is sincerely appreciated. WIshing I had been there to put a few rounds in the f*ck*ng loser.....

[artplumber]

Time to move?

[infraredcalvin]

In my opinion a DOG is one of the best defenses... preferably a big one.

i got robbed the day after i moved into my new house, still convinced it was by my warranty rep from the builder (and i work there too...) anyway afterwards the builder installed a hard wired alarm system (DSC???). has worked well for over 7 years... when it's been set off - dogs, wife (sheesh), the phone rings within 30 sec, if no answer, the cops are pretty quick to respond in my area. the monitoring company is what makes or breaks it. be sure to contact the local pd and ask them, they might have some info on systems that tend to cause more false alarms, but typically it's user error.

there are some cool systems out there that have cameras, etc and you can check from an iphone/internet.

sorry to hear about that crap, i still get worked up about mine...

[chocolatelab]

Chris

Sorry about your loss. Sent you pm, happy to help if I can.

It may seem strange but often times burglers actually read the obits. Classy huh....

Infraredcalvin-I need to keep an eye out for you. We are in the same " Hood "

[azasadny]

Chris , Sorry to hear about this...

[Rick V]

It seems we have now attained a new level of suck. One thing she can do is to turn on a small radio to a talk radio station

[fred cook]

Sorry to hear about your Mother's losses. At least she was not in the house when it was broken into. Hopefully her things can be replaced by the insurance.

When someone dies, we have a couple (husband/wife) stay at the deceased's house during the funeral. That way, if someone has read the obits, then the house is not empty. Also, we try to make arrangements for friends to help keep an eye on the property for a while afterwards. So far, no one has been burgled since this plan has gone into effect. It is sad to think that our society has sunk so low that we now have to rely on alarms and guard dogs! I'm afraid though it is only going to get worse!

[Instrument 41]

We were robbed about 3 months ago. We have and alarm, signage at the road that we have an alarm, stickers on both back doors. It didn't stop them. They came in. the cops said 3 to 4, got what they wanted and left. No finger prints anywhere, all must have been wearing gloves. A dog is great security, as long as it isn't a Golden Retriever....Once the cops showed up they were long gone.

[Chocaholic]

Our security system. Flawless performance. Highly recommended:

[Christien]

A friend works in industrial security, but does some residential as well. He says the same thing people above are saying: #1 big dog. #2 good lighting. #3 good locks. He said it's surprising what a high %age of thieves these 3 things will deter. Of course, a professional thief will bypass all of these easily (well, maybe not a big doberman or something) but the vast majority of robberies can be prevented with simple deterrents.

[masraum]

I've asked about alarms on the board a couple of times. Do a search for home security or something like that.

What I found when I did a bunch of searching is that you probably want to stay away from all of the big names like comcast, adt, brinks... Most folks recommended that I go with a smaller more local company. I did a bunch of searching and found that another checkbox is to make sure that the company is "UL Certified". Basically that means that the monitoring is checked to make sure that it's up to snuff.

I'm sorry for your loss and now your frustration on top of that.

[cstreit]

Thanks guys, I know Mom won't consider a dog or moving in the short term....

Going to ask the local PD what they recommend.

Of course they are largely uselss. Didn't check items for prints, didn't question the neighbors, didn't offer to do a few drive-by's that night.

I'm SURE it was a neighbor, they took their sweet time in the house. I'm pissed about the stuff they took, but furious they violated my mom's privacy in this difficult time for her.

[cgarr]

Put the word out in the hood that Mom had some video running and the police have the files and are investigating!

You could visit the neighbors asking if they saw anything and let the video thing slip

[968rz]

Sorry to hear this Chris and you have my sympathy.
The thief may not be from the neighborhood, as you noted the world is full of scum and they read the obits looking for older widows. Same thing happened when my Dad died, odd car in the street, phone calls that hung up; all kinds of weird things.

Couple things your Mom can do is keep everything public listed under Your step-dad's name (thieves don't like men), have friends and family stop over at random times and enter the house for while (they can watch TV, turn the radio and lights on, swim if there's a pool) basically be heard and seen at random times.

It will stop after a few months.

[Evans, Marv]

Chris, that totally sucks. Sorry to hear it. It seems like the police always have problems doing their job when it comes to things like this. I'd push them and do some complaining. I have a security system (DSC), motion activated floodlights around the outsides of the house, signs, and good locks - no dog. My stystem isn't hooked up to any security company because I know it would take the police too long to get here. In my area, we all look out for each other. I feel like the system is OK for when I'm gone, but has a weak point for when I turn it on at night. At night for the inside setting, the inside motion sensors are deactivated and the window & door sensors are on. The thing I realized is that whoever wants to get in will set off the system if they open a door or window, but if they smash through the glass (tempered & pretty strong), the system won't detect anything. So if you decide to get a system for your mother, you might ask about this weakness. Of course in our area, we're all armed and everybody knows it. But in an urban area, or in the case of your mother, that might represent a real weakness if somebody broke in while she was there. Also, I would think ahead of time where you want the inside motion sensors placed. Sometimes an installer won't seem to think about the best places to put them, which can reduce the effectiveness of the system. Good luck to your mom & I hope the police get off their duffs & do something.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

......The thing I realized is that whoever wants to get in will set off the system if they open a door or window, but if they smash through the glass (tempered & pretty strong), the system won't detect anything. ......

You can add an Acoustic glass breakage sensor.

One unit will generally cover an entire room.

[GH85Carrera]

I have my system monitored for fire & the intrusion. It will keep someone from a slow search of the house.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

.....Also, I would think ahead of time where you want the inside motion sensors placed. Sometimes an installer won't seem to think about the best places to put them, which can reduce the effectiveness of the system......

Agreed.

Also control pad placement is critical.

Unfortunately my system was in place before I had a shot at input.

You will have at least one control pad just inside an entry to the home. Any entry that has a pad adjacent to it will almost always provide a delay allowing the homeowner time to disable the system.

Entries, patio doors, windows, etc... with no pad will/should go off immediately.

The one thing they forgot which I had in the last house is a control pad in the Master Bedroom.

If someone gains entry at a location with a pad it'll be at least 30 seconds before the alarm will trigger and you won't be able to get to the pad to hit the panic button which is why you want at minimum a panic pad in the master bedroom

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

Our security system. Flawless performance. Highly recommended:

Looks about 8 months old now? Will probably double in size by 3 yrs old. They tend to stop bone growth by 2 and the last year is all adding bulk.

One thing I found fascinating with both my Mastiffs, the boy and the girl. When we were home they were insanely protective. Truly pants crapping displays of aggression. When we left the house, they would run upstairs and hide.

You had no idea they were even in the house.

I did not really mind that. Take whatever you want of my material possessions, that's why I have insurance, just leave my pets alone.

[white85carrera]

We are somewhat secluded and our recipe is:
lots of lights and motion sensors on more lights.
Large noisy doberman.
Guardian home security system.
multiple weapon stash.

Guardian has been great. not used for real deal but the two accidental trips resulted in immediate and excessive response.