Home Alarms

[rod_rooster]

My house was broken into yesterday. Luckily only a broken window and no other damage. Not much taken that i can figure out so far thankfully. Anyway installing an alarm system has been on the "to do" list for a while and i guess now is the time "to do" it. Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations of companies to go through and what i should look at installing? Can you get sensors that don't get activated by small pets? Is it worth getting a camera to monitor the front door? Any advice would be appreciated.

[gadj1976]

RR

We had an alarm in the house we bought. We updated it when the keypad dropped dead some years later. The unit we've got can:

monitor and register alarms with the police (if two zones are triggered)
be on whilst we're in the house
be remotely engaged.

(I could've set it up to work like a car alarm and just click a button on a unit on my keyring to engage the alarm system on the house. We chose not to because of initial outlay)

I've got it set up as a "back to base" because my wife and I work. So any one zone alarm will trigger a call to me from the alarm company (they've got 5 numbers they try until they get someone). Two zones will trigger a call to me and the police immediately. A call out fee is initiated when two zones are triggered.

I personally don't think the alarm is expensive, but that's my opinion. To keep my belongings safe, I'd most probably pay more to feel a level of comfort.

We're very happy with the bloke we've got, and the system and the set up. If you want more info about who we went through, let me know. The bloke is based at Hove, but visits our area regularly (Nth East).

Commiserations on yesterday's event. I think it's garbage that that sort of thing happens to people. At least having a deterant moves people onto the next house (sad again, but hey, you gotta look after yourself).

[Psyber]

We had the 16 year old and troublesome system in our house replaced with one from this company, via a local installer.
http://www.ness.com.au/Index.asp?

We are impressed. Remote controls are pocket and purse size, and the system beeps when you set or unset it, like a car system, but it can be put into silent mode. It can also be operated from the wired in control panel and you can create subsidiary key codes for the pad that unlock certian zones and not others. All the detectors are two stage including movement detection and mass detection to minimise false alarms, and there is a version that can be used in areas you choose that will ignore movement by creatures under a set mass. [That wouldn't have worked for us as the dog that died recently was 90Kg.]

It can be used as a monitored system, through a security company, or it can be used as we do - you programme in 2 or 3 mobile phone numbers of your own choosing and it rings them in turn until it gets an answer. Then you can reset the alarm from your mobile and see whether it goes off again, as it would if there were an intruder there. That saves monitoring fees and unnecessary call out fees. You can change the call numbers to those of friends or neighbours if you are away.

[mypaddock]

Just put up a sign in your windows indicating that the premises is protected by an alarm. Is the cheapest option and if a thief wants to break into your house he will, regardless of the alarm.

[Felch]

We had the 16 year old and troublesome system in our house replaced with one from this company, via a local installer.
http://www.ness.com.au/Index.asp?

We are impressed. Remote controls are pocket and purse size, and the system beeps when you set or unset it, like a car system, but it can be put into silent mode. It can also be operated from the wired in control panel and you can create subsidiary key codes for the pad that unlock certian zones and not others. All the detectors are two stage including movement detection and mass detection to minimise false alarms, and there is a version that can be used in areas you choose that will ignore movement by creatures under a set mass. [That wouldn't have worked for us as the dog that died recently was 90Kg.]

It can be used as a monitored system, through a security company, or it can be used as we do - you programme in 2 or 3 mobile phone numbers of your own choosing and it rings them in turn until it gets an answer. Then you can reset the alarm from your mobile and see whether it goes off again, as it would if there were an intruder there. That saves monitoring fees and unnecessary call out fees. You can change the call numbers to those of friends or neighbours if you are away.

Thats the same system as we are currently getting installed in our soon-to-be completed home. Obviously i can't comment on how good it is, but have heard plenty of good reports from others.

[Psyber]

Just put up a sign in your windows indicating that the premises is protected by an alarm. Is the cheapest option and if a thief wants to break into your house he will, regardless of the alarm.

No house I have ever lived in has been burgled. [Hang on while I touch wood.]
We have always had dogs. An Aussie Terrier when I was a kid, then Dalmatians, then a Briard, then Wolfhounds.

Business premises I had in Melbourne St North Adelaide from 1976 were burgled twice though, in 1986 and 1987.
I muttered about keeping pet Tiger Snakes on the premises and putting a sign in the window saying so but the staff were not keen on having to round them up each morning..
Interestingly, no one had ever deliberately damaged a car I'd parked anywhere before 1986 either, and I didn't have an alarm in a car until after that.

My first house with a burglar alarm system was at West Lakes in 1996. The next was this one bought in early 2004.
I've upgraded this one since the last dog died.

[Dog_ger]

rod_rooster

If you are serious about home security, check this out.

This is the Bees Knees of easy home security.

Watchgaurd Home security System.

Full Remote control.

Tandy/Dick Smith.

$500 when I got it. 1/2 that now.

Look into it ......!

You will not be disappointed my good friend.

I can activate my home security by remote control (via remote control),

from the end of my street..!

Room Sensors...

Bottom Line

If they want it, They will get it...

[rod_rooster]

Thanks for all the advice guys. It has been very helpfull and those options where it will call you should the alarm go off sounds good.

Yeah, it's dissapointing to be broken into but i guess it's just one of those things. I'm just glad nobody was hurt cos at the end of the day anything they take can be replaced.

[Booney]

You did dispose of your toothbrushes,yes?

[rod_rooster]

You did dispose of your toothbrushes,yes?

First thing i did