Is it worth getting home security system?

[Silver R/T]

Getting ADT in my house and was wondering what you guys think about house security systems in general.

[dodge freak]

It depends on where you live and who lives in the house. We don't have any and have never been rob in 20 years but we live in the middle of a sub. Now if I had a young girl living here that be much different. Too many nuts in the world today. Can't hurt thats for sure as long as you can afford it-you never know what can happen.

[Silver R/T]

well robbers would probably go to better areas to rob anyways since they can steal more expensive things

[moparguy01]

well robbers would probably go to better areas to rob anyways since they can steal more expensive things

Not entirely true. Lower income people dont have fancy alarms which can wreck their plans. they usually aim for middle income households, some nice stuff, but no alarms.

[bull]

It's cheaper and just as effective to just go steal some ADT signs out of someone else's yard and put them in yours.

[Silver R/T]

It's cheaper and just as effective to just go steal some ADT signs out of someone else's yard and put them in yours.

good idea, but its worthless when thief actually breaks into your house...

[bull]

It's cheaper and just as effective to just go steal some ADT signs out of someone else's yard and put them in yours.

good idea, but its worthless when thief actually breaks into your house...

So is an alarm system if they're smart enough to run away. An alarm system can't put handcuffs on them, it's simply a deterrent that will also automatically call the police and make a bunch of noise in the meantime. A sign won't call the police but it will work as good as a deterrent as the actual alarm would.

[Wakko]

You need to decide what is valuable in the house and find out about a discount with your homeowner's insurance.  I've responded to a large number of burglaries where the folks had no alarm and came home to find the house completely in shambles with anything of value missing.  I've gone to other homes with alarms (including pain generators inside the home) where someone attempted to break in and was run off by the alarm.  Two weeks ago we actually caught three burglars that were fleeing from a home after the alarm went off.  In my home I have lots of guns, police equipment and of course personal items.  The $30 a month that I spend to keep tabs on it (from fire as well) is very well spent.

[Lowprofile]

The best home security system in the world...............

[4402tuff4u]

The best home security system in the world...............

Exactly! I have the DOG system and it works pretty good! cheap for the most part, reliable and fun to have(oh, backed up with a Sig Sauer)!

[Wakko]

The best home security system in the world...............

A thin girl with nice legs and tight jeans?  Yeah, cause she'll keep you at home and nobody will break in then!!   

[Mudhawg]

I have my own home security system.  3 12 gauge shotguns, a 22 rifle, a 22 pistol, a 30-30 rifle and a .38 caliber pistol.  Works for me.

[bluesfool]

Personally I don't think they're worth it. Although they definitely have their (obvious) benefits, I think the cons outweigh the pros. A lot of communities are enacting installation taxes, as well as false alarm fines due to the huge ratio of false alarm calls to police/fire to the actual number of true alarm calls...false alarms are VERY common!  In order to make a property really "burglar proof", you need motion detectors and glass breakage detectors in addition to the standard package that these alarm companies will hook you in on...and of course, that rings the total bill up fairly substantially. What it comes down to is, how much are you willing to pay for peace of mind? Do you live in a community that gets a lot of police calls/activity? By the way, DO NOT believe the charts the alarm companies will show you.  I used to work for ADT and from what I've seen and experienced, these systems are more hassle than the average person might think. If you think you still want one, shop around! We have ADT where I work now and it's false alarmed and/or malfunctioned more times than I care to remember, plus ADT is one of the most (if not THE most) expensive alarm company out there.

[71_deputy]

AS SAID THERE ARE PRO'S AND CONS.

I've been in the security industry since 1983, with electronic degrees and other types of degrees. Security systems these days are 100 times better than 10 years ago due to changes in equipment and more so with motion detectors. how so??? 8-9 years ago I would be out 2-4 times a week at nights attending alarms- 90% due to motions going off. a door triggering is usually one that is not closed or locked correctly!!!!!!!! or cheap glass break detectors that should of not been installed the day they where put in!!

now with my own company with the changes in dual type motion detectors and better control panels- maybe once in 3-6 months I have to go out checking a alarm that maybe unexplained.

$45.00 a month!!!!  wow- maybe I should change my prices!!!!!!!! ADT is a co that mass sells their systems- they usually require a 3 year min sign up contract, if you break the contract you have to payup all what is left over. make sure what ever control panel they use can be reprogrammed by anyone else if you are not happy in 3 years- they sometimes use their own ADT controls that no one else can use!!!!!
( my pet pev !)
make sure you get a dual passive motion detectors- not the single ones as they will false!!!!
they have to service the equipment ( checkout their service call price- mine is $45.00/hour- in Toronto I have seen from 55 to 90 bucks!!/hr!!) read all the fine print on the back!!

don't cheap out too much for what you are protecting.

as a comparsion- average house- 2-3 doors, 2 motions, control, keypad, inside siren- installed about $ 600.00 and taxes and $18.00 and gst/month which equals about $1248.00 for the 3 years as the $45.00 for 3 years is $1620.00

check around for prices- smaller co's usually want to get good customers for the long haul and can provide just the same service.

John Mac

[Brock Samson]

mine was tied into the smoke alarm, and my ex, burned alot of dinners, breakfasts and lunches,.,  got so i was on a first name basis with the fire dept. "persons" who had to keep comming out,.. eventually they began charging me for these false alarms,.. it ended though, cause she's gone and I dont cook! 

<  that was me... lots'a rolled eyes when they pulled up sirens blaring,...   


"Paula burn the buns..  AGAIN?!" they'd holler...   her>  


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/01/16/BA207713.DTL&hw=false+alarms&sn=001&sc=1000

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/e/a/1997/01/27/NEWS5684.dtl&hw=false+alarms&sn=002&sc=989

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/01/21/BAG74AU3GU1.DTL&hw=false+alarms&sn=003&sc=834

[dodgecharger-fan]

That 71_Deputy guy. He knows stuff about security systems. 

There was an ADT system in my house when we moved in.

I kept it. Monitoring wasn't too bad. $24.95 - but I think it went up this year - I forget because I just pay the full year up front.

No problems at all except sometimes they don't call when we accidentally trip it. Sometimes they do.

I see they offer the two way voice type of system now. I wonder if it'd be worth the upgrade costs.

I did get to experience their service charger recently. We had new doors put in and I called them out to put new sensors in.
$45 flat travel fee.
$90 Labour
A few bucks for the parts.

When I had to have the doors ripped aout and fixed a few few weeks later, I reconnected the sensors myself. 

[gtx6970]

good idea, but its worthless when thief actually breaks into your house...

true,,,,,,,,,,,Untill the intruder decides to call your bluff.

I  have ADT system amnd it makes a LOT of noise when it goes off

[Headrope]

I've found the best way to deter theft is to not ask strangers publicly if security systems are worthwhile.  Doing so tends to suggest you do not have a system currently, have one but are not happy with it, or think you need more - all good things to know if you're a bad guy.

[Old Moparz]

I have one, it was installed by the previous owner who was broken into twice during the 18 months he lived here. He had the house built new & was burglarized once before it was finished, & once right after it was done. It turns out that one of the crack heads working for the builder did it. Freakin' lowlife was living in the house while he was working on it.    Took the kid's piggy bank, but left all the guns.

Anyway, the monitoring is for door contacts, motion sensors, & 3 smoke detectors, one on all three levels. The local company that monitors it, charges about $240 for the year, not $45 per month. You should check with a local outfit before you pay some national company their advertising fees. It was $180 per year in 1989 & really hasn't increased much at all.

I've had a few false alarms, most were sneaky cats walking in front of the motion sensors, & another time it was a faulty sensor. Only once did a silent panic alarm go off when a friend looking for the light switch pushed it. Had a party & BBQ, so when the cops showed up with their hands on their weapon, it livened things up some.   

Stickers with an alarm company name on your windows can be a good deterrant too.

[Steve P.]

I have 2 alarms. They are sisters.....

[89MOPAR]

  My suggestion is call ADT and ask what happens -  WHEN YOUR TELEPHONE LINE IS CUT.   
Hmmmm, you might have a little problem....... 

[dodge freak]

In good old Detroit people put bars up on the windows and doors. Works good but makes the house looks like a jail and if somebody fire bombs your house the firemen can not get inside fast enough to save you. Don't need no phone or even power to monitor them. Keeps the police from rushing in to the house also.

[greenpigs]

  My suggestion is call ADT and ask what happens -  WHEN YOUR TELEPHONE LINE IS CUT.   
Hmmmm, you might have a little problem....... 

Right

I don't have a land line and thats another what $20 a month, with the exception of the Charger I have little of value. Plus I keep the place clean and if you looked in the door you will just see a mostly empty house.

[Lowprofile]

The best home security system in the world...............

A thin girl with nice legs and tight jeans?  Yeah, cause she'll keep you at home and nobody will break in then!!   

HAHAHA! Leave it to a Cop!   You sir, are a dirty dog! lol

[Silver R/T]

I have my own home security system.  3 12 gauge shotguns, a 22 rifle, a 22 pistol, a 30-30 rifle and a .38 caliber pistol.  Works for me.

Ive got weapons too, but doesnt mean you can stay up all night waiting for crook to break in. At least alarm would wake you up.