home security alarm system, home
burglar alarm, home security alarms,
house security monitoring system,
perimeter monitoring alarm system
burglar alarm, home security alarms,
house security monitoring system,
perimeter monitoring alarm system
Want to buy a
Home Security
Alarm System?
Read the top guide on
Home Security Alarm
Systems and FIND
WHAT YOU'RE
LOOKING FOR!
Protect your family and home with a home
security alarm system. A good Home
Security Alarm System can effectively prevent
theft, break-ins and home intrusion while
you are at home or away from your home. Good
Home Security Alarm systems
can monitor your property and quickly alert
police in an effort to stop the burglar
in his tracks. Studies prove that a home with a
Home Security Alarm system is less
likely to be broken into than a home that does
not have one. Buying a Good Home Security
Alarm System is a wise investment and will
help protect you, your family and your prized
possessions. Learn all about Home Security
Systems in our featured Home Security Guide
below. Find out how to buy a Home Security
Alarm System and read the most important tips
onhow to make your home the safest place to
live. Become an expert before you buy via our
top guide!
A burglar home security alarm system can
bring you a sense of security and peace of
mind and is effective with proper installation,
adequate training and regular maintenance.
Poorly used, installed or maintained
systems can cause significant problems for
the consumer and law enforcement alike.
Therefore, it is important for consumers to do
their homework before buying or installing a
home security alarm system.
Do not buy out of fear! It is often our first
reaction after being burglarized, to purchase a
home security alarm system. Unfortunately,
this is when you are most vulnerable. Take your
time, and be sure you know what kind of home
security alarm system is right for you, what
environmental factors need to be taken into
consideration, and what your budget will allow
in terms of buying or leasing a home security
alarm system, as well as monthly monitoring
costs. Want to buy a Home Security
Alarm System?
Before purchasing a home security alarm
system, contact your local police department
and Better Business Bureau or Office of
Consumer Affairs. Some police departments
track the false alarm rates of alarm
companies. False alarms are an indicator of the
quality of the alarm installation and user
education. Consumer offices can usually tell
you the nature of and how many complaints
have been filed against an home security
alarm company with whom you may be
considering doing business. The consumer
office should also be able to tell you if those
filed complaints, if any, were satisfactorily
resolved or not.
You may then take the information you learn
from the above sources and make a much more
informed decision about the company you
select to install and monitor your home security
alarm system. Inquire if your state requires
home security alarm companies to be licensed.
Some police departments require
local licensing, which may be in addition to any
licensing required on a state level. If the alarm
company or its employees are not licensed as
required, they may not have submitted to
background and fingerprint checks or even be
qualified to install a home security alarm
system. To protect your rights, be
sure all required licenses and permits have
been obtained. Want to buy a Home Security
Alarm System?
If your home security alarm system will be
monitored, either by your installing company or
by a third-party monitoring center, be sure to
find out the length of the contract. Typically,
monitoring contracts are between two to five
years in length. What is your recourse if you
are not satisfied with the services provided?
Can you cancel the contract? What are your
rights if your monitoring company is
purchased or acquired by another home
security alarm company? These are the types
of questions you need to consider before you
obligate yourself to a long-term contract. Most
important, read and understand your entire
contract before signing it. Want to buy a Home
Security Alarm System?
The following has been developed in an effort to
aid you in the selection of a home security
alarm company and home security alarm
system components and provides you with a
guideline of the types of questions you should
ask. Be a smart consumer! Comparison shop
for things such as best price, features you
want, most favorable monitoring terms and
conditions, and for home security alarm
companies that take false alarms seriously and
have false alarm reduction plans in effect. Talk
with at least two different home security alarm
companies and get written estimates. . Want
to buy a Home Security Alarm System?.
Is this company and its employees licensed by
your state and/or local police jurisdictions?
Have you checked with the local Better
Business Bureau or Consumer Affairs Office
regarding any complaints against this
company? Will the home security alarm
company provide references?
Which monitoring company do they use; where
are they located and do you have their phone
number?
Is there a local representative for this
company? What is their verification policy –
will their monitoring company verify on all
calls? Want to buy a Home Security Alarm
System? What is their cancellation policy – will
their monitoring company attempt to cancel the
call with the police department? How long has
this company been in business?
Did the home security alarm company
guarantee police response time? (Home
Security Alarm companies have no control over
this.) Have you inquired regarding the company’
s false alarm rate from your local police
department? If so, what is it? Is the home
security alarm promoting use of panic
features? (911 is the preferred method to
contact police in most situations.) Will you
have a trial testing period during which you can
practice using your home security alarm
system without worrying about
police being dispatched? What are the
requirements for your home security alarm
user permits or registrations, if any? What are
the fines, fees, and penalties for false alarms, if
any?
Home Security Alarm System Contract What is
the length of the contract?
Is there a warranty and for how long on the
installation? What is your recourse if you are
not satisfied with the services provided? Can
you cancel your contract? Are all promises
made by the sales representative located in
writing within the contract? Home Security
Alarm System Costs
What is the cost of the home security alarm
system? (get itemization)
Would you be purchasing or leasing the home
security alarm system?
What is the cost of an annual service contract?
If no maintenance agreement, what is the
charge for service calls, labor, parts, mileage?
Response time for service calls?Does the
monitoring company charge for calls to your
local police jurisdiction? How much is the
monthly monitoring fee?
Will the home security alarm company pay the
false alarm fines caused by faulty installation,
equipment or technician error? Want to buy a
Home Security Alarm System?
System Components
How many window and/or door contacts?
How many motion detectors are recommended
and are they dual technology?
Are there pets, plants, heating, cooling in the
environment, which may affect installation of
motion
detectors?
How many sirens?
Does the home security alarm system have
dual technology glass break detectors?
Does the home security alarm system include
exterior lighting?
Is closed circuit TV an option?
Are there voice and/or video verification
capabilities? (Keep in mind, this may not
increase police
response time.) Want to buy a Home Security
Alarm System?
There are a plethora of causes of false alarms
ranging from employees, cleaning crews,
relatives with a key to your home and no
knowledge of your home security alarm
system, cats, dogs, rodents, spiders, kids,
balloons, open windows, unlatched doors and
even iguanas. User error and a lack of adequate
training, questionable system designs and
equipment installation practices cause a
significant amount of false alarms to which law
enforcement responds.
Home Security Alarm companies have no
control over response time and the fact that
your local police officers may be involved in
other life endangering situation calls when your
alarm signal sounds. Some cities
have lowered alarm calls, due to their high
false rate, to a priority so low that police only
respond if no other police activity is occurring.
Competition among alarm companies can be
fierce. Be sure you know what you are buying,
how much it will cost, and the
level of support you will receive after you are a
customer. Being an informed consumer and
cognizant of your responsibilities and those of
your home security alarm company will help
you decide what system and features are right
for you. Want to buy a Home Security Alarm
System?
Alarm System Info-BASE
Cancellation: Your home security alarm
company and/or monitoring company calls your
law enforcement agency to notify that there is
not an emergency at the alarm site requiring
law enforcement presence. (This is call back to
law enforcement after an initial request for
dispatch.) Many law enforcement agencies
do not issue false alarm fines on a canceled
police dispatch.
Dual Technology Glass Break Sensors: Uses
two sensors that combine two different
technologies to listen for the sound waves of
glass breaking. These are generally believed to
be more reliable and less prone to false
alarms. Want to buy a Home Security Alarm
System?
Dual Technology Motion Sensors: Uses two
different technologies to detect motion. The
most common devices require heat and motion
to set off the alarm. These are generally
believed to be more reliable and less prone to
false alarms.
False Alarm Rates: Your local law enforcement
may have the software capability to track the
number of false alarms from customers of a
particular alarm company. This rating would
indicate how well one alarm company does
against other local alarm companies in the
area of false alarms.
Leasing an Alarm System: Rental of alarm
equipment for a period of time. At the end of the
contract, the alarm company may remove
equipment if the contract is cancelled. Want to
buy a Home Security Alarm System?
Monitoring: This location is usually referred to
as the “Central Station” and may be located in
another state. The operator receives your
alarm signal and contacts your local law
enforcement agency to request a dispatch to
your alarm site.
Panic Features: These features include silent
hold-up, duress and panic devices. Hold-up
buttons are silent signals traditionally used in
commercial establishments to notify
authorities of a robbery in progress. The
duress feature is forwarded to the monitoring
station from a code on the keypad, not
the regular pass code. The panic feature is an
audible signal usually triggered from pressing a
marked button on the alarm keypad. Want to
buy a Home Security Alarm System?
Permits or Registration: Many law enforcement
agencies require the alarm user or the alarm
company to obtain a permit or registration to
operate an home security alarm system. Some
are renewable andothers do not expire until the
alarm user changes. A fee may be charged.
Voice Verification: Some alarm systems rely on
an intercom system for communication
between the monitoring company and the
alarm user rather than the traditional telephone
line. Want to buy a Home Security Alarm
System?
Burglar Proofing your home
This means first becoming more security
conscious about your home and belongings,
For instance, a flashy life style with jewels and
furs on conspicuous display is an open
invitation to a thief, Enjoy your possessions, but
“if you've got it, don't flaunt it,” You may wind up
without it, in addition, observe some simple
security measures:
Want to buy a Home Security Alarm System?
.Check and lock doors when leaving your home.
.Have neighbors or relatives watch your house.
Also inform local police how long you'll be away
so they, too, can keep an eye on your home.
.Organize a neighborhood Crime Watch for an
effective, simple self-help program. (Ask your
police department for more information.)
.Stop delivery of mail (or have a neighbor take it
in every day), newspapers, milk, etc.
.Arrange to have your lawn mowed or snow
shoveled.
Install three or four timers that turn lamps on at
dusk and off at bedtime. Do NOT have all lights
on and offat the same times; this is too obvious
to a potential burglar. Want to buy a Home
Security Alarm System?
.Turn your telephone bells down so they cannot
be heard from outside. Also install a radio or TV
timer to turn on and off during the day and
evening.
.Have a neighbor change window shade and
curtain positions at least once a day. Install a
photoelectric cell switch or socket on all
outdoor lighting. Good lighting (front, rear and
side yards; garage) helps keep
prowlers away.
.Lock ladders and outdoor furniture in a shed or
garage to prevent their use as steps to an
upper-level window.
.Don't advertise a coming vacation in the
society section of the local newspaper.
.Secure each outside door with a dead-bolt
lock, and sliding doors with a cut-off broom
handle placed in the inside track, with a Charley
bar or with a spring loaded latching device
designed for this purpose (an easy
do-it-yourself job).
.Make sure all windows have strong double
latch protection. In double hung windows the
secondary latch can be a nail or pin placed in a
downward slanting hole you have drilled
through both frames where the frames
overlap.
.In apartments and some homes consider the
installation of fire department - approved
security gates for windows accessible to fire
escapes and the street.
.All foundation shrubs and trees should be kept
low trimmed, so as not to provide cover and
camouflage for a burglar.
.With an electric engraving tool, mark valuable
TV sets, stereos, jewelry, etc. with your Social
Security number or any other label. (Many
communities have a Project Identification
program that provides the tools.
Local police will keep a list of your engraved
valuables.)
.Don't keep spare keys in mailboxes, under
mats, on top of doorframes or in planters.
Burglars know all the
“good” spots. Give a spare key to a trusted
neighbor instead.
.Don't tag keys with your name or address.
.Rent a safe-deposit box in a bank. It's more
secure than a home safe. Want to buy a Home
Security Alarm System?
.Agree to watch your neighbors' homes and
have them watch yours.
If you decide that you need additional
protection, you may want to consider the
installation of a home security
alarm system. This could be simple or
complex: from a $12 battery operated vibration
alarm that hangs on the
inside of an entry door (it gives an alarm if the
door is touched or jarred) to a $10,000 custom
designed home
security system (with space-age electronic
components chat secure against burglary.
detect fire and smoke,
summon medical assistance), Before you can
determine the kind of security system you
need, the following things must be considered:
.Access doors. Door break-ins are the most
common type of break-in in homes and
apartments,.Windows, Each one presents a
possible means of entry, especially chose at
ground and basement level and
those opening on terraces, porches and roofs.
Windows at upper levels can also be vulnerable
(when reached by climbing a tree or a ladder
thoughtlessly left outside).
.How much can you, will you, spend for your
particular “peace of mind”? Professionals in
law enforcement and in the home security
industry suggest that 1% - 2% of the combined
worth of your house and personal
possessions would provide an effective
system. Want to buy a Home Security Alarm
System?
There are three basic components to all alarm
security systems. Sensors, or detectors,
are sophisticated devices that detect unwanted
entry. They do this through various
kinds of sensing instruments: electronic,
electromechanical, radar or microwave, audio
and motion/vibration, photoelectric. Detectors
work by either breaking an electric
current, completing an electric circuit or
transmitting a detectable signal to a control
unit. Want to buy a Home Security Alarm
System?
Control units are the core of most security
alarm systems. They receive
information of a disturbance from the sensors,
and this triggers an alarm or alarms.
Alarms are internal or external bells, horns or
sirens, designed to make a great noise and
scare off the intruder. The noise is continuous
or in timed sequences. Some alarm systems
include switching devices that can turn on
outside and interior lights. Other systems can
be connected to an automatic
telephone dialing device that calls a local police
station or central monitoring station. And if a
heat sensing device is attached to an alarm
system dialing device, in the event of a fire it
can call a fire department. Want to buy a Home
Security Alarm System?
Generally, home security alarm systems are
classified into two broad categories, perimeter
systems and interior space detectors.
Perimeter systems consist of various sensing
devices placed on the primary protection
locations, the windows and doors. Devices on
chest ports of entry are intended to keep
intruders nut of your home. Different types of
sensors include magnetic detectors, recessed
switch detectors in door and window frames
and glass breaking detectors. When
anyone of these devices signals the breaking of
glass or the opening of a door or window, the
control unit activates the alarm.
Interior space detectors provide a secondary
protection system. Among these, detectors are
pressure mats. They can be placed under rugs
or carpers of entryways or near valuable items
such as pictures, TVs, Hi-Fis and so on. Many
people place these mats along interior
passageways or at the bottom of stairs.
Ultrasonic motion detectors fill a room with
high frequency sound waves. Want to buy a
Home Security Alarm System?
Disturbance or movement of any kind triggers
the alarm. These detectors aren't
recommended for houses with pets that
wander around or for houses with central air
conditioning or forced air hearing
systems. Audio detectors respond to specific
sounds created by an intruder: breaking or
splintering wood, shattering glass, moving
furniture. Infrared photoelectric sensors
project a light beam between two points, and
anything breaking the beam triggers the alarm.
These devices, the ubiquitous “electric eye”,
are popular for protecting entryways, hallways
and large open spaces.
In addition to the basic systems, which can be
custom mixed and matched to fit your particular
security needs, there are several fancy options
that can be integrated into home alarm
systems. For example, the battery backup
gives continuous power for your alarm system
if there is a power failure or if wiring is cut by a
potential predator. Want to buy a Home
Security Alarm System? Remote panic button
provide you with remote control to trigger an
alarm if a burglar gets into
your house, if there's a fire or other emergency
or if you think someone's in your house when
you arrive home.
Temperature monitoring devices check the
temperature to assure that if it goes below a
specified level an alarm sounds, alerting a
neighbor to have your heating system checked.
The device can also be connected to a dialing
system, to notify the person responsible for
your house.
This feature is particularly useful in vacation
homes or for the times you go away on an
extended trip. Want to buy a Home Security
Alarm System?
Remote alarm/central station systems, a
commercial service, transmit alarm signals to a
private security company or to round-the-clock
operators who monitor the system and alert
police officers to a potential burglary or fire.
Prices vary throughout the country, but can
include an initial fee for the transmitter and a
monthly monitoring fee.
Remote control panel and locking devices are
available. Your security systems dealer or local
sales outlet can provide you with catalogs and
information.
A final word or two… Don't rush or be
pressured into the purchase of a security
alarm system. Shop around,
compare prices, talk to neighbors who have
already installed such systems, and absolutely
avoid door-to-door salespeople. If you're
selecting a firm, be sure that it has established
a reputation for honesty and reliability.
Check with your local Better Business Bureau
or police to verify the credentials of any
company or contractor. Want to buy a Home
Security Alarm System?
Many police departments also give free
security evaluations. We hope that, whatever
level of home security you decide to install,
you'll never need to sound the alarm. May
your house, indeed, be safe from burglars.
Want to buy a Home Security Alarm
System?
Home Security
Alarm System?
Read the top guide on
Home Security Alarm
Systems and FIND
WHAT YOU'RE
LOOKING FOR!
Protect your family and home with a home
security alarm system. A good Home
Security Alarm System can effectively prevent
theft, break-ins and home intrusion while
you are at home or away from your home. Good
Home Security Alarm systems
can monitor your property and quickly alert
police in an effort to stop the burglar
in his tracks. Studies prove that a home with a
Home Security Alarm system is less
likely to be broken into than a home that does
not have one. Buying a Good Home Security
Alarm System is a wise investment and will
help protect you, your family and your prized
possessions. Learn all about Home Security
Systems in our featured Home Security Guide
below. Find out how to buy a Home Security
Alarm System and read the most important tips
onhow to make your home the safest place to
live. Become an expert before you buy via our
top guide!
A burglar home security alarm system can
bring you a sense of security and peace of
mind and is effective with proper installation,
adequate training and regular maintenance.
Poorly used, installed or maintained
systems can cause significant problems for
the consumer and law enforcement alike.
Therefore, it is important for consumers to do
their homework before buying or installing a
home security alarm system.
Do not buy out of fear! It is often our first
reaction after being burglarized, to purchase a
home security alarm system. Unfortunately,
this is when you are most vulnerable. Take your
time, and be sure you know what kind of home
security alarm system is right for you, what
environmental factors need to be taken into
consideration, and what your budget will allow
in terms of buying or leasing a home security
alarm system, as well as monthly monitoring
costs. Want to buy a Home Security
Alarm System?
Before purchasing a home security alarm
system, contact your local police department
and Better Business Bureau or Office of
Consumer Affairs. Some police departments
track the false alarm rates of alarm
companies. False alarms are an indicator of the
quality of the alarm installation and user
education. Consumer offices can usually tell
you the nature of and how many complaints
have been filed against an home security
alarm company with whom you may be
considering doing business. The consumer
office should also be able to tell you if those
filed complaints, if any, were satisfactorily
resolved or not.
You may then take the information you learn
from the above sources and make a much more
informed decision about the company you
select to install and monitor your home security
alarm system. Inquire if your state requires
home security alarm companies to be licensed.
Some police departments require
local licensing, which may be in addition to any
licensing required on a state level. If the alarm
company or its employees are not licensed as
required, they may not have submitted to
background and fingerprint checks or even be
qualified to install a home security alarm
system. To protect your rights, be
sure all required licenses and permits have
been obtained. Want to buy a Home Security
Alarm System?
If your home security alarm system will be
monitored, either by your installing company or
by a third-party monitoring center, be sure to
find out the length of the contract. Typically,
monitoring contracts are between two to five
years in length. What is your recourse if you
are not satisfied with the services provided?
Can you cancel the contract? What are your
rights if your monitoring company is
purchased or acquired by another home
security alarm company? These are the types
of questions you need to consider before you
obligate yourself to a long-term contract. Most
important, read and understand your entire
contract before signing it. Want to buy a Home
Security Alarm System?
The following has been developed in an effort to
aid you in the selection of a home security
alarm company and home security alarm
system components and provides you with a
guideline of the types of questions you should
ask. Be a smart consumer! Comparison shop
for things such as best price, features you
want, most favorable monitoring terms and
conditions, and for home security alarm
companies that take false alarms seriously and
have false alarm reduction plans in effect. Talk
with at least two different home security alarm
companies and get written estimates. . Want
to buy a Home Security Alarm System?.
Is this company and its employees licensed by
your state and/or local police jurisdictions?
Have you checked with the local Better
Business Bureau or Consumer Affairs Office
regarding any complaints against this
company? Will the home security alarm
company provide references?
Which monitoring company do they use; where
are they located and do you have their phone
number?
Is there a local representative for this
company? What is their verification policy –
will their monitoring company verify on all
calls? Want to buy a Home Security Alarm
System? What is their cancellation policy – will
their monitoring company attempt to cancel the
call with the police department? How long has
this company been in business?
Did the home security alarm company
guarantee police response time? (Home
Security Alarm companies have no control over
this.) Have you inquired regarding the company’
s false alarm rate from your local police
department? If so, what is it? Is the home
security alarm promoting use of panic
features? (911 is the preferred method to
contact police in most situations.) Will you
have a trial testing period during which you can
practice using your home security alarm
system without worrying about
police being dispatched? What are the
requirements for your home security alarm
user permits or registrations, if any? What are
the fines, fees, and penalties for false alarms, if
any?
Home Security Alarm System Contract What is
the length of the contract?
Is there a warranty and for how long on the
installation? What is your recourse if you are
not satisfied with the services provided? Can
you cancel your contract? Are all promises
made by the sales representative located in
writing within the contract? Home Security
Alarm System Costs
What is the cost of the home security alarm
system? (get itemization)
Would you be purchasing or leasing the home
security alarm system?
What is the cost of an annual service contract?
If no maintenance agreement, what is the
charge for service calls, labor, parts, mileage?
Response time for service calls?Does the
monitoring company charge for calls to your
local police jurisdiction? How much is the
monthly monitoring fee?
Will the home security alarm company pay the
false alarm fines caused by faulty installation,
equipment or technician error? Want to buy a
Home Security Alarm System?
System Components
How many window and/or door contacts?
How many motion detectors are recommended
and are they dual technology?
Are there pets, plants, heating, cooling in the
environment, which may affect installation of
motion
detectors?
How many sirens?
Does the home security alarm system have
dual technology glass break detectors?
Does the home security alarm system include
exterior lighting?
Is closed circuit TV an option?
Are there voice and/or video verification
capabilities? (Keep in mind, this may not
increase police
response time.) Want to buy a Home Security
Alarm System?
There are a plethora of causes of false alarms
ranging from employees, cleaning crews,
relatives with a key to your home and no
knowledge of your home security alarm
system, cats, dogs, rodents, spiders, kids,
balloons, open windows, unlatched doors and
even iguanas. User error and a lack of adequate
training, questionable system designs and
equipment installation practices cause a
significant amount of false alarms to which law
enforcement responds.
Home Security Alarm companies have no
control over response time and the fact that
your local police officers may be involved in
other life endangering situation calls when your
alarm signal sounds. Some cities
have lowered alarm calls, due to their high
false rate, to a priority so low that police only
respond if no other police activity is occurring.
Competition among alarm companies can be
fierce. Be sure you know what you are buying,
how much it will cost, and the
level of support you will receive after you are a
customer. Being an informed consumer and
cognizant of your responsibilities and those of
your home security alarm company will help
you decide what system and features are right
for you. Want to buy a Home Security Alarm
System?
Alarm System Info-BASE
Cancellation: Your home security alarm
company and/or monitoring company calls your
law enforcement agency to notify that there is
not an emergency at the alarm site requiring
law enforcement presence. (This is call back to
law enforcement after an initial request for
dispatch.) Many law enforcement agencies
do not issue false alarm fines on a canceled
police dispatch.
Dual Technology Glass Break Sensors: Uses
two sensors that combine two different
technologies to listen for the sound waves of
glass breaking. These are generally believed to
be more reliable and less prone to false
alarms. Want to buy a Home Security Alarm
System?
Dual Technology Motion Sensors: Uses two
different technologies to detect motion. The
most common devices require heat and motion
to set off the alarm. These are generally
believed to be more reliable and less prone to
false alarms.
False Alarm Rates: Your local law enforcement
may have the software capability to track the
number of false alarms from customers of a
particular alarm company. This rating would
indicate how well one alarm company does
against other local alarm companies in the
area of false alarms.
Leasing an Alarm System: Rental of alarm
equipment for a period of time. At the end of the
contract, the alarm company may remove
equipment if the contract is cancelled. Want to
buy a Home Security Alarm System?
Monitoring: This location is usually referred to
as the “Central Station” and may be located in
another state. The operator receives your
alarm signal and contacts your local law
enforcement agency to request a dispatch to
your alarm site.
Panic Features: These features include silent
hold-up, duress and panic devices. Hold-up
buttons are silent signals traditionally used in
commercial establishments to notify
authorities of a robbery in progress. The
duress feature is forwarded to the monitoring
station from a code on the keypad, not
the regular pass code. The panic feature is an
audible signal usually triggered from pressing a
marked button on the alarm keypad. Want to
buy a Home Security Alarm System?
Permits or Registration: Many law enforcement
agencies require the alarm user or the alarm
company to obtain a permit or registration to
operate an home security alarm system. Some
are renewable andothers do not expire until the
alarm user changes. A fee may be charged.
Voice Verification: Some alarm systems rely on
an intercom system for communication
between the monitoring company and the
alarm user rather than the traditional telephone
line. Want to buy a Home Security Alarm
System?
Burglar Proofing your home
This means first becoming more security
conscious about your home and belongings,
For instance, a flashy life style with jewels and
furs on conspicuous display is an open
invitation to a thief, Enjoy your possessions, but
“if you've got it, don't flaunt it,” You may wind up
without it, in addition, observe some simple
security measures:
Want to buy a Home Security Alarm System?
.Check and lock doors when leaving your home.
.Have neighbors or relatives watch your house.
Also inform local police how long you'll be away
so they, too, can keep an eye on your home.
.Organize a neighborhood Crime Watch for an
effective, simple self-help program. (Ask your
police department for more information.)
.Stop delivery of mail (or have a neighbor take it
in every day), newspapers, milk, etc.
.Arrange to have your lawn mowed or snow
shoveled.
Install three or four timers that turn lamps on at
dusk and off at bedtime. Do NOT have all lights
on and offat the same times; this is too obvious
to a potential burglar. Want to buy a Home
Security Alarm System?
.Turn your telephone bells down so they cannot
be heard from outside. Also install a radio or TV
timer to turn on and off during the day and
evening.
.Have a neighbor change window shade and
curtain positions at least once a day. Install a
photoelectric cell switch or socket on all
outdoor lighting. Good lighting (front, rear and
side yards; garage) helps keep
prowlers away.
.Lock ladders and outdoor furniture in a shed or
garage to prevent their use as steps to an
upper-level window.
.Don't advertise a coming vacation in the
society section of the local newspaper.
.Secure each outside door with a dead-bolt
lock, and sliding doors with a cut-off broom
handle placed in the inside track, with a Charley
bar or with a spring loaded latching device
designed for this purpose (an easy
do-it-yourself job).
.Make sure all windows have strong double
latch protection. In double hung windows the
secondary latch can be a nail or pin placed in a
downward slanting hole you have drilled
through both frames where the frames
overlap.
.In apartments and some homes consider the
installation of fire department - approved
security gates for windows accessible to fire
escapes and the street.
.All foundation shrubs and trees should be kept
low trimmed, so as not to provide cover and
camouflage for a burglar.
.With an electric engraving tool, mark valuable
TV sets, stereos, jewelry, etc. with your Social
Security number or any other label. (Many
communities have a Project Identification
program that provides the tools.
Local police will keep a list of your engraved
valuables.)
.Don't keep spare keys in mailboxes, under
mats, on top of doorframes or in planters.
Burglars know all the
“good” spots. Give a spare key to a trusted
neighbor instead.
.Don't tag keys with your name or address.
.Rent a safe-deposit box in a bank. It's more
secure than a home safe. Want to buy a Home
Security Alarm System?
.Agree to watch your neighbors' homes and
have them watch yours.
If you decide that you need additional
protection, you may want to consider the
installation of a home security
alarm system. This could be simple or
complex: from a $12 battery operated vibration
alarm that hangs on the
inside of an entry door (it gives an alarm if the
door is touched or jarred) to a $10,000 custom
designed home
security system (with space-age electronic
components chat secure against burglary.
detect fire and smoke,
summon medical assistance), Before you can
determine the kind of security system you
need, the following things must be considered:
.Access doors. Door break-ins are the most
common type of break-in in homes and
apartments,.Windows, Each one presents a
possible means of entry, especially chose at
ground and basement level and
those opening on terraces, porches and roofs.
Windows at upper levels can also be vulnerable
(when reached by climbing a tree or a ladder
thoughtlessly left outside).
.How much can you, will you, spend for your
particular “peace of mind”? Professionals in
law enforcement and in the home security
industry suggest that 1% - 2% of the combined
worth of your house and personal
possessions would provide an effective
system. Want to buy a Home Security Alarm
System?
There are three basic components to all alarm
security systems. Sensors, or detectors,
are sophisticated devices that detect unwanted
entry. They do this through various
kinds of sensing instruments: electronic,
electromechanical, radar or microwave, audio
and motion/vibration, photoelectric. Detectors
work by either breaking an electric
current, completing an electric circuit or
transmitting a detectable signal to a control
unit. Want to buy a Home Security Alarm
System?
Control units are the core of most security
alarm systems. They receive
information of a disturbance from the sensors,
and this triggers an alarm or alarms.
Alarms are internal or external bells, horns or
sirens, designed to make a great noise and
scare off the intruder. The noise is continuous
or in timed sequences. Some alarm systems
include switching devices that can turn on
outside and interior lights. Other systems can
be connected to an automatic
telephone dialing device that calls a local police
station or central monitoring station. And if a
heat sensing device is attached to an alarm
system dialing device, in the event of a fire it
can call a fire department. Want to buy a Home
Security Alarm System?
Generally, home security alarm systems are
classified into two broad categories, perimeter
systems and interior space detectors.
Perimeter systems consist of various sensing
devices placed on the primary protection
locations, the windows and doors. Devices on
chest ports of entry are intended to keep
intruders nut of your home. Different types of
sensors include magnetic detectors, recessed
switch detectors in door and window frames
and glass breaking detectors. When
anyone of these devices signals the breaking of
glass or the opening of a door or window, the
control unit activates the alarm.
Interior space detectors provide a secondary
protection system. Among these, detectors are
pressure mats. They can be placed under rugs
or carpers of entryways or near valuable items
such as pictures, TVs, Hi-Fis and so on. Many
people place these mats along interior
passageways or at the bottom of stairs.
Ultrasonic motion detectors fill a room with
high frequency sound waves. Want to buy a
Home Security Alarm System?
Disturbance or movement of any kind triggers
the alarm. These detectors aren't
recommended for houses with pets that
wander around or for houses with central air
conditioning or forced air hearing
systems. Audio detectors respond to specific
sounds created by an intruder: breaking or
splintering wood, shattering glass, moving
furniture. Infrared photoelectric sensors
project a light beam between two points, and
anything breaking the beam triggers the alarm.
These devices, the ubiquitous “electric eye”,
are popular for protecting entryways, hallways
and large open spaces.
In addition to the basic systems, which can be
custom mixed and matched to fit your particular
security needs, there are several fancy options
that can be integrated into home alarm
systems. For example, the battery backup
gives continuous power for your alarm system
if there is a power failure or if wiring is cut by a
potential predator. Want to buy a Home
Security Alarm System? Remote panic button
provide you with remote control to trigger an
alarm if a burglar gets into
your house, if there's a fire or other emergency
or if you think someone's in your house when
you arrive home.
Temperature monitoring devices check the
temperature to assure that if it goes below a
specified level an alarm sounds, alerting a
neighbor to have your heating system checked.
The device can also be connected to a dialing
system, to notify the person responsible for
your house.
This feature is particularly useful in vacation
homes or for the times you go away on an
extended trip. Want to buy a Home Security
Alarm System?
Remote alarm/central station systems, a
commercial service, transmit alarm signals to a
private security company or to round-the-clock
operators who monitor the system and alert
police officers to a potential burglary or fire.
Prices vary throughout the country, but can
include an initial fee for the transmitter and a
monthly monitoring fee.
Remote control panel and locking devices are
available. Your security systems dealer or local
sales outlet can provide you with catalogs and
information.
A final word or two… Don't rush or be
pressured into the purchase of a security
alarm system. Shop around,
compare prices, talk to neighbors who have
already installed such systems, and absolutely
avoid door-to-door salespeople. If you're
selecting a firm, be sure that it has established
a reputation for honesty and reliability.
Check with your local Better Business Bureau
or police to verify the credentials of any
company or contractor. Want to buy a Home
Security Alarm System?
Many police departments also give free
security evaluations. We hope that, whatever
level of home security you decide to install,
you'll never need to sound the alarm. May
your house, indeed, be safe from burglars.
Want to buy a Home Security Alarm
System?
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site is updated
hourly.
Visit us daily to
get the best deals!
