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POLL: Best Home Security System?

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

Everyone wants to make sure their home and family is safe. What do you think the best home security system is?

Share your experience! (photos encouraged)

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Other - Tell us below!

Featured Answer

kathleen MK

9 years ago

My favorite is called the Redneck security system. I hope I can repeat all the subtle details.
Start with four large metal dog bowls. Beat them with a hammer for a worn look and place them on the porch with a couple of large pairs of men's work boots and a few copies of Guns and Ammo.
Then tape this note on the door:
Hey Bubba,
Me and Cooter just left to get some more beer and ammo. Wait right here and don't go in the house. I had to put the dogs inside cuz them got the mailman again and tore him up real bad. No sure if your hound Blue was involved but they all were a bloody mess so I put them all in different room. Back soon.
Billy Ray
I read this as a big joke, but have heard single women should leave a man's hat or shoes out to make it look like they are not alone if a stranger comes to the door.

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Comments (252)

susiszoo
9 years ago
Yes unless you are surrounded by rednecks then they just carry on.
marthajeanhowell
9 years ago
Our home was set up with a security system when we built the house 20 years ago, but we never used it. Then we decided to have it activated to an outside company a couple of years ago. We were on the road a lot since we retired and live on a river green belt and decided there was a definite risk. We were on a trip only a couple of months later and got a call that our system had triggered an alarm and that the police had been called! Five police cars and police dog were at the scene and my daughter let them in the house. A couple of windows had been damaged but no one got in because of the loud alarm! The police met a stranger coming back in our backyard. He had hid his bike down by the river. Needless to say he was eventually convicted of attempted burglary! We were hooked and definitely believe in an alarm system, especially if your home is in an area like ours!
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Comments (28)
Admittedly, I'm more interested in a solid house than in bells and whistles that can break down and become outdated, but a security system isn't something upon which I'd spend money. Consider: A security system won't stop burglars from breaking into your house. It'll just alert the police that it has happened. Most burglaries happen FAST, and by the time the police arrive, the crooks are already gone. You MIGHT have pictures of the thieves, but more likely they'll have been smart enough to cover their faces. The biggest thing a security system is likely to give you is a discount on your insurance. Do the math and see how long it'll take you to "make back" the upfront cost of installation, and make an informed decision. And I would NEVER go for the type of system that has visual monitoring inside my house. Do I want the people at ADT (or whatever) knowing when I'm home? If I were a thief, I'd get myself a job at ADT and call my thief-friends, saying, "Hey, the Johnsons are gone. Here's their address." The poster who commented that everyone lives in a "safe neighborhood" . . . until something happens is right. Anyone can ride through your safe neighborhood -- even if it's gated. My oldest child was good buddies with a kid who lived in a gated community, and I never had any trouble driving her over to the friend's house . . . and getting in without help from her friend's grandparents. If I can do it, certainly a dishonest person can figure it out. Instead of spending on a security system, I'd look into the low-tech methods of home security, which are more likely to PREVENT the burglary: - Focus on a good, solid front door: Not too much glass and a deadbolt lock. Though they're lovely, avoid sidelights; they open you to danger in two ways: 1) a thief can break them, reach in and open your deadbolt. 2) if you have only a 2x4 between the door and the sidelight, a strong thief with a ram of some sort can break it and enter your house. Also choose a door that's visible to the road -- avoid plans that place your front door "deep" in a cave-like entry, and avoid landscaping that hides your door from the street. Though you want a strong front door, it's not the place the thieves are most likely to break in: They don't want a nosy neighbor to see them busting down a door, and they don't want the damaged door to sit there all day declaring, "A crime has been committed here!" - Don't neglect the back door. Thieves like to ring the front bell to see if you're home, but they're then likely to go around the back (where it's more private) to break in. Plus your back door is more likely to be a sliding glass door or a French door. Sliding glass doors are pretty thick, and it takes a strong thief to put a piece of firewood through them -- though it is possible. French doors tend to offer less security. Lots of people have good, solid deadbolts on the front door . . . but less security on the back door. And if you have a privacy fence (or a deep covered porch) in your back yard, the thief can probably go about his business in comfort, knowing that the neighbors aren't going to see him breaking your windows or back door. No matter what you do, your back door is probably your weakest point -- and we have to balance comfort and light with security concerns. - If you have an attached garage, put effort into that entrance. An experienced thief LOVES to get into a garage (probably through a man-door that has only a piddly little lock) because then he can take his time breaking in through your kitchen door. No neighbor will see him in the privacy of your garage! No lie: My in-laws bought a house that had ONLY an interior door -- yeah, just like your bedroom door! -- separating their kitchen from the garage. They changed that before they moved in. The point: Be sure your garage is just as secure as your house, and you have a deadbolt on your kitchen entrance door. - If your doors are secure, the thieves are likely to go on down the road to someone else's house, but don't neglect your first-floor windows -- especially if they're the tall type that a person could potentially step through easily. Be sure they're locked. Plant sticky-bushes like Holly or roses under them to make thieves reconsider entering that way. Or consider decorative bars, though that could constitute a fire hazard. - Do you own a ladder? Be sure it's locked up in your shed or garage. Don't offer thieves a way to get to your (often less protected) upstairs windows. - Try to plan your house so that your big-screen TV isn't visible from the front door (i.e., through sidelites or to a person who might be delivering packages). Don't give thieves a reason to choose you. - A safe inside the house will deter even experienced robbers. They want to get in and out of your house quickly. They're wise to ideas like hiding your money in the freezer, and they know that if you have a safe, it's probably in your master closet . . . but they're going to grab your electronics, guns, medicines . . . and GET OUT rather than wasting their time with a safe they probably can't enter anyway. A safe set into the floor or built into the wall can't easily be carried away to be opened later at their leisure. A safe is relatively inexpensive, and it's a one-time cost. - Automatic lights are inexpensive to install (the one in my pantry cost about $15, though exterior quality would cost more) and don't require monthly fees. No thief wants lights, and a light coming on suddenly inside the house and outside the house might convince the would-be-thief that someone is in the house (even if they aren't opening the door). Most thieves want in and out of the house FAST, and they don't want to meet any homeowners. - Plenty of studies have shown that a dog is the best deterrent to a break-in. Not everyone is interested in owning a dog and not every dog is a real deterrent, but just the presence of a dog will make many thieves go on down the road to another house. - If you have lots of nice steal-able stuff, increase your insurance. It's all replaceable. Most of the time people who rob individual homes are small-time crooks who are looking for things that're easy to sell: Electronics and guns. And drugs. LOTS of home burglaries are committed by people who are on drugs, and they'll clear out your medicine cabinet. But few home robberies are personal: That is, few robbers specifically know that you have ______, and they're going to come steal it. - Consider putting up fake cameras or fake security system stickers. You can buy some fairly good fake things that'll deter the thieves, and that's the real goal. Remember: Most robberies are crimes of opportunity. Most of us will never be targeted specifically; rather, the thieves will look at a row of houses and pick the one that looks easiest. If you offer some solid resistance, they'll move on to easier pickings. And most robberies are FAST -- less than 10-15 minutes.
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Comments (16)
Noise and light are a major deterrent to illegal entry, whatever the motive is. My back up is a loaded 357 magnum, just in case I need help before I can get police to respond. I have motion sensors on three sides of my house and the front has landscape lighting bright enough to make any uninvited person(s) uncomfortable prowling around on that side. I believe anyone who is prowling when I am home and doesn't make a run out of the area when lights come on is very dangerous and that's why I have a couple of guns handy. I think the lights, which include automatic on/off lights inside which are used when we are home and when we are away, make it difficult for anyone to determine if we are home or not. I always leave my pickup truck with the NRA logo on the back and my lighted American Flag flying to act as further deterrents. With cell phones we are also safe from someone cutting the phone lines, it must be very difficult to be a burglar these days, even if they get in to an empty home they have no way of being sure they are not being recorded on video which will be used against them in a court-of-law. All these things help me sleep at night, and if our lovely West Highlands White Terrier wasn't deaf we'd also have an bark alarm, dogs are also a great deterrent to break-in, and a small Terrier can be better than a big dog that is waiting to attack, noise and light are the best and will not need a visit by the police in the vast majority of the cases I believe..
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Comments (5)
They have some very nice complete systems with wireless cameras that are motion detection cameras and also night vision. Those are the best kind of cameras systems and they can be used with your computer if needed and the images can be sent to any computer on the internet so you can watch what is going on from any location...as long as you have high speed internet. I have one and put one camera down at my entrance to my property to view anyone who might stop at my gate, and it's over 300 feet from the base unit and reception works great. The other cameras I move around my house or porch as needed and they work fine. I also have a seperate sound alarm to alert me when anyone is at my front gate. Good Luck Kt
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I've had Brinks twic & DCS once in Virginia, and ADT in Illinois. I need to hook up a system here we had hard wired when we built last year. I will probably go with Brinks, depending on what kind of a deal I get with them. I believe once you go with Brinks, they'll hook you up free in your next home. ADT told us that too, but mysteriously can't find evidence of our contract that we carried when we lived in Illinois. I've had my phone lines cut before years ago and no one called me with Brinks. Technology has changed so I'm sure it would be different today. I've not seen Brinks advertising in our neck of the woods, so I'm still going to have to do research soon. I was pleased with all companies. I will say this, I really liked the gizmo that DCS has that causes the doors and windows to chime to let you know someone entered or exited. Certainly took away a lot of the jumping around from being spooked and startled. As for security camera. I'm going to install a monitor in my office and BR so I can see who comes up my drive and at the front door. Our architect worked out of her basement and installed one from Radio Shack. It worked great! She had installed small cameras in two upstairs windows and one near the front door. She got sick and tired of running up and down stairs for the UPS guy. I, too, am sick of being half way across the house or working in my office and don't know who's up front. Our property is about 1.5 acres and our house is on the large side, too.
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bigredkate
9 years ago
Have you any idea how scary it sounds to hear that you keep a gun in every room? The murder rate is Australia is about 1.3 per 100,000, the US is about 4.5 per 100,000 and since the gun buy back we haven't had a mass shooting. The vast majority of people who are murdered are killed by someone they know.

I don't think guns cause crime, but in any conflict a firearm ups the ante to a life and death matter.

Sure criminals will always have guns, but we need to work on why our society has criminals. Unfortunately our government has decided to make criminal action much more likely due to its plan to withdraw all income support for the unemployed under 30 for at least 6 months. There will always be some people with a criminal outlook, but let's not force people into it.
bigredkate
9 years ago
I had a stranger come to the door late one night. I held my great dane by the collar as she barked and lunged towards him. I never did find out what he wanted.
susiszoo
9 years ago
I don't know who has guns in every room--remember when England even the police didn't carry guns. If I remember by criminology course there are more homicides in countries with more guns. Also, many guns get used against their owners. I am still far more afraid of human intruders than the cougars and bears that frequent our area.
Kat Cheng
9 years ago
We have a monitored alarm system, plus motion-activated cameras, plus a 90-pound German Shepherd Dog, plus signs advising "visitors" of all of the above. Plus, we leave our property lit up like an airport at night. Works. For us, so far!
Kat Cheng
9 years ago
I should add that our community is considered something of a target for residential burglars, attracting criminals from surrounding areas. If you read the weekly crime reports, the vast majority of items were stolen because a house, car, or garage door was left unlocked. (Which is why this town is so popular--it has, or HAD, a reputation of being the kind of place where people don't lock their doors.)

Also regarding the preferred security system--research indicates that plentiful lighting and a barking dog have the best chance of deterring an average crime of opportunity. Doesn't matter if the dog is big or little--it's the bark that counts! :)
David Smith
9 years ago
Choose a great neighbourhood, in a great city, in a great country.
Lindsay Morris
9 years ago
A dog, and guns. Hate to say it.
PRO
Brown Safe Manufacturing, Inc.
9 years ago
A home security system and a safe will keep you at ease while away. Brown Safe even has an option of adding a silent alarm feature to your safe that can quickly send a silent signal if you are in a hold up situation. See our website for further security information.

www.brownsafe.com
delyanks
9 years ago
I have cameras that are linked to my cell phone.
jackben12
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thanks for sharing .
Kendra Harris
9 years ago
A big dog is the most effective. The draw back is your living and taking care of a big dog. Lol. If you consider that a drawback?
hayleydaniels
9 years ago
We just got a 4 camera security system that my husband has partially installed after we found out that the guy two doors down has tried to break in to our next door neighbor's gargage not once but twice!! The first time our neighbor chased him to his driveway where he claimed he was working in his garage. We're going to put a big sign on the front of our garage that juts out in the driveway saying 'you're being watched' with a picture of a security camera. I hope he gets the hint that we're on to him.
Theresa Holt
9 years ago
When we got married some one read the notices in the news paper and broke into our house with us in it as we did not go on a honeymoon. The first wife (a Brittany) jumped out of our bed and attacked who ever it was. By the time Robert was down the hall with his gun the robber had retreated without his pants. She never barked.
PRO
John James O'Brien | Inspired Living, by design
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
If thieves want to get in, they get in. The best deterrents I have found include a strong sense of relationship in the neighbourhood. A neighbour down the hill has a winter party to which two-blocks-plus of the entire street is invited, facilitating us ALL knowing each other at least a bit). We've had all of those on our block in for a dinner at least once and plan to host a neighbourhood garden party in late Spring--same guest list as the winter party, with a few up the road as well.

A concurrent theme in our area is to be unpredictably present--made easier with retirees and home-based professionals, of which there are a number (including me). We also strike up friendly conversations with those cutting through the neighbourhood on foot, those who go through the recycle looking for bottles, etc.

Typically, houses in the area have some form of exterior lighting, as well. Light is a tried and true, historically significant means to influence social behaviour ;-)
bigredkate
9 years ago
I would love to see our society tackle the causes of crime from the roots up. The connection between educational disadvantage and criminal behavior is very well documented and yet we happily let kids receive a substandard education because we don't want to pay any more tax than we have to. When kids leave school with little or no job prospects what do we expect? I am not saying that this can be solved purely by throwing money at it, but continuing as we have will continue to reap the same results.
ocotillaks
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
We use a combination of things. We live on acreage just outside of the city limits of a small town with low crime. We live on the corner of dead end road and watch the comings and goings of the house for sale at the end of the road. We know our immediate neighbors. All the neighbors have dogs. We have a sign posted that We call the sheriff if we say anything. We have a pair of Texas Lacy Game Dogs that alert to anything out of the ordinary. The dogs are bonded onto my husband and i and our families. They scared the carp out of the telephone guys who were trimming trees. The UPs guys know they won't get bit if they walk in the center of the stairs.
At our old house in New Mexico, my blue male Texas Lacy Game Dog, Comanche, scared the carp out of a religious lady who stuffed literature in the front door. He bayed the door and she ran off as fast as she could with her cane.
http://s34.photobucket.com/user/Ocotilla/media/dogs/DSC02225.jpg.html?sort=3&o=6

http://s34.photobucket.com/user/Ocotilla/media/dogs/00064.jpg.html?sort=3&o=7
PRO
DaVill Blinds
9 years ago
Dogs will never fail you!
mom3333
8 years ago
5 basenjis and a sign on the door that says: Pets escape, please close door.

I don't know how true it is, but I read that this is better liability wise than Caution, big dog!
Kelly White
8 years ago
Off subject but does anyone know where I could get get a bat rack like this one?
ecpt
8 years ago
My answers would not be politically correct!
nala2k4
8 years ago
My big dog wouldn't hesitate to bite a male he didn't know.....however females are a different story. Rocky would knock them down and lick them to death. I have a sign that says "My dog can make it to the fence in 2.8 seconds.....can you?"

I have an alarm system in my house as back up. We had a false alarm before Christmas and the security company was on the phone in less than a minute. They called both of my sons and the police department in less than 5 minutes. So I know it works well. With my system there is also an emergency code you can punch into the system to let security know you are being FORCED to turn off your alarm.
My Great Dane Rocky
nala2k4
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
SimpliSafe.com is the system I have. I installed it myself and I can take it with me when I move, if I move.
havingfun
8 years ago
I now live in a small town that 95% of the time is very safe, so our cars may get robbed, but noone is going to kill us to do it.

I read over half way through, so forgive me if someone said these things. When you hire a security company, you are telling a lot of people who make under $10/hr when you will not be home and for how long. I in no way wish to state that all these people are out to get you, but if you were in the business of robbing those with money, those who have security systems would be a good place to start.

i have a little yappy dog - well he growls and barks, but when you weigh 15 lbs those are relative terms. what i like though is that unless i am there, he is going to run and hide, so i do not have to worry about him.

i do believe in knowing and playing nice with your neighbors.

I am also seriously considering this one:
15 Crazy Redneck Inventions That Are Actually Borderline Genius - Odometer.com · More Info

Laugh all you want, i will laugh with you. But you know the whole neighborhood will hear it, if this goes off. I think a strobe light to a motion sensor might also be good. lol
PRO
Creative Home Engineering
8 years ago
Secret passageways. If you're a wealthy home owner who has multiple houses or takes long vacations, an overt safe will only stand as long as it takes for a criminal to go back out and get Home Depot tools he needs to break in. With a secret passageway, they'll never find it.
havingfun
8 years ago
Creative I get it, you have to advertise, but could you at least look at the dates? you are flooding us with old threads. thanks
PRO
Brandon Roberie
8 years ago
We have an alarm system, 3 big dogs, & plenty of guns. I don't believe it would be a good idea to break into our house.
PRO
Creative Home Engineering
8 years ago
Sorry Have Fun you're right! I haven't been on Houzz for a few years so have been catching up on all the nifty projects people have been working on. I'll take a closer look at the date to see if it's still relevant!
Shelby L
7 years ago
We went for the full shebang. We have 6 camera exterior wired In security system with night vision that can be remotely monitored by the alarm company or by us with our phones or any connected device. It records 24 hours a day and stores for two months. Plus we have a 6 foot high security fence with camera entry and when people ring the bell I can remotely let them enter or talk to them or just watch. Inside the house every door and window has sensors and we have lasers that cover main areas when we are gone. We also have wired in smoke detectors on all floors that will alert the alarm company if it goes off. We have a silent alarm on the electrical box plus a silent alarm on a keychain so if anyone tampers with the system or comes in our house without an alarm they send out an armed agent with an attack dog. Otherwise if the alarm goes off they send private, armed security which will come before police or fire respond. So pretty much it's like Fort Knox here haha
Edward E Charette
7 years ago
Home security has become an indispensable part of home security because you never know if your home is the next target of burglary. Insurance companies might help you cover some of the items stolen, but they won’t help you with priceless items.

Home security system would alert the concerned authorities in the event of break-ins.

I would suggest you go with home security systems which have interactive features. The convenience with home security systems is getting better day by day. To make things easier, one can connect cameras and other useful home security products and control them through a computer or smartphone. Do your research well before settling for a particular brand. Check this article which says how to select the best home security system http://cspalarms.ca/blog/security/how-to-choose-right-security-system-for-your-home/. Having said that, vulnerabilities in home security systems make you an easy target for hacking. But proper installation and procedures would help you keep yourself and your security system safe.

The biggest weak spot with a home security system is their network. Ensure strong and not weak or default passwords for exposed systems. Keep changing the Default password on all of your devices. Check if the system is installed properly and that there are no exposed wires so that a subject cannot cut them easily and stop the surveillance. It would be wise to keep the cameras out of easy reach and possible obstruction and set up alarms for video loss, and video tampering.
Shelby L
7 years ago
Good points. We have ours set up so any tampering with the wires sends a silent alarm. I opened the power box once as I didn't know what it was and 5 min later an armed security guard with an attack dog showed up! At least I know it works!
havingfun
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
my worries about such companies is the same as all organizations, do you know how much the people dealing with your most important info actually make? i am sure almost all are respectable and would not think of doing something untoward, but it only takes one.

my mom has lived for years in a very nice neighborhood in tpa. she is one of the few unrobbed, she does not have yard sales and limits repairs etc to those who are vetted and often with her for years. she points out, you see work done, there will be a burglary within 2 weeks.

now this one seems quite appealing and comes in a travel version.
15 Crazy Redneck Inventions That Are Actually Borderline Genius - Odometer.com · More Info
it even come with the red green tape of approval. lol
PRO
Michael Kieley Design Studio
6 years ago
Giant dog is the way to go! For years I had a 150 lb. Akita-Rottweiler who scared off the bad guys but in reality loved everybody.
I was so crazy about Remy that I designed and manufactured modern pet furniture for a few years.
havingfun
6 years ago
nope had a 100 ' supposed to be 130 named chewy. bad guys go in, did no know he was there, they slip past, close the kitchen door. end of their problem.
havingfun
6 years ago
and he was a door guarder, went in and out with us. would lay there all day growling at whoever walked up!
PRO
Five Star Painting of Austin
6 years ago
How about giant wolf!
havingfun
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
ha ha, love the pic! now he would keep everybody out, but how would we ever escape?

how about a petronis? at least there the homeowner does not get eaten.
Momof5x
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I know this is an old topic, but I think security cameras around the house is best.. that way you have evidence of someone's illegal entry or even a way to identify intruder.

Having said that best way to protect your stuff when on holiday is to arrange with a family member to hold anything valuable while away or have your bank hold it until you get back.

Have someone to pick up the pile of mailings or newspapers, has these are what intruders look for to see if any activity at home or not.

In our neighborhood , the police do rounds daily if you request them to while away.
PRO
Eques, Inc.
6 years ago
Eques Veiu & Veiu Mini Smart Video Doorbell: protect your home from anywhere. The doorbell has PIR, and automatically detects motion outside your door. It will send an alert to your phone, or start recording video when motion is detected. VEIU allows you to speak directly to whoever is at your door, talk to VEIU's two-way mic right in the app, or through the in-house LCD monitor.
VEIU Smart Video Doorbell · More Info

VEIU Smart Video Doorbell · More Info

VEIU Smart Video Doorbell · More Info
PRO
Gerety Building and Restoration
6 years ago
Dogs tend to do the job just fine. Alarms are great deterrent, but won't have an effect on someone whose determined enough. As for the baseball bat, that's got to be very last resort.
PRO
ALLBRiGHT
6 years ago
A dog paired with an alarm system should be pretty effective!
Rina
6 years ago
I have personally rented assistance from dragonsofhell.com.
bigredkate
6 years ago
berniemt, no, Australia did not ban guns, and lots of people still own them. Putting checks and balances on who can buy a gun has made Australia much safer than countries where anyone can buy a gun. Most 'criminals' don't own guns in Australia. They're too expensive and hard to get illegally.
havingfun
6 years ago
gosh rina would not know who to fear more? lol
Rag Hau
3 years ago
A dog paired with an alarm system should be pretty effective!
Hyt Moses
3 years ago
A dog paired with an alarm system should be pretty effective!
maria cardona
2 years ago
I watched videos on YouTube about various security systems. Ajax recommendations drop out. The presenter said that with this system, you can simultaneously monitor fire sensors, smoke detectors, leak detectors, as well as add security tricks, intrusion sensors, and so on. In general, such a question. How reliable is such a system? Isn't it better to hang all this on different systems, rather than control everything at the same time? The question is purely in reliability, comfort is definitely a plus here.
kculbers
last year
Loaded shotguns, and an experienced hunter / husband who is proficient in their use!! All our grandchildren know how to safely handle shotguns too, so when they visit, its not an issue; several are in the military now. I am a retired US Air Force Captain, so I have had training in weapon use. Barking dogs are good!!
ocotillaks
last year
Paisano's Roost Farm (American Blackbelly Sheep) in Southern New Mexico: A fully fenced property, 2 guard donkeys, chickens, 4 mature rams, 3 dogs. You don't get on the farm without something going off and alerting us. Even the local deputies took one look at my rams and agreed they wouldn't want to meet

them in a dark alley.

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