Home Security Systerms?

[BlestOne]

I set off my bosses security system when going to do some work on the house. I called him and got the code but it just didn’t work right for me. Finally, I got a hold of another guy and he walked me through it and then called the cops who were less than a mile away from picking me up… it was sooooo loud I couldn’t even think straight to disarm the thing…

OTOH… I grew up in an area where nobody locked their doors except when they went away on vacation. Not at night, not for work… and all the neighbors had a copy of your keys anyway. The only times I can specifically remember the doors being locked was when a guy was being transported to or from the county courthouse and just jumped out of the squad car in our town and the other was when dad was mad at me and locked me out…

Today I live in a little town that has more cops per capita than any other town in my state… but I live right along the main road and across the street from a shopping center. We rarely lock the front door at all, but when we do, we leave the back door unlocked for the kids if they are out.

One year at Christmas time the fed ex guy dropped off a couple of packages at my front door… at the time we didn’t ever use the front door because we used the garage door to get in and out of the house. My mom called to see if I had gotten the packages she sent, and I said no… I didn’t think to check. Later that night I happened to think about it and looked out the front door and sure enough, there were packages in the door and on the front porch… all safe and sound. As far as we could figure they were there at least 2-3 days.

I really should be more security conscious but I also have a pitt bull as a pet… that tends to scare people off well enough.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I guess it all depends on the place where you live and what level of security will really do the job for what kind of threat.

I live in a place where people leave their cars running while parked on the street in cold weather to keep them warm while they shop. But that doesn’t mean some sociopath or other isn’t out there just looking for a likely place to rob and commit murder.

I have two big dogs, and I figure if someone wants to do whatever it takes to get past those dogs, a home security system isn’t going to stop them. But I can imagine other circumstances in which some system or other might be a good thing.

I am somewhat amused, however, by the Brinks commercials. I can understand the “bad guy” maybe running off when the alarm goes off. But if he doesn’t run off, and is quick enough about it, that followup phone call isn’t going to happen the way it’s depicted.

A long time ago I worked in a bank that had a direct alarm to the police station. Now and then the thing would glitch up and the alarm would go off. The reaction time was such that by the time the cops got to the bank, any real robber would have been there and gone.

So, while those systems probably add to security, they aren’t a cure-all.

 

[happymommy]

I guess it all depends on the place where you live and what level of security will really do the job for what kind of threat.

I live in a place where people leave their cars running while parked on the street in cold weather to keep them warm while they shop. But that doesn’t mean some sociopath or other isn’t out there just looking for a likely place to rob and commit murder.

I have two big dogs, and I figure if someone wants to do whatever it takes to get past those dogs, a home security system isn’t going to stop them. But I can imagine other circumstances in which some system or other might be a good thing.

I am somewhat amused, however, by the Brinks commercials. I can understand the “bad guy” maybe running off when the alarm goes off. But if he doesn’t run off, and is quick enough about it, that followup phone call isn’t going to happen the way it’s depicted.

A long time ago I worked in a bank that had a direct alarm to the police station. Now and then the thing would glitch up and the alarm would go off. The reaction time was such that by the time the cops got to the bank, any real robber would have been there and gone.

So, while those systems probably add to security, they aren’t a cure-all.

My dad has one and within a minute they are on the phone.
If no one answers they send the cops or fire truck, whatever alarm has gone off and call me. It’s all done in a matter of minutes. Pretty quick! Which makes me feel better, dad will 87 in Feb. My sister lives with him, but is about useless and leaves him alone all day and evening without checking in on him. So it gives me some piece of mind. He also wears a lifealert around his neck. So if he were to fall, and not knock himself out, he can get help.

 

[Ruthie]

I also have a pitt bull as a pet… that tends to scare people off well enough.

Funny story… A friend of mine was a phone company maintenance worker. She is short, with a shape that can attract unwanted attention. She worked all hours in all places, so she carried a .45 for protection. She also took her big, beautiful Pit, Rocky, with her for company.

Rocky was a serious lover, who never met an enemy. Since he was a show dog, his ears were cropped, so he had that fierce look, but you could put a newborn on his food dish, and he’d just wag all over.

One night, she was in a bad neighborhood about 1 am. For Rocky’s sake she had the windows on her car down about halfway. She noticed some unsavory types on a street corner, and the light turned red; she was on her guard. Sure enough, they split up and surrounded the car. Rocky was happily wagging at the prospect of meeting new friends. My friend grabbed her .45, and stuck it out the window, aiming it at the leader. He yelled,

“Run! She’s got a Pit Bull!”

Yup. Dogs can be good protection.

God bless us all, including the hairy, slobbery ones,

Ruthie

 

[Liberanosamalo]

I have an alarm system whose bark is bigger than her bite.

But I have relatives (military) who plan to get alarms when their kids are teens. And they say they won’t give teens the codes.

That’s not to keep anyone OUT of the house. It’s to keep the kids in.

Make sure the alarm system has a panel in your bedroom where you can hear it beep in your room at night.