I'm going to be watching this thread to see if anyone chimes in who has actually had a break in and how it worked out. I only know one person who has had a security system and had a break in and theft. In my area, thefts of property are not investigated that well and unless they happen to arrest the person on the video on another crime or he is known to the police, the video isn't much good. At least with a monitored alarm system you have a chance to catching them in the act.