After a rash of home burglaries in our area, the latest next door over the weekend while we ourselves were out of town, DH and I have decided it is time for a home security system. I was looking at reviews online and, as usual, there are far more negative reviews than positive. If you have a home security system, will you please let me know if you're happy with it. What system do you have? Are all your entry points covered or only doors? We already have appointments with CPI and ADT. <<sigh>> I've always felt so safe here.

It's a sign of the time with so many out of work. My friend had ADT put in her place last year and has loved having it since she lives in the country.

We have ADT and are happy with it. They have some really good promotions with free instalation, etc. We got all doors covered and 2 motion detectors.
Myself and one neighbor had it and the neighbor on the other side got robbed. It does give you a sense of protection.

I would do the doors and windows... around here they aren't afraid to break glass :(

I love our ADT, although my local reps have now changed and the new ones are completely worthless.

But, the system works well and the few times we've needed it, it's done its job.

That's what we're thinking...and they did go thru the window next door, not a door. It's so sad. I was just visiting a childhood friend and we were reminiscing about the days of leaving the doors open at night for air circulation and the car keys were always in the ignition. We weren't sure why locks were on doors. Those were the days!

I would also think about motion detectors, that flash on lights as they sense motion and also put the pictures on a computer at home in a hidden, locked room.

I would also go to some security companies and ask their opinion.
My brother owns such and has firm ideas on what should be done. And I'd also think about inside hidden "nanny" cameras. They are tiny and easy to hide.

If I had some cash to spare, I'd put in new windows with metal guards on them if I lived in the country, and new doors with wood or plastic over metal, and bigger door sidings.

I would also think about motion detectors, that flash on lights as they sense motion and also put the pictures on a computer at home in a hidden, locked room.

I would also go to some security companies and ask their opinion.
My brother owns such and has firm ideas on what should be done. And I'd also think about inside hidden "nanny" cameras. They are tiny and easy to hide.

If I had some cash to spare, I'd put in new windows with metal guards on them if I lived in the country, and new doors with wood or plastic over metal, and bigger door sidings.

And if you have a garage that is connected to the house by a door, for goodness sake get a metal door with massive wood sides to fix it on. That is one of the favorite places to hide and break into a house.

Also, if you can possibly get along without them, GET RID OF YOUR DOGGY DOORS. Around here folks shove small children through them so the kid can open the door or window for dear old daddy and friends.

We have geo alarm. We ordered it off of the net, and my husband installed it. It was very easy to install, I could have done it, and I am very UNmechanical. We chose it because it had what ADT and others provided with a much cheaper monitoring fee. Our monitoring fee is $20 per month. We had to sign a 3 year contract, but that was no problem. We also have a system whereby it does not have to be connected to a land phone line, which prevents someone from cutting your lines. Our cost for the system was no more than ADT was charging. We have been very happy with it.
We had ADT at one time and were happy with it, it just costs more for the same service and the product is the same.

We did our doors, but not our windows because we have a motion detector. If thieves get in a window, the motion detector will go off. This saves money on not having to purchase contacts for all of the windows. They even have motion detectors that can accommodate pets. We had a cat with a motion detector. They also have ones for larger animals.

We have ADT and are happy with them. We have all entry points covered so alarms will go off if any entry is tampered with. They have called quickly when we accidently set the alarm off. They also have an added feature if you come home to an intruder and realize it before disarming the system you enter a different code so the system stops making noise but ADT alerts the PD that an intruder is in the house with a family at home. We also have the fire detector in the kitchen which goes off automatically if the temperature in the kitchen goes up a certain number of degrees in a certain amount of time.

I've had several different systems over the years. ADT ( formerly Brinks) is the latest...

Loved it...

In once house we had not only the doors and windows alarmed.. but we had the master bedroom door too.. ( dont remember why, but I know it was a special feature... seems it was something about if they break in they would kit the master bedroom for jewelry, etc and be gone before police arrived..... the alarm was silent)
I know it saved us a few times...

Isn't sad u have to do this???

My home security system is my beautiful german shepherd..a police officer told me it is the best home security..since I have had her I am never afraid...I have a home security system too...but hardly turn it on anymore...

We did doors only because the house already has motion detectors. ADT is probably as good as they get. We've been pleased with them.

I have a german shepherd to guard the house too.

He lets nothing into or out of his yard with out making a sound. Sort of a pain when the squirrels are in the yard, but I do know of one occasion that someone was trying to get in my door at 300am and he went nuts.

Well let me put in my two cents. Security systems do not keep people out they just let you know they are there ! The sign is the biggest deterent!
My Ex - worked for one of the major companies ... They make their money on the monitoring. It was him who used to say " they don't keep anyone out they just let you know they are there".
Just be careful of the up-selling and them encouraging "Fort Knox syndrome".

All of these are good ideas but like it was said above, they don't keep anyone out - just lets you know they are there.
If they come in while you're at home, a 12 gauge pump shotgun will insure they don't harm you or anyone else there.

The last two places I have lived I insisted on an alarm system and I felt that even though it wouldn"t keep intruders out I would know if there was an intruder. That offered me piece of mind. The only problem is if you forget to set it!!!!!

Love ADT. Have had it for years and they are great. Their service is fantastic!!

A big chop eater (dog). Our big fellow won't let anyone get by our front gate. An insurance survey done here recently said a dog was still the best deterrent...the criminals usually go for houses that are an easier mark.

Maybe your insurance company could recommend someone, ours actually has their own security service.

We just recently like within the last 6 months got a security system with Vivint.
I think it is worth it. I have been happy with them. They installed everything and gave us all the gear for nothing...we signed a two year contract. All doors and windows have sensors, they also gave us a case of energy saving light bulbs, the electronic control panel, a camera, the automatic door lock thingy, and an electronic thermostat. We have an app on our I-phones to access the control panel, door locks and thermostat from out phones. We can also view the camera footage from our phones and control the movement of our camera from any computer or the app on our phone. Anytime a window opens or door a text is sent to my phone...so I will know if my kids try to sneak out and night or anything. If I turn off the heat while we are gone I can turn it back on before we come home so the house is warm when we get here.....It is AWESOME!

Of course we also have a Yellow lab and a big English Mastiff.....so those don't hurt either!

I have an alarm that isn't monitored, but will scream bloody murder. I also have my avatar-and the 2 attack cats too! Oh wait, 2 teenage boys-who wants to even walk into a house with those...and an ex-cop husband with a really, really big gun collection. I might be feeling my oats, but I'm sleeping well tonight!

I have a 90 lb. black lab that I feel kept our house safe even though we were away too. My cousin and DS were taking turns coming by and tending to the animals. If an alarm is yet another level of deterrent, I guess we'll go that route. I have heard that just having the signs is deterrent enough, without actually having the monitoring. I just don't know of a single company that will just sell you a sign!

My DH owns a low voltage systems company and has installed many security systems all over the Atlanta area and surrounding counties. A complete system should have all ground-level doors and windows wired and monitored, there should be motion detectors, glass breaks and smoke alarms as well. Make sure you read the fine print on your contract. What looks like a good deal (such as $99)may only be a starting price and may not protect all entry points. Sales pitches can be very confusing and misleading. The big companies use professional salespeople to get you to sign up. The central monitoring station that actually calls in to the fire and police authorities should be local or at the very least in the USA (if this is where you live) and should have a proven track record of successful notifications and communication. Most home insurance companies offer a discount if you have a system which is monitored and a reputable company will give you an insurance certificate to submit. The most important thing to remember is to use your system. Make sure you arm it whenever you want to secure your home whether you are inside or away. Also get into the habit of disarming it properly. Many communities now charge for false alarms. If you are in the Atlanta, GA area and want more information or a system installed please PM me. DH gives me a great commission and I can buy more fabric :)

I would do doors and windows. My friend had just motion detectors and they just came thru the bedroom window, the motion detectors covered the doors and the main house and hall, bedrooms were free game, which was where they stored all their expensive antiques!

I always figured that by the time the cops or anyone got there the person would be gone. I don't need to spend $? a month to know someone has been there. When I lived with my DD we had 2 big dogs who scared everyone in the neighborhood. And would growl and bark their heads off if anyone came to the door,in the yard or walked down the street. We didn't tell anyone they were just noisy and pretty big chickens. lol I miss her dogs. My brother has an alarm system and I am always afaid of not getting to the pad in time to turn it off. Stresses me out. I really hate the way things have gone. His is ADT and he seems happy with it.

We have Protection One and I have an app on my iPhone so we can set it, unset it, and see if anything happens while we are away. the system is monitored. It is just one level of being safe. The times we've set the thing off by accident, they do call us right away to check on us. And now it is some kind of set up that if someone outside cut the electricity, it would still work. We had a German Shepherd for 13 years and I always felt very safe with him there, although he loved everyone who came in. We never tested him on what he would do if someone strange came without us inviting them!! But just the sight of him would send anyone coming to the door to sell something backing away!!

I had experience with 2 companies. I sure wish I could remember their names. BUT, here's the deal. Once had a fire, pressed the "FIRE" button, alarms went off. No fire dept. came. I used a neighbor's cell phone and called the fire dept. When we asked the security company later why they didn't send the fire dept they said they'd TRIED to call us. Well, apparently they call to double check. NOPE -- can't do that if the fire burns the phone lines!!! They chewed me out for calling the fire dept!!! Had I waited my whole house would have burned down.

My other experience is with the company that has a "microphone" (for lack of a better thing to call it). If the alarm went off they'd call out over the mike asking if I needed help -- yes - that's the one I liked. No phone call back to me.

My folks had a system that beeped every time the door was open. Well, we noticed after a while that not only was that irritating, but after a length of time we got to where we ignored it totally!!!! That's no help! It beeped every time - whether the system was "activated or not".

good luck!

The only problem we had with motion detectors is that our cats whom like to crawl on everything would set them off

We have had ADT for 17 years and I would recommend it without reservations. Since I have always had a cat (and always will) we did not install motion detectors. Ask them about a 'glass break'. Our two sheds (his and hers) are also armed and the siren is in one of the sheds. If you don't arm every entry - both windows and doors - there's no sense putting in a system. Also, if you have a doggie door make sure it's the kind with a rigid panel and lock that you can put over the flap when you arm the system. The bell is set to 'on' so it chimes everytime a door or window is opened.
Keep in mind that if you live in a rural area you have to consider the system a deterrent to scare and chase off intruders. We are rural and they'd be long gone by the time the sheriff arrived. The point is, they'd be gone before they could do any damage. This is the reason the siren is in the shed so it can be heard by everyone around.
Last year my husbands van was burglarized during a loud storm in the middle of the night. It was locked and parked only 6' from the house. We now have a gate across the driveway and lock it at night. The other gate is always locked. Nice areas are always more desirable targets than lesser well-kept neighborhoods.

we have one through a private company--it covers the doors, the sheds outside, no motion detectors (cat!) but it covers windows/breaking glass. the only time we'e had problems is when we have forgotten to turn it off before we tried to leave the house (duh!) or when the winds were high, and rattled the shed doors too hard. it took a little adjustment time for us, and some tweaking by the installer, but it seems to be "right", now--and hubby, who has parkinson's, feels safer. so do i. the response time via phone has always been super quick (ask me how i know--and if i remembered to turn off the alarm!) and the police dispatch for checking on us has been super fast, too.

it is worth the peace of mind, at least for us.

I've had ADT for years and never a problem. I upgraded to the offer where they contact u via talking over keypad instead of calling which is nice. It also has emergency buttons for fire, medical and police. If you push those they immediately dispatch without the delay in contacting you. They even have motion detectors that ignore our 2 cats. It costs an extra $99 to install but they also monitor us with smoke detectors.

we use ADT and they are great.

I have had ADT for years. They were very responsive when I mistakenly set off the alarm and I have never had a problem with the system.

We have ADT - got it on a promotional...no charge for the installation---.

Love it, since we can set it for both "Away" and "Stay".
(Away = full alarm set - motion detectors, etc.
Stay = motion detectors off so we can move about indoors.)

I especially like the fact that we are also armed for fire, which I feel is important since if one is away from home, a fire can destroy a great deal before it's noticable on the outside.

There are many services out there, so do check them all out to see which fits your needs best.

You might also consider asking the Police Department if they have experienced problems with any of the systems.

Love the "Panic" feature...it obviously works as a very well known business owner was involved in a home invasion robbery and she told the intruders she had to "disarm the system since she had just come into her garage" and in reality had punched in the emergency code which dispatched the police immediately...catching the invaders without any harm to her.

We have ADT also. We had another company before that but found out that the alarm could be disarmed if a thief cut the phone line on the outside of the house. We changed to ADT because they use a wireless phone system. This help eliminate the need for a land line phone. We also had all doors and windows covered because the alarm system was installed when the house was built. Have 2 motion detectors. These were set for a small dog. Sorry to hear that you have to do this but it is better to be safe than sorry.

Another thing you can get is cameras around the house, inside and out. My son has them and the camera on the side of his house got pictures of the men and their trucks robbing the neighors house. When he is away, he can see what is going on at his house. I also like alarms, they deter most robberies from happening.


You can get different packages. You can have all your windows rigged, doors, motion detectors, and we had something under the carpet in fron of the steps. If you stepped on it, it set the alarm off.

wow, must be a bad time for all as I was broken into also and alot of my sewing projects that were done was taken along with linens and cloth napkins

We were also advised to consider alarming the attic door, as sometimes people will break in through the roof and come in the attic door. We did not do that, though. Hope we don't regret it someday!