Home Security systems

[highwayman]

Anyone got one or can give any advice appreciated?

We got broken into the other night and had a laptop and my brand new DEWALT drill and circular saw stolen plus some jewellery so we are going to get a system installed

Thanks

dave

[Man On The Clapham Omnibus]

Sorry to hear that Dave.  Ironic that your forum name suggests an inside job!  

Security Community Public Forums is a good place to seek advice. The system you mention is not going to be recommended by professionals, though. I have been in the industry as a manufacturer of components of one sort or another for nearly thirty years and know that installers are very conservative. I hesitate to advise beause I have no first hand installation experience bar my own system. Suffice it to say that wireless systems, even proper professional ones, are still regarded with suspicion by some established installers. Wire is rarely the cause of failures!

[lespaul]

I fitted a one of these wireless alarms from B&Q, easy to use and add extra sensors in the garden shed or garage. Not had any problems in 3 years only replaced batteries in the p.i.r's. Probably not as fool proof as a profesionaly installed system but it's still a deterant.

Have ours set to 2 zones, during the day everywhere is alarmed inc the garage, then at night just alarm downstairs and the garage.

Darren

[Boomy]

I will give Spence who uses these forums a nudge if he doesn't see this post later.

He fits alarms and CCTV etc so may be able to offer up some advice.

[highwayman]

Thanks for allthe info so far guys

Dave

[Darrell O'Neill]

There are some good wireless systems availible at good prices too...

Just kep away form the B&Q specials (other cheapo brands are availible). Unfortunatly you do get what you pay for....

Do go for the largest and most noticable exterior bell box you can find, they're the best deterant IMHO...  

[Mark Stanton]

Dave ............ Drop Sedsy a PM or e-mail         and he lives not too far away  

[spence]

Just read the thread 9.00pm having just got in from work   .

Hate this time of year everybody wants alarms fitted or sorted out before Christmas. Anyone would think world is going to end on the 24th of Dec.

Will try to help you out with some advice tomorrow if you still need it.

Best advice i could give you at the moment is to first speak to your insurance company. Most times after a break in they will want an alarm fitted by an approved installer and will tell you what they require if you are making a claim.

Quick advice

1.Get recommendations, worth their weight in gold!!!. Have seen a lot of cowboyed stuff ( even reputable companies ).

2. Use a good local company, not a national one. Nuff said !!!! Won't name names.

3. Make sure Company is SSAIB or NSI ( NACOSS ). You can find these companies at

http://www.ssaib.org/

http://www.nsi.org.uk/jkcm/default.asp

NSI will probably be more expensive.But NOT always the best.

Prices will probably be in the region of £500 tops £1000 for a 3 bed house. Depending on equipment used. If you want, you can let me know of any specs given, if you go that root, so i can let you know if it's a fair price.

Nowadays you can get alarms that text your Mobil etc within this cost.

It's always better to have a wired alarm. We use wireless alarms as well which are code secure and expensive i.e. Can't be jammed. As far as i know, don't hold me to it, cheap DIY wireless alarms arn't.

DIY alarms are ok but the ones i see are sometimes a false economy. Badly fitted and easily disabled.

You pays your money you takes your Choice...    

What area are you in ( tout tout   ) ?

[miserableoldgit]

Sorry to read about your problems, hope they get the little gits (but another ASBO probably won't worry them).

Been an insurance risk consultant for about 20 years now, so what Spence says is pretty sound advise, get a good local company with recommendations to back them up.  Stick to wired systems, the simpler the better.  If you have pets then consider perimeter protection with window and door contacts rather than motion detection - much fewer false alarms.

But first of all, consider how the little bu&&ers got in!!  Change the locks, go for British Standard grade products, most common house locks aren't up to the job and easily overcome.  Fit window lock if not already installed.

And finally; buy a baseball bat in case they try it again when you are in!

[Man On The Clapham Omnibus]

Do go for the largest and most noticable exterior bell box you can find, they're the best deterant IMHO...  

Quite right! Make your house look more risky than next door, or down the road. A 'credible' bell box with a 'known' installer's name on it, is a good deterrent.

All my own work! (Designed for Royal Mail)

More run-of-the-mill

[pistonbroke]

yer house needs pointing  

[Matt Seabrook]

yer house needs pointing  

Pointing at what?  

[Mark Stanton]

QUOTE

yer house needs pointing  

Nah its just two differing styles   on the left is "bucket handle" and to right is trowelled     and the builders who done extension on left haven't bothered matching up mortar colour either    

It'll weather in        

[Man On The Clapham Omnibus]

yer house needs pointing  

Nah its just two differing styles   on the left is "bucket handle" and to right is trowelled     and the builders who done extension on left haven't bothered matching up mortar colour either    

It'll weather in        

You're absolutely right, Mark, but it has had twenty years to 'weather in'. The original bricks are hand made, but the new ones are, well, not hand made.    The pointing on the 1938 original is 'weatherstruck', the new stuff is best Scouse bucket handle. The builders were from Liverpool but living in a bothy in Slough. Good and cheap, though, and still standing.

[pistonbroke]

Too many sherlocks on this site