Posted: 5/31/2009 5:53:19 PM EDT
| Is there any Arfcomer's on here that do security systems ? I have one in my house but it needs to be gone over or a new one installed. As I came home tonight with the family I disrupted a burglars plans. They came in through my daughter's window I found it open and the blinds pushed to the side. Tomorrow morning I'm borrowing my parents 120 pound shepard unitl I get it fixed. No they did not take a thing it must have been perfect timing. We just went up to Wend'y for a Frosty which is less than a quarter mile from my house. I walked to my front door and noticed it was a jar then I yelled at the wife for not shutting and locking it then I walked in put my frosty down and watched my kids come in then I walked around the corner and noticied my office door wide open and then it hit oh F #$&*%**& . I keep guns in my office so I ordered the family out immediately and cleared the house. Not one thing missing but if they were in long enough to notice what I have they'll be back. Sometimes living with no neighbors to speak of can be bad. So if you know some one personally or you do it for a living please get in touch with me ASAP. |
Make sure my old POF is okay.
Makes for a bad day, but glad to hear nothing was taken and you foiled their plans. There is no worse feeling in the world then knowing someone came into your home, and no less through your daughters window. If you ask me, I'd ask to keep the dog. No better security system in the world than a dog ready to chew you to pieces.
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Wow that sucks but is good at the same time. Please look at this as your ONE warning.
I know this might seem dumb, I was watching Death Wish II today. And Charles put a board down that was loaded with nails in it in front of a window. So if some one came in they would step on the nails. |
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If he's in Florida and on this site he's already armed. He also mentioned it in his post. Being armed works well while you and your family is home but it doesn't do you any good when you're gone. Get a dog with a minimum of 75 lbs. We had a big red chow that weighed about 100 lbs. for nearly 15 years. Best damn dog anybody ever had. She was a sweetheart and best friend I ever had but I can tell you we never had someone so much as CASE the house while she was there, nevermind break in. People gave her a wide berth as she could look a little menacing. I also firmly believe she was capable of tearing the ass out of anything that came in that house that wasn't supposed to be there.
In the meantime get someone to install a security system. If you don't know anyone personally then let your fingers do the walking. Go with a name you know like Scott or ADT or one of those guys. Have all the windows done along with motion detectors. They don't cost much and a lot of companies do install them free or very cheaply with a contract to get your service through them. You'd be surprised what you can get. Average monitoring cost is around $25 a month and well worth it, if not, just for the peace of mind. If someone tries to break in while you're there just hit the panic button and lock and load. Cops will show up all by themselves. One last piece of advice: get a wireless back up of some sort. You don't want to rely on a landline. Too easy to simply cut the line and walk right in. p.s. Ignore the advice about bobby-trapping your house please. You're begging for a lawsuit if someone comes in your house and lands on a bed of nails. Sounds ironic but it will happen. |
| I am definitely loaded to hilt with weapons and ammo. I live in Tarpon Springs, On the north end of lake Tarpon. Dogs in place but I still want my alarm fixed so that when I'm not around my wife can come home with my kids and have a little more security. I can buy more guns and ammo I can't get another family. Last night I was up until 4 am ready to rectify some one's lead deficiency. Thanks for everyone's help Don't worry about the POF's I moved most of my stash this morning. What a pain. Its been a good week for thieves. I just picked up my boat from storage and some rotten #&^$& stole my compass. Postal is not going to describe what I'm going to do if I catch a thief. |
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If I can make one quick suggestion and personal experience. If you have the time, shop around and follow your gut instinct. Also check the BBB.org web site.
Security companies are super-busy these days with crime going up. I just recently had cameras added to my work system and one home that I own. It was not a pleasant experience as the install was dragged on for much longer than it should have been. I hate to get in the situation where you say its, "Good Enough" because you're tired of waiting around for someone to show up or having them fix their own work. And this was from the company that originally installed my work alarm and did really good work! Whatever you do, do NOT pay in full until the job is done to your satisfaction. They'll promise you the world and then go straight to the bank. |
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After hearing what happened to you, I'm feeling like I should get my security system installed. I'm in a Condo association and there are a lot of old people around (Eyes and Ears of the Association). But I trust ADT over geriatrics having there noon nap. I have some hood rats living below me and the make-up of my condo is looking like it's going through some urban renewal. I'm more worried about them that live below me than some random guys prowling.
Hey Narcoholic, have you heard about Action, Lock and Safe? They do security systems as well I believe. Might be a route to take. I think I'll call them up tommorow and see what they offer. |
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Either get Brinks, Brinks or Brinks! They are top-notch. I've had them at home and my office for years, as have several family members and many friends. Two family members had other security firms previously, until they had problems. Both switched to Brinks and no more problems. The dog may be a good idea, unless you have children. Check with your insurance company before you buy a dog. Some companies will drop you on the spot for owning certain breeds.
Jeff |
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Quoted:
I am definitely loaded to hilt with weapons and ammo. I live in Tarpon Springs, On the north end of lake Tarpon. Dogs in place but I still want my alarm fixed so that when I'm not around my wife can come home with my kids and have a little more security. I can buy more guns and ammo I can't get another family. Last night I was up until 4 am ready to rectify some one's lead deficiency. Thanks for everyone's help Don't worry about the POF's I moved most of my stash this morning. What a pain. Its been a good week for thieves. I just picked up my boat from storage and some rotten #&^$& stole my compass. Postal is not going to describe what I'm going to do if I catch a thief. I was cutting grass at my father in laws house in Holiday yesterday and i cant remember if it was ADT or Brinks, but they stopped me and stated they would do a full install for windows and doors, smoke detector for free (waving 99 dollar fee). monitoring fee was 39 a month i think? i wrote it down and have the card if you want there info (left it at the in law house) |
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I would avoid the motion sensors and glass break alarms as they trigger a high number of false alarms. Just make sure to do all the outside doors/windows, and then you can also do a couple interior doors in case they manage to compromise one of the window/door sensors. Sounds like your office door would be a good candidate.
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Whoever you go with I would stay away from the free system you get what you pay for and your monitoring will be higher so in the end you are still paying the same.
Choose carefully there are two major company's left Brinks and Adt and be careful of Adt authorized dealers they will portray themselves as Adt but are not. If your installer shows up in his wife's minivan with a ladder on top you will get screwed there are some good mom and pop company's out there but they come and go all the time so I would go with a reputable company. Whatever you do tell your sales rep to send out a good tech out of the 20 installers I work with I would only let 4-5 of them work on my house. good luck |
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Glass break alarms in a childs bedroom are worthwhile, damn the false alarms. I have them on my daughter's windows and have had one false alarm in 11 years. Motion sensors make sense in certain parts of your home. Both will give a higher number of false alarms, if not well thought out before installation and then employed properly. Just call Brinks and tell them you heard they had a deal. I would think they would. Everything is negotiable. I must have been typing as Mook was hitting the 'submit' button. ADT was the 'other' company that, well, sucked!
Jeff |
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I know that feelng so very well.....
1. Get a dog, preferably a shepard, My favorite Rothweiler, as a matter of fact get two of them. 2. Always have your guns secured in your house and for Pete's sake keep a shotgun and or several handguns handy at home, especially at night. I wear my guns the moment I leave home to the moment I go to sleep. There have been many home invasions in Miami, and I will not be one of them.....My FN shotgun and walther and Glocks close to me.... 3. Make sure you secure your kids bedroom with a hurricane windows, almost impossible to break and get in.... if you can afford it. 4. The alarm will only invisibly protect you, I put my alarm on and my guns and dogs close to me or in the family or living room. See above....get a big dog, no wussies.. 5. Remember that funny feeling you have....well is going to be with you for a long, long time......it feels like someone has violated your space....be always ready, it will come in handy in the near future. It did for me. 6. Inform you kids DON'T SCARE them, MAKE SURE YOU OR YOUR WIFE walk the house when you are gone for a while....better yet you walk it and make sure you wife keeps a gun close to her. 7. DOGS are your first warning system, DON'T depend on your alarm, it does make me feel much better at night when I go to sleep, but I keep my guns, shotguns and dogs close to me....... 8. MAKE YOUR FAMILY FEEL SAFE, BUT THIS IS A GOOD LESSON FOR BOTH YOUR WIFE AND YOURSELF.......ALWAYS KEEP THE GREEN LIGHT ON...UNFORTUNELY WE ARE LIVING IN A VERY TOUGH ECONOMIC TIME. |
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I would like to know what kind of system you have that failed you. I'm LEO, you can check, but I would like you to IM me with some of the details concerning your "current" alarm system.
Glad to see nothing was taken, still sucks to know someone has been in your home. I have a Brinks system, have had one for 15 or so years, zero false alarms and every time I have set it off by accident, Brinks calls very quickly. My Mother-in-Law is my back up alarm, she sees all and hears all...trust me  .
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Quoted:
You need to have layers of security. A dog alone is not enough. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Recently_shot_Greenland_dog_upernavik_2007-07-02_edited.jpg/800px-Recently_shot_Greenland_dog_upernavik_2007-07-02_edited.jpg this. A little bit of oven cleaner goes a long way. Btw I contracted for Honeywell and one of the nation's largest security systems dealers, I'm NBFAA certified and I can tell you from first hand experience that you can't rely on your dog to protect your property no matter how vicious you think it is. |