Burglar alarm systems

[Danestress]

Do you have one? Why or why not? If you have one, do you mind telling me what you pay and how much you really use it?

Any tips for otherwise preventing crime? We live in an upscale area that has had a LOT of breakins recently. The police notified the HOA that they believe there is a gang involved and they appear to be pretty systematically moving this way. They have become pretty brazen, and have even broken into houses when people are home. Which is making me want to never leave my boys alone even just to walk the dog!

It's a quite neighborhood and I know almost all my neighbors, but there are more yard/lawn/housekeeping/repair people in the neighborhood sometimes then there are residents, so we definitely have strangers around a lot. I'm not a big worrier and I leave all the time with the doors unlocked, but this actually is getting my attention.

[Scarlett]

Our house is wired for a system but we don't have the actual um...system. :) I'd like to get it, but I'd only use the screamer portion of it...I wouldn't hook up to a company. I don't really see the point of that if there are people anywhere near because a screamer will scare away a thief usually.

Plus I've read several stories about horrible crimes commited by employees of those services.

[Sandra in NC]

In our neighborhood, 75% of homes have alarm systems. There are still break-ins, though. The burglars break in through bedroom windows because they know there won't be motion detectors there.

Our neighborhood is experiencing a lot of day-time crime. It is scary. The criminals ring the doorbell and if no one answers, they go around to the back of the house and break in through a bedroom window. Our neighborhood watch advises keeping blinds closed so criminals can't see what you've got.

[Mrs. H.]

I only use it when dh is out of town overnight, or when we hear of a rash of break-ins in the area, like during the Christmas holidays. We live in a upscale area, but it is still out in the country (think large houses, each on several acres of land), so it is actually easier for someone to break in and get away with it since there is no neighborhood.

I'm not sure how much the wiring actually cost, because it was done before we bought this house. Somewhere in the neighborhood of $200-$300 I think. The monitored service is $20 a month here, for burgulary, fire, and carbon monoxide. If I leave the house (even if I don't set the alarm), and there is a fire, the alarm company sends the fire department. I have actually had them send someone once, when I set off the smoke detector and couldn't remember my password. I do need to be more consistent about setting the alarm when I leave to run errands, though.

All the windows in our house are wired also. If you open a door or window anywhere in the house, there is a beeping sound, even without the alarm set. Nice for those with three-year-olds who like to sneak outside, and also we have an attached storage room on the other side of the carport. If someone goes in there, it will beep in the house, but not in that room, so I will know someone is in there.

[Danestress]

Thanks. Our house is already wired for a burglar alarm system, and it does make a "beep beep" sound when you open a door or window, any time of day or night. I love it because I know when anyone comes in.

But it's not monitored and it's not the kind of sound that would scare a burglar.

The thing about our house is that there is a ton of glass. We have large windows downstairs, and a glass front door. I love the glass door even though it's not very private, because when you come up to my door, you can see right through the great room and into my fish pond and garden, so it makes me feel really happy. But eventually we may want to replace it for more privacy. Eitherway, though, there are large windows near it, and anyone that wants to can pretty much get in the house if they aren't afraid of being seen.

So I guess I need to think about how to make our house seem less attractive and more secure.