Home Security

Statistics from the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association show that a burglary is committed every 10 seconds in America. Also, burglars are 3 times more likely to attempt to enter homes that do not have alarm systems, then homes that do have home security. Single-family homes are twice as likely to become targets, and homes on corner lots are especially vulnerable.

Additional statistics report that 38 percent of all assaults and 68 percent of all reported rapes occur during a home invasion. Once a home has been broken into once, the odds of additional burglaries increase. This is because stolen possessions have been replaced with new items that are more enticing to criminals. Don't become a statistic. Responding appropriately to protect your home and family is particularly critical if you have already become a victim of crime.

You love your family. You want to protect them, and your possessions. You lock your doors, but this is not enough. Twenty-three percent of burglars bypass the locked door and enter through a first floor window, while 2 percent climb in through the second story. Nine percent of burglars break in through the garage, and 4 percent find a way in through the basement. Don't make it any easier for them.

A home security system may be just what you need to protect your family and your home. There are basically three types available today. Two types may be purchased at hardware stores or home centers, and may be installed by the homeowner. These are the stand alone and wireless alarm systems. Professional contractors should always install hardwired alarm systems.

When operating most home security systems the owner disarms the alarm by punching in a pin number on the control panel. If the pin number is not entered within a certain amount of time after entrance is detected, the home alarm activates and an alarm monitoring company or the local police department may also be notified. Some home security system options also notify you with a beep anytime a door is opened.

This is an important aspect to consider when choosing which home security system to purchase. If your local police department does not accept automatic calls from home alarm systems, you will also have to choose an alarm monitoring company. This company will have their own suggestions on which home security system you need. Many alarm monitoring companies will not only notify police, but can also notify the fire department if needed, or get you medical assistance.

Another consideration when evaluating home security systems is the age of your home. If you are building a new home it is easier to wire a home alarm system while it is a frame. If you own an historic home, or access is difficult, wireless is a better option. Some home security services will do a free estimate, and come out to your home to assess your security needs.

A home security system is only as good as its installer and operator. Be sure that the installer explains how the system works to everyone who will be using it. Each person in the home should be aware of the basic elements of the system.


Keypad/control panel - This is a device used to arm (turn on) or disarm (turn off) the system. It is the location where your system wiring terminates and your backup battery is located. The control panel is the most important part of the security system since it monitors the conditions of all the other devices. Control panels were once made up of relays, dry cell batteries, and a key to turn the system on or off. Now thanks to modern technology, they contain a microprocessor, allowing them to perform many more tasks at the touch of a button. Options and features differ by manufacturer, but most control panels have a test button allowing you to test the system and a button that lets you change your user code.

Most control panels need to have a code entered using the keypad to arm and disarm the system. More then one keypad may be installed in a home. Some good locations are near the front door and near the upstairs bedrooms. Many keypads also act as panic buttons by allowing the alarm to be set off when certain buttons are pressed.

Siren - A loud siren will alert the members of the household when there has been a break-in. This noise often scares away the intruder immediately or lessens the amount of valuables taken because they know the authorities are on the way. Security experts recommend that one siren be installed inside the house near or in a bedroom, and a second siren be installed on an exterior wall or in the attic near a gable vent. If you live in a neighborhood where the houses are close together, a siren with a flashing light will help identify the source of the alarm. Many areas require that the control box for the alarms have an automatic cutoff to silence an exterior siren after a certain amount of time. This is useful if the alarm is activated while you are away.

Inside Motion Detector - A device that uses passive infrared, microwave or photoelectric detectors to sense movement in a room. There are now special motion detectors available from some companies for people who have pets.

Door Contacts - Magnetic devices that form a circuit between the door and the door frame that are designed to detect the opening of the door when the circuit is broken, thus setting off an alarm. Door contacts are installed along the top or latch edge of the door.

Window Contacts - Magnetic devices that form a circuit between the window and the sill that are designed to detect the opening of the window when the circuit is broken, thus setting off an alarm. Window contacts only work if the window is opened. They do not work if the window is broken. Window contacts are installed along the top or latch edge of the sill except for double-hung windows where they are installed on the bottom edge of the lower sash or the top edge of the upper sash.

A link to a Central monitoring system - Emergency signals from your home are sent by phone line to a monitoring company where trained personnel are on duty twenty four hours a day, seven days a week to evaluate the alarm and notify the proper authorities. In most cases they will attempt to verify the condition by calling your home before contacting the authorities. This prevents having the police, fire or rescue services respond unnecessarily. If the police receive too many false alarms you may be fined. Most links are through landlines but there are now wireless links that are similar to cell phones and contact the owner by e-mail or cell phone. This is especially useful if an intruder has cut the landline. These services are provided under a contact with a monthly fee. Often the monitoring company will be the same company.

When choosing a monitoring company for your home alarm system, it is important to find one that is reliable and trustworthy. Don't just choose one from the Yellow Pages. As with many things, consider asking friends, family, and colleagues for their monitoring company recommendations. Many people today have home security systems and may offer helpful thoughts or experiences about various home security monitoring companies.

Monitoring companies use special phone lines, computers and trained staff to watch over home security systems and contact the appropriate authorities if the need arises. They hold your safety in their hands.

Most alarm monitoring companies also install the systems that they monitor. They sell the systems as a package deal along with the monitoring service. The deal typically includes a three-year contract during which the monitoring company takes any alarm calls, verifies them, and contacts the police if needed. There is usually a monthly fee for this service. For an extra fee, you may purchase cellular backup, in case your phone line is cut, and service plans that cover repairs.

This is a long-term commitment. Quality and services can vary greatly among companies. You want to be sure that the monitoring company you choose meets or exceeds the requirements of Underwriters Laboratories (U.L.), so you can be assured monitoring of your system will not be interrupted.

First contact the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association and ask for a list of member companies in your area. They can also provide you with brochures on home security that will help familiarize you with terms used by the industry.

Ask your insurance agent, friends, neighbors and coworkers for referrals. Make a list of companies that sound promising.

Call several of the companies on the list and ask if their employees are trained and certified by the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association. Also ask whether they participate in the Installation Quality Certification program, and if they have the appropriate state and local licenses needed for your area.

Make sure to check with your local police department, state licensing agencies, and the Better Business Bureau about the status of the companies you are considering.

Now it is finally time to narrow your list down to three or four companies and contact them to arrange a visit from a representative. It is important that all family members be present for this visit. They need to understand how the system works and the representative needs to know your family dynamics and habits to determine what components to use in the system. You do not want a system with motion sensors if your home is full of pets!

Prepare a list of questions to ask each representative. Write them down if you need to. Some questions include:


1. How long has the company been in business?

2. Does the company hold the required licenses and certifications?

3. How many alarm systems of this type have you installed?

4. Does the company use (UL) listed equipment and is the monitoring station itself (UL) certified?

5. Are the monitoring operators, technology advisors and sales representatives trained in the operation and installation of the equipment, how to design a custom security system and how to handle troubleshooting problems?

6. Is the monitoring station is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and if the company has a customer service department that is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week?

7. Does the company have a backup-monitoring center? If the main center experiences power problems, will your home still be monitored?

8. Does the company have built-in redundancies for its power, computer and phone lines incase something goes wrong?

9. What kind of background checks does the company run on prospective employees?

10. What company identification are employees required to carry?

11. What kind of warranties does the company offer?

12. Can the contracts be cancelled if I change my mind?

Will the company be locking out the alarm panel to prevent changing of monitoring companies during the contract? Insist upon written confirmation that the panel will not be locked out, or will be unlocked upon request at no charge.

What procedures are in place to prevent false alarms is you happen to make a mistake while operation your alarm system? Can a password or other code be used to identify yourself and that everything is okay.

What renovations to my home may be needed during and after the installation?

Once you choose a company and your system is installed, have your installer walk you through the system as long as it takes for you to feel comfortable operating it. Many municipalities fine owners after three to five alarms. You should not only look at these issues, but also compare overall installation costs and monthly expenses for each home security system and associated monitoring.

If you have not had a security system installed in your home yet, or you cannot afford one, there are several inexpensive measures that you can utilize to deter break-ins.

Check all doors and doorframes. Wooden exterior doors are either of solid-core or hollow-core construction. Solid-core doors provide the greatest amount of security and are best suited for the installation of good locks. Metal doors made of steel that is no thinner than 16 gauge is adequate. If your doorframes are not made of steel you should strengthen them with shims (thin tapered pieces of wood used to fill in spaces) and plywood filler. Make sure outside doors are hinged from the inside. If you have a sliding glass door, place a bar in the inside track. A broom handle cut to size works well for this if you cannot afford a metal bar lock.

Check to make sure all door and window locks are working. If not, replace them. The most inexpensive method of securing a window is with a nail. Drill a 3/16-inch hole through the top rail of the bottom sash and at least ½ inch into the bottom rail of the top sash. Angle the hole downward so the nail won't fall out if the window is rattled. Next trim the head from a 3-inch nail with wire cutters. Slip the nail in the hole. You can use a magnet to pull the nail out and unlock the window. More expensive locks may be purchased at a hardware or home improvement store. Deadbolt locks offer the best protection for doors. The bolts should extend at least one inch into the doorframe. These simple security measures can keep your home and family safer with very little cost. Exterior lights, motion sensing lights, and thoughtful landscaping can provide further safety and security in your home.

Don't forget to lock up. Even the best locks are useless if they are not used. You might be surprised to find out just how many homes are left unprotected, even when there are elements installed in the home that can keep the house safe. Meanwhile, it is not uncommon to find that people who don't lock their homes are the first one's to be robbed.

Buy timers for your lights. Set them to come on at different times and in different rooms when you go away. You may also leave a radio or television playing.

Motion detector lights in the yard are great deterrents to burglars. Just make sure they are installed high enough to prevent burglars from unscrewing the bulbs.

Put up curtains or blinds over all windows so no one can look inside your home or garage. Do not leave the garage door open especially if no vehicles are inside.

Keep all valuables out of plain sight.

Any fence is an obstacle to illegal entry. A high chain-link fence makes it harder for a burglar to remove valuables.

A barking dog will intimidate most criminals. If you can't have a pet or don't like dogs you can use a tape-recording that is activated by motion or sound.

Lock up any ladders or tools that may aid burglars in entering your house.

Make sure air conditioners are bolted into the window on the inside.

If you are going away, stop all mail and newspaper deliveries. Nothing says no one is home like a pile of rolled up newspapers on the porch or lawn.

Trim hedges and limbs before you go away so they can't be used for cover.

In the winter have someone shovel your walks while you are away.

Shine security lights on key parts of your home such as vulnerable doors and windows. Also replace dim or burned-out light bulbs.

Ask a friend or neighbor to park their vehicle in your driveway and to put out the trash. If you are going to be out of town and are very concerned, a bonded housesitter may be an option, and can provide care for your home and pets while you are away.

Do not leave a message on your answering machine that you are out of town. A simple" We can't come to the phone right," now is sufficient.

Do not hide spare keys outside. Give a spare to a friend or family member.

Do not attach you name to your house keys. Lost or stolen keys can be easily traced to your front door.

Finally, contact your local police force for information on setting up a neighborhood watch program.