Following last week's burglary I am now looking at fitting a burglar alarm to my terraced house.
So what advice and recommendations would you like to give me?
Are wireless systems reliable enough?
Will just a couple of PIR detectors be enough?
Any brands to avoid?
I am competant enough to install a wired system but is it worth the extra effort?
Cost is a serious consideration so I won't be going for a monitored system.
Thanks.
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Its all opinion of course, but based on my experience of buying and fitting one.
>> Are wireless systems reliable enough?
Yes
>> Will just a couple of PIR detectors be enough?
Yes as long as they are visible to intruders (from the outside) at the likely sources of entry or internal transit.
>> Any brands to avoid?
Don't know.
>> Cost is a serious consideration so I won't be going for a monitored system.
The idea is not to make the house fully secure, you simply can't do that, but to make it obvious that it would take more effort to break into your house than the house next door.
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A decent wireless system will be a lot more expensive if you're going down the DIY route, but it is easier to install.
A decent wireless box will cost at least £200 just for the panel, then the PIRs are at least £50 each etc.
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I can get a branded wireless control box, 1 PIR, 1 bellbox, 1 wireless contact switch, 1 alarm fob and 1 remote control for 124 quid.
Extra PIRs are 21 quid each.
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From the back of the lorry? The only stuff I have seen like that is from DIY stores, and lets put it this way you won't get any alarm installers buying that stuff.
I don't like A1 or Rapid counts as a decent brand :).
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How much do you think installer pay for their stuff than rats? I'll tell you its NOT the same as they charge you.
Its a recognised maker
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"The idea is not to make the house fully secure, you simply can't do that, but to make it obvious that it would take more effort to break into your house than the house next door. "
Hunter and his bearer are stalking a lion - the hunter's gun jams and the lion hears the 'click'.
It turns and sees the 2 men.
The bearer slips off his boots and starts to put on his running shoes.
"You'll never outrun him in those!", snorts the hunter
"Indeed sir, but I will outrun you..."
... our house alarm covers the doors and unoccupied rooms while we are asleep (can set it from a pad next to my bedroom) - although it arms the whole house when we go out if stuff gets taken it's only stuff.
Has gone off twice in past decade while I've been at home - probably mice patrolling!
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I have the earlier version of that kit. Its suited me perfectly.
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No point in having the central station ones i.e. the ones that alert the police...as you have very few 'get out of jail free' cards before you're banned..in other words a couple of false alarms and they won't turn out anyway.
Have something visible, so flashing light on the outside...monitors in rooms that flash when someone/something sets them off.
Don't just concentrate on the alarm. Decent door locks and more than one on outside doors. Hardwood or uPVC, not soft wood outer doors, inc the rear of the house. Double glazing, not single glazing.
Make it difficult for them to get to an area that isn't overlooked...decent security lights, up high so they can't be tampered with. Lock your ladders and garden tools away, so they can't be used to break in.
Lastly, if you locked yourself out...what's the easiest way for you to break in...well it'll be the same for Billy Burglar.
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>> Lastly, if you locked yourself out...what's the easiest way for you to break in...well it'll
>> be the same for Billy Burglar.
Good few years ago when we were all neighbours in a new development Sally down the end locked herself out. While Mrs B faffed about borrowing Chris's ladder so a little guy (me) could get in Graham the fireman was there via the open shower room window.
Onto a downstairs cill, and using a drainpipe, boiler vent and tiled bay roof as foot/hand holds he was inside in seconds.
If he'd been Bill da Burglar he'd not even have needed the cover of darkness.
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Mon 12 Mar 12 at 22:50
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I have an "Accenta mini" alarm system, it has PIRs, magnetic door switches, and an internal siren that is so loud you can't hear yourself think when it goes off along with an external siren and strobe light.
Last edited by: Old Navy on Mon 12 Mar 12 at 22:56
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>> strobe light
Make sure your home insurance will cover your costs when you get sued for causing a poor burglar to take a seizure.
;-)
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>> Make sure your home insurance will cover your costs when you get sued for causing
>> a poor burglar to take a seizure.
>>
>> ;-)
>>
The internal siren is liable to give him a heart attack before he gets outside to see the strobe light. :-)
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"I have an "Accenta mini" alarm system, it has PIRs, magnetic door switches, and an internal siren that is so loud you can't hear yourself think when it goes off along with an external siren and strobe light."
I have an eighty year old lady in the bungalow opposite who never goes out and sits looking out through the net curtains most of the day and never misses a thing happening around here.
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Have you tried a local electrical wholesaler?
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t."
>>
>> I have an eighty year old lady in the bungalow opposite who never goes out
>> and sits looking out through the net curtains most of the day and never misses
>> a thing happening around here.
I though you people burned them all? Still a village without its "crone" is no village.
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I self - fitted a "Response" Solar-charged DIY wireless kit (from B+Q) uver 10 years ago, and apart from a new battery about 2years ago, it has been absolutely faultless. We have PIR`s fitted in all downstairs rooms, and opening sensors on all downstairs external / internal doors and all opening windows. We each have a small "Remote" on our key rings, with a spare hidden outside. At the time it cost peanuts, but has saved us thousands, not just in protected property, but also in insurance premiums. Juust check it meets ISO 9001 specs and the Ins Co seem to be quite happy to accept it as a bona-fide installation.
Last edited by: devonite on Tue 13 Mar 12 at 00:53
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>> I have an eighty year old lady in the bungalow opposite who never goes out
>> and sits looking out through the net curtains most of the day and never misses
>> a thing happening around here.
>>
My alarm is only a backup system, My "Little old lady" even tells her son when I put my wheelie bin out too early. :-) He is a long time friend who lives about 30 miles away and we keep an eye on his mum, (from a distance, she is fiercely independent).
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My mother in law comes to us at Christmas and stares through the window all day, I never let her in though.
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Get a dog - a free mutt from a rescue home will be a grateful organic alarm. Who knows you might enjoy him in his off-duty hours !
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>> Get a dog
If you want a burglar alarm that's only set off by the presence of squirrels in the garden then I can recommend a cavalier king charles :)
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About 20 years ago I got a system that runs through the electrical wiring - the control box packed up but I have kept the sensors up an these can be seen from the dining room window, kitchen and front door etc
My Next door neighbour had the full monty fitted years ago and it kicks off and gives him problems ............must be costing him £300-£400 /year in charges.
My son fitted a Yale wireless system 20 months ago (£150)...........works a treat and maybe enough to make the thief who got in 2 years ago try another home further up the road
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What's the jury's verdict on fake boxes fitted to the outside of the house?
Signed,
"Tightwad, Wales"
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if its a properly branded box, Like CHUB, for example then why not. YOu need good looking PIR's to be viewed through the window as well tho.
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Like CHUB
Yeah but spelt right otherwise it won't fool anyone !
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>>What's the jury's verdict on fake boxes fitted to the outside of the house?<<
I had one at a previous owse, someone nicked it in the night.
;}
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>>Get a dog<<
Only problem is that when you go out you take the "Burglar Alarm" with you! - thats when you want it in the house! ;-)
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>>Only problem is that when you go out you take the "Burglar Alarm" with you! - thats when you want it in the house! ;-)<<
Trust you blimmin Northerners to work that one out :)
I've just bin for a trot around the eden project (1hr 15mins) no ones ere and Iv'e never had a burger alarm
(except in Hastings!)
What I do is diss ... 1st of all I likes what Wp says about "what's the easiest way for you to get in if you were locked out will be the same for B. Burglar.
I left my kitchen under-unit lights on (low wattage)
I left a low wattage lamp on in the dining room + a low wattage halogen desklamp on in the lounge,
Then I leave one of my small shed doors ajar (nuffink in there) so it looks like 'I'm about'
Lastly, I leave a floor cleaner (squeegee) in a bucket outside the front door.
OTT, maybe but - I'm in the middle of nowhere so I'm using psycho-ology.
Oh, and I also leave the wireless on LOUD - radio 4 (in case they are edumacated)
Last edited by: Dog on Tue 13 Mar 12 at 12:58
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I`m suprised you`ve got the energy left to go out after setting all that up!
Why not just pin a note onto the front and back doors that reads - "Please knock quite loudly, dozing in the chair"! ;-)
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You've got to think like they do.
I'm surprised at how many people go out and leave the hall light on. How many people spend much time in their halls?
Stick a light on in the living room if it'll be dark when you get back, even if it's daylight when you leave. If you are overlooked at it'll be obvious there's no one in the living room, stick a bedroom light on as well and shut the curtains.
Two lights on looks like someone's in. No lights on and there's no one there.
If you are going away on holiday, get a neighbour to park in your drive.
You can easily narrow the odds down. Thieves go for the easiest route.
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>> I'm surprised at how many people go out and leave the hall light on. How
>> many people spend much time in their halls?
But we put ours on in the evening when we're in, so for us turning it off would indicate we're out.
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>> >> I'm surprised at how many people go out and leave the hall light on.
>> How
>> >> many people spend much time in their halls?
>>
>> But we put ours on in the evening when we're in, so for us turning
>> it off would indicate we're out.
>>
I should have said "hall light only"
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>> >> But we put ours on in the evening when we're in, so for us
>> turning
>> >> it off would indicate we're out.
>> >>
>>
>> I should have said "hall light only"
Ah yes, agreed.
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>> You've got to think like they do.
>>
>> I'm surprised at how many people go out and leave the hall light on. How
>> many people spend much time in their halls?
>>
>> Stick a light on in the living room if it'll be dark when you get
>> back, even if it's daylight when you leave. If you are overlooked at it'll be
>> obvious there's no one in the living room, stick a bedroom light on as well
>> and shut the curtains.
>>
>> Two lights on looks like someone's in. No lights on and there's no one there.
>>
>> If you are going away on holiday, get a neighbour to park in your drive.
>>
>> You can easily narrow the odds down. Thieves go for the easiest route.
>>
Making home deliveries you learn to spot a house where nobody's in from 100 yards. If you're going to leave a light on make it a proper ceiling light and not a table lamp on it's own, that's a dead giveaway, as are blinds drawn during the day. And don't leave a note on the door asking the courier to leave his delivery in the porch or the shed round the back, you'd be amazed at how many people do.
Getting a neighbour to leave their car on your drive is a good idea, relying on one of your own sitting there while you are on holiday won't fool an astute burglar, all he's got to do is look at the brake discs and he'll soon know it's not been driven for a few days at least.
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>>Why not just pin a note onto the front and back doors that reads - "Please knock quite loudly, dozing in the chair"<<
I've left a note saying "back in 5 minutes" before now (when I've been out all day!)
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>> I've left a note saying "back in 5 minutes" before now (when I've been out
>> all day!)
>>
How to 'p' off your postman real quick...when he/she's stood there with a parcel....;-)
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We used to have a couple of those gizmos you fit the light bulb into. You armed it by flicking the switch on and off three times or something and then it would randomly turn the light on and off during darkness. We used them when we went on holiday.
Never did get over the curtains problem though. Closed all day - looks odd. Open all night - looks odd.
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>> >> I've left a note saying "back in 5 minutes" before now (when I've been
>> out
>> >> all day!)
>> >>
>>
>> How to 'p' off your postman real quick...when he/she's stood there with a parcel....;-)
>>
My postman doesn't bring parcels, just the "while you were out" notes.
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We don't use ceiling lights in living or bedrooms - only table, or standard, lamps. SWMBO hates central lights!
As for leaving lights on in unoccupied rooms, even with economy bulbs in every single light fitting; I wouldn't - it costs money!
Off topic:
Having just viewed our fuel bills for the last quarter, I was quite surprised at the imbalance between leccy & gas.
The electricity was £175 and the gas (hot water and well-used C.H.) was £120. I was quite relieved at the latter as not having used gas for heating for years, I had no real feel for the cost of generous warmth.
The high electricity was, I am sure, down to a clothes drier used daily (at the very least for towels) plus, a probably greater than average, use of the oven (all home made bread) and the fact that 99% of our food is cooked from scratch.
Last edited by: Roger on Tue 13 Mar 12 at 17:48
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The high electricity was, I am sure, down to a clothes drier
Clothes lines are available in Wilko for £2.99 ;-0
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>> The high electricity was, I am sure, down to a clothes drier
>>
>> Clothes lines are available in Wilko for £2.99 ;-0
Dry, sunny, breezy, clothes drying weather is available in the UK for- oops!
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Well we manage to dry most of ours on a line - Probably use the dryer 3 days a month on average. Plenty of dry breezy weather and as you might have read very little rain in the East.
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I have a couple of very bright LED lights in the hall which I leave on if I'm away - with internal doors open it tends to show a moderate light in every room through closed curtains. Approximately 18W total, so about 6p/day.
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>> I have a couple of very bright LED lights in the hall which I leave
>> on if I'm away - ..........
The police recommend leaving lights on when the property is empty ~ but not in the hall, because thieves are aware of that little dodge. Very few people have a light on in the hall for very long when they're at home.
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Ahh, but with the curtains closed and the doors open it looks like there's light on in the lounge and downstairs bedroom.
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At our last abode we just had a dummy alarm box (which had a battery operated little light at the bottom) on the front of the property ~ similar to this. tinyurl.com/7t8gzx4 It obviously deterred burglars because we were never burgled.
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>> At our last abode we just had a dummy alarm box
>> It obviously deterred burglars because we were never burgled.
Or they thought you had nothing worth stealing because of the cheap fake box on the wall ;)
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>> >> At our last abode we just had a dummy alarm box
>> >> It obviously deterred burglars because we were never burgled.
>>
>> Or they thought you had nothing worth stealing because of the cheap fake box on
>> the wall ;)
>
Ah - the old reverse physiology, too much for your average scroat.
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I have a monitored burglar alarm as my ins co demands it; how I resented the cost. Worth every penny when the alarm went off at the beginning of a holiday. Alarm bells switch themselves off after 20 minutes, so in London nobody would ever notice. House could have been open for a week with every passing charmer wandering in and taking something else.
Sum total loss: 1 broken pane of glass.
Last edited by: Mapmaker on Wed 14 Mar 12 at 13:21
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>>House could have been open for a week with every passing charmer wandering in and taking something else.<<
Don't you have a neighbour to keep an eye on security while you are away?
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>> >> At our last abode we just had a dummy alarm box
>> >> It obviously deterred burglars because we were never burgled.
>>
>> Or they thought you had nothing worth stealing because of the cheap fake box on
>> the wall ;)
>>
It was just a joke ~ but barely just apparently!
Last edited by: L'escargot on Wed 14 Mar 12 at 14:54
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>>It was just a joke ~ barely just apparently!
Another one over our heads, L'escargot.
:)
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>>
>> It was just a joke ~ but barely just apparently!
I thinks that's one exam it needs to resit.
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>> It was just a joke
So was my reply - hence the smiley.
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Very amusing banter.
Mine is a DIY job and my first thought was to have an alarm that sounded differently to others. So I chose a large bell. The low life decided it was a phone one and, with the aid of tools from my shed, took out the small top window light of my study.
After the LL squeezed inside, he put two of my calculators on a desk top, and then moved elsewhere. He was greeted a few seconds later with a warble sound -- some warble -- a high pitch at 125dB. The keys were hidden and so he opted to go back out the way he came. Loss total? One diary, that did not have my holidays marked in it. The calculators were still where he placed them.
A couple of days later I upgraded to have a standard looking alarm box on each of two outside walls -- open land on one side.
I use microwave movement detectors, (own design) rather than IR ones, as I can get a much better indication of how well the detection is going. There is a background 'noise' indicator to show the 'noise' signal is well below what would cause an alarm. ---- the up-market detectors have used both microwaves and IR combined to only trigger when both are detecting at the same time.
The sighting of the detector/s is important for both types. Don't point your detector towards windows because curtain movement can uncover something of a different temperature and cause an IR alarm. The microwave unit will detect the movement directly and also movement outside the window.
Detectors can often go on the same wall as curtains if they point into the room.
A movement detector that will cover a suitable area can be easier to install than using several door and/or window switches. Reliability is paramount. I have had many years of no false alarms.
Using IR or microwave detectors where there are dogs or cats loose is a no no.
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Of course, some of the people who fit and maintain the alarms are the biggest crooks of all.
After my Grandad had his annual check of the alarm done (monitored system) the blokes said that the PIR detector in the lounge wasn't working, and they didn't have a replacement with them at the time.
Funnily enough the lounge was broken into 48 hours later, with no attempt to enter any other part of the house. You can't prove anything unfortunately, but it's one helluva coincidence.
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Well thanks for all your comments.
The last few days I have been looking at what other people have in the local area. In some streets very few have alarm boxes. In other streets about 50% have.
The quality of the boxes varies greatly. Many look like they were put up 20 years ago and haven't been touched since - I doubt they work.
Since there hasn't been a groundswell of opinion against wireless systems I think that is the way I will go. And a few more lights left on!!
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I cannot comment on wireless but I know our alarm has sensors in all rooms and on all exit door. A lot of wires run from the alarm box in the cellar but are hidden. Fitting it now would be tricky to hide without some redecorating.
So I would definitely consider wireless!
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Watch out if you have thick walls. Wireless does not work well.
Our walls range from 0.5 to 1 metre thick. Wireless signals travel no more than 5-10 metres in our house: makes broadband internet hubs fun.
(Of course, makes wiring even more difficult if you have to drill through a 1 metre internal wall - made of millstone grit so the flint inclusions in the sandstone kill drill bits...)
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>>Our walls range from 0.5 to 1 metre thick.
Why do you need a burglar alarm, can't you just pull up the drawbridge?
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Postman probably won't take kindly to boiling oil poured through the murder hole.
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Have you seen the price of burning oil and flaming arrows lately?
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Home Burglar Alarms - Zero
