Comprehensive Security Systems Offer Remote Monitoring, Track Activity Around a Home, Alert Owners Via Cellphone
By Alex Veiga
Associated Press
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Homeowners have more options than ever for making their homes less tempting targets for thieves.
But before erecting obstacles for would-be burglars, they must get past hurdles of their own: Determining just how much security they need and how much they can afford.
At the top of the security wish list is a comprehensive home security system with remote monitoring, because thieves are more likely to target a house that appears not to have an alarm rather than risk breaking into one that does, said Frank Santamorena, a principal at Security Experts, Consulting and Design in Rhinebeck, N.Y.
"Make sure you do have an alarm system," he said. "Burglary is a crime of opportunity."
Affordability is key, because top-end home security systems for large homes can easily run several thousand dollars when you add in monthly monitoring costs.
Still, the advent of wireless technology has helped bring down installation costs, eliminating the need and expense to run wires throughout a home from every door and window sensor. That's brought many alarm systems within range of budgets for single-family homeowners.
One example on an entry-level to midrange alarm system is GE Security's Simon XT for around $200 (higher for a deluxe version) plus $30 to $50 a month for monitoring by a separate central monitoring station.
Out of the box, the unit can track activity in 40 zones, or areas of a home such as windows or doors equipped with remote sensors.
Like many systems, it can be programmed to alert homeowners over their cellphone when a sensor is triggered.
Connect a digital video camera and the system can also relay images, such as of the front door, over the Internet.
"Homeowners want to be able to know not only what's happening in their home when they're not there, they also want to know if someone's gotten in their liquor cabinet," said Kirk MacDowell, residential business leader for GE Security, a unit of General Electric.
When shopping for an alarm system, experts say to look for one that includes sensors for all the perimeter doors, interior doors leading to a garage or mud room, several passive infrared motion detectors inside the home and glass-break sensors.
The system should also have an inside and outside siren to scare off intruders plus a silent alarm code in case someone forces the homeowners to shut down the alarm.
Santamorena recommended at least three alarm keypads in the house: near the front door, back door and the master bedroom.
"If you think there's a problem, you ought to be able to press a panic button," he says.
Avoid the temptation to buy fake alarm company stickers. Experienced thieves will see right through them.
"I don't recommend people doing that at all, they're just kidding themselves," Santamorena said.
Even if a monitored security system is beyond a homeowner's budget, a number of other products offer ways to fill in the security gaps.
One item, by Armor Concepts, can prevent someone from kicking in a door.
Dubbed the Door Jamb Armor, it's a series of metal supports that slide over the existing door frame on a standard entry door, reinforcing it at the door jamb, the lock and the top and bottom hinges.
"All the parts of the door that break when it's kicked don't break anymore," said Alan Young, the company's chief executive.
A full set sells for about $125.
Next month, the company plans to debut a version of the Door Jamb that works with doors that have windows on either side of the door frame.
Another option is to install a biometric locks that use fingerprint recognition technology instead of a key.
Once designed for commercial use, now many manufacturers are making models for homes.
Artemis Solutions Group's BioCert Guardian XL biometric door lock runs on battery power and can store fingerprints for up to 30 users. It's available for $189.
The unit should be used in areas of the house that are not exposed to extreme moisture, like an interior door leading to the garage, said Artemis chief executive James Childers.
"We actually have a lot of people that are using it for securing the master suite inside the house and outside in condominiums," Childers said.
Alarm systems and souped up doors may still not bar a determined prowler. What then?
Experts recommend homeowners have a safe bolted to the floor in which to keep their jewelry, key personal documents and other valuables.
Safe technology hasn't changed much in the last 50 years, said Jim Riccardi, who handles East Coast sales for Gardall Safe Corp.
But now there are models with biometric sensors instead of combination keys, for example.
How much safe do you need?
"Safes are similar to an insurance policy," Riccardi said. "The more you spend, the more protection you're going to get."
Still, for the average homeowner, an old-fashioned mechanical turn-dial or push-button safe will do. Gardall's 1812/2-G-C model, for example, is about $740.
Riccardi recommended at least five working bolts -- including some on the side where the door meets the hinge -- and a bolt so it can be anchored to the floor.
Santamorena said homeowners can employ other measures to dissuade the casual burglar.
In addition to putting indoor lights on a timer when you're out of the house, also put the television or a radio on the timer and set it to go off during the course of the day.
One inexpensive way to dupe burglars into thinking someone's home when they're not is the Fake TV. The device flashes intermittently, simulating the light output of a television. It retails for about $31.
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