Home security

RedOnRed

Just to make things even more depressing...you can knock a hole through a wall big another to crawl/walk through in a matter of minutes. I know because I did just that on a building project once.

So therefore, it doesn't really matter how secure your windows are if you are considering them to be your main line of defence against intruders and if someone is intent enough on breaking in to your property.

mpreed

I'm about to move into a falt in a new yuppy development on the edge of one of the less nice parts of town and am looking at getting a home security system installed as I'm on the first floor and have full size window doors in the flat.

I'm looking at getting a proper NACOSS system installed but don't want to request info without getting a ball-park figure which none of the web sites seem to give out! Can anyone give a ball park figure - it's a two bedroom flat, by the way.

Cheers in advance

Paul1_2

I'm looking at getting a proper NACOSS system installed but don't want to request info without getting a ball-park figure which none of the web sites seem to give out! Can anyone give a ball park figure - it's a two bedroom flat, by the way.

As with anything to do with money the answer is to shop around!

There are huge variations in the system prices and monitoring charges, our quotes varied from £2500 for a system to under £800 for a much more detailed system! Monitoring ranged from £35 per month to the £10 we currently pay.

Start with your local crime prevention officer for individual force requirements to ensure they will respond to your system (there are lots they won't, unless a neighbour reports seeing someone in your property).

Paul1 8)

RedOnRed

Can anyone give a ball park figure - it's a two bedroom flat, by the way.

Ours was NACOSS installed last spring. We had three quotes all around £1100 for a four bedroom. Mind you, you'd need to do an Oceans 11 job on us now to get in undetected...not that i'm challenging anyone.

It's worth paying the extra to have it NACOSS installed. They ran loads of wires around the house and drilled through floors and walls and there's not one bit of visible cable or even trunking. It's amazing what a neat job they did.

I'm not sure if bedrooms really come into it. Is your flat all on the same level? Is there access from the outside, apart from abseiling down that is. It could be that a flat would be a lot easier then a house and would need less parts.

malcolmord

the follwoing website gives loads of tips - speak to your local crime reduction officer for further advice

http://www.durham.police.uk/vhouse/index.htm

mpreed

Thanks for all the advice. I stumbled upon Scottish Gas' offering - £799 for the full package - including remote monitoring.

That includes 3 infra-reds and 1 door monitor. £16.50 per month for monitoring.

This looks okay - it's NACOSS approved and around my price range.

Has anyone had this installed? Is it a decent system?

I'll still go and see my local Crime Prevention chap to see what they say.

My new flat isn't huge, so the 3 IR set up would probably do.

alanobrien

I read recently on a crime prevention site that
having one or more external lights on a dawn to dusk sensor
is a good idea using low wattage power saving bulbs naturally.

The site stated this was better than the PIR type floodlights used a great deal today. The low wattage dawn to dusk was allegedly cheaper to run overall.

The main thrust of the argument they used was that a criminal is more likely to choose a darkened house to burgle, and that includes one with a light that occasionally activates.
Anyway, sounded logical to me.

Just found the link, worth a read;

http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/burglary45.htm

Having one or more internal lights on timers is also a good thing.