Home security - alarms & CCTV..?

Nine_Lives

If this would be better asked in another forum, please let me know.

I don't have a house yet, I'm just gathering information before we do get our own place next year.

I'm quite a paranoid person I'll readily admit, but if having decent house security will help me sleep easier at night then so be it.


First one is CCTV - what are the laws on this? I'd obviously want it on the front of the house filming anyone approaching the door. If we have a rear entrance the it'd be the same for that too.
Unfortunately I'm guessing the law helps the criminal on this & stops you filming much...?
Also, are the cheaper units much cop or is it worth shelling out?


Then there's your standard alarms for door break in and/or window break in. Again, is it worth shelling out or are the cheap units good enough for the task? Obviously something that a 10yr old with some chewing gum foil can get past is no good.


TIA.

fatbikersbouncebetter

The latest systems are wireless and can be accessed from iphones or internet. You can but what you want, but better to buy what you need is better. Filming is Ok within your boundaries (IE not viewing further than your property boundary). You can get very parrnoid if you are not careful. Front camera???? is OK if you are in the house to see who is calling . Rear or side entry is more common. The fact is NOTHING can stop 'them' getting in if they really want. The alarm system should be a deterant and a advisor, when a break in is happening. This can be achieved with a midern system.

Nine_Lives

I understand you can get too paranoid, but tbh, if it makes myself & my partner feel that bit more secure at home, then IMO it's worth it. Not only that, but CCTV especially - it isn't just a deterrent for would-be intruders, but if anyone damages anything - property, car etc, it'd pick them up (hopefully). I would hate to be in a case where the first words i utter would be ... wish i had installed CCTV/an alarm system.

I do understand that if someone is determined enough, then there's nothing you can do, but you can't plan so much for these types of people.

As i'm no electrical buff, does anyone here know what someone may charge to install a CCTV system?

Myser

Make sure all your external door locks meet the insurance requirement or better. That is your first line of defence.

You can look at the National Crime Database for the area you intend to move into:

http://www.police.uk/

brutus1983

K_P83 wrote: »

I understand you can get too paranoid, but tbh, if it makes myself & my partner feel that bit more secure at home, then IMO it's worth it. Not only that, but CCTV especially - it isn't just a deterrent for would-be intruders, but if anyone damages anything - property, car etc, it'd pick them up (hopefully). I would hate to be in a case where the first words i utter would be ... wish i had installed CCTV/an alarm system.

I do understand that if someone is determined enough, then there's nothing you can do, but you can't plan so much for these types of people.

As i'm no electrical buff, does anyone here know what someone may charge to install a CCTV system?

cant give a qoute will depend on the size of the property type of system used if a dedicated supply needs to be installed

also never get a qoute over the phone always get someone out to look at the job 1st

phill99

With the greatest of respects, I think you would be better off paying to deal with your paranoia and also stop watching Crimewatch etc.

Most burglars are lads aged between 16 and 25 who break in in late afternoon / early evening and take items that are readily sellable to fund their crack habits.

They very rarely come through the front of the house as they can be seen and prefer rear entrances / windows as they arre less likely to be disturbed. High quality locks and window locks should be your priority in terms of spending.

Next to that, an alarm is a good idea, especially if it is monitored. It will cost you a monthly fee, but will reduce your insurance premiums. Alarms put off the opportunist burglars so can be a good deterrent.

As for CCTV, unless you go for a very high quality system, they are of limited use as the quality is too poor. A strange thing to bear in mind is that drug dealers always have CCTV on the front of the house and as such your house could well be targetted by other dealers who think that there are drugs in the house and break in to steal them - you may actually be encouraging people to break in.

The best approach is to stop them getting in. So good locks, good quality doors and windows and a monitored alarm will be a far better deterrent than CCTV.

But the best deterent? A good dog - ones that are known to be lippy - German Shepherds, Border Collies, Terriers. They bark as soon as anyone comes near and it naturally puts off the scumbags. I have 2 dogs that bark alot and always know when anyone is within 50metres of the house.

But try and deral with your paranoia as home ownership is going to be a nightmare for you - what if the boiler breaks down, what if the fuse board blows up, what if that tiny tiny hairline crack is actually subsidence?

ed110220

Is the house you are planning on getting especially vulnerable or does it contain especially valuable items? If not, I think CCTV is a bit OTT to be honest and if you're just doing it because you're paranoid I think you risk simply feeding your paranoia.

I would say it's better to look for a house that is secure and has neighbours relatively near who can deter any break-ins ie not too secluded etc and then make sure the doors and windows are sound and have good locks. An alarm wouldn't be going overboard.

fatbikersbouncebetter

Dogs???? New Windows and doors , drug dealers have alarms and waste of money all in the same two replies. Yowza, and they talk of your 'issues'.
1) Any scumbag out there is not stupid enough to try and break into an alarmed, monitored house when next door hasn't got an alarm.
Big dogs are not an answer for everyone. Having an alarm is not a sign that you have good stuff inside or you are a drug dealer. Nor is cameras, that if included within your budget make sense, no matter how good the picture is. Does Mr scumbag know that ?
Question: do you alll ock and alarm your car when you leave it ? If its a big car you might be a drug dealer !!!! If its a cheap car you might not mind if someone nicks it !
New doors and windows????? Just how much do you think an alarm system costs???? I was quoted
£14.000 for new windows and doors.

Lets face it, some people think its a waste of money, but some feel safer and can sleep or work better with one last worry.
My system has all the bells and whistles, has two cameras (more to follow) that I can get a good picture from, straight to my iphone. (I have a classic bike collection). If the alarm is activated I get a text, call and/or homephone call within 45 seconds, I pay £30 a month for monitoring as my neighbours would probably ignore the alarm and quite frankly the police don't turn out for hours for alarms, so the monitors or myself can confirm a burgulary in progress, which they will callout for.

The system cost just under £2000 , three years ago. I have had 4 occasions when I got calls. All 4 resulted in no break in. 1 was my dog running into the patio doors (blood on the glass), and 3 were recorded as strangers on the property.

Sleep safe.

PS I would recommend them to anyone, and frankly the cost is worth it. PM me for details. 80)

phill99

fatbikersbouncebetter wrote: »

Dogs???? New Windows and doors , drug dealers have alarms and waste of money all in the same two replies. Yowza, and they talk of your 'issues'.
1) Any scumbag out there is not stupid enough to try and break into an alarmed, monitored house when next door hasn't got an alarm.
Big dogs are not an answer for everyone. Having an alarm is not a sign that you have good stuff inside or you are a drug dealer. Nor is cameras, that if included within your budget make sense, no matter how good the picture is. Does Mr scumbag know that ?
Question: do you alll ock and alarm your car when you leave it ? If its a big car you might be a drug dealer !!!! If its a cheap car you might not mind if someone nicks it !
New doors and windows????? Just how much do you think an alarm system costs???? I was quoted
£14.000 for new windows and doors.

Lets face it, some people think its a waste of money, but some feel safer and can sleep or work better with one last worry.
My system has all the bells and whistles, has two cameras (more to follow) that I can get a good picture from, straight to my iphone. (I have a classic bike collection). If the alarm is activated I get a text, call and/or homephone call within 45 seconds, I pay £30 a month for monitoring as my neighbours would probably ignore the alarm and quite frankly the police don't turn out for hours for alarms, so the monitors or myself can confirm a burgulary in progress, which they will callout for.

The system cost just under £2000 , three years ago. I have had 4 occasions when I got calls. All 4 resulted in no break in. 1 was my dog running into the patio doors (blood on the glass), and 3 were recorded as strangers on the property.

Sleep safe.

PS I would recommend them to anyone, and frankly the cost is worth it. PM me for details. 80)

Firstly, read what I actually posted rather than what you think I posted. Nowhere did I suggest new windows and doors. What I suggested was good quality door locks and window locks. That is a different thing completely and can be achieved at 2% of what you have been quoted for new windows.

Secondly, I sleep very safe as I have 2 lippy dogs and I'm not paranoid.

BTW I have never had a break-in or attempted break-in in the 22 years I've been at this addrress.

mutley74

apart from obvious and essential home protection measures a CCTV can be useful.

After a number of incidents on our drive leading to damage of cars etc we decided to install a CCTV system. AT the time i was considering installing a simple system from Maplin, but due to the way the house is positioned and access points decided it was better to get a professional in. We paid for some hi tech cameras with night vision connected to a HD drive. (not on internet as we dont a static IP address with TT).

Since then we not really had any probs. Before xmas some kids moved cones from a skip in front of our house, but as soon as we viewed the footage on the cameras we realised it was just kids playing on the streets, being kids.
but it has been a useful aid, and helped in determing when and who called round when we have been out. Another example a scrap man collected a washing machine on our drive when it was awaiting for council collection. Could have reported it as theft but it was due for disposal in any case.

Nine_Lives

Tbh I think some have spotted the word "paranoia" & latched on to it & had a party - taking it to the extreme.
If I said I was having an off day, would you make out I was suicidal?
If I said I was speeding on the road today, would you say I was doing 200mph?


Anyway, keeping on track about safety instead of drifting off it...

The quality locks thing is obvious. My only question here is - how do you know what Is quality? Price doesn't necessarily equal quality. Also you can't go buying every lock under the sun, test them all out & then settle for the best. So how do you define quality?

At my home now we've had a few car thefts over the years & my car has been keyed right outside my house. If we had CCTV installed (I wouldn't be picking any crappy system where you can't tell what you're seeing either - if you're going to. Uh something, buy something worthwhile) then we could've seen who was doing this.
Unfortunately unless I have scooby doo or whoever, no dog is going to identify a thief. Not everyone wants a dog either tbh. I know I don't.


If there's any strange spelling in this, blame iPhone 5.0.1 - it's crap for safari use on a 3gs