Home Security

Undervalued

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

I went for the Yale smart system. I understand it's of limited use but my view is that I only need to be visibly better-protected than my neighbours to reduce the likelihood of a burglary and my house is very visible so should the alarm go off it might make an opportunist burglar scarper.

Exactly, I think that is a very sensible approach.

Whatever system you have you do need to make sure it is reliable and not prone to false alarms. You only need one or two and even well meaning neighbours ignore it.

Sibz

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

I went for the Yale smart system. I understand it's of limited use but my view is that I only need to be visibly better-protected than my neighbours to reduce the likelihood of a burglary and my house is very visible so should the alarm go off it might make an opportunist burglar scarper.

Thanks - looking at reviews online Yale seem to get slated, mostly bad reviews (I know no news is good news). I've come here for more reliable advice - as you have one - do you suffer false alarms a lot or find the system complicated or the picture quality poor?

Sibz

Thanks everyone for the replies. I understand that these things are largely just deterrent without the monitoring. I find the monitoring quite pricey (from the quotes I've got).

I used Ring Video doorbell at my previous property and find it good picture quality (I still have that and intend to use it as part of the security) - And the 1 time I did call the police and advised I had visual confirmation of someone trying to ram their way into my house they went out very quickly - and apprehended the delivery driver who turned out to be trying to jam a dress my wife bought through the letterbox. In my defence he had no uniform on and I've no idea where he parked his van as it was not in the wide view of the camera. An embarrassing situation all round, but a good endorsement of the police response in my area. I showed them the footage that caused the confusion - angles are everything lol

Fire_Fox

snowcat75 wrote: »

Preferably ones that can administer Lead poising;)

Flexible friends. Lead or asbestos, what's your poison? :cool:

Aylesbury_Duck

Sibz wrote: »

Thanks - looking at reviews online Yale seem to get slated, mostly bad reviews (I know no news is good news). I've come here for more reliable advice - as you have one - do you suffer false alarms a lot or find the system complicated or the picture quality poor?

I've never had a false alarm and I've found the system easy to install and to operate. Can't comment on picture quality because I preferred the combination of more door and PIR sensors for my money than the more expensive camera sensors. I found it better value to buy a base set and add extra sensors to suit my zones and doors rather than have the most expensive kit which has items I wouldn't get value from.

Check the timing of the bad reviews. There was a period of a few days last Autumn where their app was "upgraded" and we all lost app-based functionality for a bit. It was a bit of a nuisance but it was still possible to arm the system when leaving the house or overnight and disarm it, using the keypad or fob. They took a hammering on social media for it.

It's probably not the best system out there but for the budget (I spent around £280), simplicity, ability to add sensors and ease of use it meets my needs. I'm under no illusions it makes my house impregnable but I think it's a reasonable deterrent.

snowcat75

Just as a note any system capable of hosting can be viewed from a smart phone, I really am not a fan of many of the Chinese based cloud systems, and Id rather host through a free IP 3rd party server myself than use an out the box unsecure software.


Out of interest are you looking to secure the house or keep an eye on the outside?. Generally we don't get many domestic thefts thieves are either opportunist "transit" dwellers pinching tools, or organised gangs taking plant to send overseas or using it to steel cash points...… The first we can generally stop the latter we wouldn't want to.

Sibz

snowcat75 wrote: »

Just as a note any system capable of hosting can be viewed from a smart phone, I really am not a fan of many of the Chinese based cloud systems, and Id rather host through a free IP 3rd party server myself than use an out the box unsecure software.


Out of interest are you looking to secure the house or keep an eye on the outside?. Generally we don't get many domestic thefts thieves are either opportunist "transit" dwellers pinching tools, or organised gangs taking plant to send overseas or using it to steel cash points...… The first we can generally stop the latter we wouldn't want to.

Mostly secure the house - I have a Ring doorbell that will cover the outside.

FinleySharp

I got some affordable CCTVs from one of the security companies Middlesbrough based for my shop that was suggested to me by a close friend. In any case, if you’re serious about protecting your home, I suggest working with a security company that provides quick response service whenever your alarm system is triggered. This is important because you won’t always be available to attend to emergencies when they happen. If you hire a company that offers a reliable response, you can definitely rest easier knowing that somebody else is monitoring your property for you.

MrsStepford

My insurers will give a discount for an alarm but not CCTV. Alarms go off around here and no one takes any notice. Police don't rush to the house, they don't investigate burglaries anymore ! I would suggest that you don't just rely on an alarm, but make sure that you have double locks on exterior doors, security screws on anything screwed outside especially if metal. Also, keep keys away from hall tables as burglars have been known to use a fishing rod to hook them through the letterbox and get in. For same reason, keep car keys away from door.

When I had problem neighbours, I had a visit from crime prevention officer who suggested cuting back any shrubs which provide a burglar cover around  front or back doors, putting up flimsy fences that won't support burglar's weight, spiky plants along boundary walls if near a pavement or road. 

sysadmin

Here's what i've done. 
2 x wireless Eufy security camera's (local storage to a device in the house) and viewable from anywhere on my phone
Eufy doorbell records to the same box as the camera's
Basic house alarm with PIRs and door entry sensors, dummy alarm box at the rear too
all door locks are anti-snap locks
Porch door is composite
Basic shed alarm - just makes a loud noise if somone gets in
3 security bollards on the drive
both cars have steering locks
Blocked all access to the rear garden with an extension. If anyone wants to get to my shed then they have to go over the fences

Aside from the last one, all are relatively cheap ish security deterrents and I hope that people looking at my house, with think that with how difficult i've made it, its really not worth the hassle and move onto somewhere else..