Security after burglary

whitesatin

We were recently burgled whilst away from home.   We have replaced the broken window (round the side, not overlooked) with laminate glass and are going to get a grill fitted over it.  Now looking at smart type cameras etc.  We now have a Ring Doorbell at the front, together with a dusk till dawn light in the porch.  We’ve organised two floodlight cameras, one at the back, one above the drive at the front.  Locks have been refurbished.  My son tells me we should also get a Ring alarm fitted but we’re not sure, given what we’ve already done, that it is a must.  Is an indoor alarm really necessary if you have adequate outdoor coverage?  I’d value your opinions.  Btw, we are both pensioners and watching the pennies.  Obviously we were a bit shaken up but don’t want overkill.

Browntoa

I'd question what benefits from an indoor alarm. All it tells you is that someone's indoors , the police are very unlikely to arrive quick enough and unless you are nearby who actually responds ? ( And would it be safe for you to enter anyway 8f someone's there )

whitesatin

Thanks.  That’s what I’m thinking too.

neilmcl

So you don't have a burglar alarm of any kind?

Personally that would, and was, the first thing I would sort before anything else. Doesn't have to be super fancy but a standard system with PIRs, visible bell box etc. Burglars do like to do their work in peace and quiet and if they see a visible deterrent on your house they're more likely to move onto the the next.

whitesatin

I’ve got something my son bought and set up immediately after the burglary.  It’s motion sensitive but there’s no external visible part to it.  It’s set up to alert in the night and, if I arm it, when we go out.  It’s connected to my mobile and has a siren and also makes the house phone ring.  It’s pretty rudimentary and I was kind of hoping not to need it at all once we have external cameras as we tend to forget to disarm it in the morning.   

I was thinking that the doorbell and cameras would be enough of a deterrent.

neilmcl

whitesatin said:

I’ve got something my son bought and set up immediately after the burglary.  It’s motion sensitive but there’s no external visible part to it.  It’s set up to alert in the night and, if I arm it, when we go out.  It’s connected to my mobile and has a siren and also makes the house phone ring.  It’s pretty rudimentary and I was kind of hoping not to need it at all once we have external cameras as we tend to forget to disarm it in the morning.   

I was thinking that the doorbell and cameras would be enough of a deterrent.

The internet is full of videos of burglars hooded and masked up breaking into properties with wireless cameras, doorbell cameras etc. On there own they don't seem to offer much of a deterrent. What you want is something noisy and flashy that a burglar would rather not have to deal with, unless there's something they're particularly intent on stealing from your property.

You also need to make it hard for them to gain entry in the first place, so look to upgrading your locks and windows if necessary.

Homer_home

How many houses in your street have a burglar alarm?

Burglars will always break in to the easiest property and because you didn't have one makes you an easy target I'm afraid. If say there are 10 houses in your street and you are the only one who has a burglar alarm (with a visible bell box) guess who they will not be breaking into? Burglars hate making noise 

You don't actually need a burglar alarm , just a pair of dummy bellboxes front and back of your house with a twin flashing led inside to give the illusion they are real , get one with a 7 year battery life and won't need to change batteries very often , also get a branded dummy bellbox to make it seem like a quality illusion too

Frank99

A friend of mine visits his daughter in Canada once a year, one year he came home only to find squatters in his home and the locks changed needless to say the authorities dealt with this swiftly.
He decided to forget about useless alarms and cameras and opt for grilles and gates on every window and door, the idea being he does not want them to gain entry in the first place.
Three years on and no squatters or break-ins so far although no trip to Canada this year!

Homer_home

Frank99 said:

A friend of mine visits his daughter in Canada once a year, one year he came home only to find squatters in his home and the locks changed needless to say the authorities dealt with this swiftly.
He decided to forget about useless alarms and cameras and opt for grilles and gates on every window and door, the idea being he does not want them to gain entry in the first place.
Three years on and no squatters or break-ins so far although no trip to Canada this year!

Authorities?

Few mates + baseball bats = problem sorted

Although the snowflakes will probably get upset now for me being too "aggressive"

vw100

The ring alarm is good but does not have a external siren which you need as an external deterrent. It is a American product and due to various state laws about noise nuisance  they avoided making an external siren. The Yale Sync Smart alarms have good reviews and have loud external sirens. Grills are good but look ugly. A alarm, good external PIR lighting good locks, cutting back on overgrown greenery will secure your home from intruders.

poppellerant

Buy a branded bell box form eBay - for example, searching for "Yale bell box" will give you some reasonably priced ones  Screw this to your outside wall so everybody can see it and sit back as everybody else thinks you've got an alarm.  That's what I've done and (touch wood) no burglaries so far.

Buying an alarm system will just serve as expensive way to annoy your neighbours!