Home Security Systems – Know The Basics

Home security systems were made to make us feel safe and comfortable in our homes – whether we are there, or on the road. There’s nothing quite as comforting as being able to snuggle into your bed at night feeling completely safe and secure. If anything goes “bump in the night” you know you’re OK.

Years ago, simple loud alarms were the norm. Anyone who didn’t know the right code when he opened your front door would immediately be greeted with ear splitting alarms that all the neighbors could hear. Nowadays, with or without these loud alarms, video is the way to go. It could be the only way the police will have any clue as to what has happened!

A professional burglar knows the business. He can disarm most systems and understands about loud alarms that aren’t hooked up to anything outside the house. He knows that if an alarm goes off, he still has enough time to find grandma’s pearls, your good silver, and the cash in the freezer – and be long gone before the first police car arrives on the scene.

Some homeowners have been convinced by many alarm companies that silent alarms are the way to go. Wrong! There’s nothing as useless as allowing some burglar into your home… And giving him five to ten minutes to wipe you out, or worse – to harm you. Having an alarm go off that no one can hear – including the bad guy! – is pointless!

What you need and what the police want is video! They need to see the guy’s face! If they are lucky they’ll even see the getaway car and a license plate, and perhaps his buddies who helped.

Video systems, or CCTV systems, can include anywhere from one camera – usually positioned outside over the front entrance – to multiple cameras inside and out. The more cameras, the better chance of not only catching the culprits, but of collecting any other evidence left behind. The best ones have built in motion detectors – these will focus on and move towards people (or dogs, cars, whatever).

Additional cameras come in handy when additional crimes are committed over and above theft. If a home invasion includes an assault or other crime, the police will need to rely on these tapes in order to collect evidence. Usually these systems only include video, and not audio. Many times video is enough to find and convict someone, but in some cases, audio is even more important – especially in situations where certain actions aren’t caught on tape, but accompanying audio is just as or even more incriminating. A bare bones beginner set up should at least have a camera at all entrances (front, back, garage, etc.), one in the kitchen, family room, and entranceway to the bedrooms (hallway, pathway, stairs, etc.).

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