| Burglar alarm help. 09:35 - Mar 30 with 3057 views | Snipper |
I'm thinking of getting a burglar alarm installed for the house. Has anybody got good or bad experiences with any companies that deal in it?
I've heard good and bad stories about ADT, but any help would be much appreciated.
Can't get a dog as the cat wouldn't be best pleased :-(. |  | | |  |
| Burglar alarm help. on 09:47 - Mar 30 with 3048 views | jonno |
I've had one for over twenty years and to be honest they are a pain in the ar@e, especially if you suffer from occasional power cuts as we do, when the thing goes off making a hell of a racket annoying the neighbours and dragging you out of bed at inevitably three in the morning. I haven't switched it on for years, and anyway now have a dog which is far better than any alarm. If you must have one, do yourself a favour and just get a dummy bell box, and save yourself a lot of money and hassle. Even better, get a dog. The cat will soon get used to it, my two cats did! |  | | |
| Burglar alarm help. on 10:06 - Mar 30 with 3025 views | kingsburyR |
Slightly off tangent...
I need to get a CCTV system form work (outdoor cameras),
Anyone have any knowledge or point me in the right direction?
Back on topic, I have a rather large dog!!! |  |
| Dont know why we bother. .... but we do! |
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| Burglar alarm help. on 10:09 - Mar 30 with 3019 views | Toast_R |
I had an ADT alarm fitted when I bought my current house in 2012. I’ve just jacked it in because in all honesty, it’s pretty pointless.
What happens is the alarm goes off 99% of the times because one of the sensors is on the blink, it rings your phone to tell you, but if you happen to be at work, on holiday or anywhere other then the house…what are you really going to do about it?
£25 a month for that. You get a big yellow ADT fake alarm on the side of the house which acts as a deterrent, that’s probably better then the alarm system itself as when does go off, you can only hear it inside the house anyway.
Their customer service is pretty shoddy too. I was speaking to one of their service engineers when they came to replace the batteries one year after I’d complained about it going off when I was at work at random times. He said their CEO who founded the business jumped ship a while ago and it’s all gone to pot since, all they care about is taking your subscription money and to hell with the rest.
I think CCTV maybe the way to go. In the house and a dash cam for the car. Far more effective.
[Post edited 30 Mar 2016 10:09]
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| Burglar alarm help. on 10:20 - Mar 30 with 2995 views | Brightonhoop |
I wouldn't bother with an alarm, no one responds to them anyway, that's part of the problem.
I used a cctv system for the gallery in Brighton, which I was able to monitor remotely on the PC/Laptop at night when we were at home in Brighton or away buying in Italy. The advantage was that if you saw anything suspicious you could call the police yourself, only had to once, the shop unit had been broken into once before we took it on, and it would sound an alarm in the Laptop if someone was detected trying to force the door for example. On the occasion I had to call we were away and it was just a drunk fell over outside against the door so it works. Try the electronic shops or buy online, prices have dropped massively and there's no monthly costs.
On the dog front, get a puppy so the cat isn't so threatened by it and they will grow up together. I can ship from Spain at cost for around £300 with injections, chip and passport if you wanted to take a rescue dog from here. Cant recommend German Sheps enough. |  | | |
| Burglar alarm help. on 10:34 - Mar 30 with 2975 views | M40R |
We've had a motion sensor one for 11 years now and it has been trouble free. We use a small - medium size specialist and for £86 a year we get a onsite service and a call out service should a fault develop (never used it). My supplier only covers the Thames Valley and Cotswolds so may not be an option for others.
I laid the wires myself when we had a big rebuilding job so maybe that is why it is reliable as the wires are all hidden and less susceptible to cracking and pulling.
It comes with a battery so no problem if you get a power cut: I think it is rated to run for three days (not sure).
We have since got a dog who is almost as effective until of course you take him on a walk or go away on holiday!
The front bell box also has small flashing lights whiich are a useful deterrent.
I'm a happy customer. |  | | |
| Burglar alarm help. on 10:45 - Mar 30 with 2955 views | paesanu |
Just get a DIY one from B & Q. No bells and whistles (pardon the pun), but my one doesn't have faults, and hypothetically will text me if there's a break-in while I'm away. |  |
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| Burglar alarm help. on 10:51 - Mar 30 with 2941 views | stowmarketrange |
My neighbour bought an alarm system from Wickes last year for around £150,which includes all the sensors for inside his rooms.He fitted it all himself and he seems happy with it.
And it hasn't gone off at 3 in the morning yet.
Sorry it was Screwfix that he got it from. [Post edited 30 Mar 2016 10:58]
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| Burglar alarm help. on 10:53 - Mar 30 with 2930 views | kingsburyR |
Chaps, I see mentions to CCTV above.
Can anyone recommend a system that is good for outside duties??? | |
| Dont know why we bother. .... but we do! |
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| Burglar alarm help. on 11:01 - Mar 30 with 2921 views | TacticalR |
I was hoping for some more useful advice for anyone considering a career change to burglary. |  |
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| Burglar alarm help. on 11:05 - Mar 30 with 2916 views | Brightonhoop |
| Burglar alarm help. on 10:53 - Mar 30 by kingsburyR |
Chaps, I see mentions to CCTV above.
Can anyone recommend a system that is good for outside duties??? |
Try Maplins to get a starting point, prices have dropped big time from 3 years back. http://www.maplin.co.uk/c/cctv-and-security/cctv-kits
Work out what best suits your needs, how many cameras needed, wireless cameras etc and search online for the best price, or talk to Maplins et al about price matching.
Some sensors also set off a barking dog noise which put off potential break ins too. Advantage being no crap to clear up lol | | | |
| Burglar alarm help. on 11:37 - Mar 30 with 2872 views | StraightR |
I have had a Chubb system with motion sensors for many years. It has a battery back up in case of power cuts and can also be set to cover only the ground floor, so you can move around upstairs at night. It's never given me any trouble. It's not cheap though and if I was starting again today I'd explore the Maplins options others have mentioned - prices have come down considerably and the technology has moved on. |  | | |
| Burglar alarm help. on 12:11 - Mar 30 with 2828 views | Snipper |
Thanks for all your help fellas. It sounds like the camera route would be best. Even though we haven't had a power cut for a while that we know of, we've had loads over the years.
Many thanks again :-). | | | |
| Burglar alarm help. on 12:54 - Mar 30 with 2762 views | MkPaul |
I work for a company in Kingston that installs security systems. we cover UK wide and IO am sure I could get you some good advice and a competitive quote | | | |
| Burglar alarm help. on 13:20 - Mar 30 with 2733 views | TheBlob |
| Burglar alarm help. on 10:20 - Mar 30 by Brightonhoop |
I wouldn't bother with an alarm, no one responds to them anyway, that's part of the problem.
I used a cctv system for the gallery in Brighton, which I was able to monitor remotely on the PC/Laptop at night when we were at home in Brighton or away buying in Italy. The advantage was that if you saw anything suspicious you could call the police yourself, only had to once, the shop unit had been broken into once before we took it on, and it would sound an alarm in the Laptop if someone was detected trying to force the door for example. On the occasion I had to call we were away and it was just a drunk fell over outside against the door so it works. Try the electronic shops or buy online, prices have dropped massively and there's no monthly costs.
On the dog front, get a puppy so the cat isn't so threatened by it and they will grow up together. I can ship from Spain at cost for around £300 with injections, chip and passport if you wanted to take a rescue dog from here. Cant recommend German Sheps enough. |
Trouble is if I buy a dog from you BH I'll have to learn to speak Spanish?
My bruv's partner got burgled twice when she was in the building,no alarm activated during the day.The Filth didn't want to know. |  |
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| Burglar alarm help. on 13:22 - Mar 30 with 2730 views | johncharles |
My neighbour at my last house had an alarm system which went off at random times for no reason.
The point is, no one took any notice.
Another neighbour had a huge Doberman with huge low growling bark. I always meant to record it and use it as alarm |  |
| Strong and stable my arse. |
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| Burglar alarm help. on 14:21 - Mar 30 with 2658 views | Brightonhoop |
| Burglar alarm help. on 13:20 - Mar 30 by TheBlob |
Trouble is if I buy a dog from you BH I'll have to learn to speak Spanish?
My bruv's partner got burgled twice when she was in the building,no alarm activated during the day.The Filth didn't want to know. |
Ha! My two adapted to English well, better than my Spanish anyway. Both hate Spanish speakers on account of being previously abused, Jago especially now he has his confidence will happily go for any Spanish speaking male so you're probably safer speaking English. Welsh might upset them too... 
The farmers here regularly fire off shot guns to warn anyone lurking. The Filth here are often worse than the burglars, and carry guns too. Helps to keep the crime rate down... | | | |
| Burglar alarm help. on 15:41 - Mar 30 with 2611 views | Harbour |
put up a false box...if you do go down the Alarm route I would not recommend ADT...bad experience at home and work....they could have changed.... | | | |
| Burglar alarm help. on 16:53 - Mar 30 with 2564 views | Northernr |
Following a break in a year ago we've now got a Canary at LFW towers. Little device sits under the TV and films on a wide angle lens (with night vision). Automatically recognises when we're in or out and sends us an alert to our phones whenever there's movement in the house while we're out. Records all movement in the living room and saves it for a period of time, so you'd have clear footage for the police if a break in does happen. After receiving an alert you can place a call to the police straight from the app, or make it sound an alarm (it's fcking deafening). Got it for £149 and it also monitors the humdity and temperature, which is nice of it.
You can buy more than one if you've got a big place and link them all up. Nifty bit of kit. |  | | |
| Burglar alarm help. on 18:41 - Mar 30 with 2506 views | Boston |
ADT are a bunch of chunts.
I have a couple of dogs, one is an out and out racist. | |
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