Home Security
- Family Safety - Street Survival
There was a time that our
country neighbors didn't lock there doors at night or when they
left for work. I can recall when children would go off and play
most of the day with only checking in occasionally. Times have
changed for all neighbors in a urban, suburban or rural setting.
Street survival would never be in the average citizens thoughts.
Once you have established a
home defense plan, locked all your doors and learned how to
properly use your defensive firearms, there is only one missing
equation. You need enough time to implement your plan in the event
of a home break in or invasion.
Many people have added some
method of sounding an alarm to their home defense plan in the event they are broken into. It
can range from little nervous loud yapping dog to a full blown
centrally monitored alarm system with cameras and personal
security responding to your call.
There was time in the not too
distance past that centrally monitored home security systems were
only for the upper middle class and wealthy. Now many companies
offer home alarm systems with little or no money up front and a low
monitoring fee under $40.00 per month.
Before I offer a few
Home Alarm
System facts, allow me to say that we've had a home alarm
system for over 18 years and wouldn't be without it.
Nationally the average Law
Enforcement response to a home security systems alarm is approx. 30 min. Most
agencies do not give home alarms much priority due to the high
number of false alarms. A home alarm will not stop a professional
from breaking into or invading your home.
Now then why do I have an
alarm and had one installed in my son's and daughter's homes?
If the average street puke
sees your home alarm system and your neighbor doesn't have one - then
they will generally move on to the easier pickings.
If you set the perimeter alarm
while at home, this may give you enough time to secure our family
and arm yourselves while waiting for the Calvary to arrive. ( I
can say the average response time out in the sticks for us is 4
minutes.
Also the alarm gives us a
piece of mind when coming home. We unlock the door and the alarm
starts to beep at us. We know that no one can be lying in wait for
us in the house. Although we have a 140 pound dog who lives in the
house, she's a New Foundland and the only way she would stop an
intruder is to lick them to death.
I had the same alarm
installed in my daughters home. She is a single mother of a
beautiful 3 1/2 year old daughter. Their bedrooms are separated by
a great room, leaving the baby's room un-secure. Someone could have snatched her
in the middle of the night with no one being the wiser. Now my
daughter sets the perimeter alarm and if any outside door is
opened or broken the alarm sounds and the alarm will tell my
daughter in a computer generated voice which room such as "Front Door or baby's window. This
giving her enough time to obtain her secured Sig 229 and take up a
defensive position or offensive if she must get to the baby's
room.
My son has an alarm system for
the same reason, times two. Two beautiful daughters under the age
of six and a wife. He also has a backup alarm system in the form
of a crazy little Jack Russell by the name of Jake.
We have friends that in my
opinion are bit over the edge. They have their property fenced in
with an electronic gate - last count 4 great Pyrenees dogs that
patrol the property - not one but two seperate alarm systems - the
property is lite up more than Stalag 17 -They have security
bars on the doors and windows. Now I could see this in downtown
Detroit, however it is a bit much in the country setting of central
Indiana. Who knows, maybe they are right?!
Basic suggestions that do not
cost much: Make sure that the outside porch lights are in good
working order - you do not have tall trees or shrubs up against
the house that intruders could hide behind ( in fact shrubs with
sharp thorns are great for under your windows).- In sure that your
door and window locks are in working order - Keep your landscape
and outside of the house in an orderly clean fashion (believe it
our not if your home has the look of "This home owner cares" it
may be enough to cause the intruder to move to the next house. Try
to avoid a regular schedule of comings and goings. If
possible arrange an occasional time when you can leave for work
late or come home early. If you have a car that is always parked
in the driveway, move it around every couple of days. This will
leave the street pukes wondering if the car owner is a night worker and
someone is home. You could go over the edge like our friends I
mentioned above and have a dressed manikin sitting in a chair (yep
they really do). Do not leave your porch light on all day lone or
the same house light on in the evening, rotate the lights you
leave on. There are many inexpensive timers available to turn
light on and off.
Now it is up to you as to what
degree you wish to go in securing your home from intruders and
protect your family. Check with your local police departments or
Gun shops who they may suggest as a reputable Home Alarm system
company.
As a side note a
Centrally monitored Home security system can also notify the Fire
department in the event of a Fire.
We are fortunate to have a
quality company in the Central Indiana area, they are Peace of
Mind security, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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