Does anyone have a home security system installed? If so, which one ....and does it make you feel much safer in your home (or when you're away from home)?
I'm asking because I'm thinking of investing in one for my place. I'm actually more concerned about getting it installed in my mom and dad's house. They just got burglarized and it has us all freaked out. A lot of my mom's jewelry (some from her wedding) was stolen. And she had a ring belonging to HER grandmother that she's held on to for so many years ....that was stolen. I think they're still trying to go through every room in the house to find out what's been stolen ....they're keeping a list. Anyways, I kind of feel like it could've been worse if my dad had been at home and they came in the middle of the night (my mom works the graveyard shift). What if they had seen my dad, freaked out and exerted some kind of violence (maybe they had a gun on them).
Anyways, as some of you may have picked up on I've been more concerned about personal safety lately as it is ....and now that this has happened, I feel even more on guard. I'm just beginning to feel like you can never be too careful when it comes to your home. Seems like anyone who really wants to gain entry to your home can (through some means) find a way to get in. It really scares me. :(
I am so sorry about your parents house!!! That is very scary :( I agree that it was good that they weren't home!!! It's too bad that some of your mom's favorite jewels were taken though, especially the items that were really important to her. :(
I do have a home security system, it's ADT. It came with our house. We didn't even use it/pay for the monthly service at first, but then we had a police officer break into our house about a year ago, (it's a long story, but also very suspicious...) Anyway, after that we decided to start paying for the monthly service. We got a pretty good deal on it, but it can be expensive... I don't know how much safer it actually is, but it does make me feel better. Just knowing that a security officer would be sent, and the alarm would be blaring on the outside of my house if someone got in, makes me feel safer. Then again, so many people put alarm company signs in their window even when they don't really have an alarm system, and burglars know that...so even though we really do have one, I have no idea of how good of a deterrent it really is.
I also grew up with alarm systems on our house. I think we always had ADT then, too. My mom really liked it, and it made her feel safer, especially when my dad was on business trips and stuff. But sometimes one of us would forget that the alarm was set, and we'd accidentally set it off, (which would piss the neighbors off, especially if it was at night.) Or sometimes my mom would change the code and would forget what it was, causing the same problem.
So far we are satisfied with ours, but because we live in a pretty safe neighborhood, I don't know if I will keep the alarm service for a really long time... Like I mentioned before, we got a really good deal on the service, so for me, it will just depend on how much they charge, and whether or not the rate goes up too much!!!
Oh Sony, that's really awful! First of course because your parents were robbed but also because I know how concerned you've been about having an intruder in your own home. You really didn't need this on top of everything. :-/ I don't know much about security systems but I've heard of the one Megan mentioned, ADT, and that would probably be the only one I'd be able to suggest- and only by brand name familiarity.
I dont have one, but I have been wanting to get one for years. One additional plus for me would be we get a discount on our homeowners insurance policy.
Anyway, we had a guy come out once, I think from ADT to look at the house and explain what needed to be done and how it would work, but for some reason, we never followed through on it. I dont really feel unsafe where we live at all (rural farmtown area), but, I think it WOULD make me feel safer, really, especially at times when I am home alone.
We have home monitoring through APX. They installed the system for free since we signed a two-year contract with them. I didn't feel it was necessary - I've never felt unsafe in our home or even neighborhood - but it makes Ryan more comfortable since Nathan and I are home all day now. I do like having it for when we are out of town, though - just added peace of mind that (as long as we don't get a call from APX) we will return to everything just as we've left it. And it is nice to have that alarm panic button on the key fob in case I see anything suspicious from out in the yard or nearby neighborhood. I've been pleased with their service - they've called right away on the couple of occasions when we had false alarms.
Something you might consider instead of or in addition to a home security system is a safe to hold valuables (jewelry, documents, etc.)
Love 
