| Crime rates are on the rise. Break-ins and robberies | | | | Think about where you want to place your control |
| are becoming all too common. The word safe doesn't | | | | panel. This is important because the control panel is |
| have as much cache as it once did in the not so | | | | the brains of the system. Some people place their |
| distance past. All of this is alarming, even disturbing | | | | panels near their front door. This is convenient |
| news. But, there are ways to prevent becoming a | | | | because it's easy to arm and disarm on your way in |
| victim of a home break-in. Today, more people than | | | | or out. However, some crafty thieves may find this |
| ever before are looking into home alarm systems. | | | | configuration advantageous because they can easily |
| Whereas some twenty years ago, home alarms | | | | dismantle the system from the outside. |
| were reserved for the upper echelons of society, | | | | Consider whether you want monitoring or not. This |
| those who had the wealth and wherewithal to | | | | option means your home will be monitored 24 hours |
| purchase such a system, today they've become | | | | a day seven days a week. There is a monthly fee |
| extremely affordable. They are actually quite | | | | involved. However, you can opt for a simpler sensor |
| ubiquitous nowadays. | | | | system with a dialer that connects to your phone line |
| Many homeowners are aware of the simple fact that | | | | and dials the police or other emergency services if |
| homes with alarm systems are much less likely to be | | | | someone does break into your home. |
| targeted by thieves. The plain truth is that thieves | | | | A system with ultrasonic sensors will be able to |
| are nothing but excellent opportunists. The presence | | | | detect movement inside the house, not just |
| of a home alarm puts a damper on their opportunity. | | | | intrusions as your doors and windows. Some alarms |
| As they don't want to be caught a home alarm is a | | | | can actually partition areas of your house into zones |
| major turn-off. | | | | so that some areas are always armed. |
| So how do you go about choosing the right system | | | | You can easily get a panic button or several installed. |
| for your home? It can be pretty confusing as there | | | | These will automatically alert the police or other |
| are a number of different options and all the choices | | | | emergency services once pressed. Motion sensors |
| are sometimes too much to handle. | | | | and sound detectors are also more affordable |
| Your basic home alarm system comes with sensors, | | | | options. These can be installed as separate |
| placed at doors and windows and a main control | | | | components and usually flash on lights when |
| panel. These may be hard wired systems or wireless. | | | | triggered. |
| The latter is becoming a more popular choice | | | | Finally, for added protection and companionship, you |
| because of the ease and facility of installation and | | | | could even get a dog, as barking is a deterrent. But |
| also, they can be moved and reconfigured without | | | | don't rely on your pooch entirely. They may become |
| much fuss. Hard wired systems are a good choice if | | | | scared and retreat. |
| you're having a new home built. | | | | |