What is Home Security?

I can tell you from experience, it is a whole lot more then simply installing an alarm system, or hooking up some security cameras to the Internet.

I Wish We had Home Security

This past winter, we took the family to Cozumel to escape the cold weather and snow. This was the first big vacation in years, so we scheduled a full two weeks on the island. I was worried about leaving the house empty for that long and discussed with my husband the possibility of buying a home security system before we left. We live in a nice neighborhood with a very low crime rate so my husband balked at the expense, saying home security was not worth the money since nothing ever happened around here.

Well, my husband was obviously tempting fate, because upon our return we discovered our house had been robbed. And I do not mean a few things were missing. They took everything of any value and the house was in shambles. They even stole steaks from the freezer.

We had locked all the doors and windows before we left. We put timers on a few lamps in the house. We stopped mail and newspaper service. We did all that you are supposed to do when going away on vacation. The detective said locks and lights and everything are good, but the criminals can jimmy a locked door open pretty quickly and quietly – and once they are in they can do as they like. He said the only things that actually discourage burglars– besides a big, snarling dog inside our house for two weeks – are security alarm systems.

Once the police left and the dust settled, I dished out a couple I told you so’s to my husband and then we got down to talking about it. This was a very, very traumatic event we did not want to experience again. It was obvious that to really protect our belongings – and our family, especially – we had to get an alarm system for our home. I started calling around to alarm and security companies in town and quickly discovered there are a million options to these things and the prices are all over the map too. Fully installed and monitored systems with smoke and fire detection, call backs, and internet access can cost hundreds to install and then about a hundred bucks a month for the service. They are definitely expensive, but that really is a lot of protection.

Our family is on a more limited budget, and thankfully my husband is sort of handy around the house. He is no expert by any means, but the home alarm systems we ultimately bought were pretty simple, yet very effective. In a little kit, they give you a battery powered transmitter and two simple motion sensors that shoot beams toward a window or door. We bought a couple cheap expansion packs to add detectors on three windows and the back door. So for like $115 we had a wireless home security system. It does not have all the fancy features, but we all feel a lot safer.

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