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From: smh@mhuxl.UUCP (henning)
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: Burglar-Alarm-Systems
Message-ID: <416@mhuxl.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 23-Dec-85 22:57:39 EST
Article-I.D.: mhuxl.416
Posted: Mon Dec 23 22:57:39 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 25-Dec-85 02:32:11 EST
References: <833@aluxe.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 42

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From the keys of Steve Henning, AT&T Bell Labs, Reading, PA mhuxl!smh

> 1.  What kind of system minimizes the chance of a burglar getting
>     into the house? (That is, which type is the most reliable?

Solid doors, dead-bolt locks, locked windows with sticker-bushes planted
underneath and a burglar alarm system that makes one-hell-of-a-loud noise
are the only things that will deter the burglar from getting into the house.
Don't do one thing that I've seen happen; make the locks so fool proof that
the burglars could not set off the alarm.  Make sure that entry is hard
but triggering the alarm is easy with traps set up in the house in places
sure to be set off first.

> 2.  How do I minimize false alarms? (Meaning alarms which are not
>     a result of mistakes I make, like opening a door with the system on)

Make sure that pets won't set it off.  Get used to the system before setting
the alarm for real.  Most alarms have a check position which allows you
to get used to it. I have a wireless alarm and it has been triggered twice
in 6 years by electrical disturbances, both times when we were on a trip.
Any false alarms defeat the effectiveness of the system; the crying wolf
syndrome.

> 3.  What should I look for to determine how well a company performs future
>     maintenance, provides replacement parts, etc?

I personally would never let anyone I did not know install an alarm in my
home.  Many times secretaries, installers, and even managers have connections
with thieves and can easily defeat any system if they know it.  Your best
bet would be to have a friend with discretion install a good commercial 
system.

> 5.  Should I get a system which dials the police automatically?

Police departments in my area will not accept such calls.  When they used
to they would charge a stiff fee for false alarms.  It turned out that it
was cheaper to have another company screen the alarms and call the police.
This also avoided the fine for false alarms.  Also calling the police doesn't
do any good unless you have an alarm that lets the thieves in and the police
can respond to the alarm within about 2.5 minutes.  That is virtually 
impossible.  So you had better plan on scarring the thieves away.