# We we're robbed last night. Please recommend a security system. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 24, 2015, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-were-robbed-last-night-please-recommend-a-security-system/723393 "2015-06-24T20:27:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-were-robbed-last-night-please-recommend-a-security-system/723393/61 "2015-06-26T04:23:12Z")
> [@Little\_Pig](#): > > Urbanredneck > > Lock Box rental: > > 5" x 5" x 24" ,600 cu. in. $398.00 annual fee. > > Is this a reasonable deal? I dont know about those. I was suggesting an actual safe you keep somewhere in your house. Another thing. I was visiting someones house and they had one heck of a baseball memorabilia collection. Signed baseballs, cards, and such worth quite a bit and they had it all out on display. Those items need to be put in some sort of safe or at least be in a locked room and for Pete’s sake dont tell anyone about them. ---
**Author:** ![bytheway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df705f/32.png) [@bytheway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bytheway)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-were-robbed-last-night-please-recommend-a-security-system/723393/62 "2015-06-26T07:26:10Z")
I have a monitored alarm system with Sonitrol. $80 a month monitoring fee plus several hundred dollar installation fee (depends on the system). I had it installed 10 years ago after a break-in. It finally paid off big time last month when they called the police in time to catch a burglar in the house while weren’t home. The doors are wired, so they knew when the burglar entered, and there are audio and motion detectors so they could track the burglar in the house. I would definitely recommend Sonitrol if you are looking for a monitored system. (We also have a dog but he was outside at the time of the break-in and reportedly didn’t make a peep. I’m sure he would bark up a storm if he heard someone breaking while is inside with us.) ---
**Author:** ![bytheway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df705f/32.png) [@bytheway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bytheway)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-were-robbed-last-night-please-recommend-a-security-system/723393/63 "2015-06-26T07:30:34Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > A dog really is best. The OP may not go for it for various reasons, but a dog works better than a system. > > Alarm systems have such blisteringly high false alarm rates that police departments often set policies that result in delayed response. Many jurisdictions require that alarm systems not directly contact emergency services. They also require an alarm monitoring company make attempts to contact at least two different key holders before calling police. > > And after all that effort to weed out false alarms, many major police departments still find that the false alarm rates are commonly in the 95-98% range. Charlotte, NC even found they were MORE likely to catch a burglar in the act in premises without an alarm. > > I had been working in my job at a 9-1-1 center for more than a year, averaging 7 alarm calls per shift, before I ever had an alarm call turn out to actually be a burglary. > > [The Causes, Effectiveness & Costs of False Burglar Alarms](http://www.popcenter.org/problems/false_alarms/2) > > [False Burglar Alarms](http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/e05021556.pdf) (pdf link) In my case, Sonitrol called me to confirm no one should be in the house, the called the police, who happened to be 2 minutes away. What can I say, everything went right and they caught the burglar. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-were-robbed-last-night-please-recommend-a-security-system/723393/64 "2015-06-26T10:11:01Z")
Where does the OP live? As far as I know, Texas is the only\* state that legally allows killing a thief to protect your property. Before using a gun to stop the next crime, I’d advise finding out what limits your local laws place on this. \*there may be other states that allow this, but I’ve only seen it written as actual law in Texas. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-were-robbed-last-night-please-recommend-a-security-system/723393/65 "2015-06-26T12:37:10Z")
Usual Caveat About Security Companies: the typical business model is to offer cheap equipment/installation in return for hooking you into a long-term monitoring contract where the real money is. If the service is riddled with false alarms or other problems, you’re stuck paying $$ monthly for 2-3 years or so. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-were-robbed-last-night-please-recommend-a-security-system/723393/66 "2015-06-26T12:47:45Z")
> [@pullin](#): > > Where does the OP live? > > As far as I know, Texas is the only\* state that legally allows killing a thief to protect your property. Before using a gun to stop the next crime, I’d advise finding out what limits your local laws place on this. > > \*there may be other states that allow this, but I’ve only seen it written as actual law in Texas. It might be California. That’s what his profile says. IANAE: California’s Castle Doctrine allows for shooting an intruder if they are inside your house and you have a reasonable fear for your life - and ‘reasonableness’ will be decided by a jury. It does not permit shooting an intruder if that intruder is inside and stealing your property and not threatening your life. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-were-robbed-last-night-please-recommend-a-security-system/723393/67 "2015-06-26T14:04:40Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Dog gets rib eye that night. 🙂 I don’t mind my tenant having two dogs. Did I not know him, I would ask for a deposit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-were-robbed-last-night-please-recommend-a-security-system/723393.md?page=3)