Alarm Systems
June 23, 2007
Let me tell you a story. I was relaxing one night in my duplex in Salem, Oregon. It was the fall of 2002. I was lounging on the couch, watching “Eyes Wide Shut” after a long evening of work. It was around 2:30 in the morning when I heard a noise. My wife and daughters were all sleeping at the time. I paused the DVD, stood from the couch, and listened. At first there was a dead silence, but then I heard it again. It was coming from the front door. A door right next to my two year old daughter’s bedroom. I shuffled quickly to the front door, and spotted the doorknob rattling. I immediately checked the lock and deadbolt. Both were secure. Then I abruptly swatted the light switch to the front porch. I jerked open the blinds to see someone take off into the dark of night on foot. WOW, that was an eerie experience. What if I had been asleep too? Would the person at the door have found a way inside? It’s impossible to tell at this point. This turned me onto modern alarm systems.
There are plenty of reasons to secure your home at all times. Certainly the most important of these is your family’s safety. As scary as this may be to ponder, every parent should. Our homes are where we spend a large portion of our lives. It’s imperative to know that we’re safe and secure inside of them. If you haven’t already, it’s time to consider quality alarm systems. Now this doesn’t mean that you’ll have to spend your life’s savings or get a second job. There are numerous effective alarm systems on the market today that won’t cost you a pretty penny. If you’re looking for a monitored security system with first rate response, then you may want to consider Brink’s or ADT. Both have great reputations for keeping homes and businesses secured. Then again, you may want to simply install your own alarm systems. This can be done with some basic instructions. Start with online security products on websites like Amazon.com. Whether you prefer silent alarms that send a 911 signal to authorities, or a set of surveillance cameras and sensor alarms, you’re certainly in luck. Personally I went with the surveillance system and outdoor sensor devices. This way an alarm chimes inside my home if someone is even on my property. I like the heads-up. Plus, all outdoor activity is caught on camera.
Never disregard good old-fashioned dead bolts. All entrances to your home should have them. Although quality alarm systems are ideal, you want your home to do a bit more than make loud noises. Keep the bad element from ever getting in.