Security people coming by my house

We had some guys here a few years ago that would break into a house. If there was a security system, it didn't matter. They'd go straight for the master bedroom closet, where the security company almost always places it, and rip out the control box. they'd have the 30-45 seconds of countdown time to do it...if they didn't make it, they'd just bug on out. Mine is not there, for that reason.
 
If they're smart, they just put a ladder up the telephone pole and cut the cable and phone lines before they ever set foot on your property.

I'm with Ron -- All "security" companies sell is piece of mind. And false alarm fines to the local PD/Fire.
 
I'll put on my ''snowden'' hat here..and leak a lil' info. This is some crazy info I am about to tell you guys.

Back in the mid 90's I thought I could get rich selling adt alarms. Actually the hardware and installs were free and monitoring was around 35/mo. I made 225.00 for each monitored install I sold. After I ran out of family and friends to sale to, the leads slowed down and the the newness wore off and it was time for door to door,cold calls, and looking at papers for reported break ins. (not my cup-o-tea)

One day, at the sales office, the boss told me to look through old files, contact the folks and ask if they were satisfied with their service. Which was just a ''beat around the bush'' way of asking for new leads.

*the scary part* Each file contained the pass word and security codes to every install this particular company serviced. AND the S.S. numbers of the purchaser. ( you had to pass credit check for free install)

* the even scarier part* It was common practice for sale reps to dig through these unlocked files in search of possible new leads from past customers.

I could not believe my eyes! That gig only lasted a month or so and I went back to real work. I just thought that was a lot of secret info to be in a file cabinet beside the door to the break room.
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Its funny you mentioned that about ADT. I have worked in the security industry most, if not all of my life.

My mother and step-father built a house a few years ago wanted me to install an alarm system for them. I went all out and put glass brakes, motions, door AND window sensors, hell I even tied it into the phone and power line along with the fire system. My step-father even wanted cellular backup. When we were deciding who to go with for a monitoring service, my parents wanted ADT. I had the system all set up and programed, they just had to come out and set it up for there system. I, of coarse, was watching intensely everything the tech was doing. I got a phone call and stepped out for just a second and when I come back in, I caught the guy changing the master code!! I'm usually one to keep my cool, but this flew all over me. I flipped on the guy and threatend to call his supervisor if he did not change it back and leave imminently. I can't believe he was going to lock me out of a system that was bought and paid for. I have not, will not, nor will ever use anything involving ADT or tyco industries.

BTW, my brother in law works for the commercial side of adt, and he will argue tooth and nail with me that they wouldn't do this. I just laugh.
 
mommucked said:
These guys were sophisticated, had a van w some company name on it and one guy drove the van while 2 others went door to door claiming to be selling/installing HOME SECURITY SYSTEMS!!!
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That's pretty typical from what I understand -- go door to door. Knock, listen for dogs, kick in the back door, grab valuables, move to the next neighborhood. If somebody answers the door, have some story about how you're lost and trying to deliver furniture or you're selling some service, etc. Move to the next neighborhood. If a dog barks, move to the next house.

It usually happens in the middle of the day, while everybody is at work. Our neighborhood is a ghost town from 9-3pm.
 
From the stats they used to push, something like 80% of all break ins happen at the front door.
Makes sense. A guy standing on your front porch looks like he is knocking or knows you, a guy hanging around the back or hanging out a window draws quick suspicion everytime.

If there is no cellular back up, you just go to the nid on the side of the house and clip the phone wires..then it cant communicate.
Kick the door and bust the speaker...then go find the closet.

If they have a cellular back up you buzz the system and fry the board.
These things are cheap PCBs made in china they aint taking much current.
 
right but who cares. Most sirens are barely audible outside the home (if they are they likely violate noise ordinances) and even if they are, most people dont pay a whole lot of attention.
 
If the power flickered off at our old house, the siren would go off. I bet you could hear it 1/2 mile away.
 
What is a good way to strengthen your doors around the lock to keep somebody from kicking it in easily? If there is a will, there is a way. I would at least want to make somebody work hard to get in my house.
 
sgtbriangreen said:
What is a good way to strengthen your doors around the lock to keep somebody from kicking it in easily? If there is a will, there is a way. I would at least want to make somebody work hard to get in my house.
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There are metal plates on our front door and back door for this reason. im sure its still easily done but maybe not as easy as if nothing was there.
 
kaiser715 said:
1st time that dog runs loose, catch it and take it to the local animal shelter
2nd time, take it to the animal shelter, without tags
3rd time, animal shelter in the next county over
problem solved
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Im an animal lover...don't want to hurt the dog...not the dogs fault...its the stupid owners....for this reason alone, I do not speak to them unless I have to.
 
I'm glad this thread popped up...the little lady seems to be under the impression that we'll need an alarm. I've never lived in a house/apt that had one. I was always under the impression that someone could be in and out before a cop or I got there anyway. I'm more interested in re-enforcing what's there to make it more difficult to get in.
 
I think it was the comedian "Carrottop" that had a theory to keep your house from being broken into. Put a large chain and stake in your front yard with the biggest dog collar your can find attached to the chain. Also have the biggest chew bone you can find sitting next to it. No need for a dog.
 
We have a security system that we had installed after my 22 year old step-daughter ran out at night when she was 16-17. Most people buy security systems to keep people out, ours was installed to keep people in. Works pretty darn well too....
 
ManglerYJ said:
We have a security system that we had installed after my 22 year old step-daughter ran out at night when she was 16-17. Most people buy security systems to keep people out, ours was installed to keep people in. Works pretty darn well too....
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lol thats why my Dad put one in when I was 15... and I can bet when my daughter is that age we'll be tightening down too
 
Have had one from the majors for years... small cost to ensure what's mine, stays mine. Unbeknownst when the house was purchased, there's a HUGE trailer park 500yds through the woods (1.5 miles to drive there). In true dog fashion, the non-English speaking residents, will NOT crap where they sleep (know the first place the cops will go when something goes down). However, the last clown caught B&E... a Sheriffs home, while his highly marked cruiser was in the driveway, confessed (before undergoing surgery for the gunshot wound he received) the deal was folks riding the bus from the OTHER side of town, entering thru the trailer park, B&E, stash stuff in the woods near the trailer park, ride bus home and return at dark with a vehicle to retrieve.

A long time friend & LEO "stationed" in the vicinity makes dang sure any "false alarm" scripts (2 in 9 years) are swiftly misplaced. :D

- Master box w/ cell backup is hidden, no where near either of the keypads. Hell, I have to look for it most of the time and would take 15 minutes to move enough junk to see it
- All equipment was recommended, positioned & installed by a bud with 35 years of real security experience and verified by me to be just fine ;)
- Setting, "NO Entry Delay", will alarm before the door gets opened far enough for the dog to start chasing or me to raise the shotty...

Come on over and try to skirt it :flipoff2:
 
Ron said:
I (along with at least a few others here)




Dylan, if you have an axe to grind and can prove that story then you could costs some folks their alarm license.
1- Master Code (4 digit pin) can not be stored by installing company (even the electronic snapshot has to encode this)
2- Verbal pass code has to be kept locked and unaccessible to not monitoring personnel. (Though to be fair this is frequently violated)
3- Anyone storing SSN is a dumbass.

All 3 of the above violate NBFAA guidelines and in NC would result in revokation of your alarm license.
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No axe to grind and I doubt I could ever prove the story. This was back in probably 1997 or so. I don't even think the building is still standing, that held the ''office''. Maybe with some real digging into long ago tax forms,(which are looong gone) I might find the name of the actual company I was working for. But sure enough, we were selling adt ''peace of mind'' that was all contracted through this company. We are selling ''peace of mind'' was forced down our throats at every monday morning sales meeting.

Basicaly..every pc. of paper work relating to the customer and the contract was kept in the same folder.
I do remember that the installers worked out of the back part of the same building with no connecting door between the 2 areas. I thought that was dumb, because one would have to walk all the way around the entire building to access the install dept. Maybe there was a good reason for that..idk
 
shawn said:
That's pretty typical from what I understand -- go door to door. Knock, listen for dogs, kick in the back door, grab valuables, move to the next neighborhood. If somebody answers the door, have some story about how you're lost and trying to deliver furniture or you're selling some service, etc. Move to the next neighborhood. If a dog barks, move to the next house.

It usually happens in the middle of the day, while everybody is at work. Our neighborhood is a ghost town from 9-3pm.
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......I've heard of this shit twice more, Once they were selling energy efficiant windows and insulation, they say " i can give you an estimate if I can come in and inspect the home" etc. then they case the joint to assess value of stealable items and return later. some even have picture IDs hanging from their necks to look ligit!! When the neighbor on the corner was robbed they picked a house they could access the backdoor, from the county road unseen by any of the nearby houses. A wall of Leyland Cypress blocked the veiw from one next door neighbor, and the house blocked the veiw from the otherside and accross the street neigbors. I assume these crooks may be smart enough to use Google earth and street veiw to plan some of their robberies, or they just see a way to sneak up to a house unseen while going door to door after they have gotten no response to knocks or the doorbell.
 
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Our house has an alarm horn on the outside, hidden by a bush.
if you break/disconnect it - the real one goes off ;-)
 
When I lived in fayetville I had a young colored fella pull up in my subdivision in a van with 3-4 similar type fellas all dressed in kakis looking respectable at about 130pm guy knocked on the door and I answered with my sig 229 concealed behind the door he told me he was selling vacuum cleaners with him he had a well used walmart vacuum cleaner the whole time he's talking to me he's looking over my shoulder and keeps asking if he can demonstrate it for me I told him no a couple times then told him he needed to go he made one more attempt to convince me to let him in so I rolled the hammer back on my sig still concealed and watched his eyes widen he thanked me for my time then hauled ass to the van I then watched all of his homeys do the same.a friend of mine runs his hood watch program and is in constant contact with police about criminal activity in his area a few days before my buddy had alerted me to the very techniques these guys were using which helped arouse my suspicions although my hood was never robbed for some reason
 
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