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This is prompted by Daisy’s article today, about the creepy perils of doorbell cameras. I want to install a home security system. But I don’t want indoor cameras or microphones linked to the internet. and I REALLY don’t want any system that requires connection to any device like Alexa or Echo!
What I do want is a really loud alarm, that hopefully will cause intruders to leave before they have time to discover or access my valuables. Notification to my phone is necessary. And I’d consider having a third party Monitoring Service.
Since almost nobody (including me) has true, hard wired “landline” phone service, intrusion notification via internet will be necessary. But I want to minimize internet transmission of details. Is this possible in this day and age? Anyone have suggestions or recommendations? Thanks!
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Hi, Caspar! Sorry for the delayed reply – lots going on this week.
You’re right, if it’s going to your phone, there’ll be internet involved.
A friend of mine years ago had a system set up with a camera that came on when the door was opened. It immediately called his phone and he could watch whatever was going on in his house. (This was during a bitter divorce and custody battle.) We actually watched his mother in law plant something in his home from 3 states away. Of course, back then, we weren’t so worried about cameras inside our homes.
There has to be some kind of intrusion alarm that can link to a cell phone number.
This Simplisafe one seems pretty well encrypted. It might be worth checking out.
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Hard today to get the old kind but it can be found, you can use old cameras that are wired to record only to a hidden dvd burner. And here old fashion pager set up for notification, won’t tell you what went wrong just that a something did.
A dog, not fool proof but most thieves will move on till more desparate times. Poison proof your animal, food/water only in one place, dog gets sick watch out.
Can add visible deterants thorny rose bush under windo, decorative bars, steel doors, a few black domes that look like cameras, if rural a car chime once someone drives up you road, one they can hear. Signs warning of attack dog with your dog barking.
If you know local gang and hobo markers you can place appropriate markings to deter the local low lifes.
Can use a glitter bomb on packages outside, a dumby package they steal and goes bòom with sparkles, you can see on you tube, if legal in your area thieves will avoid unless you flash something super high value as who wants to try a booby trapped house.
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Thanks Daisy. I’ve heard about the Simplisafe system, and will have to investigate that. Not particularly concerned about cameras inside “if” they’re not real time online.
Thanks Namelus. We’re already deploying some of the non-digital countermeasures you mention…..others too. Seriously considering installing “decorative” window bars. Haven’t done that yet, because it sort of calls attention to one’s house: possibly implying that “there’s stuff in there worth stealing.” But if I can find a really low profile design, will probably do that, because they’re definitely effective.
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We have used a Simplsafe system for over a year and are very pleased with it. We have entry alarms on all the doors that ‘ding’ whenever they are opened which is handy having a three -year old Grandson running loose in the house. We have broken glass detectors in each room, a Simplisafe smoke detector in addition to the ones already in the house (which are not monitored, but the Simplisafe one is) and a panic alarm in the master bedroom. The monthly cost for professional monitoring of the system is $14.99. There is a siren capability that you can set yourself for loudness using the USB remote that comes with the system.
Back to the camera. Its set up on a shelf in our den and captures 90% of that room. Even though it is not monitored or recorded, using the Simplisafe app I can assess it from anywhere on my phone and watch real time video. I can also access whether the system is active or not and times it was activated or deactivated. Once again, for additional cost you can operate your system remotely.
We have been happy with the system as well as our motion detecting driveway alarms.
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One last thing regarding the camera. We unplug it when we are home. We really only use it during the times we are away, like vacation or trips. Although the video isn’t being recorded, one tip may be to lay something a thief would be hard to pass up out in plain sight of the camera. (I had an old inoperable revolver) If you notice that its gone there may be something going amiss. The system does have a battery back-up should a power interruption occur.
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I have been looking at the simpesafe for a bit ourselves but never heard of anyone using it. So thank you for your post on this. It really helps. We have been looking into ways to harden our doors and windows. There is a film I heard you can get that will keep someone from breaking your windows and if they do crack the glass it won’t go all over the room. But very pricey. It is something like the bullet proof safety film they have out on internet. But I don’t think this one is bulletproof. It just keeps someone from breaking the glass or makes it harder to break. I really would need to check on it if I can find the site again. If I decided to get it, I could only buy for one window at a time. We have 13 windows and a sliding glass door. All of these need to be hardened.
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Just my $0.02:
If the focus of your security needs are loss prevention (theft through burglary), then the following applies. Most people have homowner’s or renter’s insurance. If you don’t, you should. Keep a good digital photo inventory of your house for insurance and keep a copy off-site (a friend or relative’s home). Look at the deductible on your insurance policy. If you are even considering spending more on a security system, than your deductible, then you are wasting money. For this reason, I don’t use a monitored service. I do use video cameras with an in-home DVR recording events so I can find the culprits if known to me.
If the focus of your security needs are the safety of yourself and your loved ones, you are assuming you will be home when the event happens. In this case, you don’t need remote monitoring for anything. A simple lightbulb outside your garage door under the eaves can be used to alert you to an event as you arrive.
Assuming you are focused on the second case, I don’t like inside sensors like motion detectors because I don’t want bad actors inside at all. I do want good perimeter security and lots of noise (at the very least inside) when anyone enters.
If you have a professional installer, think of these things: You may need a reminder when you enter, to disarm the system before it goes off. This is normally a buzzer placed in the keypad controller. I suggest the reminder is enough for you without leading an intruder right to the control panel. Move the buzzer somewhere else. While we’re at it you are unlikely to forget where the keypad is, so rather than mount it on a publicly visible wall (just inside the front or garage door is customary) I want mine mounted inside the coat closet or somewhere else not obvious. This also makes it less likely that tradesmen are going to see the control panel during a normal visit and recognize the make and model so they have an idea what they are up against.
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Excellent points, Tex. I will add that I installed wireless cams to monitor the outside of the house only. My system has a 60 day record loop, 24 hours per day. Passive IR cameras record activity 150 feet from the house. The system has lots of features like speaking and hearing through the cam but those only come through the internet. Everyone needs to keep in mind probably all the equipment used is made in China and you don’t know all it’s (hidden) capabilities. For that reason, I would NEVER put any of it out on the internet. Regarding the discussion about the home deductible – well I think you better start thinking about redundancy in everything. We are entering a period of shortages of all things. Best example to my mind is protecting your car from an EMP so you will always be able to get home (or your precious family members). Would you send $1000 on that if you had strong reason to believe it would work? Also, knowing if it happens, in addition to be stranded somewhere, there will be no spare parts or technicians available to fix your car. Wouldn’t that investment then be priceless?
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Good points firewall. We don’t have a security system. But we do have signs at front and back door that says 24 hour surveillance. We have no cameras up yet. We have had digital photos of things in house as well as the house itself and we have homeowners insurance as well. One thing I am now looking into is to have our flood lights changed out. They are very old and had been wondering if we should install the ones that come on with motion. we do have one that comes on at dusk and goes off in the early morning over the garage door. Other than that not sure what else to do. I am doing it more incase of riots than anything else. But hoping that issue has calmed down at least for now.
As for our deductible. I think now for all home owners insurance it is $1000.00. So don’t want to spend that kind of money. Just wondering if the signs we put up though right now are fake as far as really having 24 hour surveillance was a smart idea. They have nothing on the signs that say what type of surveillance, so anyone trying to break in would have a hard time trying to find the source of the cameras. Just signs. Some neighbors around here have the ADT signs posted but do not have that system.
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