Security Alarm -which one?

I inherited a Alarm when I bought house 4 years ago, but not sure it's doing its job. I had a local company around 3 days ago (2 guys didn't seem trustworthy) and ADT (a creepy old man) came around yesterday. They BOTH were livid that I had the panic button at the side of my bed removed approx 31/2 years ago. One guy from the local company wanted to know who actually removed it and when - I don't like people raising their voices to me and Had to point out that I owned the thing and I would remove/install what I like. Choosing a trustworthy company is nearly impossible; neither company had been to my house before, but they seemed very agitated that the panic button had been removed. I am not convinced that 2 of them actually work for the companies.

[Tomor]

We have a friedland platinum I think its called. Very good and has lots of features.

Thanks, I'll google and have a look. We are also having security cameras installed around property and I think the bullet type look less intrusive - wish we'd stayed inMarlow now!

[Bibio]

does your local police service do a home security survey? if so get them round and let them give you ideas.

home security companies are notorious for ripping people off.

as for a panic device next to your bed its called a truncheon. lol. BTW i'm kidding, never ever confront someone breaking into your house, your possessions are not worth the risk of dying or catching some nasty disease that a lot of them carry. a panic button is only as good as to how long it takes the police to get there and scumbags know this so dont give a shizz if one goes off. now these scumbags are not murderers by nature and only want stuff they can sell easy to get their next fix. professional house breakers dont bother with the average house and tend to concentrate on 'premium' property and usually arrive with a large van and empty your house when your not it.

seriously, do you have anything in the house that is worth lots of money that would not be covered by your household contents insurance? if so then have a safe installed.

yes i know it not a nice experience having scumbags rake around your house but if they want stuff they WILL break in and take it, security or no security it makes no odds to them.

[timwilky]

Avoid the national companies. Use a local established company who will tailor the alarm system to your requirements. You do not say where you live. But my family have used these for multiple houses where the insurers insist on monitored alarms.

But an alarm is only as good as the response to it. My dad had his garage burgled. OK he lived 12 miles from the nearest police station and it took them 2 hours to respond to the call from the monitoring centre. by which time the sods had cleared out 50 years of tools and equipment.

[Sir Trev]

Echo the point about a recognised local company. The lack of interest and ridiculous price quoted by the likes of ADT put me off as well as the nuisance of dealing with a call centre. When the local company we used sold out to Stanley we took our business to another locally based one after it took four calls just to book the annual inspection.

Thanks Bibio! Indeed, I do have a truncheon beside my bed-I suppose I could always massage them to death
My possessions are definitely worth dying for - or the other!
According to Zoopla, I do own a premium property))
Lastly, I do have a safe, although not bolted to wall or floor...
It's not only thieves I am trying to keep out of my property.

[Jayneflakes]

Where are you based?

Here in Weston Super Mare we have an excellent company that installed home security and the like. I think it was them who put the fire alarm on the Grand Pier... Before it burned down!

[tonyk]

Deb's PM sent.

Ok Tony - where do I pick up my PMs? Well, I am only a junior member (feels ever so slightly embarrassed). Think O need to acquaint myself with FAQs!