Options and devices include hardwire door chimes, hardwire brace wires, hardwire telephone, and other keys and accessories.

A savvy installer can complete work in less than an hour. Although hardwired systems generally do take longer to install than wireless systems, they are considered worthwhile for the extra time and effort. The typical hardwired security system will come with an alarm control panel and a keypad control to turn the system on and off.

You can even purchase a low cost hardwired security system from some reputable and established companies at a significantly less than you will find at major national home security system companies. The basic materials you will need to install your hardwired home security system are quite simple and include micro screwdriver, a drill with drill bits, driver bit, wire strippers, and your home security system kit.

You should make sure to consider the brand of security system you are buying, so that you receive a high quality product and not something that is going to break down on you.

Instructions should come with the product you select. However, if you’re not completely sure, consider a professional who can ensure your home has the working, high quality security system it deserves.

Statistics show that 76% of false alarms are caused by user error. There are certain precautions you can take to eliminate the potential for false alarms at your property:

• Make sure anyone with a key to your business or home knows how to operate your security system.
• Make special arrangements for guests and repair technicians.
• Have your security system company check and service your security system – including batteries – regularly.
• Call your security company immediately if your system doesn’t seem to be working properly or before you do any remodeling.

If your alarm goes off….

• Don’t panic! Remember your security code.
• Find out if there really is an intruder or fire and respond appropriately.
• If the alarm activation was accidental, carefully disarm your security system according to your instructions.
• After you’ve reset the system, wait for the monitoring station to call you.
• Don’t leave your home or business until you’ve spoken with your monitoring station and assured them that there is no emergency.

Be Prepared

• Rehearse alarm cancellation with everyone who might use your security system.
• Make sure everyone who has a key to your house or business knows how to operate the security system.
• Give all system users the name and number of your monitoring station and security I.D. in case the alarm sounds.
• Keep your security system instruction book handy, but not in an obvious place where an intruder can find it.
• Call your monitoring station if you change your phone number, get a pet, plan to sell or remodel your house or test your security system.

If you are thinking of installing a security system, you should consider selecting a wireless home security system. There are many highly effective models on the market today and they are a lot easier and less expensive to install than a hardwired system. A wireless home security system will provide you with all the benefits of a great security system without the hassle and mess of having to drill holes and dig under your house to have it installed.

Many different companies make wireless home security systems. One of the most popular companies is ADT which offers its comprehensive Family Package. When the alarm is triggered the system sounds a siren, flashes lights, and automatically dials up to four pre-set numbers delivering a pre-recorded message. This system is easy to install yourself and provides complete security coverage of your home with motion, door, and window sensors.

Another major benefit of choosing a wireless home security system is its ease of installation over traditional hard wired models. A wireless home security system uses small radio transmitters instead of wires to send the necessary signals between the system sensors and control panel. This means there is no drilling necessary and you can take the system with you when you move.

Although you can elect to buy a wireless system yourself and perform what amounts to a fairly easy self-installation, the advantages of security system monitoring are vast. Shop carefully for a security system company you trust and that delivers quality protection and service – including a warranty.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both, and when comparing hardwire versus wireless systems, it is crucial to take many factors into consideration.

Hardwired security systems have many distinct advantages. Professionals consider them more reliable than wireless systems. They are typically installed by a professional contractor, which means you can be assured in knowing that the installation was done correctly. They are usually less visible and therefore more aesthetically pleasing than wireless systems. Most importantly, hardwired systems don’t depend on batteries if you want power failure backup protection.

However, wireless systems have their perks. They avoid the expensive and often time consuming work of wiring and are able to be easily relocated. Some are even set up to record a voice message by the homeowner or others and are able to call programmed numbers, in the event of an alarm.

Hardwired security systems are typically more expensive and there are problems that can arise when installing sensors as some walls are difficult to wire. On the other hand, wireless systems require the periodic replacement of batteries, and they can be vulnerable to electromagnetic interference in some particular locations.

Keep in mind, a hardwired system uses wires that are installed inside the walls of your home, and they are installed in order to make them easily placed underground. You must then connect all of the sensors to a central controller, which is usually armed with a keypad used for arming the alarm, and for turning it on and off. Typically, hardwired home systems use power from the home AC power wiring as their primary source. Use a rechargeable battery as a backup power source for your hardwired system in the event of an emergency.

Here are a few reasons to consider IP home video surveillance for your security systems:

• Utilizes existing IP infrastructure.

• Highly scalable.

• Flexible camera placement: PoE eliminates need for local power source; Wi-Fi eliminates need for hard-wired ethernet cable. Wi-Fi has even become synonymous with the more generic term “wireless.”

• Remote viewing from anywhere/anytime via a standard Web browser.

• Standards-based, allowing multi-vendor solutions and integration.

• Better image quality than closed circuit TV (CCTV) analog systems.

• Open storage and server systems scale easily and cheaply, with no need for specialized recording equipment or training.

Secure: Data can be encrypted across the network, so only the cameras and servers know what kind of packets to expect across the system. Without the proper authentication keys, outsiders can’t break into the network to steal video data or feed false video into the system. Also, any interruption to the data stream can automatically trigger alarms and alerts.

However, construction site theft is an increasing problem throughout the country and it can affect you. When beginning a project, you need to be informed and ask smart questions – including whether a contractor uses mobile security systems like the DeWalt  Mobile Lock.

• How many burglaries at single-family house construction sites are reported?
• What proportion of these burglaries is reported to police? Does a sizable proportion of burglaries go unreported? If so, why?
• What is the clearance rate for these burglaries?
• What methods are used to commit these burglaries? Forced entry? Unforced entry? Burglars posing as construction workers? Employee theft?
• How much property is typically stolen? Quantity? Dollar values?
• What other costs are incurred because of these burglaries? Repair costs? Lost business? Increased insurance premiums?
• How difficult are the burglaries to commit?
• Are there patterns that link offenders, builders, subcontractors, or types of property across cases?
• Are new houses or renovated houses more likely to be targeted?
• How exposed are the burgled houses? How close are they to major thoroughfares, parks, or other public spaces?
• What is the nature of the surrounding neighborhood?
• What type of fencing exists?
• What types of security do the sites have? What types of security are in use?
• What types of houses under construction are burglarized? One-story or two-story? Large or small?
• Are the houses in major subdivisions under construction or in individual lots spread throughout the community?
• At what stage of building is the property at the time of the burglary?

Was the house securable at the time of the burglary? Was it actually secured?

Lock all outside doors and windows before you leave the house or go to bed. Even if it is for a short time, lock your doors.

Leave lights on when you go out. If you are going to be away for a length of time, connect some lamps to automatic timers to turn them on in the evening and off during the day.

Keep your garage door closed and locked.

Don’t allow daily deliveries of mail, newspapers or flyers build up while you are away. Arrange with the Post Office to hold your mail, or arrange for a friend or neighbor to take them regularly.

Arrange for your lawn to be mowed if you are going away for an extended time.

Check your locks on doors and windows and replace them with secure devices as necessary.

Push button locks on doorknobs are easy for burglars to open. Install deadbolt locks on all your outside doors.

Sliding glass doors are vulnerable. Special locks are available for better security.

Other windows may need better locks. Check with a locksmith or hardware store for alternatives.

Lawn mowers, snow blowers, barbecues and bicycles are best stored out of sight.

Always lock your garden sheds and garages.

Use curtains on garage and basement windows.

Never leave notes on your door such as “Gone shopping.”

No lock, regardless of its quality, can be truly effective. Key-in dead bolt locks provide minimum security. Ask a locksmith for advice on your situation.

Change locks immediately if your keys are lost or stolen.

When moving into a new home, have all locks changed.

Have adequate exterior lighting. A motion-sensitive light is recommended for backyards.

Trim trees and shrubs so that they cannot be used as hiding places for intruders.

Make sure your door hinges are on the inside.

Most windows can be pinned for security.

Drill a 3/16″ hole on a slight downward slant through the inside window frame and halfway into the outside frame – place a nail in the hole to secure the window.

Alarms:

A security system is excellent for home security. It provides peace of mind to homeowners, especially while on vacation. There is a wide variety of security systems on the market.

Make several inquiries to different companies for the best security system available to you.

A survey sponsored by the Security Equipment Industry Association and conducted by StatResources of Boston revealed most police believe security systems are effective.

• 85% of police officials believe that security systems decrease chances of residences being burglarized.

• 90% of police say a business is less likely to be burglarized if it has a security system.

• 90% of police officials feel that a security system increases the probability of a burglar being apprehended.

• 85% of chiefs surveyed say they have encouraged installation of electronic security systems in homes or businesses in their communities.

• 80% of police and 75% of fire chiefs in larger cities prefer security systems which alert a 24-hour monitoring company to those that report directly to police or fire departments.

• 86% of police and 81% of fire chiefs feel that a security system which has only a siren or bell on the protected premises, is better than no system at all.

• 50% of big-city police respondents believe that a typical home has more chance of being burglarized today than in 1980.

• 60% of police and fire officials report that home and business owners often ask them to make recommendations about security system installations.

Do not enter – the perpetrator may still be inside.

Use a neighbor’s phone to call police.

Do not touch anything or clean up until the police have inspected for evidence.

Write down the license plate numbers of any suspicious vehicles.

Note the descriptions of any suspicious persons.

Use the following precautions to prevent future incidents:

Never leave keys under doormats, flowerpots, mailboxes or other “secret” hiding places – burglars know where to look for hidden keys.

Keep a detailed inventory of your valuable possessions, including a description of the items, date of purchase and original value, and serial numbers, and keep a copy in a safe place away from home – this is a good precaution in case of fires or other disasters.

Make a photographic or video record of valuable objects, heirlooms and antiques. Your insurance company can provide assistance in making and keeping your inventory.

Trim your shrubbery around your home to reduce cover for burglars.

Be a good neighbor. If you notice anything suspicious in your neighborhood, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Mark your valuables with your driver’s license number with an engraver you can borrow from your precinct. Marked items are harder for a burglar to dispose of and easier for police to recover.

Form a Neighborhood Watch Group. Work with your neighbors to improve security and reduce risk of burglary.

Installing and monitoring closed circuit television. Closed circuit television (CCTV) has been shown to be effective in deterring property crime. Evaluations of CCTV reveal that it is effective when an adequate number of cameras cover a particular area as well as on sites with limited and controlled access points. In order to provide such coverage, portable towers equipped with cameras can be placed at strategic site locations.

Security systems can be a cost-effective deterrent in high risk areas. There are a number of different alarms available, including wireless security systems that can be adapted to the environment – for example, for use in onsite storage containers. Some wireless security systems can be installed at any stage of the construction, without the need for pre-wiring or other electrical work. Signs indicating that alarms are in use should be prominently displayed to reinforce the deterrent effect. However, care should be taken to ensure that false alarms do not drain police resources.

Using portable storage units. Properly secured storage units should be used for materials that are kept at construction sites overnight. These units should be equipped with wireless audible alarms and locks that prevent the use of bolt cutters.

Properly constructed and secured fences can control access to construction sites. Temporary wire fencing may be the most appropriate and cost effective for larger construction sites. A temporary fencing system can be easily erected, dismantled, and reused. Fencing also serves as a deterrent by clearly identifying site boundaries.

Marking property. Marking property with identification helps control burglary in three ways: it warns burglars that owners are monitoring their property, it discourages potential buyers of stolen property, and it increases the probability that recovered property will be returned to its rightful owner. However, property marking efforts have had mixed results. Property marking appears to be most effective when extensive efforts to enlist participation and cooperation are combined with a media campaign warning burglars that marking will reduce the property’s value and make disposal difficult.

Global positioning satellite (GPS) locator chips can be used to track and recover high-end appliances and equipment. If the property is stolen, the chip allows the builder or the police to monitor its movement by computer. This is most useful for high risk property when a specific crime pattern has been identified or when information has been received from a confidential informant.