People that are planning on robbing or invading your home have certain techniques they use to accomplish their mission as safely as possible.  There are two basic rules a house thief will usually follow:

1. They will know their target and the potential value of each break in. Common targets include money, jewelry, and drugs expensive electronic equipment.
2. Not getting caught.

One common technique used to help scope out prime target homes is to knocking on your door. If there is no answer the thief will assume no one is home. They usually carry tools that will help them break into your home such as a heavy duty screwdriver. After they have confirmed (by knocking) the home is empty your least conspicuous window or door will be a likely target of the break in.

Let’s stop and think a moment . . . Why not backup one step to place the robber back at your front door? What if the home invader rang your doorbell and heard the sound of a vicious dog? If you have the real thing that’s great! That is often the one deterrent that a home robber does not want to deal with. Because this person is at the point where they are qualifying their prospect (so to speak) the sound of a big scary dog is almost 100% effective in all surveys conducted. Whether you have a big dog or not does not really matter. It just has to sound that way.

Are you getting the idea? Suppose you are not a dog fan. There is a very inexpensive dog burglar alarm that can be electronically simulated with inexpensive electronic components. In other words you can put this all together yourself with a little bit of understanding in electronics. The electrical components you will require to build your own home dog guard system are listed below.

Parts Required To Build Your Own Home Alarm System

3 components are included in creating a small circuit

1. A twelve volt relay
2. 50 volt rectifier
3. Diode

Other A Items You Will Also Need

1. Audio cables
2. Recording module with playback button
3. Zip ties
4. Transmitter and receiver
5. Sound recording of a vicious dog

I learned this today while sipping on a coffee watching videos on YouTube.

Thanks to the fine folks at kipkay for this great video.

The big thing to remember is to feed Rufus when you come home after a hard day’s work to relax. He works hard for you everyday .

I recommend this system for those that want a level up on what you have in place already. My preference would be that you actually have a big dog, but if that’s not for you this is an inexpensive alternative to monthly fees and long term home alarm contracts.

I seem to always hear these stories about extremely violent crimes happening in this area.  Just recently I was reading a story about a woman that was stabbed to death numerous times.  It seems it was a domestic dispute and a result of a hot tempered husband. After he realized he had killed her he remained in the driveway right beside her until the authorities arrived. He was arrested without incident.

It really kind of makes you wonder what planet you’re on sometimes.  How can a situation like this get so out of control.  Nothing can be worth a life!
Full Story Here

Orange County Crime Map

THE ORANGE COUNTY CRIME MAP

80 year old Man Stands up to Thug in Home Invasion

In a home invasion that recently occurred a street thug severely underestimated his target. An armed robber entered an 80 year old man’s home armed and dangerous. Little did he know the old man was an army vet. The old man shot the suspect dead and did what he had to do.

Full Story

Home Hardware in Soquel Robbed at Gunpoint For $300

It took a full evacuation of a home hardware store located in Soquel in an attempt to locate the robbery suspects. Even after the evacuation and police dogs no suspects were found.  The home hardware store had been robbed by two suspects at approximately 5:00 PM yesterday. Their big take was $300.00.

Full Story

Boats on US Mexico Border are Threatened by Pirates

A small lake in Mexico known as Falcon Lake attracts tourists in as a great vacation spot. It is well known and popular for its recreational activities like fishing and water skiing. A couple of times over the last few weeks’ fishermen have been robbed by pirates. These pirates use guns and are thought to be outcasts of rival Mexican gangs that sell drugs. Many people in this area are a little tense. People like Jack Cox are now packing iron when they sleep that night. Many others are also following suit in anticipation of having to defend themselves from these Mexican pirates.

Full Story

Police Seek two Men Involved in Redlands Home Invasion

Two men forced their way into a home occupied by an elderly couple. The woman was in his late sixties and the man was about 70 years old. They were both bound and gagged by the robbers were thought to be in their teens or perhaps early twenties. They stole cash, firearms and a pistol. They remain at large and the Redlands authorities would appreciate any tips or help they can get identifying the scum bags.

Full Story

21 Year Old Student Killed Over Purse Robbery

It happened a couple of days ago. This 21 year old student was working till about 1:50 AM. Her and her friend were on the way to a IHOP when a car pulled up. There was many people in the car and they began to talk. After a short conversation one of the people in the car grabbed her purse and the car drove away. She was dragged for approximately 20ft. She died in the hospital a number of hours later. The assailants have not been caught.

Full Story

When you are choosing products from the home alarm companies there are a number of different buying considerations. For example you may want to have one company handle the complete process including monitoring. On the other hand, you may want to have a separate company monitor your home. Just remember the competition amongst home-alarm companies is more ferocious than ever. This can be only great news for the consumer and all the more reason to explore the features and benefits each alarm company brings to the table. Before selecting your home alarm company of choice be sure and draw an honest comparison between their product offerings. It is well worth the extra time you will spend.

Can You Count On A Home Security Company?

It is a question often asked in larger companies whether to hire their own internal security or bring in a security company. Recruitment of such people can sometimes be difficult because you may not fully understand what you require. That’s why a security company will likely be your best choice … first time up. You can use this relationship with your company of choice to learn what to look for. In the future, you may want to hire your own staff using this knowledge. Because security companies also have the unfortunate advantage of dealing with disastrous situations previously experience is also an asset. Security breaches can occur at any moment, you cannot predict when they’re going to happen. You can have say in the control you have over the situation by getting professionals that understand the business. They will help with firefighting and prevention in ways you probably could never have imagined.

Why Do I Need Monitoring

This simply takes an alarm system in your home to a new level by giving you maximum security. You can get monitoring for as little as $8.95 per month. Monitoring can also include additional devices such as digital video recorders usually installed in upper levels of dwellings. These recorders can be fed by independent cameras strategically placed throughout your property. Monitoring gives you an added layer of protection that is well worth the investment, especially if you are located in a high crime area.

Tell Me about Simple Home Protection

Protecting your home goes well beyond securing your doorways. Intruders can enter your home in many different entrances including windows. Windows equipped with home-alarm components will likely have sensors placed strategically. When the sensors are tripped off your monitoring company is notified immediately. The only way these sensors can be triggered is when a window is opened or broken. When your home is empty a good alarm system will contact you and your monitoring company immediately when your house has been breached.

What Are The Advantages Of Wireless Technology?

Maybe you just don’t wanna or can’t have your home hardwired with an alarm system! If that is the case wireless home security is a great solution for you. They do not have the seniority of hardwired systems but do include modern day technology. This technology allows you to place tiny pinhead cameras in key locations within your home. They are virtually impossible to detect and will record all activity within their vision zone. If you want to avoid punching holes in your walls and the cost of hard wiring, wireless is a little more expensive but often well worth the investment.

Ask For References

Take a look on the Internet for feedback from other users of their home security products. Try to get an accurate read on the satisfaction degree of home security users. You can quickly learn the likes and dislikes of each main alarm company by reading reviews written by legitimate customers. In some cases you can contact them through forums and blogs to hear personal feedback. You can find out answers to questions that are on your mind. Questions such as …

• Do they have insurance certificates to present?
• Do installers have workman’s compensation?
• Are they covered with general liability insurance policies?

The Cat and Mouse

Home invaders and burglars are always raising the bar when it comes to new tactics. The same applies to home-alarm security companies that must constantly be developing their technology to stay ahead of intelligent home invaders and break in artists. Advanced home alarm systems will protect your property and valued possessions at the highest level. When your home has been fitted with cutting edge equipment available today illegal home entries are virtually impossible without putting yourself (the invader) at extreme risk. No burglar wants to get caught!

Making the Final Choice

Choose and what’s right for you does not need to consume much energy. You have plenty of resources available to day to really measure the pulse of real people that are using this equipment. You can also download several different home security guides for free that will help you understand what you need. Additionally you can clearly see the differences in products that alarm companies offer.

Although it seems like this will never happen to you, there are many things that you must consider first. In fact, many of the things that you’ll read about here are not discussed often. This is because people do not want to think about such a terrible thing happening in their lives. Unfortunately, it does happen … hopefully never to you! In this article I’m going to discuss ways to protect yourself and a more effective manner. Here are a few pointers to help get you sleep better at night and not worry about your home when you are not there.

Definition of Home Invasion

When your home has been entered without your permission by a criminal or criminals your home has been invaded. You may be present at the time or you may not be present. Either way the perpetrators are generally violent and are there to rob your home. In some cases the intention or intentions may also include sexual assault, kidnapping, robbery, physical harm and murder (in a small percentage of cases). Because this is not a crime in the United States there are not many crime statistics.

Here is an example home invasion story from Honolulu Hawaii about an elderly woman that was killed during a home invasion. It is a terrible story about an elderly patient and her caregiver who were almost beaten beyond recognition by two young punks (19 & 21 years of age).

Other terms that also define home invasion include:

• Burglary striking an occupied residence
• Burglary of occupied homes
• Hot burglary

Home Invasion Statistics

I have read through a number of the most reliable sources online to determine what I feel are the most important home invasion statistics for the homeowner. Statistics are difficult to come by because it’s not a crime. In general, home invasions have been increasing since 1995. According to most of the information I read, crimes that relate to property invasion occur every three seconds. In a number of other reliable sources I learned that every two minutes someone is raped. Within the USA every five houses will have one that is a victim of a home invasion. Within in the country I live in (Canada) there are almost 300,000 illegal home invasions every year.

If you are a victim of burglary striking an occupied residence, you’ll want to quickly determine what they want (intentions). Try to remain calm, do not resist, and show them you are willing to comply with their demands. If their demands can be easily met and do not involve physical harm to you please give them what they want. Everything you own can be replaced except your life.

Home Invasion Access Points and Techniques

Because home invasions can occur while the home is not occupied or occupied techniques and access points vary.

Occupied Residence Scenario

It’s a difficult question to ask you but try and put yourself in the shoes of somebody that has had to deal with a home invasion. What would you really do? Would you yell and scream or perhaps aggressively attack? Would you comply with demands? Hopefully you never put yourself in this situation. If the residence is occupied, some of the common entry scenarios include…

• A person posing as an authority such as police.
• A preliminary phone call made informing the homeowner a repairman will be showing up soon.
• A violent criminal that immediately forces open the door as you answer it
• Someone knocks at your door and claims that you have won a prize to claim
• People that impersonate charity organizations in an attempt to make you show them where your money is.
• A total stranger Knox at your door claiming it is an emergency. They may ask to use your bathroom or telephone.

Unoccupied Residence Scenario

You may be at work, play or just out somewhere and nobody is at your home. When your home is empty and an intruder enters here are the most common ways a home invasion criminal uses to enter your home…

1. Prying open the door lock on side entrances
2. Breaking windows
3. Climbing on the roof to an open window
4. Gaining access to a key that opens the door
5. Through an unlocked garage

Avoid a Home Invasion Nightmare

Hopefully you have read my tips above, maybe even a couple times over. The chances are this will never happen to you. That’s the good news! The bad news is you will more than likely know somebody (if it’s not you) that this is will happen to. In any case it is a nightmare, one you’ll never forget. I know because I have been there, luckily my home was empty when it happened. I only lost valuable items such as jewelry, money and an old stamp collection. I can never forget the feeling of privacy invasion. The number one step you can take to avoid having to live through this nightmare is securing your home.

Home Invasion Safety Ideas

You and your family have just arrived home after a two week vacation. It was a fantastic time and everybody is happy and very relaxed. You arrive in your driveway and quickly start unpacking all your cool vacation stuff. Mom walks up the front porch and to the front door with her key in hand and opens the door. The moment the door opens is a moment you will not forget for the rest of your life. Your home is visibly vandalized and obvious contents are missing. Your heart starts pounding as reality sets in. You have been a victim of home invasion. After all the dust settles you begin to wonder if there’s anything you could have done to prevent this from happening.

• Insure you have a quality home security system.
• Have the extra panic buttons strategically placed in other areas of your home that can be easily activated and not easily visually detected.
• Make sure all entry points to the home such as windows, doors and garages are secured.
• If someone knocks at the door make sure they are expected or they simply cannot enter your home without proper authority documentation.
• If someone knocks at your door a security chain will not prevent forcible entry.
• Any unexpected deliveries must be verified before you can accept them. Ask for way bill documentation and phone the courier company first.
• Install a peephole with wide angle viewing capability in your front door
• Install a small pinhead camera outside your home so you can see who is at your front door (recorded)
• Never leave spare keys outside of your home hidden for other family members
• When leaving on vacation for long periods of time ask a trustworthy neighbor if they can collect your mail.
• Have regular inspections done of your home security system to ensure 100% functionality. (Backup batteries, motion detectors, etc)
• If you have been the unfortunate victim of a home intrusion try to remember distinguishing points about the intruders that can be later communicated to the authorities. E.g. facial features, behaviors, car, license number.

Home Invasion Stories

Stories of home invasions are unfortunately on the rise. There’s no real shortage of them, documentation of cases we find online may very well be where we find the best statistical data. As much as data is a vital part of statistics the emotional toll this takes on victims is incredible. If you are having difficulty putting yourself or someone else in this very stressful situation here’s a home invasion video to give you an idea of the stress and trauma.

Here are a few popular stories on current home invasions.

• Girl Forced In Home Invasion
• Arizona Home Invasion On The Rise
• Fatal Arizona Home Invasion Sparks Fears Of Mexican Military Involvement
• Are Home Invasions Up In The U.S.?
• Mother Shot In Home Invasion In New Hampshire
• Home Invasion On Elderly Woman Dies
• Dog Helps In Home Invasion
• Great Dane In Home Invasion

Enjoy Life and be Safe

If you’re considering getting protection for your home or small business, this information will definitely help you to be more organized in getting safety in place for you and your family. If you suspect that your home or a neighbors has been cased out by would be burglars there are several options you can now take advantage of. Do yourself a favor and feel the most comfortable you have ever felt in your life by taking simple little steps to cover the bases. Don’t get all bent up about it, just take the action you need to take to feel secure.

Be safe!

RB

Your home and your small business can’t safely run without taking security measures, and if you’re looking for a solution, there are many options that you can take advantage of. These suggestions may help you to find just the right home and business security service you’re looking for.

In case you are wondering why I am putting together all this cool information let me tell you…Part of the work I was doing prior to retirement was investigating legitimacy of online complaints posted in forums, complained boards, blogs, and web sites. The basic job functions I had included researching sources, interviewing company owners and sorting out the truth from lies. There are plenty of both in almost any vertical market in any industry sector.

Google Home Security Complaint Statistics

I learned that all companies with a strong online presence and decent market share suffer from negative press (complaints, accusations, and false claims). In some cases companies were definitely guilty of customer neglect in other cases, disgruntled employees or contractors were posting false information to damage company reputations. Here is a statistical complaint analysis of the four main home alarm companies.

How to Measure Home Alarm Company Complaints

You can simply start by entering “complaints” at the end of your search phrase. This is how we started analyzing the legitimacy of complaints displayed on the Internet. Why not let the most advanced source of information on our planet to the digging for us? Below I am using “Phrase match” in Google search. This will narrow it down to more targeted results. We will use the numeric data that Google finds to draw a statistical comparison.

Home Alarm Companies Online Complaint Analysis

IMPORTANT NOTE: These statistics were gathered May 21, 2010. They will provide statistics that will be the starting point. We will regularly go back to “revisit” the exact same statistics, this way we will also see trends. Make note of the results before you click the links below. Google search is constantly refreshing and updating, check back here frequently to see quick (main 4) home security complaint analysis.

1)       ADT Complaints
About 250 results (May 21, 2010)

2)       Brinks Complaints
About 182 results (May 21, 2010)

3)      Alarmforce Complaints
About 121 results (May 21, 2010)

4)       Voxcom Complaints
4 results (May 21, 2010)

We can see the companies listed from most to least number of complaints. This is strictly a statistical comparison …all things being equal. There is absolutely no prejudice when using this method to quickly determine who has the most complaints from consumers. Whether these complaints are legitimate or not is another question that is only answered by your eyes only. You may even want to consider adding the above information to the BBB home alarm company listings to give you a stronger sense of true reputation.

Based on all of the negative and positive comments I read I am going to list references and answers to the most common home security complaints we analyzed. I will do this in the next post entitled frequently asked questions when buying home alarms.

First, let me tell you I have narrowed it down to the top four home security systems providers.

Top 4 Home and Big Business Home Alarm Protection Companies

• ADT Customers FAQ
  
• Broadview Security FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
  
• Alarmforce Questions & Answers
  
• VOXCOM Customer FAQs
  

On these web pages many questions are answered as they pertain to every single home security complaint we analyzed online. The one common grievance of all that stands out in my mind was inability to get out of the contract. You will need to read any contract you sign whether it’s a car, house, or any other deal you are asked to sign off on by way of contract. Please read the fine print. If you don’t have time, ask a lawyer to do it for you. We simply must realize when we sign a contract we are bound by our signature. Use the links above to answer all questions you have including the terms of each contract.

How Much Do Home Alarm Systems Cost?

The least expensive way to arm your home with security is to do it yourself. If that is the option you want to go with I recommend using wireless security complete do it yourself home alarm kits are available anywhere from $140.00 to $700.00 depending on the basic components you require. If you are looking to spend around $300.00 the components may include

-          motion detector for pet movement immunity

-          transforming device

-          Jack for telephone and cord

-          Contacts for doors and windows

-          Key tab

-          Lcd keypad display

-          Two way panel at

-          Optional monthly monitoring

If you’re like me and can’t be bothered with the installation and monitoring than a home Alarm Company is your best solution. I have done a price comparison includes prices on live two way voice response, down payment, installation fees, monthly monitoring fees and warranty periods.

Here’s my home alarm company price comparison to help make your choice easier.

What If I am Renting the House?

Sometimes when you rent there is even more at stake, especially in business. Whether it’s business or home you will certainly have property that is valuable to you. How valuable is it? If you are renter and require security protection it may also be necessary to get the landlord’s agreement. The assets of the security system are generally secured to the building owner and not renter.

What Kind of a Contract do I Have to Sign?

Since most of the complaints about a home security systems stemmed from contract obligations I strongly urge you to read the contract. Each alarm company has a different contract with different terms. The areas in particular that you want to concern yourself with are length of contract, what happens in the event of a move, is contract easily transferred to new homeowners and equipment maintenance agreement. There is a lot more to the fine print but I think those are the key points based on the home security company complaints we processed.

My home has been burglarized more than once, how can I protect myself better?

Try to figure out where your weaknesses are. Are you living in a high crime area? Do you flaunt your assets to the public? Take a look at my fifteen point home protection checklist for making your family and property more secure.

Can I Also Have A Security System For My Business?

Yes you can! If you approach the alarm companies on this page they will negotiate a special deal for you if you bundle your residential and business security solution with one company. It’s a win – win situation! Adding protection to your home and business is a great piece of mind to have.

After I Sign The Contract What Happens If I Move?

If you visit the complaint boards are forums you’ll know this is a hot topic. It’s a good question to ask your home alarm solution provider before you sign off. If you are 100% certain you will not be moving in the near future this will not be a problem. Out of the main for home security companies that contract timelines range anywhere from three to six years.

Are evil minded people able to read the code for my automatic garage door opener?

It is highly unlikely this would ever happen. If it did it would require specialized equipment that would need to be located very close to you the moment you press your remote garage door opener. Automatic garage door openers made today have a built in feature to scramble the radio frequency to protect you from these potential security risks.

What options do I need to include in my home alarm system?

The ultimate goal is achieving optimized protection for your properties. The key components of a home safety and security system include…

-          A key pad

-          A control panel

-          Motion detectors

-          Broken glass detector

-          Window and door contacts

-          Home or business alarm Monitoring

-          Heat and smoke detectors

-          Carbon monoxide detectors

What Are The Best Ways To Deter Robbery?

There are many quick deterrents that you can use that work fantastically. And alarm system is only one piece of the puzzle. They do not completely stop robberies from happening but they’re on the top of my list for vandalism and robbery prevention. Visit my web page on fifteen surefire ways to increase home safety and security.

I think you’ll find yourself sleeping a little better at night using the tips in this article to combat your decision making battle in choosing the right alarm company.  Why not take some of the stress off yourself from dealing with the important choice of  home alarm security. Based on the research we conduct we will constantly update the Frequently Asked Questions on this page.

Of course the price you pay is going to play a role in your final decision making. What you are trying to determine is what home security system has the best value for you and your family.  What is within the prices you are quoted? Every smart consumer wants to hold an apple in each hand and draw a fair comparison.  What we sometimes learn is the cheapest price is not always the best option. If I said to you I would sell you a basket of oranges for $10.00 but if you pay an extra $1.00 I’ll give you a second one free, what would you say? Even though my price is $1.00 higher than my competitor I am offering you double the product.

Home-Security Providers Price Comparison Chart

Keyword researched home-security

I actually began my research with the largest home security provider in North America (ADT). They were in the number one position on Google.  I liked the look and feel of the web site as soon as I landed on it.

After searching around the site I wasn’t able to find clear explanation of ADT home-security pricing packages. The banner above reads $1.00 a day, yet after a bit of digging I learned the monthly rate is $42.99. Additionally, there is a $249.00 extra charge for Two-Way voice communication. This is an option I simply would not do without when it comes to home or business alarm security. I tried a couple of other related searches and ended up finding the information I needed to compile an accurate price comparison of the main players in home security online.

Here’s the Price Comparison Facts

As of May 17, 2010

More on Voxcom

Out of the other three companies Voxcom is the smallest home security provider. Their market share is much smaller but they do have some specialized equipment that the others do not.

This is the Voxcom interactive projector. Although it does not directly relate to security- it is quite an amazing piece of technology. What this technology does is provide a touch screen on any surface. Once the image is projected onto a surface you can interact with the images by touching them. This is an extremely handy presentation tool because it serves two purposes; 1)  as a projector 2) an interactive whiteboard.

Pretty cool stuff!

More on AlarmForce

From a price standpoint AlarmForce appears to be leading the way. They are the most dominant player when it comes to live Two-Way voice communication. Their CEO, Joel Matlin is actively involved with public relations and advertising. In any of the television or radio advertising you will see Joel is the primary spokesperson for the AlarmForce product. In fact, his unique and pleasant demeanor has sparked comedy remakes in YouTube versions.

Alarm Squad (comedy short, TV version)

More on Brinks

Brinks are also known as Broadview Security. They rovide home security systems and transportation with cash logistics. Over the last one year it seems the brinks market share has decreased. This is based on a number of tests I conducted comparing them to ADT. One of the tests included using a web site which allows you to observe the volume of traffic that has been visiting websites. Here’s the comparison between Brinks and ADT.

You can see that both ADT and brinks have dropped in volume of unique visitors. Brinks have endured the highest decrease in web site visitors. Over the last year I have noticed a significant increase in home Security- complaints directed at this company (Broadview Security). Although there are several complaints against this company my experience has been very good with them, especially with custom installations.

More on ADT

ATT is the largest home security provider in North America. They also have a large affiliate network of businesses that resell their security systems. The brink said some includes components such as high decibel alarm siren, backup batteries source, three points of protection, remote keychain access, motion detectors for interior with infrared vision, and a digital keypad. The hardware and system works efficiently but I have heard many complaints about customer satisfaction and contract issues. This system does not include live voice communication but as offer a pretty sound degree of home protection.

Here is a Cool ADT Product

Positioner Manual Rotation Stage ADT-80

The Conclusion

If you’re looking for a diverse range of security products I found that ADT and Brinks have the widest range of offerings. I’ve shown you a couple of examples above but if you really want to look at what other Security- related products are offered by these companies I recommend you visit their website. You may be somebody that makes your decisions solely on price alone. If that describes you, the AlarmForce product is the best price. They also offer other products such as Alarmcare. This alarm Security company seems to be the most focused company on building alarm Security and have the highest Better Business Bureau Rating.

Hopefully I’ve helped give you the legs you need to walk forward into an educated purchase. It’s not easy sorting through all of the information you find on the Internet for what matters to you the most. Once you do find the information you need you’ve got to make the final decision and that is not always done based on price alone.

Famous Quote

By Russell Brown May, 2010

Comparing ADT, Brinks, AlarmForce, Voxcom & Vision

When is the last time you had one of those sleepless nights? You’ve got a really busy day tomorrow and went to bed early to rise and shine early. The problem is you have heard strange noises outside of your home and fear for your family safety. You have already called the police; they have checked your neighborhood and assure you it is safe. After the police leave you continue to hear the same noises. The thought crosses your mind that you are separated only by inferior locks on your doors. “What can I do to improve my feeling of safety at home?”

I thought I would take a little time on this post filling in some of the blanks that I know many of my previous customers had when deciding on a home security system. Whether you are a celebrity, government official, or happy family, feeling safe and secure in your own home is the most comforting feeling. During my days working as an insurance adjuster for vandalism, home break-ins, and business intrusions I have seen my share of good and bad security systems. I’m going to begin with my research conducted on the Internet. This research will help you form an educated opinion on the most suitable home alarm company for you. Having a distinct advantage of already knowing the home-security business I was able to quickly narrow it down to the most popular home alarm protection companies quickly. In my experience here are the five most common security alarm systems I have seen in action throughout the U.S. and Canada.

• ADT Home Security
• AlarmForce Business And Residential Security
• Voxcom Home Security Systems
• Brinks Home Security (Broadview)
• Vision Home Security System

To be honest with you I have not done a lot of work with the Vision home security systems, they are the newest kid on the block. The other ones I have plenty of exposure and experience with. Based on my experience and research I have done let me share my findings with you. I am going to list the company’s below the level of market share along with my opinion and collected research. At the end of each review section I will leave my summary and an opportunity for you to agree or disagree. You can also add comments if you wish. Before any of that can happen I want to lay out the facts backed up with as much data as possible. I have always been schooled to let the data speak first before I form an opinion (or should I say suspicion).

Home Alarm Complaints Fact Gathering Report 2010

ADT Security Services

Name: A D T Security Services Inc | Phone: (503) 469-7100 | Address: 2815 SW 153rd Dr Beaverton, OR 97006-5101 | Website: www.adt.com

BBB RATING: A D T Security Services Inc has been a BBB Accredited business since May 1975. This means it supports BBB’s services to the public and meets our BBB Accreditation standards.

Brinks Home Security (Broadview)

Name: Brinks Custom Homes, Inc. | Phone: (734) 755-5002 | Fax: (734) 529-7859 | Address: 124 Carney Dr. Dundee, MI 48131 | Website: www.brinkscustomhomes.com

BBB RATING: Brinks Custom Homes, Inc. has been a BBB Accredited business since December 2009. This means it supports BBB’s services to the public and meets our BBB Accreditation standards.

Alarmforce Home & Business Alarm Security

Name: AlarmForce | Phone: (800) 267-2001 | Fax: (416) 445-9381 | Address: 675 Garyray Dr North York, ON M9L 1R2 | Website: www.alarmforce.com

BBB RATING: Based on BBB files, this business has a BBB Rating of A+ on a scale from A+ to F.

Voxcom Home Security Systems

Name: Reliance Protectron Security Services | Phone: (403) 207-3733 | Fax: (403) 252-0421 | Address: 8, 6020 – 1A Street SW Calgary, AB T2H 0G3 | Website: http://www.voxcom.com

BBB RATING: Based on BBB files, this business has a BBB Rating of C on a scale from A+ to F. Reasons for this rating include: * 18 complaints filed against business.

Vision Home Security Systems

Name: Vision Security, LLC | Phone: (801) 812-3474 | Address: 508 West 800 North Orem, UT 84057 | Website: www.visionhomesecurity.com

BBB RATING: Based on BBB files, Vision Security, LLC has a BBB Rating of C- on a scale from A+ to F. Reasons for this rating includes: Length of time business has been operating. 38 complaints filed against business.

Better Business Bureau Home Security Complaint Assessment

The winners are (In order)

1. Alarmforce Business and Residential Security- has a BBB Rating of A+ on a scale from A+ to F.
2. ADT Home Security- has been a BBB Accredited business since May 1975.
3. Brinks Home Security (Broadview) – has been a BBB Accredited business since December 2009.
4. Voxcom Home Security Systems- has a BBB Rating of C on a scale from A+ to F.
5. Vision Home Security System- has a BBB Rating of C- on a scale from A+ to F. Reasons for this rating includes: Length of time business has been operating. (38 complaints filed against business).

The Winner is AlarmForce

The Better Business Bureau by itself is not enough of an opinion for me. It can provide directional information that hopefully will mesh with some of the other research we will conduct. For now we can make a note that AlarmForce has the best reputation according to BBB. Source

In this article I will not involve any opinion at all! There are resources available on the Internet that you can use to your advantage when selecting a security system that let you sleep well at night. In the next chapter I’m going to get into a little sugar and spice. Yeah I’m going to give my opinion on how we can narrow it down to the most suitable home security system for the property we’re trying to protect.