Home Security Doesn’t Have to Cost a Lot

Paul Shotlander

If you live in a low-crime area and do not keep large amounts of jewelry, cash, art or other valuables in your home, paying $25 to $50 a month for monitored security may be more than you need to spend. Also, monitored security systems are not always effec­tive-thieves might get in and out be­fore police or security guards can reach your home in response to the alarm.

Unmonitored home-security devices offer a lower-cost alternative. They will not scare off every intruder, but the good systems will deter many of them, and there are no monthly fees.

    The advantages and drawbacks of each type... 

LIGHTS AND SOUNDS

Motion-activated outdoor flood­lights. Purchase a few of these for as little as $20 apiece at a home-supply or hardware store. Mount them on any side of your home that is not other­wise lit at night. These will scare away most prowlers.

Drawbacks: They might not wake you if you are asleep, and they are not effective during the day. They can be activated by animals or even tree branches blowing in a strong wind.

Wireless indoor motion-detector systems use wall-mounted sensors and bedside monitors to alert you with a beeper or alarm and, in some models, lights. With one version, you can link the monitor to four battery­powered sensors, each of which covers motion over a range of 40 feet. In­stall the sensors in your kitchen, living room, main hallway or wherever in­truders are likely to pass. The door to the basement should be within rangeof one of the sensors.

Drawback: Pets can trigger false alarms. Use pet barriers to keep pets out of areas with sensors at night.. .and turn off the monitor when you get up.

Example: The Household Motion Alert System (with one sensor), $33 at The Home Depot...$30 at www. smarthome.com, plus $20 for each additional sensor or monitor.

DIALERS

Full-fledged wireless security sys­tems come in versions that will dial your cell phone or other numbers you select when motion detectors or door! window sensors are triggered.

These easily installed systems typi­cally include a wall-mounted control panel, a siren and several sensors. Some advanced motion detectors can be pro­grammed to ignore movement below a certain height, so pets do not trig­ger false alarms unless they jump high enough.

Though ineffective as independent units (see next page), these systems' door/window sensors are useful as part of a larger wireless security system.

Expect to spend $100 to $400, de­pending on the number of components included. The systems are available at Web sites, including www.home securitystore.com and www.smart home. com, and at home-supply stores.

Example: Protector Plus Voice Dialer X-I0 Wireless Home Security Alarm System, which includes a 95­decible alarm, a voice-alert dialer that calls up to four phone numbers, a mo­tion sensor, two door/window sensors, plus remote controls and a lamp mod­ule that causes lights to flash on and off when the alarm is triggered. $100 at ww.x10securitysystems.net.

 PICTURE-TAKING ALTERNATIVE

A small security camera that takes digital pictures or records video will not necessarily stop someone from van­dalizing your home, but it will show you-and the police-who was respon­sible. Some models provide infrared night vision, allowing them to record intruders in the dark. Those without infrared will be of limited use at night. If you want to deter criminals rather than catch a culprit, select a camera that is designed to be obvious, not one designed to be covert.

Examples: Swann Bulldog Security Camera comes in a metal casing and has night vision, $84 on Amazon.com. Swann Night Hawk wireless outdoor camera kit includes a video camera with night vision that connects wirelessly to your DVR, VCR or television, $92 on Amazon.com. Swann PC Security Guardian monitoring and recording system links up to four cameras to your PC hard drive and to the Internet, so that you can monitor images remotely and record them. It has motion detec­tion and notifies you by E-mail of any movements. The system, including two cameras, is available this month at Tiger Direct for $299 (800-800-8300, www. tigerdirect.com), or buy the system's Swann PC DVR 4 Net PCl card sepa­rately on Amazon.com for $67 and add up to four cameras.

Fake security cameras are inexpen­sive and mounted outside your home. They can be a crime deterrent, as long as they are not obvious fakes and are easily seen by potential thieves. Example: The SVAT ISC200 Outdoor Imitation Secu­rity Camera, $30 on Amazon.com.

 ALARMS TO AVOID

Independent door and window alarms are inexpensive but not very useful if they are not part of a housewide security system (see above). These small devices mount on the inside of your home's potential entry points and make noise when their magnets sense that the door or window has been opened.

Unfortunately, if they are not wired into a larger security system, they make noise only at the point of entry. Also, experienced thieves know that these alarms can be disabled quickly.

Glass-break alarms. These do not sense burglars who cut through the glass, rather than smashing it. They often miss the sound of a small pane of glass break­ing,and they are prone to false alarms from large trucks rumbling past.