"This house alarmed by..." signs

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grnzbra

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When the alarm company installed my alarm system, they gave me a bunch of stickers for each door and window as well as two signs on sticks to shove in the front and rear lawns. The idea was to send casual thieves on their way to someone elses house.

I didn't install them because my thought is that if they aren't so casual and they know there is an alarm system, they can prepare to defeat that specific system. This way, at least they won't be able to start out by studying company's layouts and immediatly defeat the system. I'd rather they become aware of the alarm when it's already been triggered and they have only a few seconds before the cops are dispatched.

Any thoughts on this?
 
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Hmm, to me an alarm system is more a deterrent than a capture mechanism. If they trip the alarm some damage has already been done (broken glass or forced door). I'd post the signs (did that when I had a retail business too).
 
I'm more concerned about the guns in the safe than I am about a broken window or door. Also, if I didn't love my dog so much, I'd have the vet remove his vocal cords so that he couldn't bark and the first the intruders would know of the dog would be when he sank his teeth into delicate parts of thier anatomy. But I love him too much for that.
 
As an attorney, I recommend against the "Beware of Dog" sign for civil liability purposes. It is far more likely that your dog might nip a guest or passerby than a criminal. In many jurisdictions, the "first bite is free," meaning that the dog's temperment, unless it be one of those "suspect" breeds, was not definitively known. If the first bite is just a nip, you may not be found civilly liable for your dog's actions. However, it has been successfully argued that if you had put up a "Beware of Dog" sign you have provided definitive proof that no matter what you say, there was something about the dog to "beware" of and you could easily lose a case on that ground alone.

"Dog on Duty," or "I love my Rottweiler," or some other less threatening sign is generally the better bet if you feel the need to announce the canine's presence to all comers.

And do remember that this advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.
 
Prerequisite

You guys are assuming something...that the perps know how to read.
...and if they read, that they read English.

In the 80's, we moved into a pretty nice neighborhood (for about 6 square blocks. It was primarily older citizens and a few miles away it was middle class families. About a long block away, there is a high school.
I used to live in some pretty bad neighborhoods during my high school days so I try to secure my places.

But about the first year of being here, we had about 8 attempts on breaking into our house. We have window and door alarms and motion detector alarms as back up.
Anway, after the first time, we put the signs up in English. (stickers on the windows) After the third attempt, I put up signs in Spanish. The attempts kept on happening...(Mostly just a break the window...and that's it)
Finally, my coworker suggested that I put some signs up in Vietnamese. He wrote some signs up for me....the attempts stopped.
I actually thought some representatives from the local glass company was trying to drum up business.

So signs are good, but better hope the perp knows how to read?
 
I took down my beware of dog signs because of similar strong recommendations of some lawyer family members.


I also would not hang thier advertisments in my windows or yard, unless I were to get a generous discount. I think the postings are a feel good thing for some people and that is another reason for why they are offered.
 
I would post the alarm signs, for deterrent value. Remember the old joke, "I don't have to outrun the bear, I only have to outrun you?" You don't have to have the "hardest target" in the neighborhood. You just have to be harder to hit than the other targets.

The signs mean that, unless the burlgar REALLY wants your place, he'll hit some other place that doens't have an alarm system. Or a dog.

I see no need for a dog sign. If anybody comes snooping when they shouldn't the dog will let them know she's there ;) .
 
I have the alarm stickers on all of my windows and used to have the sign in yard until it faded too much. Several other houses in the neighborhood have alarm company signs in their yards. I look at it as a deterent. If they break in the house, the system will get them, but I'd prefer not having to replace any windows or other damage that could be avoided by having them look for an easier target.

I also know some folks that don't have an alarm system, but have put fake stickers on their windows. Whatever works.
 
I always thought these signs were a notice to the burglar... "hey, cut the phone lines before you break in!" Although a lot of alarm systems use cellular now, most still tie to the landline...
 
If you are afraid of them researching the security alarm vulnerabilies and work arounds for your particular alarm system, just find stickers and signs from another alarm company and put those up and then they'll really be thrown off if they decide to break in and bypass the system.

x
 
"Any thoughts on this?"

The mere sight of alarm company stickers, whether or not you actually employ their services, act as deterents for most would be burglars in most cases.
 
Unfortunately, experienced and 'dunt care' thieves are not generally deterred.

Like locks alarm systems are meant to keep the honest people out and to act as a hurdle the burglar has to content with that might make them not want to bother.

Locks and alarms systems are a minor hurdle for the professional burglars if they truly want in your home and your goods. A good percentage of nationwide burglars are performed on alarmed or protected premises; be it personal or commercial property. To them an alarmed or protected piece of property has something that has to be protected......mmmmmmmmm.

They will generally be in your home just long enough to grab and run and long before any law enforcement response is made. If they do their homework beforehand likely they have cell phoned in at least one fake 911 to see what kind of response time law enforcement has.

One of the best 'alarm' systems is watchful neighbors if you have any and if you know them well enough that they would care about your property.

I'm not saying alarm systems are not useful and, in many cases, they will lower your homeowners insurance premiums. I just know that if someone really wants your stuff they'll do their best to try and get it no matter what.

If you ever have the chance to make acquintance with professional thieves they'll tell you going to jail is just an occupational hazard and the gang and druggie type of thieves don't care either. They just need money and stuff to sell and pawn for money.

If the guns, and possibly other valuables, are in a safe or safes, the house is properly locked, large brush is not grown around lower edges of windows, lights are either left on at night or on timers so they periodically come on and off to give the appearance of being occupied, etc. then you are basically doing all you can.

If an alarm is installed it might scare someone away. You might get a law enforcement response. They might even catch the perp(s).

I just don't put much trust in alarm systems. That's just me, though and it's not said to convince anyone else against them.

But it seems to me that if you invest hundreds, possibly thousands, in an alarm system and then pay a monitoring company to forward any suspicious entry only to find someone entered and took something anyway seems to me a waste of money.
 
I would (and have) made very strong suggestions AGAINST such signs as, "Beware of Owner." Or, "Insured by Smith and Wesson." Get rid of all of these types of signs. Not just on your house, but on your car, truck, etc. You don't want these things coming back to haunt you later on in a court trial.
 
I don't do signs...

Twice on a business,and once on a residence the "alarm"stickers were used as targets for brick-bats. Testing the system and response time. Old and favorite trick. These were legit, I didn't want them...very probable I wouldn't have been tested at the residence.

Local "Mart" actually sold various "alarm company" signs once upon a time - boy that "really" fooled the BGs.

The Fire Dept gave away free "Save My Pet" stickers , these I did use...

Once while I lived in a bedroom community during a Concerned Citizens meeting where a Neighborood watch was being considered...I spoke my mind. Mainly for the 'unusal visitors" in the group that were not my neighbors. LEO buddy kinda ducked...

"Leaving the Garage door wide open is an open invitation to a BG to inventory before theft. I don't know if that falls under "baiting" so my advice to BGs would to not use a firearm in the commisson of a crime and threaten the homeowner...that I know is legal...that 'in fear of my life dealie'".

"Now for you "non-neighborhood" visitors, got a tip for ya, lots of folks were raised to be aware and be responsible. You don't see any Wally World fake alarm company signs,in this neighborhood, you don't know if someone is home when the garage door is down and the lights and sounds are happening. I personally don't want the silly neighborhood hood watch signs and stickers. What I do recommend is those that are not responsible become so in our neighborhood. You visitors just need to move along, nothing to see hear...or perhaps what you don't see may be the problem".

We didn't do the neighborhood watch deaile, we did not have any problems for the rest of the years I lived there...heck folks were kinda leary just showing up for a garage sale...word was out, loud and clear.

We watched each other's backs and property, helped the eldery get more secure locks , motion detectors...many folks had CCW which "might" be a problem with a NW program...hence the reason I /we didn't want, I believe when the LEO buddy made that little tidbit known, it made an impression as well.

Save a Pet made sense in case of fire...sent the message to "vistors" as well...that "not ever being sure about the neighborhood and the folks" sure did work tho.

LEO buddy lived around the corner...
 
"This Home Protected By The Second Amendment"


And just below that, a silouette target with a nice tight cluster of .45ACP bullet holes through the chest.
 
grnzbra,

I have an alarm system and my house was broken into ! Here is what happened (best as I can tell): The bg's knew house was alramed by the stickers all over and the siren which was mounted on the outside of the garage. 1st they cut the phone line, 2nd they smashed the siren, 3rd the broke in the house.

I would say do not use stickers/signs, put outside siren out of reach and out of sigth and like my new system have a cell phone backup attached (and well hidden in the house) to the alarm system.

Actually I had the new outside siren box set up with a tamper switch, so now they can cut the phone line, but when they smash the siren box the cell phone will call in in before they even get to breaking into the house.

Good luck
 
Brat7748

Exactly my point!

My systems were hi tech for the day. We had a "false system", meaning one for the "public perception" [feel good factor]. The real deal was infrared, heat sensors,...that type of dealie.

Only problem was all this stuff just keeps an honest man honest. Some the the professionals just traveled about. Then the option of just kidnap the fella and to heck with all this cutting phone line crap goes right out the window. This was my concern - the kidnap part.

So we had battery back up with a battery backup a wireless set up to another - umm- secure set up, hid the security stuff and no indication we had anything advertised.

Except for Fireperson to save the pets.

Even with an alarm set up my concerns was leaving my residence and re-entering. I had 'that experience" myself. Another friend did too. He came home to find the wife and kids at gunpoint. Yep he turned off the safe alarm, did not send the false code to alarm company , and the cash and jewelry was handed over.

He and the Mrs now CCW...even just around the house they carry. Alarm system just gives a discount on insurance and keeps the honest folks at bay.
 
sm,

You are right, no alarm system can cover ALL possible bg's tactics. BUT it can stop or at least slow down some of them (and the dumb bg's do sometimes get caugth this way) it is just one more tool in the old home defense, home safety tool box. I carry around the house all the time, a handgun is another tool from the same tool box!
 
One of my neighbors used to have a big NRA sticker on the front door (one on the car too). I always wondered if that would attract thugs looking to score some guns.
 
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