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Monitored Systems

Monitored systems are subject to a lot of debate. On one hand, many people feel more comfortable with another party watching over the safety of their home; others feel that it has a “big brother” aspect.

A monitored system basically alerts another party if something is happening to your house, burglaries and fires included. Since criminals are becoming savvier to simpler alarm systems, many people have come to rely on trained professionals to keep an extra eye on their security. Private, 24-hour monitoring facilities receive the signal and notify the proper authorities, so response time is extremely fast compared to unmonitored systems. Some of the popular monitoring companies (Brink, ADT) also offer detection against fire and carbon monoxide poisoning. Plus, having a sticker on your window that advertises the security company is enough to deter many criminals.

A monitored system will use the following process.

1. Something sets off the alarm (information on specific detection methods can be found in the “Automated System” portion).

2. A system will wait between 30 and 45 seconds for the homeowner to deactivate it as not to cause false alarms.

3. If there is no deactivation, the alarm will send a signal to the agency over secured lines informing them of a disturbance in the household.

4. Once the company receives the message, one of the trained professionals will call the house to verify the alarm. If they do not receive an answer or the proper password, they will notify the police, at which point, the police will respond.

When deciding on a monitored system, don’t settle on the first one you come across; experts recommend you get at least three quotes before settling (this holds true to people who live in larger cities where burglary is more common). Inquire with the local police department on how long it takes for them to respond to an alarm; many stations will respond within the hour. After deciding on the company you want protecting your home, do some research about them. Most alarm facilities will promote their employee screening process on their Website, but not all. Do not patron a company who doesn’t screen for past convictions and ask if there are any fines for false alarms.