Home Alarm Systems.........

do you have one? If so why did you get it?

We got ours installed back in February 2006, when we had an attempted break-in. It was something and nothing, but it could have been a lot worse. I was in the house and I happened to be in the living room, and I saw a couple of high school kids walking up the road, they were in uniform, so I knew they were from the local Catholic High School. Never thought much about it, as I figured they were on an early lunch, as they have staggered lunches starting from 9:30am. Next thing I know the door bell rang, and I answer it and its one of the kids looking for another kid. Now this kids name was not a kids name that would live in this house, so I said no and didn't think much more about it.

Later on, I was clearing the driveway's of snow and a police car was going by the houses really slow, so being the nosy person that I am, I wandered over the the police car to see what's up and then the policeman tells me there had been a break-in around the corner and he was just checking to see if there were anymore houses that the doors had been kicked in??? So I am chit-chatting to this police man, and to cut a long story short, I "identified" the kids that had come to my door that morning and they were the ones.

What they do is they ring the door bell, if no one answers they kick down the down and quickly take small electronics, booze and cash. They're in and out in no time. Luckily for me I answered the door. I dread to think what would have happened if I had been in the shower.......there would be a middle-aged naked woman screaming blue bloody murder (excuse my language). They were later charged with I think 50 break-ins, and they live in the area????

So needless to say I insisted on getting an alarm system installed.

We got the ADT system and have been pretty pleased with it. However I must say although I was totally terrified of the whole system, I have got it all down pat. Though last week when I was sick I did set it off. I went to bed through the day so put the alarm on. Got up, and was picking up a message on the answering machine, when I decided to open the patio doors. Forgot I had the alarm on and set it off. So I have to say I was happy to see that it works.

Fast forward to Wednesday night. Dh's pager went off at midnight, so he goes down stairs to call the answering service. In between hands, dd pops by the drop something off in our mail box, on her way home. Sees the light's on and wonders what is wrong as we are never up that late. Lets herself into the house and the alarm goes off.........however it doesn't actually go off it goes beep, beep, beep. So dd turns the alarm off and all is good.

By now I am awake and wander downstairs to see what's what and both me and dh are puzzled why the alarm itself didn't go off. It turns out there is a 60 second delay when its on and when you come in the front door or the garage door. I rang ADT and they told me that. Now I am not sure if I am 100% happy with this situation, as anyone could get in, and they could be out in 60 seconds, and we wouldn't hear a thing until the main alarm goes off??? As once I am asleep I am out for a count, and despite dh telling me he never sleeps (I am rolling my eyes) he also sleeps soundly. Mainly I think because of the alarm.

So what I am asking really is that how your alarm system works?