Let me start off by saying that my home has been robbed. I was at work and got a call from my wife asking me if I had taken the VCR to be repaired. I knew right away that we had been robbed. That was the last time as we have since had a home security system installed.

What I didn't know is, there are different types of security systems and not all security systems are created equally.

Let me start with the type that I have personally. Mine is a monitoring system which is attached to an alarm built into your doors and windows. The more areas in your house you have the alarms installed in, the more expensive the installation, unless the monitoring company has a special offer. In our case we got free installation of alarms on 2 doors and 1 window. Anything beyond that we had to pay for. Fortunately we felt that that was all we needed so we went with it.

The way the system works is very simple. You have an alarm control box which they install by your front door or wherever you designate then to install it. You are then instructed to program a code into the alarm. This is to do 2 things. First, to actually be able to set the alarm. Second to be able to turn off the alarm when entering the house. The alarm goes off based on one of two things, whichever it detects first. The first is the actual opening of the door or window. The second, is a motion sensor installed above the box which sets off the alarm if it detects motion in the house. That is in case somebody bypasses the trigger on the doors and windows. The motion sensor is a backup. The way the alarm detects if the door is open is because a device is installed inside your door. Once connection is broken with the panel across from the door the alarm goes off. If entering the house normally with a key you have 60 seconds to enter the bypass code before the alarm goes into its second stage and blasts out a sound that could deafen the people across the street. At this time an alarm also goes out to the monitoring company who call you up on the phone. If they get no answer or the person who answers does not know the security password, which you give to the company upon signing up, they send the police over.

That is pretty much the way an indoor monitoring alarm system works.

Now, you can get one of these alarms to install yourself and it will go off if someone enters the house who doesn't know the bypass code but without a monitoring service it's just a loud noise and may or may not be enough to scare off the intruder. Considering monitoring is relatively cheap, it doesn't make sense not to get a monitoring service.

But security systems don't end there. There are also outdoor security systems where if an intruder approaches the grounds, flood lights will first come on and then upon passing a certain point without entering in a code into the outdoor device, an alarm will go off before the intruder even enters the house. Needless to say, these systems are much more expensive.

Then of course you have security monitoring systems, closed circuit TV, and wireless intercom systems. While these can be used for your home, especially if you have a mansion, they are mostly used for businesses.

Let's not forget smoke and fire sensors that, when set off by smoke or fire, will also send a signal to the monitoring service who then calls the fire department.

In addition to all of that, there are also the common sense things you can do yourself like get solid wood or metal doors with strong deadbolt locks. Windows can be secured with key locks. Double hung windows can be secured by nailing the top and bottom together. You might also want to consider iron grates or grilles for your windows.

Other things you can do to secure your home is place signs on your lawn indicating that your home is protected by such and such a service or device. Also a beware of dog sign, whether you have one or not, can't hurt.

Yes, there are many ways to protect your home. You don't have to be a victim like I was.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Home Security