The rapidly growing use of wireless digital communication networks to transmit alarm signals can now be controlled through a laptop computer, PDA or even a cell phone.
Home Technology
Playing It Safe
While on vacation, you can see for yourself if you left the garage door open.
BY
Bridget Heos
PHOTOGRAPHY
courtesy of Honeywell Security

I’m 1,000 miles from home and I know I forgot to do something. That fear might be familiar, but new home security systems allow you to allay your worries by viewing parts of your home remotely over the Internet. If you forget to turn down the thermostat or set the timer for the lights, you can take care of that, too, with the click of a button.

Perry Atha, owner of Atronic Alarms, says this innovation also allows people to check on their kids, elderly parents and pets. It even sends an e-mail when the security system is disarmed, signaling that the children are home from school.

Keith Axe, owner of Integrated Electronics, a company that installs home automation control systems, which can include security, says this option is typically used by people who own a second home because they’re not always there to protect it.

Ann Lindstrom, spokesperson for ADT Security Systems, adds that for people with a vacation home near water, it gives them peace of mind during hurricane season or, if your second home is closer to home, during flood and tornado warnings. The company, which recently launched the Safewatch Videoview package, hopes that it’s also popular with busy professionals and parents.

From her desk at work, for instance, a woman can see when the pool repairman arrives or her son gets home from school.

Prices vary by company and job. The ADT system costs $9.99 extra per month. Cameras cost $699-$1,699, depending on the number of cameras.

Lucy, I’m home
Perhaps a more popular option is a  camera that allows you to see who’s at the door on your TV. Perry says people might want to keep an eye on things while they’re cooking dinner, and from the kitchen TV, they can watch for their kids coming home from practice.

“It’s not so much for security as convenience,” he notes.

Some people put cameras in playrooms or poolside. Large, gated properties often have one at the entrance, as well. One of Atronic Alarms’ clients wanted more than 16 cameras. Most people, however, choose one to four. A single camera costs under $400.

 This can be part of a larger home automation control system in your house. Keith says that from one touch panel, you can control your security system, lighting, heating and cooling, audio video, gate and pool. These are six-figure jobs, he notes.
   
Mom, I accidentally set off the alarm again
You might find out your kids are home from school when they accidentally set off the alarm. The code, the timer, the buttons — they can be confusing for a small fry. (Or maybe your kid has no problem figuring out the alarm, but you do.)

An option for you is Safewatch EZ, which allows you to arm your alarm with the turn of a deadbolt key. It costs $99.

Security on a tight budget
For a good old-fashioned alarm system — other than your brave and loyal dog, I mean — you can spend less than $349 for the installation and $35 per month, Ann says. That includes door and window contacts.

Many people choose to include cellular backup (in case the phone line is cut), carbon monoxide monitoring and smoke alarms.

Of course, an alarm is not a substitute for playing it safe. Ann says that many burglaries occur when the weather is nice and homeowners leave open a window or door.
“Most crimes are crimes of opportunity,” Ann says. “They might not break in, but if they see your garage door open, they might go in and take something.”

Other safety tips
1. Use a slab of wood to ensure that even unlocked sliding glass doors cannot be opened from the outside.
2. Display your security system decal, as nine out of 10 convicted burglars say they avoid homes that have alarms.
3. Be sure your alarm system is connected to the police and a central station.
4. Keep bushes and trees around your house trimmed.
5. Don’t leave valuables in sight through windows.
6. Bolt the lower and upper half of your windows together. Apply window film to make your glass shatter proof.
7. Make sure your doors are hinged on the inside, not outside of the home.
8. When you’re out of town, set your lights on a timer, have someone pickup your mail and newspapers and mow your lawn.
Sources: adt.com and http://dsc.discovery.com (tips from the TV Show “It Takes a Thief")