[Twinkletoes]

Well, Happy Valentines Day to me!

DH left his alarm on "snooze" this morning. So I was already awake when I heard him "arm" our new security system (it talks out loud to you). Only he put it on "away" instead of "stay".

You put it on Stay when there's still people in the house, so the motion detector doesn't report your movement. Well, it was his first time and I guess he figured because HE was Away, that was good enough!

So I walked past the motion detector (still not used to it) and changed the setting. Back in my bedroom I could hear it talking, but couldn't get to it fast enough to hear what it said (pre-recorded stuff).

And so the phone rang at 6:00 a.m.! I had to give the lady my Password so she didn't send the cops!

I haven't really felt insecure living here for 2 years, but our house is on the outskirts of town. If someone wanted to burglarize our place, its unlikely a neighbor would witness and report it. And we're bad to leave our doors unlocked unless we're gone for more than a day.

In the future when I get a Smart Phone, I'll be able to check the temperature and status from wherever. $50 a month for peace of mind. Its worth it to me.

Take the poll: how do you feel about house security?

[Dejibo]

I have had security systems for a long time now, and have become comfy with the knowledge that at a button push I can have help. or if I am not home and the place goes up in flames, I can summon help without having to be there. As far as when I am home, the DH and I are both experienced marksmen, and lets just say an intruder wouldnt get far.

I love the new systems they have that can be controlled remotely. You gotta love technology.

[SallyC]

I have watchful neighbors and I live right behind the Government center and police station.

[Earl]

I live in a good neighborhood, although there is no such thing as a crime free neighborhood, I have security doors, and motion lights, I have very good neighbors who watch out for each other, i have security screens, an alarm that was here when I bought the house, that's not monitored anymore, AND I am armed when I am at home, and I am armed when I go out, when i sleep it is in the bed side stand.

If someone assaults me or robs me, it will end badly for them.

[Erin524]

We used to have a great security system, all I had to do was feed it kibble, take it for walks and give it tummy rubs. It's name was TinyMonsters.

Then he died, so we got an electronic security system. I still prefer my old security system. Never felt scared with 150 pounds of drooling, stinky fur next to me.

Mostly because if anyone tried to do anything to me, Tiny was an INSTANT protector. Now, if something happens, I have to wait anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes for help to get here. (or longer)

I miss my four-legged Wookiee.

[mochagirl13]

I have an alarm system that provides a piece of mind. A few months after I moved in, I was burglarized. Somehow my garage door did the looks like it is closing and came back up. This idiot across the street and his friends decided to enter my house through the garage. The police suck and no one saw who did it. They had the nerve to ask me if I was single. Needless to say I replaced everything they stole immediately except my sense of security. That took a little longer but needless to say the culprit and his mother no longer live near me. As for my next door neighbor who saw that my garage door was open and did nothing, lost his house. Karma is a you know what. I complained to the mayor about the police and you know when the economy took a turn for the worst, the police dept. had some cut backs and the sheriff was not reelected. Now if only we could get a better mayor.

I hate paying ADT but I feel better knowing that my alarm is on and when I am not home I am somewhat protected.

[tkrik]

First of all, I have watchful neighbors who are home all day (for the most part). Of the 16 houses on this street (8 on each side), over half of us are home during the day. We all look out for each other and call/go over when we notice something suspicious.

Four-legged friends are always helpful. They are a great alarm as they will warn you of anyone approaching the house, the neighbors' houses, the street behind us and the street in front of us, etc.

There is always someone around whether it be DBF, DDs, family, friends, etc.

I used to live in a real poor area of town. I actually felt safer there as common sense dictates that there is really nothing to steal from the poor as we don't have it.

[nemsmom]

Well... I have a St Bernard/German Shepard who will not let strange people into the house, but is otherwise the biggest baby you will ever see. I live in a small town and the neighbors watch out for each other.

I live a half a block from the chief of police, my hubby is definitely armed and will do anything to protect his family.

All of that being said... My husband was away at fire class about a year ago and my Mom was borrowing my van. There was no vehicle in the driveway. It was after dark and my kids were in bed asleep. The dog was somewhere outside (I think actually in the neighbors house). I heard the front swing hit the house and thought it was the dog. I opened the door and called her, but she was nowhere near, I would know if she was because her collar jingles. The swing was moving like someone bumped it, not like the wind blew it.

Well I figured it was just me being paranoid. Sat back down and watched t.v. until my son (3 at the time) let loose a blood curdling scream. I ran into his room he was sitting up on his bed. He kept saying, "outside scared me. Flashlight my bed". Put together with the front door thing I locked all my windows (which were unlocked before) and called my Mom, who called a good friend of ours (reserve police officer) he got his grown son and his tazer. So I had my Dad and two other men out walking the perimeter of my house along with the two other buildings on our property.

After our friends left and I was talking to my Mom was when I realized my son said flashlight my bed. We went and looked at his window and the screen was bent with scratch marks on the window frame. That was when I finally called the police. It had taken quite a while for everything to sink in for me.

Whoever it was definitely saw me. You can't get to my swing without seeing my couch and I was sitting there watching tv.

The officer was very nice. My house is actually in the county coverage but not the city. He told me that if I heard anything call 911 and he would have a city officer respond as well because they could get here quicker than he could.

We were never able to find who did it and they didn't steal anything but it is very discomforting. Needless to say, when my hubby is out of town I have a very hard time sleeping. My son has had nightmares since then and is terrified of his window at night.

But we now have a neighbor at the end and to the side of our driveway. He works with my husband and was aware of the situation last winter. Also as a result of it our neighbors keep a closer eye on me when my hubby is gone.

[SallyC]

WOW Nemsmom....glad nothing happened..

[Blessings2You]

Along with some other security measures, I like to leave a light or two on, so I can see who I'm shooting at.