Had a bad time last week , my house was broken in, lost small items and small electronic stuff. All in still lost around 10 - 15k of items. I was lucky that they did not touch all my hifi stuff. Thank God for that. I am looking into fixing an alarm system for my families safety first and then hopefuly it would deter a break in again. Need some recomendations from fellow hifiers on home security alarm systems. I was looking at ADT not sure how much it costs and if there are any other companies out there. Any one know any info on this?

This post has been edited by gsdev: Jan 24 2010, 07:16 PM

Sorry to hear abt that..

How they manage to go in?

First get insurance for your stuff, so if it goes missing again, can claim back...some insurance can cover lightning strikes as well. I think you can get a basic package from RM100 a year

This post has been edited by azbro: Dec 7 2009, 09:46 PM

all my stuff are cover by insurance.

They cut their way in via the grills and sliding door. Problem is both my neighbours were not in also at the time.

basic package insurance?, from which company?, will look into it. Anyone have taken insurance, please share your thoughts and experience...

sama sama share sorrow.... sorry for the break-in

check with your general insurance agents, they will be able to advise approprietly:D

Sorry to hear that, gsdev. By the way, there are quite a lot of companies that do home alarm system on the market. Basic stuff should include some knock sensors, and some even come with CCTV. The 1st thing I did before I move into my new home few months ago was to install an alarm system 1st. Cost me only RM2k+. On top of that, I also have a steel telescopic baton at my bed side...should be enough to break some skulls if the alarm mulfunction.

Thank you all. Checking for alarms systems and wll extend my extisting fire insurance to belongins too. Existing insurance is house owner policy from Uni Asia.

This post has been edited by gsdev: Dec 7 2009, 11:42 PM

Sorry to hear abt that, Dev.

You may try to PM hackwire as he is into home security biz. AFAIK, he has done a lot of houses in Putra Heights.

owhh...Sorry to hear abt that..

sorry to hear that.

just wondering, b4 the brake-in, your house got no alarm system or the existing alarm system not functioning.

I can sympathize with you GSdev. I had my house broken into twice! And 2 projectors got stolen because of that. I have since insured my stuff with Kurnia and move to a new gated community and install an alarm system. Generally alarm system all about the same. Just get one with good service.

Sorry to hear that man...

can we get an insurance for old stuff (e.g: 2 y.o. speakers, 3 y.o. LCD TV...etc.)?

gsdev stays in putra heights ? which section? i am staying there too...

and sorry to hear that too.

This post has been edited by oimeng: Dec 8 2009, 11:34 AM

Sorry to hear that man. Look at the bright side, at least no one was at home and got threatened/hurt in the incident. Quite a number of incidents come year end/festive seasons etc

Sorry to hear that. My neighbour house was broken into though he install a alarm system.
The intruder know how to dismantle the alarm system so finally he put in a CCTV system.
So far, it been peaceful and their CCTV is also monitoring my car porch.
So no complaint for me

Try to get one together with CCTV to deter those intruders ....

thanks htkaki. yeah i do proper security solution for houses and commercial property. We are a bit different from other company because we charge a minimal fee of RM 50 for evaluation and consultancy services at your premise. this will be waive if u buy the product from us.

burglary is now so common already . just a piece of advise, grill is just giving alot of people sense of false security. there is one thing u need to consider as well , your auto gate and what locking system u implement. click on my signature to see my other products i have.

Best is install alarm and CCTV. Gated communities is sometimes depends on the guard, I been to a few with bangla, indo and Cambodian. You think you can trust them? It is a huge business now. 1 house rm50, 100 house rm5000, and so on....

Putra Heights residence also.. Well I dont know why, seems like alot of houses in our area got broken into. Now holiday season, so just be extra careful.

http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?act=ST&f=220&t=1218423

Check out this link ADT authorized installer. His office is in Aman Suria, near my office oso. PM or call him to quote.

For Putra Heights residence eye's only.. Please be very careful with this tactic from bogus A/C installer / service ppl. They will pretend to service ur A/C, if they think they can overcome u they will rob you! The best is to ignore the pamphlets or those namecards u see at ur gate.

This post has been edited by Jenn77: Dec 9 2009, 01:22 PM

Thanks guys for your replies. In the process of installing an Alarm system and repairing my grills. Like hackwire said grills are just a small deterrent. They can cut the grills, this have happend many times to others and now to me too.

This post has been edited by gsdev: Dec 9 2009, 02:32 PM

if u ever wonder why those american or even in japan and korea have no grill in their house and mostly are just alarm , is it because they are so safe and they don't need at all? No! the reason is because the experts already knew what is possible if the person really want to intrude the house. Because grills are no use at all if they really want to come in and get to you. even window grills can be taken down and pull away with a very useful technique . If those who can install the grill and lock for you , they also know how to dismantle it for u. If you have watch the movie "Panic Room" by Jodie Foster, you will pretty understood the whole concept of burglary. Forest Whitaker was the culprit and he's the one who install the Panic Room.

I try to warned many of my client to install what is necessary and not to cut cost in security if they want to sleep soundly at night and also to protect their asset. Don't be conned by many installers cheap package because every house design is different and prices will escalate once they see your house. The best option is ADT but after few years once the place have better security guard they will give up . If your area is new and RA is fresh , ADT is a good option if nobody is at home all the while in the day time. Self operation Alarm or stand alone alarm is also good provided you have security guard in place, neighbour watch and cctv surveilance.

This post has been edited by hackwire: Dec 10 2009, 10:16 AM

Guys, Thanks for your suggestions before. I need a new one from you guys.

I have a new Alarm System but unfortunately within one month last friday after the big thunder storm the alarm PCB got fried by lightning strike via the phone line.

What is an effective lighning protection that you guys use for your cordless phone, alarm system etc.

Please share your experience / devices used at home for phone line lightning protection.

This may not be the correct place to have this post but I value the advice from all fellow hifi kakis.

This post has been edited by gsdev: Jan 24 2010, 07:22 PM

Fit a Lightning arrester...no guarantees, but at least the chances of fried PCB is a bit lower

search google for lightning isolator, buy one with both phone line and power line protection

Cal Lab lightning arrestor would be good. Its office or service center is in Centerpoint, BU.

But all these ligthning arrestors, isolators, etc cannot 100% guarantee it esp if it is a direct strike.

I remembered a lightning strike right in front of me when i was driving...I could practically see the bones in my hands..haha..like Xray!!

so... have you become x-man?

Yeah, the phone line is one of the weakest points, so very easy to kena lightning via phone lines. In the past had my modem, cordless phone and PC motherboard fried before.

I use the Cal-lab (as mentioned by htkaki). Has saved my stuff 2-3 times already. Only thing I don't like is it is a one-use item, i.e. it arrests a strike once and it dies. You then have to bring back to Cal-lab and they give you a new one for RM25 (I think initial cost is RM79).

For lightning protection, Cal-Lab lightning protector and Belkin surge protector are 2 reliable & reputable products.
If I'm not mistaken both have insurance for products fried by lightning.
You can check out the garage section for price and availability of models.

need to open up to see what's inside..

you need TVS diodes, large diodes, Gas discharge tubes, Varistors all working together to ensure good insulaton from strikes..

or worst case get a full time On-line UPS with 90-100% sine wave output... if kena , then 100% mati at UPS stage..

Okay will seriously look at Cal Lab. Using one of their product for my Astro set currently.

Look like last Friday direct lightning strike on my phone line...alarm installer help to install a surge protection (I think TVS diodes) but he also mention direct strike cannot escape...Looking at Cal Lab now. Thanks.

few key parameters in this kind of protection components is speed and energy able to absorb, and how many times before deteriorate performance.. so TVS/Varistor/GDT/polyfuse/etc all have different parameters.. ideally they work in tandem to stop various type of attacks..