Security systems for the home have come a long way since the old days. I remember one of my favorite bumper stickers in the 80’s was, “Insured by Smith and Wesson.” No more commentary necessary. You know where that guy stands.
But shooting another human being (no matter how evil that person may be) isn’t for everyone. And the liability if you just wound them is too much to even think about (which also rules out rottweilers and dobermans!) But today, there is more than guns and dogs to talk about.
Time was when only the rich could afford a security system. Now, they’re within the reach of almost all home owners. They come with a variety of bells and whistles: smoke detectors, motion sensors, alarm horns, cameras, you name it. And not only do they record what is happening, they also send information to a variety of sources. They can be configured to dial the police, the fire department, even your office. I know of one businessman who has his security camera hooked up to the internet, and whenever anyone enters his office after hours, it text messages him a photo of the person as he’s entering the building (or any of the rooms in the building). He can then decide whether to call the police or not.
So what do the rich have now? They actually have solid doors that will lock the intruder inside until the police arrive. Many not only lock the door, but dispense tear gas as well. Basically, if you can imagine it, you can have it.
But does it pay? Like many upgrades in a home, a security system is something you get for you. You’re probably not going to get your money back dollar for dollar. Of course it may be the “tie-breaker” when someone has two properties they like equally, so it’s not easy to quantify.
The basic advice is in today’s world, you should probably have something (unless you live in Mayberry, where it may be a few years yet before you need it.) Often the decrease in homeowners insurance rates will pay the cost of the security system in a reasonably short time.
For more information, google “home security systems” and hang on to your hat (or your checkbook, as the case may be.)
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