Hardening security / burglar alarms / cost

[Dark Skies]

During the course of getting a variation last year the local firearms officer made mention that come my FAC renewal I might be obliged to install additional security in the form of an alarm system because I had "so many guns".

For "so many guns" read thirteen not terribly desirable (to criminals) fireams comprising the generic collection of pistol calibre lever actions, a few muzzle loading revolvers (I'm a bit of a cowboy), a couple of .22s, some WWII bolt action warhorses, and a break action shotgun. Nothing your self 'rspectin' gang banger would be interested in.

I live in a large town that had 43 burglaries in the last twelve months - almost all of them well away on the other side of the river (which literally backs the rear of my property).

My house is rarely left unattended for any long period. My brother and I live together and took my mother in when my father died a few years back. I work from home. We have a yappy dog.

Over the years we've had all the windows and doors replaced with modern double-glazed impact resistant affairs. All the doors have those multiple deadlocks on - seven or more. All the windows lock with a key.

As well as the required gun safes bolted to the wall (and drilled and bolted to each other (good luck lifting those fully laden as one huge unit) they are in a room with a door secured with three deadlocks - all requiring a different key.

Outside the house on the drive there is a beat up old Land Rover and a well used old Nissan hatchback - none of the trappings of wealth my neighbours like to display in their precious BMWs, Discoverys, and Audis.

On the rare occasions the house is completely empty for a few hours I tend to have a telly on loud enough to discern from directly outside. I often stick the radio on in the garage too. At night the house is always occupied.

To be honest any burglar would be very disappointed in their haul. Jewellery, fancy cars, expensive gadgets, the latest must-have phones, sound systems and similar - that's for other people.

So for the most part I think we're pretty secure.
I'm not mad keen on an alarm system. For one thing I'm concerned my old mum might be confronted with having to try and remember a password after the thing has accidentally been triggered when I'm not there. Also, when the flash new neighbours on the corner of the street moved in one of the things that immediately flagged my interest was the introduction of a CCTV camera and an ADT box. "They must have something worth pinching" I thought.

However ... it may be the firearm officer charged with the inspection may be difficult over this and I'm musing on my alarm options.
As someone who loves their money staying in my wallet I blanch at the prospect of spending a heap of cash on a monitored security system. I was wondering how much it might cost without some bothersome salesman coming around trying to flog me stuff.
Ideally I'd just have a modest system that focussed on my firearms room. I'm thinking a wireless alarm and CCTV setup that could notify me and be controlled via my mobile phone.

Any info on how others have tackled this requirement and cost would be gratefully received.

[dodgyrog]

As stated in a previous thread I have just upgraded my existing system to a monitored alarm using my old sensors. With the cost of remote monitoring and new costs of regular maintenance it came to £700!!! That was, I considered, very reasonable.
Consider the cost of a rifle and scope and then compare it to the cost of the alarm.
Also consider the worry you might endure if a firearm you owned went into the underworld after being stolen.
The down side to an alarm is getting somebody to respond to it!!! (Especially the old bill!).
It's inevitable that the police will insist on an alarm so go for a good one. (Not some cheap s*** from B&Q).

[Dark Skies]

As stated in a previous thread I have just upgraded my existing system to a monitored alarm using my old sensors. With the cost of remote monitoring and new costs of regular maintenance it came to £700!!! That was, I considered, very reasonable.
Consider the cost of a rifle and scope and then compare it to the cost of the alarm.
Also consider the worry you might endure if a firearm you owned went into the underworld after being stolen.
The down side to an alarm is getting somebody to respond to it!!! (Especially the old bill!).
It's inevitable that the police will insist on an alarm so go for a good one. (Not some cheap s*** from B&Q).

£700 seems a bit steep for an alarm the police won't respond to - especially as in a worst case scenario I'd be losing my modest collection to boot. Fortunately they are insured.

I'm probably a bad person but I'm not one to assume the guilt for some scumbag breaking into my home, stealing a firearm, and then its subsequent use having done all in my power to physically secure it.

As it appears the alarm system is a token appeasement to the police rather than something they consider a tool to thwart crime ... what are the cheap s*** alternatives of which you speak?

[Daryll]

I'm getting to the level where my FEO has mentioned an alarm, although not insisting on it... yet.... so been looking around at options

I have looked at the Yale one (HSA6410 PREMIUM+ ALARM) currently on offer (£149.99) at Screwfix... you disable it with a keyfob, so no numbers to remember.. Although that will rely on the security of the keyfob!!

I also am reluctant to put an external siren on the house, for the same reasons, but I wondered about putting it actually in the "gun room"... I'm sure no-one will stay in the room very long with that going off...!!!

[Dark Skies]

I'm getting to the level where my FEO has mentioned an alarm, although not insisting on it... yet.... so been looking around at options

I have looked at the Yale one (HSA6410 PREMIUM+ ALARM) currently on offer (£149.99) at Screwfix... you disable it with a keyfob, so no numbers to remember.. Although that will rely on the security of the keyfob!!

I also am reluctant to put an external siren on the house, for the same reasons, but I wondered about putting it actually in the "gun room"... I'm sure no-one will stay in the room very long with that going off...!!!

Yes, I've been thinking along the lines of an alarm in the actual room - along with a means of monitoring it with some kind of wireless spy ball camera. There are a number of locations where they could be sited without being vulnerable to attack.

One of the things that has put me off the professionally monitored route is being obliged to have keyholders to my property.
I have trust issues! The thought of going to the trouble of locking things up tight and then handing my keys and the responsibility for them to a close friend or family external to those dwelling in my home leaves me cold. From a firearms security standpoint it goes against my natural caution - as well as not wishing to be a burden on others. I'm not sure the police would approve of handing access to my home to anyone in my absence, no matter how trusted, whilst firearms are present.

[FredB]

We have had an audible alarm for more than 30 years. Alarms such as this are always going off in the area we live in and nobody pays any attention. We therefore upgraded to a monitored system. We still have an external box, but there is nothing in it other than a flashing light which is solar powered. There is a 120Db internal siren which would cetainly drive me outdoors and the system is continuously monitored through the telephone line. A phone line failure is registered as an intrusion and alerts the monitors who will then alert the police.
This costs about £30 a month. I don't want to be burgled and would probably have this system even if we had no guns
Fred

[sclg]

Our firearms department 'recommends' an alarm but so far doesn't insist. They have also publicly stated that a dog is an entirely acceptable alternative!

[Racalman]

Well your description of your current home security sounds just fine to me. However ...

I've installed a few of these systems in recent years for family and friends and they have proved very reliable for not much money:

https://cpc.farnell.com/honeywell/8ep40 ... ll%20alarm

Unfortunately they now use a keypad to arm/disarm and it's getting harder to find systems that work off a keyfob (my preference) and impossible to find ones that work off a key.

For my own system I added one of these which dials/texts my phone (and other numbers if I don't pick up) when the alarm is triggered:

https://www.adventcontrols.co.uk/produc ... lar-alarms

I would advise against using a wireless system. It might be handy to give the control box to a neighbour when you go away, but they are just not (IMHO) reliable enough. You can't beat copper wire.

If you're installing your own system (which isn't difficult if you have decent DIY skills) then you need to make sure it complies with the appropriate BSI standard for intruder alarm systems.

I also have a CCTV system, and this is linked to my smart phone so I can monitor the cameras. If you're installing CCTV yourself I can recommend these people for good advice, products and prices:

https://www.cctv42.co.uk/

However, be aware that connecting your home network to the internet comes with potential security risks (there are web sites out there displaying live feeds to domestic CCTV!) so unless you know how to secure your router and set up a VPN I would go carefully.

By the way, I installed the above for my own peace of mind and because I'm an engineer who likes his gadgets, not because of any request from the FLD.

[Dark Skies]

Thanks Racalman - a good starting point for further searches.

[Rarms]

I went down the self installed route both alarm and IP cameras. No issues, had a couple of false alarms, and both times it phones me and tells me I'm getting burgled! But then I can check the cameras to ascertain actual happenings.

Police might not respond, but I can assure you the neighbours all looked at the place when it went off, and if it was getting burgled they would have phoned the police!

Moving house shortly though to a bit more rural location and will be going down the ADT or similar route there along with some wired cameras.