Comments on: Provident vs. Alarmforce on CKNW http://www.providentsecurity.ca/blog/2006/03/provident_vs_al.html A blog to help keep you up to date on home & community security issues on Vancouver's Westside as well as the continuing development and growth of Provident Security Wed, 09 Nov 2011 06:59:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Tino http://www.providentsecurity.ca/blog/2006/03/provident_vs_al.html/comment-page-1/#comment-870 Tino Mon, 25 May 2009 05:36:44 +0000 http://www.providentsecurity.ca/blog/2006/03/provident_vs_al.html#comment-870 Alarm system in my opion gives us a better scense of security , even if a burglar is never caught, sleep better at night,And even more important its a must to have the carbon monoxide and fire alarms monitored. This has already paid dividends. Alarm system in my opion gives us a better scense of security , even if a burglar is never caught, sleep better at night,And even more important its a must to have the carbon monoxide and fire alarms monitored. This has already paid dividends.

]]> By: Bob http://www.providentsecurity.ca/blog/2006/03/provident_vs_al.html/comment-page-1/#comment-705 Bob Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:32:32 +0000 http://www.providentsecurity.ca/blog/2006/03/provident_vs_al.html#comment-705 It seems to me the only value of an alarm system is if it keeps the burglar from entering in the first place. Scaring him away, after he is in, may help to a certain extent but the residents are still in danger from harm caused by the burglar. Stuff does not need protection, people do. What alarm system, if any, exists out there to be of some help in keeping the bad guys out? It seems to me the only value of an alarm system is if it keeps the burglar from entering in the first place. Scaring him away, after he is in, may help to a certain extent but the residents are still in danger from harm caused by the burglar. Stuff does not need protection, people do. What alarm system, if any, exists out there to be of some help in keeping the bad guys out?

]]> By: Neale http://www.providentsecurity.ca/blog/2006/03/provident_vs_al.html/comment-page-1/#comment-683 Neale Tue, 29 Jul 2008 21:39:43 +0000 http://www.providentsecurity.ca/blog/2006/03/provident_vs_al.html#comment-683 I think one of the most important things that's being left out here is "Value". I sell alarm systems here in Calgary. 90% of my clients would never call me if they didn't have FAMILY to protect. Most younger people (men especially) would never call me to have an alarm installed to protect their stuff. Stuff is stuff. It's all about protecting their investment. Quoted from mjagger "An alarm, in and of itself, is not very useful. It certainly is not a deterrent. Two-way voice is irrelevant." I would most certainly agree with the two way voice, but to say that an alarm is not a deterrent seems a bit unfair to say. An alarm does more than make noise. It wakes up the occupants, the neighbours, and it takes away the "Stealth" operation which in turn makes the situation unfavourable to the thief. To refer to what Eggs said about $20/month. Considering that you can get up to 20% off of your home insurance PLUS write it off towards income tax you could not only make up for the $20/mo but save a little as well. For THAT price who could afford NOT to have an alarm installed for a little more peace at night. The most important thing to remember here is that alarms are a means of protecting your home, property and most importantly your family by making the scenario unpleasant for the crook. It doesn't stop the crook from entering the home but he probably wouldn't want to stick around for too long to see what's going to happen. I think one of the most important things that’s being left out here is “Value”. I sell alarm systems here in Calgary. 90% of my clients would never call me if they didn’t have FAMILY to protect. Most younger people (men especially) would never call me to have an alarm installed to protect their stuff. Stuff is stuff. It’s all about protecting their investment.
Quoted from mjagger “An alarm, in and of itself, is not very useful. It certainly is not a deterrent. Two-way voice is irrelevant.” I would most certainly agree with the two way voice, but to say that an alarm is not a deterrent seems a bit unfair to say. An alarm does more than make noise. It wakes up the occupants, the neighbours, and it takes away the “Stealth” operation which in turn makes the situation unfavourable to the thief.
To refer to what Eggs said about $20/month. Considering that you can get up to 20% off of your home insurance PLUS write it off towards income tax you could not only make up for the $20/mo but save a little as well. For THAT price who could afford NOT to have an alarm installed for a little more peace at night.

The most important thing to remember here is that alarms are a means of protecting your home, property and most importantly your family by making the scenario unpleasant for the crook. It doesn’t stop the crook from entering the home but he probably wouldn’t want to stick around for too long to see what’s going to happen.

]]> By: Eggs http://www.providentsecurity.ca/blog/2006/03/provident_vs_al.html/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Eggs Sat, 10 Nov 2007 01:02:46 +0000 http://www.providentsecurity.ca/blog/2006/03/provident_vs_al.html#comment-5 I do see value in an immediate response but I think an immediate response from the police would be the best reponse. Unfortunately that's not going to happen anytime soon. But one thing I did like about the two way voice was the fact that they could hear what was going on within seconds and let authories know if I was in trouble. I am certainly not defending two way voice(I am still undecided) but it does "sound" like a better system. I even noticed that the Edmonton Police website shows that they endorse two way voice as a better way to monitor. Why would any police group endorse any monitoring practice as a better way to monitor? Do they respond differently if they hear what is going on? There is just too many differing opinions out there to decide which company is the best. My insurance company insists I have an alarm system but everybody has such differing opinions. All they want to know is that it is monitored. They don't care if it is one company or the next. But to me, if I have to pay for it, I want the one that will have fastest reponse on the market. I am still skeptical!!! I do see value in an immediate response but I think an immediate response from the police would be the best reponse. Unfortunately that’s not going to happen anytime soon. But one thing I did like about the two way voice was the fact that they could hear what was going on within seconds and let authories know if I was in trouble. I am certainly not defending two way voice(I am still undecided) but it does “sound” like a better system. I even noticed that the Edmonton Police website shows that they endorse two way voice as a better way to monitor. Why would any police group endorse any monitoring practice as a better way to monitor? Do they respond differently if they hear what is going on? There is just too many differing opinions out there to decide which company is the best. My insurance company insists I have an alarm system but everybody has such differing opinions. All they want to know is that it is monitored. They don’t care if it is one company or the next. But to me, if I have to pay for it, I want the one that will have fastest reponse on the market. I am still skeptical!!!

]]> By: mjagger http://www.providentsecurity.ca/blog/2006/03/provident_vs_al.html/comment-page-1/#comment-4 mjagger Fri, 09 Nov 2007 21:39:12 +0000 http://www.providentsecurity.ca/blog/2006/03/provident_vs_al.html#comment-4 Eggs: An alarm, in and of itself, is not very useful. It certainly is not a deterrent. Two-way voice is irrelevant. In order to increase security, you need an alarm and immediate response service... but most importantly, you must 'five minute proof' your most important possessions. As I have explained in a number of other posts on this blog, it is this combination of tactics that adds value... an alarm for a home where all of the valuables are in plain sight, or just easy to access, isn't going to offer value. I'm having trouble pasting the actual links into this comment... but use the search bar to find the following posts that address the issues you raised: 1) A Typical Residential Burglary; and 2) Five minute proofing Eggs: An alarm, in and of itself, is not very useful. It certainly is not a deterrent. Two-way voice is irrelevant. In order to increase security, you need an alarm and immediate response service… but most importantly, you must ‘five minute proof’ your most important possessions. As I have explained in a number of other posts on this blog, it is this combination of tactics that adds value… an alarm for a home where all of the valuables are in plain sight, or just easy to access, isn’t going to offer value.
I’m having trouble pasting the actual links into this comment… but use the search bar to find the following posts that address the issues you raised:

1) A Typical Residential Burglary; and
2) Five minute proofing

]]> By: Eggs http://www.providentsecurity.ca/blog/2006/03/provident_vs_al.html/comment-page-1/#comment-6 Eggs Fri, 09 Nov 2007 10:24:24 +0000 http://www.providentsecurity.ca/blog/2006/03/provident_vs_al.html#comment-6 I have heard the two way voice in someone's home(don't recall which company it was) but it did scare the heck out of me. If I was a thief, of course I would not respond. But I would certainly not want to stick around very long either. It fathoms me as to why even get an alarm system if its going to take 5 minutes for a "guard" to show up who then would have to call the police if it was a break-in anyway!!! By the time anyone gets there, the thief is long gone with all the good stuff. I don't care if it is the police or a guard that comes, alarms don't work. Why pay out $20/month for a service that is nothing more than a cash grab. that's my $.02!! I have heard the two way voice in someone’s home(don’t recall which company it was) but it did scare the heck out of me. If I was a thief, of course I would not respond. But I would certainly not want to stick around very long either. It fathoms me as to why even get an alarm system if its going to take 5 minutes for a “guard” to show up who then would have to call the police if it was a break-in anyway!!! By the time anyone gets there, the thief is long gone with all the good stuff. I don’t care if it is the police or a guard that comes, alarms don’t work. Why pay out $20/month for a service that is nothing more than a cash grab. that’s my $.02!!

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