ideas for Apartment Alarm Systems

[robbase]

My mom's apartment in NY (Kew Gardens) was robbed a few weeks ago (luckily they did not take much). So trying to avoid a repeat. She put a better lock on her apartment door. But I was wondering do services like ADT do apartments? Also any other ideas you may have? (of course cheaper is better, but need a good balance between cheap and good quality / deterrent)

Thanks

[Urban Chicago]

ADT will do apartments and such, but IMHO, the best possible deterrent is a dog. Especially one with a loud and fierce-sounding bark.

[so1970]

not all appartments allow dogs but she could get a gun and a sign stating she has a gun. cheap and effective

[robbase]

all thanks so far

My mom was not there when it happened (fortunately)

no dogs allowed in the apartment

are there any do-it-yourself type alarms that dont require a lot of wiring, etc.?

[zibazinski]

I got mine at LOWE's.

[thyme4change]

not all appartments allow dogs but she could get a gun and a sign stating she has a gun. cheap and effective

Not really. I know dozens of people who have guns, and not once has that prevented a robbery when they were not home. In fact, most often, the gun was stolen as part of the robbery. Break-ins while people are home are pretty rare. Most of the B&Es are just someone trying to make a buck - they don't want to mess with people.

There are alarms you can install that make noise, but aren't monitored. That would probably be enough to scare away someone, and for the neighbors to call the police. It is more like a car alarm - once the alarm is tripped, it goes off for a few minutes and then stops. But, unlike a car alarm, they don't go off quite as randomly. If you only need to wire the door - try going down to an Ace Hardware or some other smaller hardware store and seeing what they suggest. You might also want to try home depot, etc - but that is a crap shoot.

Here is the type of thing you can buy - but I'm not recomending this particular brand.

www.google.com/products/catalog?q=alarm+for+doors&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&prmd=ivns&biw=1259&bih=818&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&wrapid=tlif130134375916210&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=16663707983021857829&sa=X&ei=FO6QTYXQGYP2tgO5ka26Dg&ved=0CIYBEPMCMAA#

If you also have to wire windows - you might be in for a little more cost and effort.

[thyme4change]

This message has been deleted.

[thyme4change]

Sorry that link didn't work. Try googling "alarm for doors" and you'll get a page of stuff to look at.

[grylff]

How about this one:

simplisafe.com/apartment-security

Top search result for "apartment security system"

[mtntigger]

I had ADT and was unhappy with it... not enough service for the price. When the alarm started going off at odd hours just to go off and they didn't volunteer to send someone out to examine it or offer any advice, I dropped them.
When the system was installed, the installer told me that the ADT stickers and sign appeared to be more of a deterrent than the actual system. I would go that route first before installing a system.
Is your mom's apartment on the ground floor? Could she go up one floor to gain a little more security?

[debtheaven]

Hi Rob

I have no advice but I grew up in KG and I just wanted to say I am sorry that your mom (and by extension you) are having to deal with this. I still go back to Austin Street every time I go to the US because my "second mom" still lives there.

I hope you find a great solution for your Mom that will give peace of mind to both of you.