Question for those who have home alarm systems

[Earlybird]

Do you set the alarm at night when you and the dc are home alone without dh/dp?

I don't, but often wonder if I'm being foolish. Don't live in a high crime area, btw.

Only if I've got an expensive car in the drive

nope

We've got one and never switch in on. Probably should as I worry it might affect insurance if anything happened.

Yes, set it every night whether he's here or not. We are rural, so not high crime at all, but two lots of friends have been burgled here while they were asleep upstairs (and one lot, computer got nicked from the baby's room while she was asleep there!).

We've got quite a good 'neighbourhood watch' network, and receive emails when there are burglaries in the area. There have been several recently a couple of miles from here, but none in the immediate area.

I've no reason to be scared, but this is our first house. We've always had flats before (upper floor ones at that), so when there was ever an odd noise, it didn't phase me. But now we're in a detached house, and as a lone parent I wonder if I am foolish not to set the alarm at night.

Portofino, does your insurance company know you've got an alarm? If you, then you shuld use it. It may well effect a claim.

Earlybird. Can you isolate zones on your alarm? If so, why not just set downstairs. If you've got it, you may as well protect yourself as much as you can.

isn't an alarm for setting when most vunerable..?

Ours is set whenever we leave the home and every night whether dh is home or not...Thats what its for..!

Can't understand why not..? BTW we are not a high crime area but do it for security...

Usually insurance companies say if you have put that you have an alarm, but it was not switched on at the time of the burglary, you have to pay a bigger excess. You can still claim.

I always set the alarm when I leave the house, just not when we're home.

Don't think I can isolate zones.

nope never set it when in the house

Yep. Set it every night and obviously when out.

Yes.

Our alarm is set every night when we go to bed. We set it to cover the ground floor (living room, etc on top 2 floors) and doors. If DH is out in an evening I set it once it starts getting later/dark.

It always goes on when we go out.

Not in high crime area, but I feel more secure with it on. Know of people who have been burgled whilst in bed/in house too.

ah never thought about zones that can't be isolated...

Ours you can isolate, I only set it for the ground floor when home. 2nd and 3rd floor when im home imo should be ok....unless they have a ladder