In today's world of gated communities, security is more sought after than ever. Most new home owners think about installing a home security system shortly after moving in, but are confused by the maze of choices available. This guide tells you all you need to know about keeping your home and family safe. The author, a former FBI agent and security expert, gives you the skinny on everything from basic systems to inexpensive measures you can install yourself. He also tells parents what's legal and what's not in the area of nanny-cams and monitoring.
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About the Author
Tom Davidson has 27 years of law enforcement experience including the FBI, Indiana State Police and the London Metropolitan Police Department. He's written two popular police training manuals on hostage/crisis negotiation and workplace/school violence and is an in-demand speaker on crime prevention programs. He is a practicing attorney and certified police Master Instructor as well as a graduate of the FBI National Academy.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
49 of 55 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Book really is on risk assessment, NOT on alarm systems,
By Phil Lee (Minneapolis, Minn, Silicon Tundra, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Home Security (Mass Market Paperback)
I tried consulting this book to design and install a security system for small business. I was surprised to see so few books on the subject in Amazon and in the public library. More than half the book goes into the risk assessment and no cost loss prevention. Fine...but the cover claims that the reader can design a security system and install camera surveillance.The first author may be a wise policeman and attorney, but a systems designer for a home / small business security system he is not. The co-author is just a writer, has very little experience in the security field and has obviously not designed, installed, and armed a security system herself. There is a lot of common-sense discussion and fluff on alarm components in the book. But when the rubber hits the road, this book runs out of gas. The DIY section of the book is Chap 17 and covers 21 measly pages. There is no typical bill-of-materials, budgetary costs, or national or regional sources and part numbers for popular items. Where is the beef? Honeywell is a national provider of security components and systems; the authors don't discuss the security industry suppliers, not even Radio Shack. I'd recommend going to an on-line catalog that the Pros use at ADILink dot com. It doesn't even go into the popular X-10 components for home automation; except in the last paragraph in Appendix B. The overall organization of the book with tips and sidebars are very distracting. Overall this is a disappointing book that I read at the public library.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Annoying amount of common sense,
By
This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Home Security (Mass Market Paperback)
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Home security is a well written general overview of risk assessment (from fire/crime). It provides some interesting facts with common sense solutions to eliminating higher risk behavior/vulnerabilities.
The books greatest downfall is the fact that most of those readers interested enough in home security to purchase and then read manuals of this sort are paranoid enough that little presented in this text is something they won't have already considered and probably implemented. If your seriously interested in home security this book may not be enough for you.
18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
No thanks,
By
This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Home Security (Mass Market Paperback)
I bought this book because I was wanting to design my own home security system, and was completely disappointed. This book does not give information on how to install a video surveillance system, motion detectors, or alarm systems. It gives a lot of tips on how to avoid doing things that put you at more risk; but to me they're no-brainers. I live way out in the country and the advice he gives for security in the country is laughable. "Make sure your farm buildings are well-lit". What difference would that make? Nobody's around at night to see anyone out there trying to steal something, whether it's lit or not.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
If your home security system is made up of a telephone and a smoke detector, it's a good thing you're reading this book. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
home security plan, security system components, temporary theft, monitored security system, security snafus, crime clock, public safety agencies, window sensors, telephone dialer, photo log, magnetic switch, video surveillance systems, alarm wire, home security system, magnetic contacts, terminal strip Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Not-So-Anonymous Tip, Security Password, Sound the Alarm, Neighborhood Watch, Talk the Talk, United States, The Least You Need, Break the Bank, Home Security Doesn't Have, Risky Business, Branding Your Stuff, Calculating Your Security Budget, Guarding Against Vehicle Theft, Installing That Eye, Using Alarm Systems, Grade Your Public Safety Agencies, Pulling Together the Facts, Setting Up Home Surveillance, Cheap Crime-Fighting Basics, Do-It-Yourself Alarm Systems, National Crime Prevention Council, Social Security, Add Layer, Other Issues New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
If your home security system is made up of a telephone and a smoke detector, it's a good thing you're reading this book. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
home security plan, security system components, temporary theft, monitored security system, security snafus, crime clock, public safety agencies, window sensors, telephone dialer, photo log, magnetic switch, video surveillance systems, alarm wire, home security system, magnetic contacts, terminal strip Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Not-So-Anonymous Tip, Security Password, Sound the Alarm, Neighborhood Watch, Talk the Talk, United States, The Least You Need, Break the Bank, Home Security Doesn't Have, Risky Business, Branding Your Stuff, Calculating Your Security Budget, Guarding Against Vehicle Theft, Installing That Eye, Using Alarm Systems, Grade Your Public Safety Agencies, Pulling Together the Facts, Setting Up Home Surveillance, Cheap Crime-Fighting Basics, Do-It-Yourself Alarm Systems, National Crime Prevention Council, Social Security, Add Layer, Other Issues New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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