We just got robbed.

[Tubeless]

Allways get an independant person to work on your alarm..... never the monitoring company.

[mazambaan]

I'm always a bit more wary after having work done at my house or even in the complex. I suspect that more than a few workers (particularly casual labourers) suss out their surroundings for robbery potential while they are meant to be working. This could include the ADT manne.

[Grebel]

I have read the posts and the same thing keeps ringing true. Service delivery of certain companies.

 

We use Blue security and their service in our area is impeccable. My alarm goes of and no matter what time of the day or night, I get a cal within a minute (Yes I have timed them) asking if we are at home. If I am not home I ask what zone was triggered and from that I can tell if something is wrong (most of the time). I give a challenge code if all is in order and things return to normal. If I am out or if it is unwise to go outside (at night for example or if something seems wrong) I let them know and they send an armed response person who has always acted very responsibly. They will jump the fence if I don't let them in as they do not have a remote to my gate and nor will I let them install a receiver. If I have a mains failure, I get an sms notifying me that the power is off.

 

To date we have had no problems and from my experience I would recommend them. Having said that though every area is different. A resident in the neighbourhood was with ADT and had their house broken into. They were having dinner at a restaurant when they were notified. They quickly finished eating, paid for supper and raced home to find they they had beaten the armed response!! It too ADT 25 minutes to get there and when they arrived, they drove past, turned around and stopped up the road. The owner approached the vehicle to find the reaction officer filling in a log book..... Their contract was cancelled the next day.

 

In Westville, the opposite is true. ADT are king and can do no wrong and are rated highly by the residents.

 

@ Wannabee: be aware that the patrol comes at a cost... If we get enough people in our area we can get a patrol going but it is going to cost all resident a few extra rand depending on the numbers. The more we sign up, the less it costs. As an idea R15-17k per month for a 24hr street patrol (2 guards) and dedicated armed response vehicle 2 years ago. Crime dropped by 80% (based on security company stats)

[Wannabe]

@ Wannabe: be aware that the patrol comes at a cost... If we get enough people in our area we can get a patrol going but it is going to cost all resident a few extra rand depending on the numbers. The more we sign up, the less it costs. As an idea R15-17k per month for a 24hr street patrol (2 guards) and dedicated armed response vehicle 2 years ago. Crime dropped by 80% (based on security company stats)

:thumbup:

[Grebel]

:thumbup:

 

Apologies...

[sharkysa]

It's never good to be burgled! Do yourself a favour and walk test your alarm ever so often. What beam or passive did they breach? Would be interesting to know as I am an installer, not for any of these companies though.

[3DogslivinginSA]

Dogs are the best watch dogs! keep them indoors especially, so suggest a smaller one, they have excellent hearing. On a lighter note, you are alive, your family un-harmed. How conditioned we South Africans are, when we say " at least you are alive", what happened to " That is so terrible, that you were robbed, never mind all the inconvenience and hassle of proof of who you are and paperwork". Good idea for future and for all of us, to scan in colour copies of all docs, save it in cyberspace account, so that you can access it, when in a situation like this. Sorry, sad that you are a victim of crime! Adt needs more competition, in some areas they are the only security company around! On a philosophical note, look at what you still have versus what you lost....

[Stretch]

Dogs are the best watch dogs!

 

your name and the first sentence makes it look like a dog wrote this......

[TheV]

Dogs are the best watch dogs! keep them indoors especially, so suggest a smaller one, they have excellent hearing. On a lighter note, you are alive, your family un-harmed. How conditioned we South Africans are, when we say " at least you are alive", what happened to " That is so terrible, that you were robbed, never mind all the inconvenience and hassle of proof of who you are and paperwork". Good idea for future and for all of us, to scan in colour copies of all docs, save it in cyberspace account, so that you can access it, when in a situation like this. Sorry, sad that you are a victim of crime! Adt needs more competition, in some areas they are the only security company around! On a philosophical note, look at what you still have versus what you lost....

 

Dr. Phil, is that you?

[Woolf]

Got mugged last week Thursday by 2 buggers at a traffic light. Waiting for the light to change and suddenly 2 pair of hands in the car one switched off the ignition and the other grabbed my neck and shoulders. I struggled a bit with one of them until I saw the knife to my ribs. Handed over my and my nieces cellphones and they casually walked off.

 

I was lucky they didn't want to hi-jack us (I'm driving my dad's bantam whilst my car is in the shop) and i just got a little nick on the arm but lessons learnt. Windows should be kept almost closed and valuables out of sight. I always maintain a high degree of awareness but on the day tired and almost home and BAM.

 

Iphone was switched on yesterday and tracking shows it now resides in Maputo.