Much like choosing a home, picking a proper security system can be an involved process requiring lots of research and loads of consideration for individual needs.

There are many factors to be considered when investing in a home security system including what type of home you live in, do you own or rent, is the home pre-wired for a security system, do you want wireless or wired, do you want camera integration, do you want to monitor the outside as well as the inside, and more. You want to pick a security system that is specifically tailored to your home and the protection you desire.

If you want to tackle everything yourself, be sure to check with the local building department in order to find out what kind of fire codes and electrical codes may be in place. For larger homes, though, you will likely want to enlist the aid of a professional security company to handle installation and possibly monitoring as well.

For those wishing to go wireless, usually best suited to smaller residences or rental properties, always double-check with the landlord before installing a system. Wireless, though usually more expensive, is easier to install and protects the house without heavy drilling or wire running.

For these systems, the keypad, panel and wireless receiver come all in one unit and the only necessary hard wiring is from the phone line to the unit itself.

The other devices, including motion sensors and door/window contacts, are wireless and quick to install. For these types of set-ups, it’s easiest to buy everything right out rather than lease. If you are renting the property, though, it may be best to lease the equipment. Just be sure to ask if the system has a minimum use time period attached. Some companies will only lease equipment with a three-to five-year contract, and terminating the contract early could result in several hundreds of dollars wasted.

For those in detached homes or who own their apartment or condo, a wired security system may be the way to go. Just like with the wireless system, though, you will want to shop around and find a unit/service perfect for your needs. You may also wish to buy the unit, rather than lease, in this situation.

Word-of-mouth is often a great way to begin the search. If you know someone with a similar living situation who already has a security system in place, ask them who their provider is and how happy they are with the service.

After you’ve spoken with friends, checked the phonebook and scoured the Internet for every possible provider in your area, it’s time to start interviewing. Find out how long the company has been in business. Ask if they are bonded and insured. (This one is important because, if property sustains damage during the installation, you may need to be protected.) Another question to consider is, when they hire employees, do they carry out extensive background checks? You’ll also want to know if they sell or lease the hardware and if they offer monitoring as well.

Once you’ve found a provider you’re comfortable with, it’s their turn to start interviewing you. Most companies will be able to pinpoint your exact needs based on location, yard layout, the size of the home and more to get you set up with the perfect system.

While the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office does not make specific recommendations regarding security systems, Community Action Coordinator Rita Ulsheimer did offer several additional things to consider in protecting one’s home and valuables.

According to Ulsheimer, most homes have doors with strike plates and hinges attached with 1” screws.

“These screws only penetrate the mouldings surrounding the doors, thus allowing for easy kick-ins,” Ulsheimer said. “By simply replacing these short screws with 3-inch to 3.5-inch screws, the doors are made more secure because the screws penetrate the door frame.”

Ulsheimer also said placement of motion detector lights is one of the easiest and most affordable ways of protecting one’s home as any movement by intruders will trigger the lights to go on.

“Intruders don’t know if you’re home or not,” Ulsheimer said. “Be sure to place the lights high enough so they can’t be unscrewed.”

Crime Prevention Thru Environmental Design, or CPTED, suggests that, by providing a clear line of sight from home to street, and vice versa, any criminal activity can be viewed by neighbors or passersby. The “3/7 rule” suggests any shrubbery surrounding the home be trimmed to three feet in height and all trees be trimmed so branches do not hang any lower than seven feet from the ground, allowing a better line of sight that may discourage criminals due to the risk of being spotted.

“Dogs are always a good deterrent, too,” Ulsheimer said. “They act as an alarm and provide protection as long as they are free to roam about inside and outside of the house.”

Ulsheimer said all locks installed on a house should be “bump-proof” to prevent a certain type of break-in and to check with a local hardware store for choices that are available. Sliding glass doors and windows are also easy targets for criminals, and the Sheriff’s Office can offer a quick safety check and tips to secure these entrances.

Finally, Ulsheimer said the single most important thing a homeowner can do to protect their property is become a member of a block watch.

“Neighbors watching out for neighbors has been proven to be the best crime deterrent,” Ulsheimer said. “Law enforcement needs the eyes and ears of residents to assist them in crime prevention.”

Ulsheimer said neighborhood residents have an intrinsic concern for their own neighborhood, so who best to watch a neighborhood than the people who live there?

For information on starting a block watch, contact Rita Ulsheimer at 602-876-3101.

And for those looking to begin the search for a security system, here are a few of the closest providers.

• Angel Security— Installs alarm systems and cameras, service and monitoring. Provides repair of old models and sales. Operating since 1980 and in Fountain Hills since 1994. For more information, call 837-8821.
• Safeguard Security and Communications— Provides commercial and residential security services and more. Call 609-6200 or go online to safequard.us. Located at 8454 N. 90th St. in Scottsdale.
• R.A.D. Home Integration, Inc.—Specializes in security systems, lighting control and structured wiring. Located at 16410 N. 91st St. Ste. 104 in Scottsdale. or call 816-1900.