First of all, I am so sorry to hear that this happened. I assume this was when no one was in the house?

I don't have any data on whether alarms actually prevent crime. My hunch is that they do not. These guys are drug seekers, and therefore whack, ie not thinking rationally.

However! You know what is worth spending money on? Peace of mind. If your wife really will feel more secure with a stoopid alarm system and you can afford it, I say go for it. Another thing worth money? Marital harmony. If the little lady wants this, and feels traumatized from having your home broken into, it's worth doing the thing that will help her even if it's not all that reasonable.

An alarm system for her, and a dog for you.

How much do those alarm systems cost anyway?

Again, I'm so sorry.

I just keep electronics out of view from burglars, and the "good stuff" in a safety deposit box outside the home.
I agree with your idea of good locks and any security measures that would slow a burglar's access to the inside of your house or create attention to the burglar's presence (motion-detecting sensors, for example.)

If you do get a dog, please understand that a dog isn't just a security accessory: it needs love, training, attention, food and frequent exercise, otherwise it may just bark to drive your innocent neighbors batty or provide sound cover for a burglar breaking into someone's house. You want your dog to be an EFFECTIVE burglary deterrent and not a public nuisance.

I also agree with you that a handgun isn't a good idea. If you're not home when the burglary happens, the handgun could be stolen, which is what happened to a neighbor down my street. If you are home, you might be asleep at the time of the burglars' entry, in which case the advantage goes to the side that is awake and alert.

I live on Beacon Hill. I had an alarm, but got broken into anyway. The thief got away with my laptop and digital camera. Beefed up the alarm with a motion detector. The same guy broke in again, but it scared him off and he didn't get anything. Police caught him with fingerprints he left on my cable box from the first time. He did some time in jail and cannot come within 500 yards of my house. I'm happy that I got the alarm, but don't be cheap - get the motion detector as well. I sleep a lot better with my alarm on, especially with the "instant" feature that will go off if someone opens a door. It rarely gets set off accidentally. Even my not-very-techy BF can work it. Highly recommended. Getting broken into sucks and I'm still traumatized by it. The alarm helps my mental health and, as proven, has saved me from losing more valuable items.

An alarm system and good locks is worth it. Learn how to use it, and you won't have the user errors mentioned earlier. Alarm systems also alert the fire department, and some can even be configured to detect flooding. You should also receive a discount on your insurance.
But most break ins are crimes of opportunity, ie, the occupant left the door unlocked. Even an inept crackhead will be gone by the time the cops arrive. But at least he will not have had time to clear out the house.

With alarms - I think it's the window stickers that make all the difference anyway...

I had one in my old house and used it in the beginning - then didn't use it unless I went away for a trip. I did accidentally set it off a few times & it's quite the scare.

One thing I did like with the alarm, is that the alarm company will wire fire alarms to your house alarm system - so the smoke alarm makes the house alarm go off - which is loud and will surely wake you up. I did like that safety feature.

Yes! It is indeed piece of mind. You don't have to pay for an alarm service to have an alarm. An alarm going off insures that a burglar will quickly leave your house without taking absolutely everything of value. And false alarms are super rare in homes. Also, you can but install yourself systems that call your cell phone when they are tripped. You can install them on doors or windows or motion activated. You will have break ins on Cap Hill - get one.

Proto's anecdote not withstanding, as someone who spent an inordinate amount of time with stone cold thieves I can tell you that the only thing that they say deters them from robbing a house is a dog. They do not target houses with private security guards,etc. of course, but they did not seem overly concerned with the security systems available to regular folks. Contemptuous of them, even.

My experience with the habitually criminal of this ilk is about 25 years old so things may have changed...

I have a dog. A big black vicous looking SOB (literally!) who terrorizes the crack/meth heads in our alley regularly. My family and I love him. He seems to have an innate understanding of who is trouble and who is fine. got him from a pound. The only reason I feel like I even need to lock my door is that someone may mistakenly open it and be greeted by 100+# of teeth.

He is unusal in one other way- He also seems to have an instinctual understanding of using a kind of escalation of violence based on the situation. I don't know, but maybe he was trained quite a bit before I found him. I have no idea what breed he is.

In short; get a dog. Even a small one so long as it barks like mad when strangers approach.

I agree with the Protosaurus on the facts and Misty on the emotional side. Most of all I agree with you... there is no greater deterrent than a dog.

The one thing no burglar will want to deal with is the noise and potential danger of a dog.

My experience with alarms is basically the same as Protosaurus, they don't get used after a while (although there are exceptions) and when they do get used they are not that different from car alarms (i.e. ignored). Best thing to do is get the alarm sticker and put it on your door (which is the same as getting the alarm and not using it - but cheaper) and get a dog!

Please do not get a nasty dog. Even a furry friendly dog will be a good deterrent. I had a sheepdog if ever there was a dog you wouldn't be scared of she was it - still people coming to the house without malicious intent got scared when she started barking and one time a cop who came to the house pulled out his gun and pointed it at her (jerk).

I lived in the house with an alarm (linked to a company that notified the police) and I fucking loathed it. On numerous occasions, m father would arm the interior motion detector when I was still at home and I would get a near heart attack when I came down for breakfast. We also got several false alarms (requiring the cops to come out) because the front door would blow open if you forgot to lock the deadbolt. Once the cops came out because my father (again!) set the interior motion detector when he had a house guest (whom he didn't tell about the alarm, let alone give the code to turn it off). If it had been up to me, I never would've set that fucking thing.

A neighbor at that time had an alarm that didn't notify the cops. One week they went on vacation, something set off the alarm, and it went off for days until they came back, and everyone on the block got to listen to it, day and night.

I think house alarms are about as effective for security as car alarms (i.e. not at all), but they are as effective at making everyone hate you.

Get a German Shepherd and call it good.