The Complete Idiot's Guide to Home Security Book Review
Whether or not you already have a home security system in place, reading an introductory book on home security can teach you a lot. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Home Security
is a good starting point. It not only helps you identify what types of home security systems are out there,
it can help you figure out exactly what kind of security systems you need based on your lifestyle, your neighborhood, and your house. The book also discusses fire prevention and accident prevention.
At $16.95, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Home security is a very reasonably priced resource to own. The oversized paperback book is almost 300 pages long and includes numerous tips and diagrams (i.e. to show you what to do in the do-it-yourself security alarm installation chapter).
The chapters are divided into the following sections:
Part 1: A Closer Look at Home (In)Security
This section provides an introduction to the book and home security. It starts out in a tongue-in-cheek manner, warning you that a smoke detector and a telephone aren't sufficient (so if that's you, it's time to get serious about home security). The first section goes on to talk about your public safety agencies (i.e. police, fire, etc.) and what you can expect them to do, then it talks about what you need to be doing for yourself.
CH 1: Why You Need a Home Security Plan
CH 2: Principles of Protection
CH 3: Home Security Snafus
Part 2: Risky Business
This part of the book is all about making a risk assessment of your home based on security measures already in place, your neighborhood, and you.
CH 4: Calculating Your Risks
CH 5: Pulling Together the Facts
CH 6: Grade Your Public Safety Agencies
CH 7: What Your Assessment Reveals
Part 3: Home Security Doesn't Have To Break the Bank
There's a lot of meat to this section. It covers everything from figuring out how much you can afford to spend on a home security system (and how to cut costs while still remaining safe if you don't have a lot of funds), along with no-cost tips for protecting your home, such as starting a neighborhood crime watch. Suggestions such as branding your stuff can make it so that if your belongings are stolen, they are difficult for the thieves to fence. Chapter 11 gives you tips for being more aware of your habits and surroundings in your day-to-day activities, thus making you less of an easy mark for criminals.
CH 8: Calculating Your Security Budget
CH 9: Fast, Easy, Cheap Crime-Fighting Basics
CH 10: Low-Cost Commonsense Fire Safety Techniques
CH 11: Be Your Own Bodyguard
CH 12: Your Name Here ____: Branding Your Stuff
CH 13: Stir It up: Start a Neighborhood Crime Watch
CH 14: What's Left to Do?
Part 4: Bells and Whistles: Using Alarm Systems
This section covers the nitty-gritty of choosing and installing alarm systems. Those that would rather save money and do it themselves will appreciate Chapter 17 which offers installation advice, advice on wireless security system installation, and some help for troubleshooting.
CH 15: The Shocking Truth about Security Alarms
CH 16: Choosing Your Alarms and Diversions
CH 17: Do-It-Yourself Alarm Systems
Part 5: I've Got an Eye on You, Babe! Setting up Home Surveillance
Aside from the annoying titles, this section is valuable if you've ever thought about installing security cameras in or around your house. We've all seen the news reports where somebody's Nanny Cam caught the babysitter doing something that wasn't in the job description, and there's definitely an appeal to being able to check on what's going on in your house or around your house when you're not home. This section covers both internal house cameras and external cameras that monitor your property.
CH 18: Smile, You're on Hidden Camera
CH 19: Installing That Eye in the Sky
Part 6: Putting a Lid on Other Issues in Home Security
The most interesting chapter in this section is chapter 20 because it discusses the legal measures you can take to protect your property, and more importantly, what you can't do. For example, even if you catch somebody robbing your house, if you shoot to kill, you're the one that's probably going to do jail time. Even booby traps can get you in trouble.
CH 20: Here Comes the Judge
CH 21: I Love My Car: Guarding against Vehicle Theft
CH 22: When Bad Things Happen to Good Security Plans
Overall, I would definitely recommend The Complete Idiot's Guide to Home Security to just about anyone. The book keeps things simple without talking down to you, and it can save you a lot of money by helping you determine exactly what kind of home security system you need (before you go out and get conned into buying a big expensive system).