If a good home security system could be compared to an intricate jigsaw puzzle, then the Doberman SE-0106 window alarm would be one of its many small but important pieces. For less than 15 dollars, the Doberman SE-0106 will secure the second most often used point of entry for criminals during a residential burglary, your first-floor windows.
I decided to pick up two of these devices to cover the windows in my kitchen that are intentionally left without protection when our home is occupied due to fears of our kids tripping the motion sensors during their nightly visits to the refrigerator. Click here for the Top 10 Best Window Alarms.
While I do have the option of having my alarm company add a glass break detector to cover this area, the components of the system are hardwired, and the cost and inconvenience did not seem worth it.
How does it protect you?
A burglar has two choices when attempting to gain entry through your windows. They can either force it open, or forgo the subtle tactics altogether and just smash the window pane. The SE-0106 operates on the some of the same basic principles as glass break detectors, and will trigger a siren when it detects any tampering taking place. It may seem a bit counter intuitive, but a good burglar is not really afraid of the noise smashing a window will create.
They know that in even in the quietest of neighborhoods, it will only create a small disturbance that lasts a few seconds, and very few people will spend any real time investigating its source. Unlike the sound of breaking glass, the 100 decibel alarm that comes with this product will not go unnoticed, and unless you live in an isolated rural setting, someone will investigate its cause.
Giving the bad guys fair warning
The Doberman SE-0106 also comes with a warning sticker attached to back side of the device facing the attack side of the window, that acts as an visual deterrent. Products such as imitation security cameras, alarm company yard signs and window stickers are all effective means of discouraging crime, but unlike these other security devices, the Doberman can also back its warnings up.
One small shortcoming of the product
Designed specifically to defend against attempts to break the glass, this product will offer no real protection if the person is able to somehow open the window without disturbing the windowpane. To safeguard your home against these types of intrusions, you are going to have to invest in window locks, or magnetic contact alarms in order to be totally protected. Luckily, for me the operable windows in my kitchen come with a set of solid locks, so the only way to get through them is by breaking the glass, and I believe that I am now protected against that possibility.
Very easy installation process
Installing my window alarm units took me about two hours to complete start to finish, with about one hour and fifty minutes of this time spent watching a playoff game on television. To call the installation process simple would be a major understatement.
Simply insert batteries, remove film backing, mount on the window to be protected, hit the on switch and test. It has been four months, and they are still securely in place, but I am concerned about a potential issue with the adhesive backing possibly failing during the winter months when a little condensation tends to build on the windows, especially when we are cooking. We will have to wait and see how that turns out.