Dear PoP – What the Best Alarm Company? And an Alert About Home Invasion on Mon.

Photo by PoPville flickr user JosephLeonardo

“Dear PoP,

We recently moved in to a place with a working but unmonitored alarm system. I’ve called the big national monitoring services — ADT, Brinks/Broadview, et al — for quotes but I’m also curious about the signs I see around the neighborhood in front yards and alleys from lesser known companies. Are they local? Perhaps local agents of the big national firms? Can your readers recommend any of them? I could cold call but I trust your readership more.”

I use ADT and have been very happy with them. A buddy of mine has used them in Brookland and twice the alarm thwarted attempted break ins. Who do you guys recommend?

While we’re on the topic, allow me to share a disturbing email sent by a reader:

“Just wanted to let you know about a friends house that was robbed at gunpoint on Monday with them in it! Needless to say they are pretty shaken up about it, but I also thought you might be interested in posting something so other people can be on the lookout in that area for any suspicious activity.”

They included a link from Borderstan that says on Mon. Jan. 25th, in the 1200 block of W Street NW:

“According to police, three residents of the block were robbed inside their home at gun point by three intruders. One of the residents was taking garbage outside when he or she was approached by one of the assailants who asked, “Is this where the party is?”