About those ads for home security systems . . .

[Brigid]

Of course these companies are trying to scare people into buying their products. And this being the US, I'm sure they're effective.

I wonder: Are these systems popular elsewhere, say Europe? Are the same scare tactics used to sell them?

[Warpy]

1. It seems like more of a burglar magnet in my part of town

I had to call the cops a lot when my next door neighbor installed one and morons would trip it. I guess they figured she had a lot to protect. She didn't.

[yeoman6987]

2. Car alarms have become more a nusence

Then an effective theft detector.

[Warpy]

3. Yes, because so many of them sound alike

A coworker some years ago had one installed that responded to any shake of the vehicle (wind, bumping into it, etc) with "STAND AWAY FROM THE CAR!" while its lights flashed. I used to give it a kick every time I passed it.

Car alarms are especially bad in the city where sheer buildings tend to magnify the racket while disguising which car it's coming from.

I don't think they were ever much of a deterrent, although they might wake a suburbanite up in the middle of the night if some teenager wanted his stereo. By the time Mr. Suburb had gotten his pants on, though, the teenager and stereo were long gone.

[yeoman6987]

4. I used to walk by it every morning and give it a kick.

I had a big belly laugh over that.

[KMOD]

7. +2

[tabbycat31]

8. My old car's alarm

Was the worst. If you didn't open it with the keyless entry, the alarm (a very loud and obnoxious one) would go off. It was REALLY fun when the battery died on the clicker.

[csziggy]

9. A movie long ago began with kids skateboarding through a parking lot

Slapping every car to set off the alarms. It was some 1980s piece of junk movie, but I loved that scene.

[IDemo]

12. And an undercover cop chuckling at them, as I recall n/t

[MiniMe]

11. Wasn't that Issa's company?

[KT2000]

10. the crows that hang around

a parking lot for a wildlife refuge (WA state) are now imitating the sound of the car alarms. I'm sure they are doing it elsewhere too.

[jberryhill]

13. Lots of mockingbirds do car alarms and lock beeps

[RandiFan1290]

5. Insecurity

[RebelOne]

6. One day a man trying to sell security systems

knocked at my door. I told him I was moving to my son's house, which is true. He asked if maybe my son would be interested in a security system. I told him that my son already had a security system. I think 7 bull dogs are an adequate system. My son is a breeder of English bull dogs and when they all start to bark, they are better than any burglar alarm.