We were thinking of getting an alarm fitted on our property when we get the keys in April being as we won't be living there for a year or so. We had originally thought of an alarm monitoring system, but people tell us that by the time the police or the monitoring company get there, the scumbags have probably done the deed and gone.

We thought at least a normal alarm might be a bit of a deterrent.

However we have now been told it is against the law to have a bell on the outside of the property that we can only have box. This seems to defeat the object of having an alarm.

Does anyone know if that is true.

As far as I can tell from my perusals online, you can have an acoustic alarm, but you may run the risk of falling foul of false alarms. For systems connected to a monitoring centre that would result in a police call-out, the penalty is quite severe:

Si el motivo por el que salta la alarma es un descuido o error del propietario de la casa y el error se ha producido dos veces consecutivas, la tercera vez deberá pagar una multa, recogida en la ley, cuyo importe oscila entre los 3.000 euros y los 30.000 euros.

(In brief: 3 consecutive false alarms and you will be fined between €3,000 and €30,000).

It's therefore reasonable to assume that false alarms for acoustic systems (and they do happen with cheap systems) that cause the police to turn up once too many times will result in a fine.

Bear in mind that if the police turn up (because a neighbour called them) and can't turn off the alarm, they are going to be even more pissed.

What I would consider is to get a system that alerts you via SMS to your mobile (telefonica fixed line can be used to carry the SMS) and possibly also has a flashing light alarm trigger to deter would be break-ins. Then setup an agreement with any helpful and friendly neighbours to check on your house when you call them perhaps? Just something I was thinking about myself.

Addendum: The External Bell thing may be a "Normativa Local" (Local Law). Consult your local "Ayuntamiento" (Council) to determine for sure.

Gill,I dont live in Spain but i use X10 security systems.I have six cameras placed around my house up under the eaves and they are hooked up to my computer through a receiver.These cameras are very small,between one and two inches in diameter,and you can set them to record every 30 seconds or every minute or whatever you want to set them at.Mine are working off a motion detector and they create a log which you can revue.You can also program them in so that you can see your property from anywhere in the world by logging on to a computer and punching in your code or telephone number.I also have another system inside the house which sets off an alarm if anyone breaks in through the window or doors and calls two or three telephone numbers that i have programmed in.We have never had any problems here but its there just in case.I also have it programmed into my TV set in my music room and can watch all around my property whilst playing music or on my PC.You can buy these in Europe. http://www.x10.com/home2.html#cameras There are plenty of systems on the market,hope this helps.Brian

Thanks to both of you for your replies. The only problem is that we could wait 12 months or more for a telefonica line and as we are not going to be living there for 18 months/2 years will not need the line until we actually move in.

We were considering Prosegur whose system operates without a landline, but as I said we don't think they are any use especially as we will be in the UK.

Your system sounds good, my brother-in-laws' business has the same system, but we won't know anyone in spain whose number we can give.

That is a worry about false alarms. We have only had it happen once in the UK and I think that was because we had a power cut and the back up battery was knackered, but we had a good system fitted so it never happened again once we replaced the backup battery.

Don't know what the answer is. We will have double glazing, then grills, then aluminium shutters fitted on the outside plus a security door on the front with a grill or a roller shutter and not much in the property other than white goods and two beds so nothing for them to nick, but the scumbags don't know that.

Our next door neighbours stuck up a few dummy camera bodies and a couple of signs (I can't remember if they've got a box as well). It's not going to put off a pro (but then nor would a similarly weak alarm system - they'd deliberately set it off, then come back later, for example) but it might provide some sort of deterrent to the opportunist, think-I'll-have-a-go type.

With a PC-controlled system you could hook it up to a mobile phone using a SIM card and avoid the need for a land-line to call/send alerts/SMS.

However, my reservations would be the reliance on a PC which could fail over time. You'd need a UPS system to protect everything and some skills in putting together a robust setup, not to mention the cost factor.

I also have a camera set-up which I can view remotely, from anywhere, but not sure how much of a deterrent this is. It gives peace of mind (as in the house is still standing ).

Gill, if you're not going to be living in your house for some time, does that mean there will be nothing in the house to steal. This is defiantly the best deterrent of all.

We won't be living in the property for some time and it will not have much in it, but the scumbags won't know that until they have actually broken in and maybe damaged the door or windows and we would not know, and no-one would know how to contact us to tell us. That is our worry.

It is a new urb. so won't know anyone and we may not even have any neighbours at first. It is a worry. We probably won't go out there much as we are saving every penny so that we can go permanently.

Well I just have to ask Gill - where are you going to that makes you so sure that you will be surrounded by "scumbags"?

I sort of get the impression that there are plenty of scumbags out there waiting to relieve us of our possessions one way or the other from the posts on the various forums to do with crime. I am not referring to people who live around me!!

Gill, we don't live in our place either yet, but when we bought it we asked around locally and found someone quite easily who looks after villas. They check our villa regularly, go in and flush the loo's, make sure everything is in order, and report to us by email. All for 8 euros a week. We don't have an alarm. but we have grills, shutters and double glazing and an 8 bolt security door. I also let the villa for holidays because I'd rather there someone be in there than not. (And the extra revenue doesn't go amiss)

Its worth asking the question whilst you're there - theres bound to be someone locally.

Hi Gill,

Its a tough call - make the place like a fortress and the determined thief will think there's something worthwhile inside - as previously mentioned enough security to put off the opportunist may be the answer? One thing I'm going for is actually a designed for the auto industry - basically its a movement detector/pir linked to a mobile phone - it texts you when triggered.

This with a local company that visits twice a week - not sure what more you can do?

Personally I take the view that this device is ideal as it also ensures that your local company does what they say they will and any letting co doesn't let your property without you knowing about it!!

Good luck

Thanks for your reply. Can you give me details of where to get the movement detector/pir you are referring to as as least if that's linked to a mobile phone, we can then ring the company who will be going out to our property once a week to go and secure the property if there is any damage.

Hi

Just contact an auto electrician/car alarm fitter - there are many similar systems on the market.

If you struggle PM me and I'll send you details of my auto electrician.
Cheers