Best Home Security Systems in San Antonio, TX [Top 4 for 2019]

San Antonio, Texas is becoming an increasingly dangerous city. According to the 2016 FBI report on violent crime, San Antonio has experienced an almost 25% increase in overall crime, more than 50% in violent crime, and a nearly 53% rise in murders.

As one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, with a significant disparity in income status, there is some concern that San Antonio may not be able to scale their police force and law enforcement to keep up with the population boom.

Even within the state of Texas, the crime in San Antonio is disproportionately high, more than 96% that of other communities. At one in twenty, the chances of being a victim of property crime are considerably higher than the national average.

The neighborhoods most at risk of property crimes include Cable-Westwood, Thompson Community, Denver Heights, and Coliseum-Willow Park. Residential burglaries and robberies directly affect people’s quality of life, whether or not they were victims themselves, by upsetting their feelings of safety and security within their community.

What Can You Do To Burglar Proof Your Home?

There are a number of small fixes you can apply to make your home less attractive to thieves. Nonetheless, as a large, quickly growing city, San Antonio is more prone to burglaries than smaller, more rural communities.

Secure Your Windows and Doors

Believe it or not, burglars can slip through open and easily opened windows and doors. Think about installing both a cylinder lock and deadlock on your door or even adding strike plate reinforcement. Additionally, if you think the door is not strong enough to withstand a forceful entry, consider replacing it with a stronger one. You can also secure your sliding door with sliding door locks or a security bar. 

As far as windows go, experienced burglars like to scope a home before they break in, so one of the easiest things you can do to burglar-proof your home is to install curtains or blinds. Metal window bars and grilles have been proven to be effective against intruders as well. If you don’t want metal or iron bars, you can opt for decorative window bars that can be customized to suit your house décor. 

However, you should not install anti-burglar window bars for every window. Keep at least one window without bars for emergency use. 

Lock Your Garage

After windows and doors, the garage is another favorite entry point for burglars. If you have an automatic garage door, consider buying something as simple and cheap as a zip tie. This prevents thieves from disabling the automatic door and entering your home. 
Clearly, you shouldn’t leave the garage door open. Make sure it’s shut before you leave the house, and if you often drive away and forget to close it, you may want to install a smartphone connected garage door control. Also, make sure the door between your house and garage is strong and sturdy. 
If your garage door is falling apart, you should install one made from metal or solid wood, so it’s strong enough to withstand burglars’attempts at breaking in. 

Landscape For Security

You can start burglar-proofing your home while planting in your front or backyard. Instead of keeping large bushes or trees, think about placing small, thorny plants such as roses and cacti that can help prevent burglars from entering your home. Remember to keep them at a short height so intruders cannot hide between them or climb on them. Three feet high is a recommended size for shrubs and six feet off the ground is a good height for tree branches. 

You should also avoid placing any sturdy trellises against walls that might be climbed and you shouldn’t keep your ladder visible. You can also place gravel next to the house, as it will make noise when walked on. Remember that landscaping for security doesn’t have to look unpleasant, it can be both safe and beautiful. 

Leave Lights ON When You Are Away

Intruders hate lights, so they will think twice before entering a well-lit home. Don’t leave any dark spots. Having good exterior lighting on a timer helps, but the best is having motion sensor flood lights everywhere. Place lights around your front and backyard, along pathways, and near the garage and other outdoor locations. Consider installing security lights over your windows; you can even save on your energy bill by installing solar-powered lights

What Contributes To Your Risk Factor?

There are several elements that might contribute to your home’s burglary risk factor, including its nearness to transportation hubs, pawn shops, and socially disadvantaged or disorganized areas. Risky time periods depend on the day of the week, but more San Antonio burglaries take place during work hours.

However, the single best way to increase your home’s safety against theft in San Antonio is a good, basic home security system. At their most fundamental level, these systems monitor windows and doors via sensors and a central control panel—but most of them also offer additional features such as fire, smoke, carbon monoxide, and flooding detection.

The companies we’ve mentioned below also offer full automation services, which allow you to control not only your security system, but also the temperature in your house and the light switches, for example. These additional features can help in protecting you from intruders and other dangers.

What Affects The Price of Home Security in San Antonio?

Whether you’re considering a home security system in San Antonio or any other part of the country, one of the most important things is your budget. Most companies in San Antonio offer free consultations, on-site inspections, and quotes with different coverage options. This makes comparison shopping that much easier since you’ll be able to request prices from several different companies and examine them side by side. 

Some typical costs may include an installation fee, monthly fee, and a possible equipment fee as well, which may be billed as a one-time expense or as a monthly rental fee. While some systems require a standard three-year term-length contract, others have auto-renewal policies, and still, others insist on cancellation fees.

How Can You Choose a Provider? 

The last factor to check is a company’s standing and customer service. This way you’ll be able to compare different companies’ratings and reviews regarding their monitoring services, coverage, and customer complaints. The best home security companies pride themselves on their efficient, 24/7 monitoring and coverage, with guarantees.

Verify their Better Business Bureau (BBB) grade, and whether their monitoring centers are UL listed (this means they’ve met or exceeded the standards set forth by Underwriter’s Laboratories, an internationally recognized safety science company). Ideally, they should also have a five-diamond certification from the Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA).

Below, we’ve gathered a list of the top home security companies offering services in San Antonio, Texas. Each one features good response times, efficient customer service, and affordable, customizable plans tailored to your needs and budget.