We did some Googling and came across a Wollongong-based company called Securepro Security, which imports a Taiwanese-manufactured system called the LS-30.

It uses wireless technology to communicate between sensors and controller, which means you can — with a little attention to the manual and a useful FAQ sheet — install it yourself without having to lay wires and mount brackets. This has the added advantage of allowing you to take it with you if you move house.

What we particularly liked about the LS-30 was the fact that it was a good deal more informative than the average monitoring service. Plug it in to your phone line— or a VoIP line — and feed it some phone numbers, and it will ring them with a recorded message alert if it detects a break-in. Add an optional smoke alarm, and it will report a fire.

It does all the usual jobs like panic and medical alarms, and other sensors are available to monitor temperatures etc.

While you’re on the line with your LS-30 a built-in microphone allows you to listen for any activity in the house, to assess whether you’re dealing with a genuine break-in or a false alarm. You can even speak to an intruder in your house via the speaker, which could, we imagine, be an unsettling experience for someone replenishing stock levels at your expense. We can think of several things we’d like to get off our mind to someone like that.

If you key in your password and some code numbers, you can check the precise source of an alert, extend the monitoring procedure and reset the alarm remotely.

We found setting up the system was relatively easy, although we’d suggest allocating a full day to the process of installing batteries (some specialist devices require a 12-volt battery or DC power pack), enrolling all the sensors and changing the settings, and mounting them and the external (solar-powered) siren. We made a couple of free calls to SecurePro to clear up some points, and found they were extremely helpful.

We mounted four internal sensors using the supplied Velcro tape strips, but even with the additional cost of a handyman who did a particularly neat job mounting four door sensors, an outdoor detector to monitor the back yard and the rooftop siren, we spent $1350. A competent do-it-yourself person would have been up for around $1200 for our set-up. A more basic package of the main console, three passive infrared motion detectors, two key-chain remote controls and a wireless external siren and strobe costs $890.

We now have a zoned system that can detect any intrusions on the perimeter while Bleeding Edge is at home, and we don’t have any ongoing costs, aside from having to replace two AAA alkaline batteries in each sensor every couple of years. Each component has a two-year warranty.

We found enrolling devices and changing settings was simple enough, although slightly tedious using the controller’s keyboard panel and LCD screen. Things are considerably faster if you install the proprietary HyperSecureLink software on your PC, Mac or Linux box, and buy the optional USB or serial port link. You could also buy an Ethernet adapter and control your system remotely via the internet.

Something tells us that you’re not likely to pick one of them up at the local pawn broker.