The Best Home Security Companies in Los Angeles

In a city like Los Angeles, cookie-cutter services are never the answer. La La Land is home to a widely diverse population represented by renters, homeowners, families, and working singles. The thing all these households have in common is the need for security. Of all the home security services across Los Angeles, we found three that stood out the most.

Protection Alarms wins our place for the best home security in Los Angeles. This company offers a range of options for homes, apartments, and businesses throughout Los Angeles County. The installation professionals provide a personalized consultation to create a custom package that fits your space, budget, and needs. Protection Alarms can install a burglar alarm in your home, an access system for your apartment building, CCTV cameras for your business, or even a medical alert system in your parents’ condo. We chose Protection Alarms as the best home security company in Los Angeles because its services are as diverse as LA’s residents.

There are hundreds of home security providers in Los Angeles, but we narrowed it down to three local stars. Protection Alarms, San Marino Security Systems, and APS Security Systems have the flexible rates, friendly service, and reliable equipment that make a quality local security company. It’s normal for regional security companies to avoid set product packages and prices like those you’d see from national brands. This custom approach means you get an effective security system designed for your space. But this means it can be difficult to find transparent pricing, so we called each company to learn more about them.

While looking for home security systems in LA County, we noticed several companies that combine services like security, locksmithing, surveillance, and even TV mounting. If you’re interested in a surveillance-only system that specializes in security cameras, First Digital Surveillance is a company that stood out to us. Camera-only systems are useful for catching intruders after an incident, but they don’t help much with prevention. That said, we recommend First Digital Surveillance if you’re interested in a camera-only local provider.

Protection Alarms caught our eye with a high rating on popular review sites. We saw consistent reports of friendly customer service and impressive professionalism from your first consultation to questions you have after the system’s installed. We called the company to find out more directly from the source.

Protection Alarms serves businesses and homes across Los Angeles with alarms, access control, cameras and surveillance, and even medical alerts. Each system is customized to your needs. When we called, the customer rep put us in contact with the company’s owner, Paul. Paul was open and helpful with all our questions. He even gave us his personal number for further questions. We asked him how his company’s services worked and he told us it depended on our home and what we needed.

While Protection Alarms knocks it out of the park for customer service, its pricing could be high for some people. You can expect to pay anywhere from $500 to $1,500 for your new security system. The good news is it’s customized for your home or business. The bad news is you’ll need to pay an extra $45 to use Protection Alarms’s app that lets you control your system remotely. Without this app, you’ll have to arm and disarm your system in person (which could mean getting back into traffic to drive home and turn it off).

The Bottom Line: Protection Alarms delivers quality systems with friendly, competent service, but the price is steeper than most national security brands.

San Marino Security Systems was founded by Phil Raacke, a former San Marino police officer. After retiring from the force, Raacke founded San Marino Security Systems to help save time and resources with a reliable system. With this specialized knowledge, Raacke designed a system that minimizes false alarms. False alarms throughout Los Angeles have become such a problem for police that alarm fees have become a standard charge for anyone with a security system. We like seeing law enforcement and security systems bridged, and it makes a lot of sense to purchase a security system from a former officer.

The company provides a variety of safety and security equipment to over 25 areas across Los Angeles County. This isn’t your everyday burglar system either. San Marino Security can install CCTV camera surveillance, a fire system, and even pool sensors in addition to a burglar alarm. Even if you have an existing security system or similar devices in your home, they can upgrade anything from locks to sprinkler systems.

San Marino also provides custom packages to all its customers. San Marino Security can install anything from a simple burglar alarm to an intercom system for an entire apartment complex. Plus, its monitoring station is based in the Los Angeles area, making emergency response faster and more accurate. That said, San Marino Security comes with a steep initial payment, but you won’t be locked into a contract. There’s no cancellation fee or contract, so if you’re unsatisfied with your service, you can cancel at any time.

The Bottom Line: A highly customized system without a contract or extra fees makes San Marino Security Systems a good candidate for renters who need anything from a fire alarm to surveillance cameras.

APS Security Systems is unique because it has no set pricing, making it a fitting choice if you want to avoid big-box, one-size-fits-all security systems. With no rates set in stone, you can customize your security system however you want. We like this kind of flexibility, especially for customers with unique security challenges like owning a large pet or having lots of visitors throughout the day like cleaning staff or dog walkers. APS Security’s approach to pricing made it hard to get a quote based on a simple inquiry, but it’s a worthy trade for customization.

If you’re planning on a larger security system, APS Security is worth checking out because installation is free. You can opt for your dream system and not worry about those extra hidden fees. Like Protection Alarms and San Marino Security Systems, installation times will depend on how many devices you want in your home. But you can expect a thorough walkthrough once your system is up so you know how to use it when the pros leave.

We also like that APS’s monitoring station is located in the Los Angeles area. Speaking with a monitoring professional who knows the area means you’ll get help faster from the right sources. You can also choose a custom response to your home alerts by opting for police dispatch, sending a security guard, or receiving a simple call and text.

The Bottom Line: If you have unique security needs that other systems can’t address, APS Security can give you a quote for your custom system and free installation.

Local brands offer expert knowledge of your area, personalized customer service, and flexible equipment plans. But if you’re looking for the right home security system for your home in Los Angeles, national brands are worth a look too.

Companies like ADT, Vivint, and Frontpoint also come with their share of advantages. These large companies have the resources and customer base to serve you anywhere in Los Angeles. Prices and equipment are more uniform, so you know what to expect when it’s time to install. But expect some fine print when it comes to contracts and extra fees.

Advantages

• Knows your neighborhood
• Offers equipment from different brands
• Installs a personalized system

Disadvantages

• Limited resources
• Longer installation times
• Higher prices

Advantages

• Serves a wider customer base
• Provides more transparent pricing

Disadvantages

• High-pressure sales
• More fine print
• Less personalization

Neighborhood

In a sprawling city like Los Angeles, your neighborhood is your home. But every neighborhood is different. The amount of crime and resources in your area can affect how much security you’ll need. When you start shopping for a home security system, check out statistics in your area with resources like Area Vibes or Neighborhood Scout. Using this site, we found that the three safest neighborhoods in Los Angeles are in the Encino, Topanga, and Glendale areas. The closer to downtown and the farther southeast you live, the more crime you’re likely to see. This doesn’t mean you should avoid these areas, but if you live there, a security system can make it a little safer for you and your home.

Alarm Fees

Home security owners in Los Angeles also need to watch out for false alarms. With such a large area to serve, the LAPD is stretched for staff and time. Real and false alarms come with a fee from the police department. These charges encourage homeowners to possess a valid permit for their alarms ($48 for a permit, $31 for renewal). A home security system with remote mobile control could save you (and the LAPD) time and money down the road.

Environmental Factors

Environmental factors like earthquakes and wildfires can be serious in Los Angeles and across Southern California. While a security system can’t prevent these natural threats, it can keep your home safe. Look for a system with a long backup battery so it continues working after the power goes out or you’ve evacuated.

Los Angeles Crime Statistics

Los Angeles isn’t the safest city, but you can avoid trouble by taking precautionary measures. Overall, we found that property crime is the biggest threat to LA residents. According to the LAPD’s year-to-date report, in August 2019, there were 5,810 robberies, 8,192 burglaries, and 20,632 incidences of personal and property theft. The good news is these numbers are lower than 2018. All of these findings reflect what we saw from Neighborhood Scout about Los Angeles’s safest neighborhoods.

We started our research online, looking at the reviews on Google and Yelp. The top companies were ones with the highest ratings from the most people on popular review sites used by Angelinos. We learned about each company’s services and pricing to start narrowing the field. We began by eliminating camera-only and multiservice companies, which are easy to find throughout Los Angeles. What we wanted was a home security company comparable to the best home security systems available nationwide.

Once we chose our candidates, we gave them a call and asked about basic prices, contracts, equipment, and installation in Pasadena. After Protection Alarms’s sales representative answered a portion of my questions, they transferred me directly to the company’s owner. The owner was knowledgeable, friendly, and quick to respond to the questions we had.

Local Resources

• SafeWise California Home Security and Crime Prevention Center

California Statistics and Trends

• California Safest Cities
• 100 Safest Cities