8:52am, SMSS called to inform me my backup battery was going out. At the end of call, we made arrangements for SMSS to stop by at 5pm to replace the battery even though it's after working hours. 5:20pm, Received a call from SMSS that they're on their way to our house. 5:28pm, Mr. Phil (the Owner) showed up to our house and replaced the battery. He also updated our key pad program and showed other features the security app too. If this is not top notch customer service then I don't know what is. read more

I have been a customer of San Marino Security for the past 7 years. They designed a system based on our specific needs and completed the installation professionally and on-time. I was very specific about certain aspects of the installation and they graciously accommodated all of my requests. This week a great technician named Vic came out to our home to replace all of my batteries and update the firmware on my system. He was very friendly, efficient, and informative. He explained everything to me and made the process incredibly fast and easy. I could not ask for a better experience. I appreciate how responsive San Marino Security has always been to my needs. They always respond very quickly and their customer service really stands out from most other companies. I can't say enough good things about them. I have referred many friends and family to them and everyone has the same experience. I highly recommend San Marino Security. read more

We just moved into a new home in NE LA and were in the market for a new security system, and liked the idea of supporting a local company. From getting us a quote to installation, the folks at San Marino have been great. The installation (David & David) was amazing. They came promptly, and were pure professionals. There were a couple of odd things about my house and David+David helped work through possible solutions with me. The installation was great and they even cleaned up after themselves. Thank you San Marino! read more

Top notch security system from a company with a stellar reputatio. Really professional in setting up a consultation (at no charge) and the installation was two steps: The hardware installation and then a follow up consultation with the owner of the company who took a lot of care in explaining the system and walking me through the steps in using it. I had a great experience and I know my home is in good hands if I need assistance. Update: June 14, 2023: I had to get a new alarm panel installed today due to a construction project that severed the previous panel, and Steve and Eugene were thorough professionals, answered all of my questions and made special efforts to place the new key pad in the original location (not easy since it was very hard to get the wiring reworked). They arrived on time, did an excellent job and were just a pleasure to work with. Thank you so much, Steve, Eugene and all The San Marino Security team! read more

We've had ADT for the last 10 years as the system was already in place when we bought our house. We recently remodeled and had an opportunity to upgrade our security system and decided to get a quote from San Marino. Connor gave us a quote and we really loved his professionalism with the family feel. We love that we have direct contact to the business owners versus waiting 30 minutes on the phone for someone random with ADT. Patrick & Christian did our installation and they were awesome. Not only did they do an exceptionally clean install but they were friendly, polite and good company overall. I really enjoyed their company and getting to know them personally as well. The whole experience has a personal feel to it, which matters a lot to us. Thank you again to the whole team! We are proud to be part of the San Marino family! read more

I'm a very happy longterm San Marino Security user and, in a time of customer service slippage, this co remains a class act. I had a self-created issue w my San Marino Security phone app and they patiently and calmly talked me through a reset. I also wanted a refresher on the system features and their exec Connor Fisher came out to the house and spent a full hour with me, walking me through the system as though I was a new customer. My personal security, and to a lesser extent the security of my property, is somewhere I don't want to scrimp and there's no better outfit than this family-owned and operated company. read more

We have been customers of San Marino Security for over twenty years. The system has been very reliable. We recently replaced our windows and decided to upgrade our security system. The owner, Phil, came to our house and graciously explained all of our options and made it easy to understand. Phil worked with us to coordinate the installation of the new system immediately after the completion of the window project. Fast forward to installation day and Sid & David arrived on time. Sid & David are great representatives of the company. They explained what they were going to do and worked diligently. They were technically sound in the workings of the system and explained everything to us. I really like that this is a locally owned business and the personal service that they provide. I would highly recommend San Marino Security and especially Sid & David. read more

I hired San Marino Security to update my old home security system. I had an old Brinks/ADT system, and wanted new equipment as well as a video doorbell and new key pads. I got a very reasonable quote from San Marino. The owner Phil is very hands-on. He was the one who gave me the initial quote, and was able to present all options without trying a hard sell. He has experience in law enforcement, lives in the area, and knows the crime trends. I also like using a local company - you definitely get more personal service than an ADT-type place. They also were able to incorporate the new wireless sensors with parts of my old wired system, so I saved a little money. The install was very efficient. The installers were nice guys, courteous, and made every effort to be Covid-safe. We have had the new system for over a month now, and I really like it. It's very easy to use, the app is wonderful and has worked without fail, and there are so many parts of the system that are customizable (for example, each door and window could have a different sound when opened, if you wish). The digital key pads are also easy to use and look good. They are always reachable in an emergency, and the owner even says you can call him at any time of the day or night if there is a problem. I actually asked if they would come back and move the siren to a different location -- I was worried that the original placement was too close to my next door neighbors' window - and being 85 years old, I didn't want to give them a heart attack if the alarm should happen to go off. They came back out and re-routed the siren to the front, with no extra charge. All in all, so far so good! read more

We inherited the original manual keypad security system installed by San Marino Security Systems when we first bought this home from the previous homeowner. Phil Raacke was really nice, professional, and courteous, and walked us through how to use the security system that already came with the home, and he was really patient about answering all of our questions. Ever since 2010, San Marino Security Systems has provided us with very courteous and exceptional service. Overall, the manual keypad system was fine for the past 8 years. We only had to replace the battery once during that entire time. But we finally decided to upgrade to the digital security system that they have been providing to their customers ever since last year. The newer system allows you to arm and disarm your security alarm system using an app on your smartphone, and it keeps track of all the activity that goes on in your home im terms of arming, disarming, etc. This makes it so much easier, compared to the old manual system in which you had to run to the keypad each time to arm or disarm your system. You can also add, delete, and change your passcode anytime. They are very backlogged with installation and service requests because their company is very popular and well-known throughout the San Gabriel Valley! I had to book an upgrade/installation date at least 1 to 2 months in advance because they were completely booked! It was just as hard to get an installation appointment as it is to get a doctor's appointment! But we have to admit that it was well worth it!! We would rather have them provide service to our home compared to a company that we don't know anything about. We liked how San Marino Security Systems provided us with the names of the two technicians (Sid and Connor) so we would know who to expect. That is always a really nice touch! And both Sid and Connor were really awesome and professional in terms of getting right to work when they came by. Even though the entire day was allocated from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm for them to work, they were really efficient and finished shortly after 12 noon. They said the entire day is usually allocated for one home, just in case they run into technical difficulties. But fortunately, they said set-up in our place went pretty smoothly, which is why they finished in just a few hours. Phil came by afterwards at around 4:30 pm to explain how to use our new digital system. Just as he had when he first explained the old manual system to us 8 years ago, he was really patient and courteous when he explained and walked us through how to use the features of our new digital system. We would highly recommend San Marino Security Systems to anyone in the San Gabriel Valley area!! They are truly awesome and amazing!! And they go above and beyond for their clients! read more

I have had San Marino security installed for several months now, and I've been very happy with it. I initially looked into San Marino because of their wonderful reputation. I also have several friends and family in local law enforcement who all recommended San Marino over other options, and I'm glad I went with them. Their installation is all done in house, not contracted out to 3rd party companies. The employees were extremely courteous, and even wore shoe covers in our home. They always kept the areas of the house they were working on neat and clean, and always kept us in the loop on what was going on. After installation, they personally take the time to ensure that you understand all the features of your panel, app, and any other service with them. The system has been very easy to use, very modern interface, and everything has worked flawlessly. I highly recommend San Marino Security. read more

Safety and security delivered with professionalism and kindness: San Marino Security Systems is the best! Connor Fisher personally explained our system before and after it was installed, then came back six months later to help us re-learn the details so that we would not be afraid to use it. He did not make us feel like we were imposing on him, on the contrary he was glad to make a return visit to make sure we understood how the to get the most out of our first-class security system. This family owned and operated company is a model operation from start to finish, with amazing customer care. San Marino Security was recommended to us by the person who sold us our Pasadena home, and we will recommend them to anyone who asks. Not that we have to: they already protect nearly everyone around us, to great effect. We are thankful to be their clients. read more

I am not one to write many reviews, however I thought it was only fair to write one about Phil and his company. We had called both San Marino as well as Post security systems for a quote. I was not expecting Phil, the owner of the company, to show up for this. But I am so glad he did. He was informative and not once did we feel pressured to purchase his system. He was able to answer all our questions and was frank about what aspects of security we did or did not need. Our experience with Post alarm was the complete opposite! The representative arrived one hour late. Which I chalked up to LA traffic. However there was no follow through. The rep never even emailed us a quote until I called requesting it! He wasn't half as knowledgeable and ultimately I just did not feel like they were invested in our security as much as San Marino Security. Overall Phil's knowledge, demeanor and experience in the field as a sargeant won us over. We couldn't be happier with the system. read more

When we moved into our first SM home in 1999, SMS installed the securtiy system. We never had any monitoring or equipment issues. 3 years later, we moved to another SM home and "adopted" a POST system. For 14 years, absolutely no issues or problems. So, why did I switch? 1. PROMPT & PUNCTUAL: From the initial appointment with Phil (the owner), to system installation, the crew was as on time,courteous, and professional. I also appreciated that the office called with estimated installation time and updates. 2. NO PRESSURE: Phil, personally and patiently took the time to explain and present the latest equipment and capabilities of today's technology which is simply amazing. At the same time, I did not detect any "up-sale" tactics. Although we did not opt for all the "bells and whistles", we plan to get use to the system for a few months before considering expanding. 3. TECHNOLOGY: The panel / interface and is the best there is. I suggest you do your research yourself. If the Huntington Library and Norton Simon Museum uses this system, then by all means, it is good enough for my humble abode. Software updates can be performed seamlessly online... Welcome to the 21st Century. POST does not carry this technology or panel. 4. VALUE: The monthly $50/month or system cost was not a huge consideration, however, if you prepay 11 months...the last month is free. POST did not offer this to us. 5. POLICE RESPONSE TIME: I saw the previous feedback regarding SMS utilizing an inferior monitoring system. Yes, POST has their own monitoring station. HOWEVER, again, perform your due diligence. SMS is currently utilizing the top dog monitoring station in the industry. 6. ONLY SHORTCOMING: SMS does not offer CCTV. Thus, we opted to use an independent CCTV contractor whom offered better commercial equipment for much less $$ than POST. This is not a bash POST and praise SMS review. I had absolutely no issues with POST. That being said, my choice to go with SMS was due to the technology, service, and the personal touch that Phil has extended. When the security and well being of my family is at risk, I'm not willing to compromise, and neither should you. read more

We have been with San Marino Security for over 25 years, Two houses and two complete system installs. Over the years, they have serviced and maintained our systems promptly. Phil Raacke is a security expert who pays impeccable attention to detail; his entire team is professional and courteous. Edson and Kris installed a complete system upgrade today. They showed up on time, explained exactly what they were doing, completed the job within the expected time and left their work areas clean. Shortly after the installation team finished, Phil personally came to the house to show us how to use the new system and software. I often recommend and refer people to San Marino Security. This is a local family business that does things the right way. read more

Eugene and Edson did a great job installing our new system. Thought through everything and asked all the right questions. Phil did a great job giving us a tutorial. We're very pleased with the system -- not cheap, but there's an old saying about that. read more

Our installation service went perfect due to the professionalism of Victor, Steven and Sid. Our home had alot of challenges and they worked efficiently in troubleshooting all that they faced. We never felt inconvenienced while they were in our home. We received excellent training by Victor and Connor with his thorough follow-up visit. We are confident this was an excellent decision to change security companies to San Marino Security Systems. read more

OK, but don't inspire confidence. Installed hardware: 2 stars. Keypad is flakey: every week or two, when I'm entering my code to turn it off, when I push one number it registers another number - then it triggers the alarm. But it never happens when I call the service person, so they refuse to replace it. Monitoring service: 3 stars. Sometimes have to wait several minutes for someone to pick up the phone. A lot can happen in that time, if it's a real emergency! Office: 3 stars. Nice people but invoices are routinely confusing/misleading. Sales: 2 stars. The CEO (Raacke) ignored my first call. Then he spent a long time bad-mouthing his competition - very un-professional. read more

Was in the market for a home security system, had 3 different companies visit the property, and went with San Marino. Phil's professionalism and experience in law enforcement were unmatched when we did our comparisons. My mom accidentally tripped the alarm and I received a call within a minute from dispatch. Luckily it was a false alarm, but it shows how quick the response time is. Would recommend them to anyone looking to get a home security system. read more

My family has been using SanMarino for the last year. We love their customer service. Phil(the owner) was so helpful and accommodating. He even took the type to educate my father in law who has been looking into a security system for his own house. Phil also helped and recommended a least expensive camera system called KUNA. They are great cameras for close quarters.. Thank you to PhilAnd the entire SanMarino team from installation to mon Our system has been working great. read more

San Marino Security set up a new security system for our home and I couldn't be happier with their service. Connor came out to provide the initial quote and was very courteous and informative. We then had to schedule a number of installation sessions during our home remodel - I loved that I could call their number and always talk to a representative immediately (yes, that's right - I was never put on hold for a single second.) The installation crew was also amazing - they definitely knew what they were doing and were very clean and neat in their installation of the hardware and sensors, etc. I could tell that their focus was on doing the job well and not on rushing or cutting corners. Felix and Dave, in particular, from the install team were terrific. I'm so glad I went with San Marino Security and would definitely recommend them to anyone! read more

My family and friends had San Marino Security for their homes and they have been very happy with them. I have seen first hand the response time and results when the alarm is tripped. Therefore, when I purchased my home recently, I only made one choice on my list to choose. I did read all the Yelp comments about the company and Phil and they are spot on. Phil is really a nice gentlemen and pleasure to speak with. The process of having an estimate, installation and instructional time is convenient. However, do expect a little of wait time to have the installation done. They are that busy. Overall, I like my new alarm and the convenience of mobile apps. It is much easier than the old days that I remember for house alarms. read more

Top notch security system from a company with a stellar reputation. Really professional in setting up a consultation (at no charge) and the installation was two steps: The hardware installation and then a follow up consultation with the owner of the company who took a lot of care in explaining the system and walking me through the steps in using it. I had a great experience and I know my home is in good hands if I need assistance. read more

Excellent company! Thank you for sending Edson and Victor to our site. We appreciate the excellent service! Edson and Victor were professional, efficient and helpful. Thank you for taking care of us all these years! Bravo!! read more

We have been customers of San Marino Security for over 5 years and always receive wonderful service. We just had a radio replaced on our system and David did a great job and even discovered why we we're having connectivity issues. Great service! read more

We were burglarized in February and decided to reinvest our insurance dollars into the best home security system available. We heard about SMSS's great reputation by word of mouth, so we connected to get a free consultation. Phil is very personable, compassionate, informed, and professional. The high level of service and attention is very assuring. Their technology is top notch and the app is extremely user friendly. I highly recommend going with the best when protecting your home. read more

I just moved from New York to LA and was looking for a good security system. My wife is from Pasadena and her parents recommended San Marino. I truly had the best experience with this company. Connor came for an initial quote and made me feel like we were joining a family. He spent time analyzing my home and recommending only what was necessary for my family's needs. He never tried to sell me anything that he didn't think I wanted or needed. I chose to go with San Marino and the installation team came a week or so later. Felix and Dave came to do the install and they were awesome. They installed everything while my movers were there and it was great to have them with so many people moving in and out of the house. Felix surveyed the property and made sure to put up signs around the yard at all entries to let people know we were protected by San Marino. He then walked me through a quick tutorial so that I could begin setting the alarm right away. Felix, Connor, and Dave made me feel like part of the San Marino family and I am grateful to have chosen this company. I highly recommend using this company and if possible, requesting these three people help with setup and install. read more

This is a well-run company - family owned and operated - and yet feels like they only care about you! Connor was very easy going, explained everything and developed a great program for a new system in my home - having just moved to Pasadena. The technicians were amazing, fast, detailed and explained everything if I had questions. The follow up is awesome too! read more

Extremely professional service and installation of our new security system. We switched from a big and corporate security company to this local business and the difference was immediate. Both of the technicians, Victor and Dave, were conscientious of our home and made sure the installation was seamless, avoiding any blemishes to the infrastructure of our house. Victor and Dave also answered any and all questions we had about the features and function of the keypad and the app. In a very short time, we had our new security system ready to go and now feel much better about the safety of our home and family. read more

We have been FOP (fans of Phil) for the past thirty years. We recently upgraded our system so that we can manage it via phone/iPad from anywhere. Can't say enough about his installers -- Simon and Lim. They arrived with masks, of course. Very professional and polite. Loved it that they cleaned up after themselves without being asked. Highly recommend Phil, his office staff and installers -- based upon the work they just completed, as well as great services over the past 30 years. read more

We have had our alarm monitoring system from San Marino Security Systems for over one year now. Our system was installed when promised, and the monitoring service has been consistently reliable. That said, I've had a few sensors fall off, but the company has been good about calling installers back to re-attach the sensors. Generally, my experience has been very positive, and merits a solid 4 stars. I would gladly upgrade this to 5 stars, but for the fact that another sensor has since fallen off (I need to call and request someone to come fix it), and that the monitoring station doesn't have the ability to remotely turn off a triggered alarm (I recently had a false alarm, and had to hustle back home to turn it off so as to not annoy my neighbors). I'm not sure if there are any alarm companies that have the ability to do so, but if there is, they would definitely deserve 5 stars. read more

I've been using San Marino Security since 2003 and they have been great. Their customer service is excellent. Their response time to your alarm going off is really fast. Their guys that do the installation are also very good. This past year we moved and we had San Marino Security move our system to the new house. They were fast and they did a really clean job removing the alarm and reinstalling it in our new house. They took the extra time to explain all the work they were doing and made some really good recommendations for our alarm. They also took the extra time to make sure our place was clean after their work was done. Most of our friends in the area use San Marino Security and they couldn't be happier with them. read more

I have had recently upgraded my 25-year-old security system. I'm incredibly pleased with the system Phil designed - it's state of the art. San Marino Security is the best! A security system that gives me the ultimate peace of mind. read more

San Marino Security Systems has been our home alarm provider for quite a while, and have always been professional and efficient. Last week we had SMSS install an Internet Module so that we no longer need our landline. They scheduled an appointment for us, and then let us know when a cancellation materialized. Eliza, Marcie & Jenny are always pleasant, responsive, knowledgeable and efficient. The installation technicians arrived on time and were done in 40 minutes. Office staff explained billing for our upgrade, and Eric walked me through downloading the App for our cell phones, and then connecting with our home's system. Being tech-challenged, I had to bother Eric several times, and he always maintained his very patient and professional demeanor. Highly rrecommend SMSS, Anita read more

We recently became customers of San Marino Security Systems after a break-in in our neighborhood. The technicians that came out for the installation were very professional and the owner Phil met with us to review the technology logistics with us, which was super helpful! We leaned that the technology that this company utilizes is very secure,which is important to ensure protection of our home. Highly recommend! read more

We our new customers of San Marino Security and just had their system installed last week. We decided to switch to San Marino based on a personal recommendation, the many positive reviews for the company as well as the presence of the company in our area. Connor Fisher (and Eliza in the office) was our primary contact and he did a fantastic job coordinating our installation, explaining the security system to us and providing top-notch customer service. They were able to integrate our existing cameras into their system, which saved us a significant amount of hardware cost. Our system was installed by Lim, Victor and Edson, who all did a great job. They were courteous, knowledgeable and efficient. We have a mid century house with many quirks that they were able to work through to set up our system. Our family is very happy with San Marino and give them an A+! read more

I have renewed my security system, I called the office and told with Eliza, she is so nice to explain what I should need to know. Now everything is done . I am so satisfy not only the security service but also Elisa and Connor ,thanks both of you! read more

Wanted to give an update on my review of two years ago. I've moved out and I just wanted to say that Phil and his crew have been extremely gracious and helpful moving out our security stuff. They came to our house and uninstalled everything and packed it up so we could move it to our next home. All free of charge. Then, Phil did some research and found out the best companies for us to choose from to get similar type of service. I mean, think about it. He didn't have to do any of this. I wasn't paying him anything extra, in fact we weren't going to be his customers anymore because we were moving out of state. And he STILL went the extra mile to help us out without expecting anything in return. If that isn't class, I don't know what is. SMSS is the golden standard of how companies should treat their clients. 10/10! read more

Mr. Phil Raacke and San Marino Security Sytems have secured my personal residence, our Parish Rectory, and St. Edmund's Episcopal Parish Church in San Marino for 21 years, and we could not be happier...or feel more confident...in the relationship we have established with San Marino Security Systems. Though responsible for providing security for a great many business and personal residences, the service offered by San Marino Security is personal, tailored to individual (and parish) need, and is a definite relationship as opposed to a simple business contract. If there are ever inquiries, the response is immediate, and again, personal. San Marino Security recently upgraded my home system, and the new features linking my system to my iPhone, and detaching the system from my land-line are just remarkable and provide a yet additional level of confidence in the security of my personal residence. It is a pleasure to continue our relationship with San Marino Security Systems, and I strongly recommend their attentive and diligent service to any who may be seeking greater security for home or business. The Reverend Canon George F. Woodward III Rector St. Edmund's Episcopal Church San Marino, California read more

Let me start by saying, I've always preferred to deal with a family owned business for the attention I receive.... This is my review of San Marino Security System. I started to inquire about upgrading my current security system (from another family owned company I'll refer to them as A) after one of my zones malfunctioned and could not be repaired (at least that was what the technicians told me). Keep in mind, I've had nothing but praise for the A company and have been loyal to them for over 10+ years. Whenever I had an issue, the owner will respond and stop by within a matter of hours. However, everything changed when I had a current issue of a malfunctioning zone. It took over 1 week for a technician to come out and he was over an hour late, even though I was the 1st appointment that day. I think the company grew too big too fast to care about the little people. After the technicians left, I started looking around for a different security company. I interacted with the following companies... ADT - went to the website and called the 844 number (not impressed especially they use contractors to install their systems) FrontPoint- had to give info and they will call you right away. Extremely high pressure sales, will not let me off the phone for over an hour (I don't care how great of a review your system gets, don't pressure me) SimpliSafe- offered the best website for quotation but system signal is not encrypted (major turnoff) The biggest drawbacks for all 3 above companies THEY ARE ALL OUT OF STATE & AND MOST OF THEM HAVE CONTRACTS! San Marino Security System- called for a quote but was offered an appointment with a gentleman named Phil. (Oh no, salesman coming to my house!) At this point, I didn't know Phil was the owner. We made a 16:00 appointment with Phil and by 15:40 he was already sitting in his truck infront of my house(Nice!). He went over a brief bio of SMSS and how they are different (this is when I found out he was the owner of SMSS) vs. other companies. He then proceeded to ask for permission to enter my home and removed his shoes. After going through the house, he offered what he thought would be beneficial for us and offered to reuse some of the equipment from Company A (which actually saved us money). He then gave us an estimate of the cost and monthly charge depending on features and obtained some information and left. The very next day a typed proposal was sent via email. My wife and I both agreed we like the professionalism and expertise demonstrated by SMSS and we would like to give them a chance to earn our business. We both signed the proposal and set up an appointment to install our new security system. The installation crew showed up right on time, they wore plastic covers on their shoes to help keep the house clean. The installation was completed in 1 day (I was quoted 2 days) and was done within a matter of hours. After the installation was completed, SMSS called me to schedule an appointment with Phil to come out and demonstrate the system. On the day of the appointment(Monday), nobody showed (I waited for over an hour)....I was thinking to myself "Oh no, SMSS is just like my previous alarm company." On my way to work, I decided to call SMSS just to offer them a piece of my mind. When I called, I spoke to Gladys and she was very apologetic and told me my appointment is the same time but Tuesday, not Monday. I told her I left a voice mail message to confirm my appointment on Friday and someone called me on Sunday to confirm my appointment was set up for Monday(at this point I was still upset). Gladys was very composed and offered to put me on a brief hold to contact Phil. After she come back, she asked if 18:00 will be ok to have Phil stop by and demonstrate the system. At first, I was just thinking, YEAH RIGHT! 18:00..NO WAY Phil is going to come out at that time...I was wrong! By 17:30 Phil showed up in front of my house and took his time on demonstrating the alarm system to us. (Not once did he rush the demo, I'm sure he wanted to go home to his family). Asked us if we had any questions or concerns and thanked us for our business. Now we just have to wait to see how the after sales service holds up...if our current experience is an indication of how SMSS operates, we should be with them for a very long time! read more

We have been extremely happy with the security system; service and emergency alerts during our almost 5 years as customers. We have dealt with the owner, office staff and technicians during this time. All are very accessible, knowledgeable and professional. In fact, Victor, the technician that came last week not only wore a face mask, but also put in booties over his shoes when he entered our home. I highly recommend San Marino Security for your home. read more