Car Alarms: Has the alarm gone off last night?, david answer, night question

Question
QUESTION: Dear Alarmtek,

I'm shopping for a car alarm to have installed in my 98 RAV4 parked in an area known for break-ins.

I'm looking for a basic alarm with a very simple feature: an indicator (on the dashboard or elsewhere) that shows _whether the alarm has gone off_ or not since the car was parked.

It's my understanding that most alarms come with a light or led indicator on the dashboard.  I'm looking for an alarm that changes the state of this indicator so that it's easy to tell when returning to the car whether the alarm had gone off.  This could be a change in led color or just a change in the pattern with which the light flashes or blinks.

This feature may be common, but unadvertised. However, I just want to get confirmation of which models do this before I end up paying to have it installed, and then find out that it doesn't have it...

Related info:
I'm looking for a basic model that doesn't cost an arm and leg.
I do not need remote start.
I do not want a cut-off switch.
A remote control or remote indicator may do little good because my apartment is quite distant from where I park the car.
There is little risk that the car will be stolen. Just that break-ins are common.

Thank you very much for your help.

--David

ANSWER: David,
  I have several alarms that show a change in
blinks (not colors) and chirps from a siren
that let's the user know the status when he
or she arrives back at they're car.

See:
The Precision P10--44.95
The Precision 200--54.95
or the Astra 600--69.95
I also have an alarm
(ASTRA 777 @ www.pagingalarm.com  89.95)
that would help with the distance issue.

Have a look and read through the features to
see if any appeal to you and let me know
if I can get you set up.

ALARMTEK
CARALARMSTORE.com


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you.  
One more question.  I understand that alarms will go off if the door is opened, however, by then it's mostly too late when it comes to a theft.  Is there a way to have the alarm go off at the point where the theif tries to stick something into the cylinder of the lock?  My car is a 98 RAV4 with manual locks and windows, however I'm having the driver's side lock replaced right now because of a theft, so maybe I should keep in mind a particular lock to install that works with alarms?

Answer
Yes sir. the 2 stage impact sensor is already
included in the box, but if you want to add
a spcae disturbance or mition sensor, that
would detect prior entry, see the mass around
the truck, and setting off a warn away chirp.
Any lingering in the "zone", and the alarm
would trigger, starter kill would be engaged
if installed, and it just became much more
difficult to vandalize at that point.

These "microwave" sensors are an additional
36.00, but alot of folks swear by them.

Adding a central door lock kit to this truck
is not too hard, and would run 29.95 for a
2 door kit, 49.95 for 4 door.

A.