Security Article - Top Twelve Burglar Alarms Myths
1. Burglar alarm is costly
There are types of burglar alarm systems, from the simple D.I.Y. alarms which cost less than £100 to buy and install to the professional burglar alarms which can cost from £300 and upwards to install.
2. Burglar alarms must be professionally installed
Installation of D.I.Y. alarms can be done by anyone with “do it yourself” skills. However the professional range of burglar alarms has to be installed by an electronic system engineer or approved alarm installer.
3. Burglar alarms require maintenance contract
It is common for the insurance companies to require that burglar alarm owners should enlist the services of an approved company to carry out at least an annual service of their alarm systems. Maintenance contract however should not be a condition for the installation of a burglar alarm, which may work faultless without a service contract.
4. Burglar alarms are nuisance to the neighbours
Most people will ignore the ringing of an alarm bell because of their history of false activations. These are particularly so with the D.I.Y. alarm systems.
5. Alarm Monitoring is a waste of money
Alarm monitoring is a choice for the home security conscious and it is more of crime prevention than cure. Alarm monitoring costs from as little as £6 per month, for which the home owner gets peace of mind security which is priceless!
6. My pet will cause false alarms
Pet owners can still enjoy the protection of a burglar alarm with their pets by installing perimeter detectors only in the alarm system and or using pet-friendly motion sensors.
7. My home isn't a target for burglars
Most burglars are opportunist thieves who choose their targets impromptu. It is better to be save than sorry. Unless you live in a remote isolation which its unlikely, every home is a target for the opportunist burglars.
8. Burglar alarm won’t stop a determined intruder
Visible burglar alarm may not stop a determined intruder from intrusion but will certainly not make the crime any easier for the intruder by alerting the home owner and neighbours of an ongoing intrusion.
9. Wireless burglar alarms are unreliable
That may well be true in the past but technology has moved on from 15 years ago. Wireless alarms are increasingly reliable as their wired counterparts, in particular the top grade class 6 radio alarms which qualify for police response. The wireless burglar alarms of today enjoy the use of security only radio signals frequency which has drastically reduced the problems with interferences and improve their reliability. Insurance companies are increasingly accepting wireless alarms for home security.
10. Burglar alarm indicates there are valuables in the property
Statistically, a home with burglar alarm installed is three times less likely to be burgled than a home without an alarm. Burglar alarms are generally accepted more as deterrents than invitations to intruders.
11. Intruders can easily cut the burglar alarm cables
The solution is a professionally installed alarm system which meets the current European and British Standards EN50131/PD6662: 2004 or even BS4737. A professional alarm installer will endeavour to conceal the alarm cables as much as possible.
12. Police don’t response to burglar alarms
In UK, Police may not respond to “bells only alarms” unless there is additional evidence of a crime taking place at the address. However, Police would response to monitored burglar alarms which have been allocated Unique Reference Numbers (URN) in accordance with ACPO Policy Documents DD243:2004.