Burglar Alarms

Installing a burglar alarm will definitely help protect your home but you should ensure that it best suits your needs.

Alarm systems can generally be split into two categories -

• audible (bells only) alarms
• remote signalling alarms

When activated, audible alarms deter criminals from continuing any further and attract the attention of passers by and neighbours who may call the police. Remote signalling alarms will notify an activation to an alarm monitoring centre which will in turn notify the Police.

Consider the following advice prior to fitting an alarm system :

• Audible alarms rely to some extent on there being someone in the vicinity to hear them, so in remote areas these alarms will be less effective.

• The alarm box itself should be fixed to a prominent position on the outside of your home in order for it to act as a visual deterrent.

• The alarm should meet any conditions set by your insurer in order to obtain a discount.

• Both types of alarm should be regularly maintained as false activations will become a source of annoyance to your neighbours and a waste of Police resources. The police may not attend to alarm calls where there is a history of false activations.