Uncover the truth: Do house alarms stop burglars? Preston Alarm Experts provide alarm systems fitting services throughout Preston and Lancashire. Learn how effective home security systems are at deterring intruders. Explore the impact of alarm systems on burglary prevention and make informed choices to safeguard your property.
Do burglar alarms protect your home?
Burglar alarms are designed to protect your home from burglars and intruders. If someone attempts to enter your property illegally, your alarms will alert you, people nearby or neighbours to the emergency. Most alarm systems are made up of several components.
These components include motion detectors and sensors that you place around your property and at vulnerable entranceways, such as windows. This way, your alarms will pick up on any intruders attempting to get into your property and sound an alarm.
The alarm itself is housed in the bell box and will emit a loud siren when triggered, alerting anyone nearby to the intrusion. There are other alarm systems, such as those that send a message to your phone or to a private security company, warning of an intrusion.
Burglar alarms, therefore, provide security by quickly alerting you to intrusions on your property. However, many homeowners might also wonder whether burglar alarms can also act as a deterrent. The remainder of this article will attempt to answer this question:
Can burglar alarms prevent burglars from targeting your home in the first place?
Types of Burglar Alarms
The first place to start is with the different types of burglar alarms that are available to homeowners. There are many types to choose from, meaning you're likely to find one that suits your needs. Here are some examples of the types of burglar alarms out there.
Silent or Ringing
As we mentioned in the introduction, the most common type of burglar alarm you're likely to be familiar with is ringing alarms. These emit a loud siren when someone attempts to enter your property illegally, alerting those nearby to the intrusion. These loud sirens can also serve to scare off any burglars.
However, the other option is a silent alarm. These send a private message to you or another nominated party, alerting you to an intrusion without emitting a loud warning siren. This can be kinder to your neighbours and sometimes allows you to notify the police quicker, hopefully, so they can catch the intruders red-handed.
Contacts You or a Neighbour
Similar to silent alarms, these contact alarms warn you personally that there is an intruder on your property. Alternatively, if you are on holiday or otherwise away from home, your alarms can warn your neighbours instead. This means that there is always someone watching over your home and ready to alert the police in the event of an intrusion.
Contacts a Monitoring Station or Police
If you want a quicker response to a triggered alarm, you can arrange for your burglar alarms to directly contact a private security company or the police. This helps you get a security response to intruders much more quickly. They can then assess the situation and attend if they feel it necessary. They can deal with any intruders and keep your property safer.
Wireless or Hardwired
Choosing a wireless or wired alarm system is more of a practical consideration. Both types of alarm systems have their own advantages and disadvantages. For example, wireless systems are easier to install and can be easily relocated to different areas of your home. However, they are prone to electronic interference.
On the other hand, wired systems are more reliable, but are also more expensive to install and require extensive wiring throughout your property. Therefore, depending on your budget and what you want from your burglar alarm system, you will have to decide between the two.
Other ways to make it difficult for burglars
Alongside burglar alarms, there are other security measures you can use to deter criminals. Some of these systems will work better for certain types of properties, but this overview will give you an idea of the benefits they provide.
CCTV
CCTV cameras are another common security system that homeowners can use to protect their properties. Placing them around the boundaries of your home can help you monitor who is coming into your property. However, like alarms, they cannot physically prevent crime, but by having them installed, you can deter criminals from attempting to enter.
You can also link your CCTV cameras to your phone, which will alert you when someone attempts to enter your property illegally. They are usually best combined with other security measures, such as double-lock doors and secure windows.
You can find cameras that work both during the day and at night for constant monitoring and movement detection. But you must remember to place them in areas where they have a good view of your property. There's no point in putting cameras in places where they won't see anything.
Also, ensure that the footage quality your cameras provide is good enough. There's also little use in installing cameras with such poor quality that you can't identify the intruders they pick up. Homeowners should also familiarise themselves with the necessary legislation regarding installing CCTV in their homes. It's always best to speak with a qualified installer first to ensure everything is in order.
For example, you may have to post clear signage around your property warning that you have CCTV cameras installed on your property. If you want to find approved CCTV installers and suppliers, you can check the National Security Inspectorate or the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board.
Alarms
Visible burglar alarms are the ideal way to deter criminals from trying to enter your property. This means that placing your alarms in the right place is essential. For most homeowners, it's recommended you place them t the front and the rear of your home.
Additionally, you'll want to place your alar boxes high up on your property. This stops any criminals from tampering with your alarms and potentially turning them off. This is the best way to provide a visible warning to criminals that your home is protected.
There are also three different types of burglar alarms you should be aware of. These vary in terms of the services they provide and their relative costs. These three types of alarms are:
Monitored alarms - When these alarms are triggered, they will alert a private security company or a designated key holder of the intrusion. They can then check whether there is an emergency or whether it is a false alarm.
Unmonitored alarms - When activated, these alarms will emit the siren we mentioned earlier, scaring criminals away from your property and alerting neighbours. However, the effectiveness of these alarms depends on whether your neighbours are willing to investigate the alarm.
Auto dialler alarms - These are the alarms that send a private message to you or a nominated security company when an intruder attempts to enter your property. In most cases, the police will only attend an alarm that is monitored by a professional company, otherwise, they might not deem it necessary.
It's important to remember that if you already have burglar alarms installed on your property, but then create an extension, you'll need to extend your alarm system to accommodate this. Additionally, you'll want to protect your home against burglars accessing windows that are higher up on your property.
Some burglars will use ladders to reach higher portions of your home, thereby avoiding motion sensors that are at ground level. Therefore, to prevent this from happening, you'll need to extend your burglar alarm system to the upper floors of your home as well.
Like CCTV cameras, posting signs around your property warning that you have alarms installed can also be an effective deterrent. Again, if you want professional advice about security systems for your home, contact the National Security Inspectorate or the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board.
Lighting
Security lighting is also a great alternative measure to protect your home. They can deter burglars who will be more visible when triggering your motion sensors. They also make it safer for you and your family when moving around your property in the dark.
Clear white light placed low on your property is usually the best configuration. Also ensuring it is triggered at dusk before turning off at dawn provides comprehensive lighting through the night. If you have any plants or trees standing near your property, you'll want to ensure they don't block any of the light from your security systems.
Preston Alarm Experts provides the best home security fitting services in and around Preston, Lancashire, Liverpool, Manchester and the North West. Whatever you require, our professional team can assist you with everything from small repairs to installing a completely new home security system.
