Before splashing out on a shiny new burglar alarm, you may want to know one important piece of information... Do alarm systems prevent burglaries?
A valid question if you want to ensure your investment will, in fact, beat the burglars.
And of course, alarm systems do work. But, there's one common and critical mistake homeowners with alarms make that can directly contribute to a break in...
Having a burglar alarm system is a means to an end but NOT an end in itself. It certainly doesn't grant you immunity from a break in, and here's why.
When activated, most burglar alarms have a flashing light that acts as a warning signal and lets everyone in the vicinity of your home know that your alarm is armed.
A burglar will avoid a house with a flashing alarm bellbox like the plague! The risk of being caught isn't worth the reward...
However, if your home alarm looks old or unused, the brave burglars will test their luck. Here's where the common but critical mistake becomes apparent:
A convicted burglar from this Confused.com survey said:
“If they’ve got an old battered alarm system it shows that they don’t use it, so you’re all good to go..."
So, in essence, a house alarm will only prevent a burglary if it is well looked after and used.
Homeowners make the mistake of purchasing an intruder alarm and letting it become obviously neglected - nothing more than an unloved decoration.
Maintenance is critical to ensure your alarm works when you need it to, but also to show the crooks that you keep on top of your home security and your home is not to be messed with.
This is important because, contrary to popular belief, burglars aren't stupid.
They'll be taking into consideration the small details, like whether your alarm box looks old and grubby, as well as:
As you can see, simply having an alarm won't save your bacon, it's only one piece of the puzzle.
And, as the burglar from the Confused.com survey said... an old battered alarm system means they're good to go.
To maximise your chance of avoiding a burglary you need to employ an arsenal of tactics, which could include:
To enquire about our home burglar alarms and maintenance, fill out the form on our contact page - we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
And, while you're waiting, take this 5 minute quiz to learn your personal home security score.
If you get under 80%, your home and family could be at serious risk of a break in...
