Burglar Alarms - Lock Out Intruders From Your Home

Burglar Alarms - Lock Out Intruders From Your Home

What Are House Alarms?

Whether you live in a house surrounded by a garden in a quiet neighbourhood or in a flat in the sketchiest part of town, home security is not something that should be underestimated. No matter how well we lock our doors, check our windows and try to monitor our habits, the uncomfortable truth is that we are all vulnerable to intruders at any time of our lives, especially when we are least expecting it. Considering the rise in violent crime and the fact that the evolution of technology has also benefited burglars in ways which were not possible before, for example, by providing them with new and more devious tools of the “trade” such as social media stalking, from which they can learn your habits and find out the best time to invade your home undetected and deprive you of your belongings and feeling of safety and security.

While the theft of possessions is bad enough, the fact of knowing that strangers broke into your home, perhaps while you and your family were sleeping, is a disconcerting and anxiety inducing situation. So what can you do to make your house safer? What steps can you take to rest easily at night, knowing you, your family and your belongings will be safe? A house alarm is probably your safest bet - pun intended!

A house alarm is a system designed to help keep your house safe through the use of some differing technological elements which come together to work as one system, such as alerting devices (bells, sirens, and/or flashing lights), sensors and cameras, and automatic security flood lights for example. Its primary function is to help you detect and deter intruders, though some systems also provide fire protection - one additional feature might also be the possibility to install carbon monoxide detectors within the security system for an all-round protective unit.

In its most basic form, a house alarm is composed of one or more sensors that detect intruders via heat or motion detection and an alerting device that indicates an intrusion and sounds an ear piercing siren. However, depending on the device’s complexity, an alarm can also contain some additional elements, such as keypads, spotlights, lasers and even interconnections with other electronic devices, such as your smartphone, tablet, laptop, and even directly to the police which all add up to extra layers of security.

In the majority of cases, your house alarm will be connected to a monitoring service that in case of alarm, will either send an alert to you or the police or a central monitoring station, that in turn might contact you to confirm the intrusion (via pre-determined codes and passwords, for instance) and then, if necessary, alert the proper authorities of the intrusion.

The most impressive thing about house alarms is that nowadays, considering the technology available, not only do the solutions available evolve very rapidly (so as to keep up with the more high tech techniques used by burglars), but they also allow you to almost hand pick the elements you wish to include in your home security system, therefore, creating a uniquely tailored home protection system that works for your home and those living there.

How Do Burglar Alarms Work?

There are several types of alarms available on the market. In order to choose the right one you need to consider several factors, such as your personal preferences, how much you can, and are you willing to spend, the type of home you want protection for, and what level of protection you need which depends on external factors such as your area of residence - is it a quiet neighbourhood in the suburbs or a flat on a busy street? The quieter the area is, the more likely a break in is to occur.

The majority of alarms available on the market can be split into five major categories:

• Bells-only alarms, which make a noise, but do not contact anyone for you, such as the police.

• Dialler burglar alarms, which automatically dial one or more phone numbers when triggered.

• Wireless alarms use battery-powered sensors to communicate with a control panel by using radio signals.

• Smart home security system, a high-end solution which may include a mix of the previous alarms plus the option of alerting you, your family or your friends via an app, for example.

• Monitoring contracts, that can be made in connection to your alarm or separately. For example, you might have a private security firm hired to check up on your house only in the event your alarm gets triggered or said private security firm can be paid to periodically check up on your property. These types of contracts tend to be month-to-month or on an annual basis.

Depending on how tight you want your security to be, and how much you are willing to spend, there are several different elements you can incorporate in your home security system, such as surveillance cameras, glass-break detection, silent alarms, etc.

The degree of complexity of your home alarm should be proportional to the size of your property and the amount of valuables you are trying to keep safe. Considering most available solutions contain motion sensors, also keep in mind that there are active and passive motion sensors.

The active motion sensors send out ultrasonic sound waves and those waves reflect back to the sensor. This pattern repeats until interrupted - like some sneaky burglar walking past it, for example. That will trigger the sensor to send a signal, which can, in turn, trigger a response, like closing a door and/or sounding an alarm. Some systems might have the option for a silent alarm, that is to say, that when triggered, instead of sounding an alarm at the house, it simply sends an alert to you, to the security company or the police, depending on how you decided to configure it. These options may assist you and the police in capturing the intruder red handed, especially as it will give them a false sense of confidence due to no sound being made.

Passive motion sensors detect emitted infrared energy (heat from humans or animals). When there is a sudden spike in infrared energy, the alarm is triggered. No need to worry though, the alarm is set up in a way that small fluctuations will not trigger it, so if you have pets in the house, it can be configured to ignore them.

Why Are House Alarms Important?

A house alarm can help you avoid not only financial loss, but can also help you keep your family safe. In the unfortunate but possible event of an attempt of intrusion, a house alarm can help you deter, scare away or in some rarer cases even apprehend the intruders by automatically locking the doors and windows of the property and preventing them from escaping.

Some people tend to rely on more traditional home safety methods, such as an iron bar behind a door, a sharp knife or, should you have the appropriate licence, even a gun. However, statistics show that the likelihood that you will end up hurting yourself or someone you love is high and can land you in hot water if you cause an injury or death ... even to the intruder. Why risk it when a loud alarm can send burglars running for the hills? Furthermore, we have all seen and heard stories about burglars that got hurt when invading houses and still managed to prosecute the owners for damages – it seems unbelievable, but it has happened.

Recently there has been an increase in blue-collar crimes such as robbery, therefore investing in a proper home security system is key. It can help you sleep more quietly at night and enable you to have a more relaxing holiday, knowing that your house is safe and that you can most likely check up on it from anywhere you may be in the world - such are the marvels of modern technology!

You will probably be better off investing in a home security system than you would be by simply leaving your lights on for a weekend, with the intention of tricking burglars into thinking you are home. While this can work to a certain degree, most people switch lights on and off when at home, so static lighting is an unfortunate way to let people know that nobody is home. Also, imagine if one of the lightbulbs overheats or there is a short circuit of some kind - your house could be engulfed in flames in a matter of minutes. It is best to protect your house with a decent home security system than having to find another place to live altogether, right?

An additional feature in some systems is the possibility of installing carbon monoxide detectors, which is an extra layer of security. Since carbon monoxide is a colourless and odourless gas that can be found in a variety of household items such as gas stoves or heating systems and is quite a fast acting and potentially lethal gas. Having a system that alerts you to potential danger is something that will give you and your family peace of mind.

Furthermore, in the event of an intrusion, and should the sad circumstance of someone getting hurt occur, the fact that your security system is linked to a monitoring station will get you help fast, which ultimately can save lives and increase the likelihood that the burglar or intruder is apprehended quickly.

A history of home security.

As humans, we have a very sharp in built self-preservation instinct. That instinct tells us to protect ourselves and the ones we love. Nowadays, that task is made easier for us to achieve via the advent of modern technology. But how did our ancestors keep their families, houses and belongings safe in gone by?

The roots of home security systems can be traced back to the end of World War I. After the war, people around the world noticed a  steep spike in the amount of crimes being committed. Therefore, they started looking for solutions to protect their homes and belongings from theft, with some home insurance companies offering discounts to home alarm subscribers.

Curiously enough, the first commercialised burglar alarm was not a huge hit. Edwin Holmes, an American inventor and businessman acquired the patent for what we now know today as a burglar alarm, in 1857.

However, initially, his big business plans did not go too well as people were sceptical about using electricity in alarms. It was only after moving to New York that business started booming, mainly because the city was perceived as an unsafe and crime ridden place.

By 1877 Holmes established the first network of alarms monitored by a central station. Soon, by relying on connections to existing phone lines, this system could potentially be used for emergency home alarm systems to connect directly to the police and fire services, which is exactly what happened, when, in 1905, The American Telephone and Telegraph Company sought out to buy the Holmes Burglar alarm business.

Holmes fought through the scepticism of the time for a business in which he fully believed, could enhance people’s property, homes, and feelings of security and safety by relying on the most human of emotions: self-preservation.

As soon as electricity became accepted as a part of the modern way of living, burglar detection systems continued to evolve into what we now know them to be today. It is ironic to discover that electricity was almost an impediment to the first security systems, especially if we take note of how big a part it has played in the evolution or burglar alarms and home security systems. In fact, without it, we most likely would not have many of the advanced systems available to us as we enjoy today.

Advice and ways to secure your property.

Other than investing in a home security system and alarm, there are a few other things you can do to keep your house safe:

• When installing your home security alarm, make sure it is not facing any mirrors. Otherwise, someone might still see you entering your code or password from the outside, rendering it useless.

• Always make sure all doors and windows are locked and that the locks are secure. If not, replace them with better quality locks.

• Reinforcing week windows or door frames is also a good idea. If you can afford the cost, double glazed, toughened glass windows are also a quality investment - not only in terms of safety but also in energy consumption, which is a double win!

• Don’t leave extra keys outside your house, such as over the door frame or under the doormat. Leave extra copies with family members and trusted friends, if you fear getting locked out.

• If you can’t afford to buy some security cameras for your home or property, mount a few fake ones. The simple suggestion of video surveillance might be enough to deter a less attentive burglar.

• If you are going away for a while, on holiday, for example, make sure to have someone stop by and collect your mail and put it away out of sight. Mail and takeaway leaflets piling up let burglars know that you are not around.

• If you have a garden, try to keep it neat and trimmed. Overflowing wilderness might make it easier for burglars to lurk in the dark and survey your house without you even noticing it. Also, overgrown grass and hedges can lead burglars to assume that the house is unattended.

• Another tip for house owners is don’t leave ladders or other objects which can be used to gain access to upstairs windows outside. Burglars might attempt to use them to get into your house!M/

• Be careful with social media: either block your profile to people outside of your friend’s list or be careful about your posts. Letting burglars know you are on a 3 week trip to Indonesia might give them the knowledge of the best time to break in.

• Since you never know when burglars are around, the same goes for packing for a or weekend away. Do it quietly and unnoticed, if at all possible.

• If you live in a place where it snows, have a neighbour or friend leave tracks just outside your home, so burglars don’t notice when you are away.

• In addition to your home security system, consider installing a safe in your home to hide and protect your most valuable possessions.

• Another simple trick that might go a long way is installing motion sensor lights on the outside areas of your house, mainly the entrance and the rear door and any dark areas of your garden.

There is nothing more important than peace of mind and feeling safe in one’s own home, so we hope the information above can help you find the solution that better fits your home security needs.

For more information about MJ SecuritySystem or the services and products we provide, please get in touch by calling 01582 655022.