A Home Office British Crime Survey shows that 7% of all crimes committed against residents in England and Wales aged 16 or over were household burglaries. This represents over 700,000 domestic burglary incidents. According to the Metropolitan Police Service, studies show that a burglary is less likely to involve a home with a well fitted and maintained burglar alarm. It may be worth thinking about the purchase and installation of an alarm, but before you do there are a number of things worth considering.
A review of your possessions is probably one of the first things to think about. A list of what you own, and the replacement value, should be compiled. If you have contents insurance then you may have already carried out a rough inventory. You will need to pay particular attention to things of higher value such as jewellery, paintings, antiques and other such items. When thinking about fitting an alarm, you will need to make a note of the location of these possessions in your home.
The next step would be to think about your lifestyle and environment. Are you a homeowner or do you rent? Are you in a flat-share, do you live in a family unit or do you live alone? Do you spend a lot of time travelling and are therefore away from your home for long periods? Do you have a neighbourhood watch scheme in your area? What about the type of people living in your home? Most alarm systems require manual deactivation when you enter your home to avoid a false alarm so you will need to ensure all residents and/or a neighbour are properly trained in how to do this.
Domestic burglar alarms can be categorised as either wired or wireless. Most domestic alarm systems are made up of alarm sensors, a control panel system and a siren/bell box. Wireless alarms tend to be made up of wireless battery operated alarm sensors, whereas a typical hard-wired system connects the alarm sensors to the panel via cables.
Wireless alarms are particularly useful if you are renting because they can be installed without much upheaval. There are a number of different wireless alarms available that can be fitted by a DIY enthusiast so installation costs are low. These systems are also easy to remove if you decide to move home since installation is mainly superficial. However, it is important to inform your landlord if you are renting since a certain amount of installation is required, usually involving the drilling of holes into the walls.
Wired burglar alarms are worth considering if you live in your own home and expect to stay in that house for several years. The installation costs are much higher because a professional must undertake the work. But these systems tend to last much longer and are more reliable. Due to the upheaval involved in the installation, such as the removal of ceiling panels and/or floorboards, the hardware is difficult to remove if you decide to sell the house. It is therefore better to leave the system in place and use it as a value-adding feature when selling your home
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