Burglar Alarms

[bainbrig]

According to 'Which?', burglars are put off most by alarms. The list reads:
• 71% having an alarm system
• 71% having a dog in the home
• 52% people in the property
• 46% CCTV
• 21% outdoor/sensor lights

We fulfil some of those criteria, but not yet the alarms - we're told that you can get (guessing at name) a sort of window-vibrator alarm, which goes off if someone tries to get in through windows, doors, similar. This would be best for us, as PIR alarms would get triggered by our cat lepping about during the times we're out.

Anyone have any experience of alarms like these? (And the usual question: is it worth it? Or should we, like most people, just leave it to chance?)

Tks.

BillB

[Zacs-Master]

We have one on the patio doors (inherited from previous occupants) but they're battery powered and can be triggered by accident (Birds).
https://www.officefurnitureonline.co.uk/burglary-fire-safes/personal-security-equipment/wireless-mini-window-alarm-sg600.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwyerpBRD9ARIsAH-ITn_in3WJXAFoLQVpg8LM6UwtraUsHmDioj7jdnbsUHRH5wR--KviNx8aAutREALw_wcB

[ummmm]

My sister had them. Cheap and cheerful. The alarm went off if the windows/doors were opened more than 'X' amount. Obviously there is an on/off switch. They were very loud!

[chelle7272]

Yes I had some of these provided for me when I had some personal security issues. I'd recommend them, it's very difficult to set off accidentally.
Amazon.com User Recommendation

[ummmm]

I used have an fitted alarm system. Good until I had to remove the stairgate from the top of the stairs. It became my alarm!!

[ToraToraTora]

yes its worth it, I have alarm, cctv, lights, dogs! Better to take precautions before you are burgled.

[bainbrig]

What type of alarms, Tora?

[ToraToraTora]

ADT connected to monitoring centre, sensors on doors windows and internal. Adjusted to be dog friendly.

[bainbrig]

Monitoring centre, so you pay a hefty monthly fee for that?

[ToraToraTora]

not what I'd call hefty, but a monthly fee, yes.

[237SJ]

I pay £28 per month for ADT

[bainbrig]

Now that’s what I call a hefty fee!

[237SJ]

And that's only for 3 sensors downstairs.

[Ryzen]

You could easily fit a dummy bell box for starters.

[margarettom]

We have an old fashioned burglar alarm system with vibrators fitted to all downstairs windows and front and back doors. It is serviced yearly which costs about £87, but this includes free repairs if anything goes wrong, (only needed once in about 20 years). All the wires for the trembler devices were threaded through our plastic frames, a skill no longer around apparently. The only problem is having to put up with slightly raised eyebrows by the service engineers at our archaic system - not wireless!

[ToraToraTora]

bb £28 hefty? less than a £1 a day?

[AZardoz]

Is it fun living in a fortress? What kind of neighbourhood is that?
If you have a fenced yard get a snarly junkyard dog. Cheaper & a damned sight more effective than all those silly alarms. The chihuahua in the house is just a joke.

[Ryzen]

A decent dog costs more than £1 a day to maintain.They soon get tired of eating burglars.

[TonyV]

My neighbours 2 South African Ridge back dogs do a marvellous job at deterring any unwanted visitors and let me know if any one is coming up our shared alleyway.

[bainbrig]

£336 a year on top of £300-ish insurance.

Don’t know what you’ve got, Tora, but it would be overkill for us.

[jno]

as Ryzen says, dummy alarms are apparently quite successful. Would-be burglars don't want to waste time finding out whether they're real or not, especially given the downside of finding that they are.