Is a burglar alarm worth it?

KateLiana27

We've moved into our first home (3 bed semi, low crime area, nothing unusually valuable but the typical computer and TV equipment for 2 adults). There is an alarm system but it's very outdated - needs all the doors in the house to be closed before it will set. We were wondering if it's worth the money to get the system updated and maintained.

Any thoughts? Do you have, maintain, and routinely use a burglar alarm?

1984ReturnsForReal_2

If you have adequate insurance & the premium wouldn't alter then is it worth it?? No

If you ever rent your house out or have possessions that you would rather not lose then yes.

People in your home robbing it while having time to rip up your wedding pictures. Nice.

beanymagoo

Depends on where you live. Some of the places I have lived people would just walk on by if they heard an alarm. Where I stay now I think that most of the people in the area would be at my house in minutes to check everything was ok. I dont really need an alarm though as I have a curtain twitcher living opposite me

jhe

i got a burglar alarm fitted after we were burgled.its the most horrendous experience to go through.the thought of some low life in your home, we also have the garage alarmed and have been alerted by the alarm on it, we also live in a decent enough area, but burglars travel around. i had to have an approved alarm fit before we could get contents insurance after the burglary. it does lower the premiums for insurance but the alarm was expensive to get installed.

unluckychappie

I am dubious of their benefit, even although I have one.

I have stopped checking ringing alarms as on every occasion it has been a false alarm due to windows being left open, or when there have power cuts and the battery pack has not been maintained properly.

According to the local NWatch, houses with expensive or desirable cars are being targetted, broken into, keys taken and cars driven away to the nearby motorway system. (Don't leave your keys on the table next to the front door) The alarm system, even if connected to a response company, is of little use in this case.

Better to invest in securing windows and doors, fitting blinds or net curtains, locking side gates and sheds. Fit security lights and set the house lights to turn on/off randomly at night, even when you are at home. As mentioned by other posters, a nosey neighbour is probably the best defense.

gas4you

I wouldn't be without my alarm.

If it goes off it sends a txt to my and my partners phone. If someone is actually in the home then we get another txt when they activate another rooms sensor to confirm an intruder.

My partner and her girls love the sense of security that they can come home in the knowledge that nobody is in the house who shouldn't be.

evoke

I would say it's worth it - it may deter the one opportunistic burglar who, otherwise, would have burgled your home. I have one with fairly bright warning lights on the bell-box and you simply can't miss it at night. I have discreet warning stickers on a front and rear window at obvious entry points in case a burglar wants to gain access during the day.

However, having secured my house (with CCTV, PIR lighting all around the house and garden and a fairly decent burglar alarm) I found that it made a difference to my buildings and contents insurance of an incredible....£2.50 per year! But it's the reassurance and peace of mind that the burglar alarm provides that is worth far more.

UncleZen

When we bought our house the previous owner had the alarm installed from new, so all the wires were hidden.
Occassionally it goes off with a false positive, i.e. someone left a window open or the inner door to the garage wasnt latched - all explainable.
This year we went to Canada and the alarm went of several times when we were there, we found out via a facebook message from my neighbor to my son! Fortunately other neighbours nearby had a key so they could pop in and switch it of or reset it. Still not sure what caused the alarm to trigger even now.

redped

KateLiana27 wrote: »

There is an alarm system but it's very outdated - needs all the doors in the house to be closed before it will set.

Not necessarily a bad thing - if a fire breaks out, the closed doors will reduce the speed at which the fire travels. If you set the alarm at night before going to bed, this may help save your lives ... assuming you've also got working smoke detectors!

SailorSam

More important than an alarm would be decent door and window locks and to always use them.
I fitted my own alarm, it's solar and wireless, cost about £100 and was simple to fit. Maybe i've been lucky but i've never had a break-in but feel the decent locks and visual alarm has encouraged any burglars to look for an easier target.

sunshinetours

We have one and its nice at night to have it set to downstairs only so intruders will set it off when you are in the house. to be honest taht is more important to me than if we were all out and someone got in - at least we'd all be safe!

I also agree that decent locks and doors and windows are more importamt in the grand scheme