Are Burglar Alarms Worth It In 2026?

kinger101

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81894096#Comment_81894096

curtain twitching for the modern age.

Silvertabby

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81893851#Comment_81893851

Not if you have a cat !

gazfocus

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81894096#Comment_81894096

We do have a WhatsApp group for the street but it’s usually the next day before things like scumbags trying car doors gets posted.

Lorian

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81894269#Comment_81894269

My sensors ignore the cat. Admittedly they are relatively expensive Honeywell pet immune dual tech sensors especially for this reason.

Thankfully no local WhatsApp group though.

bjorn_toby_wilde

Alarms don’t stop thieves and neither do cameras (the scrotes all wear masks and hoodies anyway).

The purpose (harsh as it may sound) is to move them on so they burgle your neighbours instead because they’re an easier target.

Same reason I have a Stoplock on my car. It just makes my car less attractive to thieves than the others in the street.

Silvertabby

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81894372#Comment_81894372

We have to dial our sensors out, just leaving the doors alarmed. It came with the house, and is now 30 odd years old ! Thankfully, we live in a relatively safe area.

FFHillbilly

I wouldn't bother with alarms. if you are concerned about security an IP CCTV system is better choice IMO.

I have a Hikvision one, you can set up smart notifications. If I had an old fashioned alarm the only time I'd ever set it is when I go on holiday, but now all I do is turn the Hikvision notifications on, they are normally switched off

that gives me piece of mind just like any alarm would

you could also do similar with a cheap video doorbell/camera setup

Silvertabby

I was once told that the purpose of a car crook lock wasn't to stop the car from being stolen - no crook lock is that good - but to make thief think 'that'll take too long - I'll move on to an easier target'.

Perhaps house alarms now fall into that category.

jvjack

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81894003#Comment_81894003

Deaf criminals has been used in films. In episode of Columbo , the deaf murderer didn't realise that a noisy generator had switched off. Columbo in the gotcha says something like " the murderer had to be deaf " Spoiler alert in case you don't want to see the ending.

https://youtu.be/xvRJFRDERKE?t=284