Burglar Alarms - Any thoughts?

[Chuck]

The company that deals with my house and contents have just said that none of their 'panel' of underwriters will quote this year and I need to get an alarm fitted. Dunno why they've suddenly decided this after about twenty years of taking my premiums and never having to pay out a penny in claims but there we go.

Anyway, my house has got four external doors, twelve rooms. What sort of detectors and controls should I be considering? I assume that, like heating, getting an independent alarm installer to quote is the way to go?

TIA

 

[Ben-gee]

Try another insurance company would be my approach.

 

[Millsy 82]

Try another insurance company would be my approach.

Same here.

 

[Chuck]

Try another insurance company would be my approach.

Did that last year but they all wanted an alarm fitted so I stayed with my current outfit.

Also, as one of my family has been disabled for many years and is now death's door I don't think think that the house going to be permanently occupied during the day for much longer. One of the reaons I've not had one fitted to date is that it would have never been turned on!

 

[OffshoreGas]

Hi Chuck,

In my experience insurance companies expect an alarm to have been fitted and maintained by a member of a trade body. I dont think they will let you get away with a DIY job.

 

[SimonG]

A big hungry dog.

Must be some sort of financial deal between the insurers and the alarm service providers.

 

[OffshoreGas]

Insurance is based on risk models, it may well be there have been a few domestic burglaries in the area or similar areas.

The insurers obviously feel fitting an alarm reduces their exposure.

 

[Chuck]

In my experience insurance companies expect an alarm to have been fitted and maintained by a member of a trade body. I dont think they will let you get away with a DIY job.

Thanks. I'm not planning to DIY the installation just trying to learn a bit more about the pros and cons of different types of system and how convenient / reliable / costly to maintain they are. Armed with a this knowledge I'll get a security company to quote.

I spoke to one on the phone today and it felt as though I was being given a hard-sell by the love child of Arthur Daley and a double-glazing rep.

 

[Chuck]

it may well be there have been a few domestic burglaries in the area or similar areas.

Hmm, could be that. Also, I'm changing the hours occupied from 'Almost all of the time' to 'Unoccupied during the day'.

 

[Best]

A wireless system would be a quick trouble free alarm system to install and shouldn’t be too expensive, even it fitted by a proper company.

Wireless parts would be all the room sensors and sensors fitted to external doors. Takes just minutes to install them.
The alarm siren (better with 2 and at opposite sides of the house) can be a hard wired siren (including battery back up) if you wished.
Control panel will be hard wired, plus a direct connection to phone line, if you chose.

 

[OffshoreGas]

I fitted my own a couple of years back, wireless May or May not work depending on the size of house and material. They also vary a lot in quality. I fitted a Texecom Premier wired alarm and found them quite easy to work with. Our house is an old stone place with 2ft thick walls so wireless really wasn’t an option, even if it were it doesn’t seem the best idea with batteries going flat in detectors and signals dropping out/being blocked.

The sensors come in a lot of variants these days, it’s worth paying a bit extra for the dual technology ones. The ones I have use passive infrared and microwave so it cuts down a lot on false alarms.

You’ll probably find local electricians with the correct trade body membership that will be a lot less snake oil than the security guys.

If you’re actually looking for the security side of things there is some impressive technology these days. My CCTV cameras and alarm are linked, the some cameras are configured to work as alarm sensors and the CCTV is configured to record where the alarm goes off.

It’s worth working out what you want from a system, if you have kids you’re maybe better giving them a code. That way they can’t loose their key/alarm fob and the burglar has full access to you’re home and you’re insurance is invalidated.

 

[oz-plumber]

I would ask the insurance company what the minimal requirements are.
We put a system in years ago after a break in.
We had back to base monitoring and all the bullsh1t.
Basically the security company won't come out unless 2 or more sensors are triggered.
As for burgler alarms going off, does anyone take any notice anymore.

Oh by the way, we had internal sirens installed as well as external - to annoy the robbers with the sound and get them out quickly.

We haven't turned it on in 10 years and gave up the back to base monitoring about the same time.

Key points: Don't leave cash or valuables in the master bedroom.
Thieves will spend more than half their time robbing you place, in the master bedroom.