burglar alarm home securityBe aware of who you’re buying a burglar alarm from. One of the problems with home security companies is there are a substantial number of fly by night security agencies popping up. There is very little legislative control over alarm systems.

Police agencies are planning to lobby the government to set up some legislative guidelines regarding the companies who sell the equipment, but in the meantime, it remains a buyer beware market.

Find out if they’re reputable. A lot of them look in the papers to see what homes have been broken into, then they contact the owners to see if they want to buy a home security system.

Someone who has just experienced a break-in is probably more vulnerable to this type of sale. And those who do purchase security devices for their home must be prepared to take on some additional responsibilities. For example, if they go away for the weekend who, apart from the police, is going to attend to the alarm?

Police have frequently dealt with complaints from neighbors who have had to listen to an audible alarm ring for extended periods of time. Have a neighbor or a relative who is willing to attend the alarm along with the police, so there is someone with a key for police to enter the residence to investigate and someone who can disengage the alarm.

If the burglar alarm is monitored, the company which it’s hooked up to usually requires that at least two alternate key holders are listed to respond if the homeowner isn’t available. Residential alarms tend to cost police departments a lot of time and money, since many are false alarms. If you trip your own alarm system, don’t wait until police arrive. Contact the monitoring company or the police to let them know it’s a false alarm.

If you don’t have an alarm system, don’t be a hero. Contact 911 and stay on the line until the police advise you to hang up. Don’t try to catch a burglar on your own.

One of the least expensive ways to provide a more secure home is to purchase and install proper dead bolts on doors and locks on windows.

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