An intruder alarm isn’t a substitute for good physical security – but is one way of reducing your risk. Apart from its deterrent value, an alarm is useful for limiting the amount of time intruders will feel 'comfortable' inside your premises. The less time they’re on-site, the less they will be able to steal or damage.
Once activated, intruder alarms broadly fall into one of three types, based on how they raise an alert following a break in, which can be by:
- activation of a loud bell or siren;
- sending a standard message to a pre-programmed selection of telephones (e.g. a text message to your mobile phone), often referred to as a ’dialler alarm’; or
- sending a message to a third party accredited alarm receiving centre (ARC), who will notify a designated person (known as a 'keyholder'), as well as the police, to attend the site.
This last type of alarm offers the highest level of security and is discussed further below.