Inside guide to home security

Inside guide to home security

Protecting your home from unwanted intruders.

Home Security

We've all read the statistics: every 20 seconds or so, a home or business in the UK is broken into, and one in five homes is burgled more than once a year. However, few of us heed the warnings until it's far too late when we suddenly become overnight security experts. But why wait until after the break-in to make your home a safer place? A few common sense measures can help protect your property against an opportunist burglar. Alternatively you can install your own security system or enlist the help of a CEDIA specialist to implement a more advanced security strategy.

Basic security measures
There's no denying that simple security measures such as leaving a light on or plugging lamps into a timer switch when you leave the house can help deter any burglar. Timers are available from any high street store from around £10 and are becoming increasingly sophisticated, allowing you to set different on/off times for each day of the week to look more natural.

Similarly, it's essential to fit BS Standard deadlocks everywhere throughout your property. According to government statistics 20 per cent of burglaries do not involve forced entry at all as victims simply leave their doors and windows open (particularly common place in the summer time when people want to let some air into the house). A further 30 per cent of burglaries are breakins through doors that have only very basic latch locks.

Of course, these common sense measures are all very well, but if you want to deter the professional burglar you do need something a little more hi-tech. A good place to start is with PIR (Passive Infrared Detector) security lights at the front and back of your property. These detect movement by monitoring infrared energy levels and illuminate a certain area for a pre-set time. They are remarkably effective as they not only dissuade intruders, they also attract the attention of neighbours and passers by. Another option worth considering is investing in a good burglar alarm.

Bells-only vs monitored alarms
The problem with burglar alarms is, like car alarms, they are often ignored by neighbours. How often have you heard an alarm going off in the middle of the night, rolled over and gone back to sleep again? What's more, even if you do phone the police they probably won't come out to investigate. Police regulation DD243 states that a single tripped sensor from a burglar alarm is no longer enough to prompt a police response. Either a break-in has to be confirmed by sight or sound, or two alarm sensors need to be triggered before the police will do anything.

This is where monitored alarms come in. Unlike bells-only alarms, monitored alarms are connected to one of several specialist Central Monitoring Stations (CMS) which are run by security companies like ADT. As soon as the alarm is triggered in one zone of the house the bells are automatically sounded and a signal is sent along a telephone line to the monitoring station. If a second sensor is then triggered, indicating that there is movement within the house, the home owner and any keyholders are automatically contacted by phone. If these people are unable to explain why the alarm has been triggered then the police will be called.

DIY solutions
There's certainly no shortage of security companies that will fit basic alarm systems for you: just take a look in The Yellow Pages or on the internet and you'll probably see dozens listed.

Typically a system comprising six wired or wireless PIRs, internal and external sirens and a master control unit will set you back around £500 to get it fully fitted. However on top of that, there's the annual cost of monitoring the system which is usually between £200 and £300 a year.

A far cheaper solution is to buy your own off-the-shelf security system. Available from DIY stores and local high street shops, these are available in wired and now wireless versions. The advantage of wireless systems is that they are generally much easier to fit. However, on the downside they are less suitable for advanced security applications, like remote video monitoring.

One of the best known wireless setups around is BT's VP1000 Home Monitoring system
BT Home Monitor Complete Kit VP1000 The BT Home Monitor VP1000 is an intelligent house alarm system that alerts you to intruders wherever you are in the UK, via e-mail, text message or a fixed-line telephone call. You can also raise an alarm if you come under personal attack. The VP1000 is the complete Home Monitoring and Alarm System, giving you control and the ability to manage your system through a personal password-protected online account. This is a self install unit which uses wireless sensors. All For Under £180