Are Home Burglar Alarms Effective?

Yes, home burglar alarms are effective. A home security system is the only way to receive automatic emergency dispatch in the event of a burglary. A basic home security setup is easy to install, and it will ensure that help is sent out if a break-in occurs while the user is away.

A home alarm system consists primarily of a control panel and various security sensors. Most security sensors are set up inside the building in order to monitor for any activity that may occur. Some popular types of security sensors include door and window contacts, motion sensors and glass break detectors. Whenever a sensor is activated, the device will send an alert to the control panel to let it know of the activity. By setting up sensors properly, it will be virtually impossible for anyone to access the inside of the building without activating a sensor.

If a sensor is activated while the alarm system is armed, the system will need to be disarmed using a valid user code within the entry delay period. This delay period is usually about a minute or two in duration. If the system is not disarmed within this time period, then the panel will send out an alarm signal to alert others of the problem. Some sensors, such as interior motions, may be programmed to cause an immediate alarm upon activation, with no delay period to disarm.

This alarm signal can be sent out to a central monitoring station for automatic emergency dispatch. Some central stations may try and contact the user before sending out automatic dispatch. Others may send out emergency dispatch immediately upon receiving an alarm signal. An alarm signal can also be sent to the end user via text and/or email so that they can contact the authorities on their own. Whether the signal is sent to a central station or the end user will depend on their alarm monitoring plan. Users should keep in mind that an alarm system will only send out these signals if it is actively monitored.

Some users may be concerned that an intruder could destroy their security system before it is able to send out an alarm signal. But luckily, security system manufacturers considered this problem. Most modern alarm systems feature some type of protection measure against this potential issue. This protection is often referred to as Advanced Protection Logic (APL) or Crash & Smash.

This feature goes into effect as soon as an alarm system enters its entry delay period after a sensor has been activated while the system is armed. Upon entering the delay period, the system will immediately send out a signal to an interactive service, such as Total Connect or Alarm.com. This signal will let the interactive service know that the system has been put in entry delay mode. The service will recognize that either a system disarm or a system alarm must naturally follow. If neither of these events occur, then the interactive service will realize that the system must have been destroyed. Once this happens, the interactive service will send a signal to the central monitoring station to request immediate emergency dispatch.