Security alarm options for a high value home

It is estimated that in 80% of burglaries entrance is gained through either the front or back door. Therefore make sure the basics are in place first before you begin to decide on your next line of defence. Remember that prevention is better than cure when it comes to crime, so reduce your chances by making your home unattractive to burglars:

Make sure all doors and windows are secure and have suitable locks in place

Make them work to get onto your premises in the first place, make sure gates, hedges and fences are well maintained

Keep doorways clear and unobscured by foliage which could provide convenient cover for anyone trying to break in

Invest in good security lights, these alone may convince potential thieves to move along - it makes breaking in so much harder and there’s a good chance they’ll be spotted trying

If you have a high value home, you may also want to consider installing an intercom or video entry system

DIY Security Options

Once the basics are in place there are all sorts of clever devices and alarms available to protect your home. A lot of it comes down to personal choice and the level of protection you feel your home requires. For example, rather than an actual alarm system some people choose just to install the box, in the hope that thieves will recognise that the property’s alarmed and think again. There are other alarms that simply make a lot of noise, they are fairly easy to install and work on the premise that burglars will either be frightened away by the noise or the fear that someone will come to investigate.

Ask the home security experts

If you are looking to secure a high value home, you would be best advised to have a proper alarm system fitted by a professional installation company. Make sure you shop around and get a few quotes and be sure to ask their advice; after all they will be the experts on crime in your area and can access your property and its potential weak points.

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Calling in the big guns

When it comes to alarms you can choose between a wide variety of motion sensor, wired and wireless solutions. You also need to decide whether you require a monitored alarm that will automatically raise the alarm with the police in the event of an intrusion. The best of these in the UK is considered to be Redcare, which uses a BT line to contact the police and will continue to do so even if the lines are cut or down for any reason. Another solution is to get a CCTV system arranged in your home. This technology has improved dramatically in recent years and now can stream a live digital video feed to the internet, allowing you to monitor your home from any PC, tablet or smart phone.

Check with your home insurance company

If you are thinking of investing in a decent security system, it’s always a good idea to check first with your insurance providers. Very often they endorse specific security arrangements by agreeing reduced premiums if they are in place. Find out what they consider to be the satisfactory security requirement for your home and the type of system they recommend. 9 times out of 10 you will find they require a system that is NACOSS approved. This stands for National Approval Council for Security Systems, a non-profit, independent supervisory body for the security industry.

Going to the dogs?

Finally if you are uneasy with all the technology and surveillance there is always the traditional guard dog. It sounds outdated, but dogs are remarkably effective at protecting your home and your family since they are motion sensor, loud noise maker and serious physical threat all rolled into one. They are by no means the easy option though, so if a loud aggressive pet isn’t your cup of tea, best rely on a good alarm wired to alert both you and the police in the event of an intrusion.

Handy Hints

Whichever solution you choose, be sure to keep it maintained and serviced at least once a year.
If it requires a box being fitted to the outside of your property, insist on a plain one. Anything branded, even if it is a great alarm system, will serve to inform potential thieves of the device installed and enable them to do their homework and find a way around it.