What does a home need to be secure these days?
“There are three things to think about. The first is physical barriers to entry. All points of entry (windows, doors etc) must have strong and secure locks, not only to prevent burglars from entering the home, but to put them off even attempting to do so. Second is visible deterrents. You want would-be burglars to not even think about trying to enter your property. Visible cameras and alarms, CCTV and floodlights are some of the things that stop them from trying their luck. Finally, think about what I call the consequences on entry. There need to be consequences if a burglar does enter your property, such as alarms.” – Robin Knox, security expert & CEO, Boundary

Is an alarm system the best option?
“In my opinion, alarm systems are some of the best tools out there to improve home security. They monitor your home using a suite of sensors like motion sensors and detectors, door and window sensors (also called entry sensors and contact sensors), carbon monoxide detectors, glass break sensors, smoke detectors, security cameras and garage door sensors. If you’re confused, remember security sensors have descriptive names 99% of the time – you usually know what they do by what it says on the tin.” – John Carlson, researcher, Safewise

Are there different types of alarm system?
“Yes, there are four classes:

Professional security systems take a traditional approach that comes with professional installation, has lower starting costs, and almost always requires a long-term monitoring contract. This is the most expensive type of burglar alarm.

DIY home security systems require self-installation. These are perfect for renters since they usually don’t have a contract. Instead, you pay for professional monitoring month to month.

Self-monitored security systems ask you to pay for all equipment up front, but there’s no professional monitoring. They rely on you to respond when an alarm goes off. This is the cheapest kind of alarm system because there are no monthly fees.

Takeover systems use old security system equipment you might have in your house and connect it to security monitoring from a different company.” – John

Finally, security cameras – anything you need to know?
“Adding a security camera or video doorbell to your home alarm system lets you view live footage in your security system’s app. This is convenient if you already have a security system, but it does come with a drawback: you often need to pay for monitoring plans to get the cameras.” – John