If you do not have a burglar alarm installed at your home, you should certainly consider installing one. A burglar alarm is an obvious deterrent, with nine out of ten burglars interviewed in a recent survey agreeing that they would not attempt a break-in at a property fitted with an alarm system. Put another way, fitting a burglar alarm reduces your chances of a break-in by 90%. Sadly, many people think that being burgled is something that happens to other people – until it happens to them.

Acting as a deterrent is not the only benefit that you get from an alarm system. You should be able to get a sizable reduction (between 15% and 20%) on your insurance premiums, because, quite simply, your insurance company is at less risk of having to pay out on a claim.

So, how should you decide which burglar alarm is right for your home

Here is some advice from Greater Manchester Police which applies to any part of the country, including Kent and London.

They advise that there are two types of alarm, Remote Signalling Alarms (Type A alarms) and Audible Only Alarms (Type B alarms).

Remote Signalling Alarms automatically inform a monitoring station which, in turn, informs the police. There will be an annual fee to pay for the monitoring service. Police will normally only attend alarms installed by companies approved by one of the two main regulatory bodies, National Security inspectorate (NSI) and the Security Systems Alarm & Inspection Board (SSAIB).

Audible Only Alarms are triggered either by a burglar, or an occupant pressing a button on a personal attack device. This system relies on someone hearing the alarm and then calling the police. With either system, the sound of the alarm will scare off all but the most persistent burglar.

Here’s some guidance from Kent Police about how they respond to burglar alarm activations.

There are also four different grades of burglar alarm.

And a choice of wired or wireless alarm systems.

Choosing the right burglar alarm installers

Some insurance policies require an alarm to be fitted to give cover. But, when choosing who is going to install your alarm system, it is important to check that the company that will be doing the installation is approved by your insurers.

Why NSI Gold standard is vital

It is also a good idea to look at the NSI and SSAIB websites to find approved burglar alarm installers in your area.

NSI Gold is the highest standard awarded by the authority governing burglar alarms and their installers. The National Security Inspectorate audit and closely monitor their approved companies (such as Guardian Security & Fire) to ensure that they are maintaining the high standards required to achieve the certificate in the first place.

Companies that have been successfully accredited have voluntarily invited NSI to audit their business and check that their products and services comply with industry standards. Here is a list of the things NSI insist and check on:

The company is financially viable – NSI checks the company’s finances

It has all the necessary insurance
The owners/managers are of good repute
The company operates from suitable and secure premises
It can provide sufficient cover/support
It has an appropriate means of dealing with complaints
The company operates to industry best practise
The company can demonstrate technical and managerial competence
It must operate a 24-hour call-out service and respond to emergencies within a 4-hour period
The company must offer a maintenance contract with the system
Luckily, when we joined NSI way back in 2004, we had all these processes in place so the process was fairly painless.

When you work with an NSI Gold company, you know that all staff are vetted, including the engineers, so that whoever comes to your home has been security screened to British Standard 7858

Every installation by an accredited company comes with an NSI Certificate of Compliance. This can be shown to all insurance companies as evidence that it has been installed to all the necessary standards. It also gives you peace of mind you are getting work to a high standard.

My burglar alarm installer says he is NSI Gold approved, how can I check?

Make sure the company you choose has actually been awarded this level of approval by checking the list on the NSI site. The BBC’s ‘Watchdog’ and other consumer programmes have had lots of horror stories about what happens when customers invest in burglar alarm installers without checking for this accreditation.

Other things to bear in mind before talking to a burglar alarm installer

Before disclosing any personal security details, check that the company representative has an ID and check the credentials of the company. Ask if an independent inspector approves the company. Does the company issue a list of police rules for occupiers of premises with alarms?

In the case of remote signalling alarms, the company should also be able to provide written confirmation that both the system and the company are acceptable to police for the transmission of alarm signals from new installations.

Obtain a written quote and ensure that it specifies that the installation will be to either British Standard BS 7042 or BS 4737.

Will I own my burglar alarm?

Confirm whether you own the system, or if the company simply rents it to you. Check what the system costs per annum if it is a remote signalling system, together with any annual maintenance charges.

Lastly, check whether the company operates a 24-hour call-out service in the event of a failure in the system or a false alarm.

Find out more about how to get a burglar alarm installed by Guardian.

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