In United States of America, a robbery is committed every 15 seconds, with an average loss of $1,600. Statistics show that homes without a burglar alarm system are broken into three times as often. Install a burglar alarm today to prevent your home from being part of that statistic.

When deciding on a home burglar alarm system, what is right for you depends on a number of factors including the safety of your neighborhood, the type of residence you live in, if you have pets, and how much you want to spend.

The best way to hinder thieves is with a basic home security system that makes an unbearable noise when an intruder is detected. Often, these are enough to deter a burglar away before he has had time to take much. However if you’re not home, chances are your neighbors will notice the alarm and call police.

With a monitored burglar alarm today, you will be offered greater protection because the home monitoring service will be notified if there is a break in. Upon an incident, a brief delay is present that gives the homeowner time to cancel in case of a false alarm. If the alarm is not canceled, someone from the monitoring service will call to make sure everything is okay. If your password can’t be confirmed, the service will contact the fire department, police, or EMT service.

For the monitoring option service, there may be an installation fee, as well as a monthly monitoring fee. The advantage of these systems is that they can detect fires, carbon monoxide emissions, and medical emergencies. The alert in these systems can either be audible or silent. There is also a panic button that bypasses the false alarm checks and goes directly to 911 in the case of an emergency.

Since most home burglar alarm systems communicate through phone lines, it’s a good idea to have a system that uses cellular service as a backup if phone service is down or the lines have been cut.
Monitored home burglar alarm systems usually consist of a control box, a touch pad, sensors for windows and doors, a motion detector, a siren, and a backup battery, in case the power is interrupted. It is important that you don’t forget the lawn sign, which has proven to be the greatest deterrent to potential thieves.

Both hard-wired and wireless systems are available. A wireless system is easier and quicker to install. Plus, it has the advantage or being portable and easy to expand if your needs change.
But, make sure you take the extra time to get an on-site assessment at your home to ensure that you’ll get all the protection you need.

Expect to pay between $30 and $50 a month for monitoring, with a 1 – 3-year contract. And check with your homeowner’s insurance company to see if they give a discount to homes with burglar alarm systems.