National Security Month

October 20 2021

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When it comes to home security there’s a lot to take in. With a huge range of brands, products and packages to choose from, you’re likely to have a fairly long list of questions about what you should have, and what you really need. And rightly so. The security of your home is far too important to leave to chance. Here at ADT we want to help you get a clearer picture of home security so to mark National Security Month, we’ve done a spot of mythbusting.  

Will having a burglar alarm installed at your home reduce insurance costs? 

Some insurance companies will offer you a discounted rate, but there’s no guarantee that this will be the case. When making their decision, they also considered the type of property you live in, and its location. As a result, Compare the Market suggest there are some instances where you may be refused insurance on your home and possessions unless you have a burglar alarm. 

Is my home more susceptible to a burglary if it’s in a rural area? 

A rural home is less likely to have neighbours than a rural one, but this doesn’t mean that it’s more likely to be targeted by a burglar. The government has reported that between 2020/21, burglaries were much more likely to occur in major urban areas than rural ones. They have calculated that in predominately urban areas, there are as many as 16.3 burglaries per 1,000 households. This is in comparison with just 2.9 per 1,000 rural households. Although these statistics suggest that domestic burglaries are more likely to happen in more highly populated areas than the countryside, there are different parts of the UK that have higher crime rates than others. Use the ADT tool to find out the figures for crime in your area. 

Why do only some alarms ring?  

Some home security alarms are fitted with an external bell or siren. These are designed to immediately create noise, and to notify others who are nearby. However, statistics show that fewer people are now taking notice when this happens, with research suggesting that 75% of external alarms go unnoticed. Nevertheless, many companies opt to install a decoy bell outside, as a visual deterrent to any potential burglars. For example, ADT’s famous bell boxes don’t actually make a noise externally, but all of our packages include an internal siren that is built into the panel and can be far more effective in disorienting intruders should they make it into your home.

Do all home security packages feature police response as standard?

There are only a limited number of home security companies who are able to provide what is classified as a Level One police response package, whereby a monitoring company notifies the police on your behalf. When searching for this service, make sure that the package you choose is from an NSI-accredited provider, who have an approved Alarm Receiving Centre. When you choose a package that includes police response, your security provider should issue you with a Unique Reference Number (URN). If your alarm is triggered, the Alarm Receiving Centre will automatically contact the police, providing them with your URN. Without this, it means your provider doesn’t meet the standards to offer Level One police response your home security service cannot include police response. 

Why should I choose to pay more for home security?

When looking at home security package prices, you should always consider just how much peace of mind is worth. The least expensive home security packages are often from DIY brands. In the short term, this might look good on your bank statement, but you’ll have to fit and install the package yourself, relying on forums and how to videos for advice, and there are no guarantees it will offer the protection you’re hoping for. With providers who pitch themselves as the most affordable option it can also be tricky to find out what’s actually included in their package. 

Here at ADT, we’re an authority on home security, and are happy to lay it all out in the open. Our professionally installed burglar alarm packages start from just £99 upfront, and for less than you’d spend on your daily store-bought coffee, you can get round-the-clock home monitoring. All our packages also come with as standard an all inclusive service maintenance package, meaning you are covered for all elements of technical support, replacement parts and labour as well as yearly inspections that keep your system in tip-top condition. Our systems are backed by bank-level encryption as standard, acting as a strong line of defence if cybercriminals try to access your Wi-Fi network to steal personal information, or attempt to disable your system. This is often a vulnerable point for DIY home security systems.

Is an alarm only needed when you’re not at home? 

There’s a common misconception that the majority of burglaries happen while we’re away from our homes, but the statistics suggest otherwise. In the UK, 58% of domestic burglaries happen while someone is in the home, with over 60% occurring overnight, between the hours of 18:00 and 06:00. This is where having a home security package that includes a dedicated home monitoring service means that you can sleep comfortably, knowing that your home is being watched over by a team of professionals.

 When you set an ADT burglar alarm before going to bed, you can activate the PIR motion sensors and wireless door contacts to create dual zones in your home. This allows you to set up alarms in different parts of your home, and to customise your set-up, to make you feel secure. You can use the ADT Smart Services App to control your alarms, lights and more from your smartphone of tablet from your bed.

Will my alarm stop working if there’s a power cut? 

If your power suddenly cuts off for any amount of time, don’t worry about your home security system switching off. All alarm systems feature a backup battery, which keeps your security system operating during a power cut. This also means that if you’re an ADT customer, your home will still be monitored by our team, even in the unlikely event that your ADT Smart Home panel and app go down. 

Do I need a landline phone to have home security?

The simple answer is ‘no’. Most security systems now operate using Wi-Fi or mobile internet services to connect to monitoring centres or smartphone apps. 

Burglars favour discreet points of entry.

It’s assumed that burglars will want to stay in the shadows when they attempt to break into a property, heading for areas that would gain less attention. That’s true up to a point, with rear windows being the most common point of entry in 28% of all break-ins. The back door is also a key point of access, with 25% of burglaries being conducted there. However, it’s been reported that a large number of burglars are just walking in the same way that you do, through the front door. This is the point of entry used for 27% of burglaries, and is often caused by either a spare key being hidden in an obvious place or the door being left unlocked. Which just goes to show, when it comes to home security you can never be too careful. 

We hope that this blog has answered some of your most pressing questions about home security. If you are looking for more information about home security and alarm systems, take a look at the selection of ADT security packages, or get in touch with a member of our team to find out more.