Intruder Alarms

Why have an alarm system?

- Every year 1 in 18 families experience a burglary incident

- The number of attempted burglaries has increased by 177% since 1981

- 28% of homes burgled once are burgled again

- 34% of burglaries take place when people are at home

- The vast majority of residential burglaries are committed by drug users

- 90% of heroin users support their habit by burglary

- Having an alarm fitted can reduce your insurance costs

Government statistics have shown that the majority of burglaries carried out on properties fitted with burglar alarms are unsuccessful. This shows that alarms are a useful deterrent for prospective criminals.

The British Security Industry Association suggests that customers should only use alarm installation companies registered with a police recognised 'alarm inspectorate' such as:

- NSI (National Security Inspectorate)


 

Types of alarm system

There are two different types of alarm available and two ways they can be installed, as listed below:

Audible only (bells only)

The alarm sound at the premises only. Response is reliant on somebody contacting the police. Unless there is definite evidence of a break-in, the police will not attend this type of alarm. We do not recommend this system because:

  • People ignore ringing alarms
  • Ringing bells annoy your neighbours
  • Would you risk your life to investigate your neighbours alarm activation?

Monitored

The alarm will sound at the premises and a signal is sent to an alarm receiving centre via your telephone line. Your premises is monitored 24 hours a day and in the event of an alarm signal:

  • We validate the alarm signal
  • If necessary, we inform the relevant emergency services or call for assistance appropriate to the type of alarm signal received:
    Intruder/panic alarm - call the police
    Fire signal - call the fire brigade
    Assistance signal - call one of your keyholders or we can notify you at work (office hours) or on your mobile phone

If your alarm is activated when the property is unoccupied and your key holders cannot be contacted we offer extra protection with our Key Response product - this service ensures that a trained and licensed security officer will call to investigate the cause, secure the premises and, if necessary, call the police.

The more isolated your premises are, the more reason to have a monitored system.

Click here to see how our monitored system operates.


Both the systems featured above can be installed using either method below:

Hard wire

The majority of systems are fitted using hard wire, It takes longer to fit than wire free and is more expensive to install. Although we are experts in concealing the wires some wiring might still be visible.

Wire free

These systems are easy and quick to install with minimum disruption to the property. They are particularly beneficial for rented, leased or listed properties where it may not be allowed to make any alterations.


 

Security Alarm Maintenance Options


Service Maintenance

All our customers will have either one or two maintenance visits per year (depending on the type of alarm fitted, see below).

Each visit will cover the following items:

- Tamper detection
- Setting and unsetting
- Entry and exit procedures
- Power supplies, circuits and batteries
- Detection devices
- Warning devices
- Alarm transmission equipment (remote signalling)

Maintenance visits are intended to establish the correct operation of the system and cannot be taken as a guarantee of future trouble-free performance.

We offer three levels of service maintenance agreements as defined below:

BRONZE

One visit per year for customers with Audible Only (Grade 2X) systems or remote signalling systems where a response from the emergency services is not required.

Two visits per year for customers with remote signalling systems (Grade 2 or higher) where a response from the emergency services is required.

SILVER

As Bronze except that you will not be charged for the first hour on any breakdown (except where a fault is due to physical damage or user error). Any excess time will be charged according to our schedule of charges.

GOLD

As Silver plus replacement, free of charge for any items of system equipment found to be faulty during any service or breakdown call (except where the fault is due to physical damage or user error)

N.B. Gold is only available for new systems or new system upgrades only.

 

24 Hour Call Out Service

Cost will be according to our schedule of charges, however, your call will take preference and will cost less than non-contract customers.

N.B. All work will be carried out in compliance with the relevant British or European Standards and NSI/NACOSS codes of practise. Any materials required during services or breakdown calls will be charged at our normal list price.
A proportion of the fee charged for all maintenance agreements is to allow for engineers to be available 24/7in order for prompt response breakdowns.

 

Installation Policy

On receipt of your completed Installation and Maintenance Agreement form and deposit, we will contact you to agree an approximate start date. As that date approaches, we will contact you again to make a firm date. We will also advise you how long we anticipate the works to take, however, the actual completion date may vary depending on how the job progresses. If everything goes well, we may finish sooner than anticipated. Similarly, if extra work is required, we may finish later than expected.

Once the job is started, it is our policy to ensure that engineers remain on site on consecutive working days until full completion of works, unless we cannot do so due to unforeseen circumstances (e.g. staff sickness, etc.). If such circumstances do arise, subject to availability, we will make every endeavour to switch another engineer to your job to complete as soon as possible.

In view of the above policy, it is possible that the job scheduled prior to yours may over run, which may in turn lead to a delayed start to your job. We will try to avoid this wherever possible, but if we do need to delay we will inform you as soon as we can to minimise your inconvenience.

 

To contact AB for more information please click here

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