I recently moved house and decided to install a burglar wireless alarm. I plumped for the Visonic Powermax Pro - excellent piece of kit by the way. I had it installed in less than two hours with 30 minutes of that time spent connecting it to the mains via a fused spur. Anyway, my girlfriend Val and I were going for a night out and Val was stood near the front door with her arm on the door handle as I pressed the Arm away button on the keyfob. The panel announced 'Arming Away - please exit now'. Val immediately dropped her arm and turned to me and said 'How did it know that'.
True story, honest.
Friday, 9 December 2011
Tuesday, 19 July 2011
CCTV For the Home
CCTV systems have now become really affordable for the home user. Once thought of as an expensive luxury, fully functional CCTV systems with say four indoor/outdoor day/night cameras are available for around £400. The added bonus is that they are viewable over the Internet, have hard drives as standard and are very user friendly. Sapphire CCTV have great range of DIY kits that are easy to fit and will give so much peace of mind whenever you leave your premises. Imagine being able to look outside and inside your property while you are on holiday or on a night out or anywhere you have a mobile phone or PC or iPad, or Blackberry. Fantastic.
CCTV Systems are actually easier todesign and fit than Burglar Alarms. Systems comprise a DVR (digital Video Recorder), cameras (one per channel) and one or more monitors. The software in modern DVRs is very sophisticated and is capable of triggering recording on motion detection - including pre-event and post-event triggers.
Fitting CCTV is the next logical extension to your property's security.
Fitting CCTV is the next logical extension to your property's security.
Friday, 1 July 2011
Don't Forget the Real Purpose of a Burglar Alarm
The purpose of a burglar alarm is to DETER BURGLARS - don't forget it.
Like everything else electronic Burglar Alarms can be built that will do almost anything except make a cup of tea. But is this leap in technology actually clouding the desired function of the alarm? At Sapphire Alarms we get loads of enquiries asking for alarm systems that will do all sorts of things which they aren't really designed to do, and while it may be a very nice feature for the Alarm system to "lock the cat in the kitchen when the alarm is triggered" (Yes! a genuine enquiry), it isn't really part of the purpose of the Burglar Alarm System. My personal view is Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS). If you want CCTV, then buy a CCTV system, if you want a door entry system then buy a Door Entry System, if you want a Burglar Alarm System then buy a Burglar Alarm System, and lastly, if you want something that locks the cat in the kitchen then.....
So, what does a simple Burglar Alarm System consist of? Rememeber that we are trying to deter burglars - so think like a burglar. Unfortunately there are several types of burglar:
The Opportunist Burglar.
This burglar does not go out with the intention of committing a burglary, but he/she may simply be walking down your street and spots an open or easily-opened accessible window with your brand new iPad on view within the room and thinks that that is something nice to have or sell down the pub. A visible alarm system should act as a deterrant, but the burglar may just decide to take a chance and do a quick in and out job. Of course if he/she does chance it and the alarm goes off he/she is unlikely to hang around.
The Desperate Burglar
This is the most dangerous type of burglar. Depending on the level of desperation, this burglar may take extraordinary risks to get money/goods. A burglar alarm should help but this type of burglar may not be thinking straight due to drink or drugs. However he/she is unlikely to stay around if there is an alarm sounding, and once he/she has something of value the first priority is to get whatever they were desperate for.
The Vandal Burglar
Usually two or more persons who as well as coveting the easily carried goods also see your wealth as something to be destroyed. They have very low moral values and see wealth and your hard work as something to be destroyed. They may also get a kick out of committing this type of burglary. The them and us attitude. A burglar alarm will definitely help to deter this type of burglar.
The Career Burglar
In the past this burglar would have spent half his life in prison and the other half committing burglaries. This burglar knows what he is doing - he has probably committed hundreds of burglaries. He will stay well clear of alarmed properties unless the risk is worth it.
All of the above will be deterred to some extent by a Burglar alarm system. The important thing is that the potential burglar knows you have an alarm. The best way is to have a live working Alarm System and Sounders on show on the property.
Like everything else electronic Burglar Alarms can be built that will do almost anything except make a cup of tea. But is this leap in technology actually clouding the desired function of the alarm? At Sapphire Alarms we get loads of enquiries asking for alarm systems that will do all sorts of things which they aren't really designed to do, and while it may be a very nice feature for the Alarm system to "lock the cat in the kitchen when the alarm is triggered" (Yes! a genuine enquiry), it isn't really part of the purpose of the Burglar Alarm System. My personal view is Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS). If you want CCTV, then buy a CCTV system, if you want a door entry system then buy a Door Entry System, if you want a Burglar Alarm System then buy a Burglar Alarm System, and lastly, if you want something that locks the cat in the kitchen then.....
So, what does a simple Burglar Alarm System consist of? Rememeber that we are trying to deter burglars - so think like a burglar. Unfortunately there are several types of burglar:
The Opportunist Burglar.
This burglar does not go out with the intention of committing a burglary, but he/she may simply be walking down your street and spots an open or easily-opened accessible window with your brand new iPad on view within the room and thinks that that is something nice to have or sell down the pub. A visible alarm system should act as a deterrant, but the burglar may just decide to take a chance and do a quick in and out job. Of course if he/she does chance it and the alarm goes off he/she is unlikely to hang around.
The Desperate Burglar
This is the most dangerous type of burglar. Depending on the level of desperation, this burglar may take extraordinary risks to get money/goods. A burglar alarm should help but this type of burglar may not be thinking straight due to drink or drugs. However he/she is unlikely to stay around if there is an alarm sounding, and once he/she has something of value the first priority is to get whatever they were desperate for.
The Vandal Burglar
Usually two or more persons who as well as coveting the easily carried goods also see your wealth as something to be destroyed. They have very low moral values and see wealth and your hard work as something to be destroyed. They may also get a kick out of committing this type of burglary. The them and us attitude. A burglar alarm will definitely help to deter this type of burglar.
The Career Burglar
In the past this burglar would have spent half his life in prison and the other half committing burglaries. This burglar knows what he is doing - he has probably committed hundreds of burglaries. He will stay well clear of alarmed properties unless the risk is worth it.
All of the above will be deterred to some extent by a Burglar alarm system. The important thing is that the potential burglar knows you have an alarm. The best way is to have a live working Alarm System and Sounders on show on the property.
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