Every 37 seconds a residential home somewhere in Britain is burgled.

The Home Office says the average burglary costs the victim £3,500 but for only a fraction of that you can improve security. Many thieves are opportunists who will look for obvious and easy ways to get into your property.

Metropolitan Police

Home Security: Security Alarms

Burglary Prevention | Bogus Callers | Doors | Flats and Apartments | Advice to landlords Glazing | Lighting | Security Alarms | Windows

Alarm systems are a worthwhile investment in the protection of your home and family. Studies reveal that it is far less likely that you will become the victim of a burglary at home if you have a correctly fitted and well maintained burglar alarm. However, they should be regarded only as one element within a complete security package.

The variety of alarms and their fitting is a complex subject. As a starting point the installation should meet with British Standard 4737/BS EN 50131. This type of installation refers to hard-wired systems as opposed to wire-free. Though more expensive than many wire-free or DIY packages on the market, they are more reliable and conform to the Association of Chief Police Officers Intruder Alarm Policy. The only wire free system which conforms both to British Standards and the ACPO Intruder Alarm Policy is a BS 6799 Class VI alarm. This type is typically more expensive than its hard- wired counterpart. Be aware that systems that claim to meet with British Standards, but don't specify BS 4737/BS EN 50131 or 6799, may well be referring to the electrical standard and not that of the alarm system.

If you are thinking about the installation of an alarm system in your home it is worth taking into account that the police response to alarm activations varies according to the type of alarm installed. In recent years the percentage of false alarm calls caused by either equipment, communication or user error represented in excess of 92% of all alarm activations nationally. In order to redress the balance in favour of genuine calls, the ACPO Unified Intruder Alarm Policy has been adopted by the police, in which two types of alarms are defined, together with the relevant police response.

▪ Type A - Remote Signalling Alarms, including intruder alarms terminating at approved central monitoring stations. They must be maintained and used in accordance with British Standard 4737/BS EN 50131, BS 7042 (high security systems) or BS 6799 Class VI (wire-free alarms). Such alarms will be registered with the police and identified by a unique reference number (URN) and can include personal attack alarms. The police response to their activation will be based on the assumption that an offence is taking place, but against the background of competing urgent calls and available resources. Such a response will also be conditional upon the number of false activations in any 12 month period, in which case the activation may receive a lower priority police attendance.

▪ Type B - Audible Only and Hybrid Alarms, including bells-only and automatic dialling alarms, as well as alarms from non-compliant companies and non-compliant central stations. URNs will not be issued for these systems. To obtain police attendance, in addition to their activation Type B alarms will also require some indication that an offence is in progress, e.g. from a witness.
In identifying a compliant company installing Type A alarms you should seek answers to the following questions:

1.Before disclosing personal security details, have I checked the address and credentials of the company and seen proof of identity from the representative?

2.Is the company subject of an independent inspection process and if so which organisation?

3.Is the installation of an alarm a requirement of my insurance company and if so, is the company acceptable to my insurer?

4.Can the company representative provide me with a list of police rules for occupiers of premises with alarms and written confirmation that the alarm and the company are currently acceptable to the local police for the transmission of alarm messages from new installations.

5.Have I sought written quotations from at least two alarm installers? 6.Does the quotation:
▪ specify that the installation will be to British Standard 4737/ BS EN 50131or BS
7042 (high security systems), or, if it is a wire free alarm, BS 6799 Class 6,
as amended by BS DD 244?
▪ include the terms of maintenance and monitoring contracts?

7.Does the company operate a 24 hour call-out service and emergency attendance
within four hours?
Police accept the installation of remote signalling alarms from alarm companies whose business is subject to inspection by independent inspectorate organisations identified in police policy. Currently these are:

▪ National Approval Council for Security Systems
▪ Security Systems and Alarm Inspection Board

All of these organisations publish lists of relevant companies.

All alarm systems should have two keyholders, trained to operate the alarm, able to attend activation within 20 minutes, contactable by telephone and with their own transport.

If you are contemplating having an alarm installed and need additional advice, contact your local Crime Prevention Officer who will be happy to offer you further guidance. You may find that the cost of fitting an alarm system is lower than you originally anticipated. If several houses in a street or Neighbourhood Watch are considering installing alarm systems, it is possible that an installer may give a discount for multiple installations. What is more, it is possible that the cost of an installation could be partly offset by reduced household insurance premiums. You should be aware, however, that the insurer may stipulate that the alarm should be set at all times when the property is unoccupied, and that any claim for losses incurred as a result of a break-in while alarm was not set may be adjusted accordingly.

Joshua Fowler, Reporter
Tuesday, November 13, 2012

A speight of late night and early morning burglaries has led Bromley Police to ensure Orpington residents are on high alert.

There have been three reports of torch lights waking elderly residents and on one occasion an intruder left the address as soon as he was challenged.

Det Chf Insp Andy Furphy, of Bromley Police, said: “These offences are obviously extremely concerning as elderly residents were targeted.

“To have three offences in such close proximity is very unusual and there have been no similar incidents in the area over recent weeks or months.

“A heightened level of awareness is needed right now, to be aware of anything unusual and call us if you see or hear anything suspicious. We are here 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Residents are urged to remember to securely lock all windows and doors at night to deter opportunistic thieves.

Burglars have hit a home a day in Orpington in the last week prompting a police warning.

Bromley officers said today that since last Friday, break-ins have occurred every night in the BR5 and BR6 postcode areas.

Police are asking residents to properly lock-up when leaving their homes.

A police spokesman said: “PVC doors can be easily opened from the outside if they are not locked with the key from inside.

“Shutting the door and merely pulling the handle up does not in fact lock most of these doors, and it is then relatively easy for a skilled thief to pull the handle down and ‘pop’ it open.”

He added car keys should be kept out of sight or upstairs, as burglars are stealing high-end cars by entering houses to get the keys.

Those arrested were targeted as part of an ongoing anti-burglary initiative; all are being processed through the criminal justice system.

“Despite these arrests, burglary still remains an issue of concern for us,” said Jo Oakley, Bromley Police’s deputy borough commander, pictured.

“Burglary on the whole is an opportunist crime, with 36pc of burglaries resulting from insecure properties. A burglar will select homes that present the best opportunity for their crime to go undetected and with the fewest obstacles in their way.

“Don’t let your home become a target. Help us to protect your home by taking simple steps such as using timers to turn lights and radios on, fitting alarms, making sure homes are properly locked and by keeping valuables and presents out of view.”

Police are keen to identify premises where stolen property from burglaries is being taken to, and to identify those responsible for committing break-ins.

Anyone with any information is urged to call Bromley Police’s Burglary Squad on 0208 284 8859 or, if you wish to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Top ten burglary crime prevention tips:

1. Mark or etch your property with your postcode, house or flat number or the first three letters of your house name.
2. Register items with a serial number at www.immobilise.com.
3. Do not leave your car keys, valuables or ID documents near a door, letterbox or window.
4. Always check who's at the door and don't open it if you feel anxious.
5. Close and lock all your doors and windows, even if you are only going out for a few minutes.
6. Keep your valuables out of sight.
7. Leave some lights on if it will be dark before you get home.
8. Fit a mortice lock to your front door and other external doors. Consider installing a burglar alarm.
9. Always keep sheds and outbuildings locked.
10. Cancel milk or other deliveries if you will be away for days or weeks at a time.

Here's a link to the Bromley neighbourhood watch on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bromley-Neighbourhood-Watch/111421715626899?ref=hl