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Which is the correct security alarm system I need to protect both property and people?

Traditional burglar alarms are no longer a stumbling block to even the youngest burglar, (TV and the internet has a lot to answer for). As security system technology moves on, so do the skills of the robber. burglar and squatter, the increase in burglary over the last few months supports this point. Keep one step ahead to ensure that your choice of home security, business alarm and protection equipment is sophisticated, not complicated

Are you unsure about what to do?
The problem is, how do you decide what is needed when faced with so many choices? In an attempt to keep it simple, you must determine what you are trying to protect and why, then relate that to your local environment. Also note that government statistics show that 40% of homes with a burglar alarm suffer burglaries. Follow the links and consider the survey to have a better idea of what you should be installing

	Security Fog By extending an existing burglar alarm with a security fog machine and filling an area with dense security fog or smoke, burglars cannot steal what they cannot see. They leave having caused minimal damage whilst the key holder or authorities arrive. Installed correctly, armed robbery can be foiled and staff provided with protection. Return to top
	Sound Barrier Products By disorientating with sound, burglars leave without stealing and wreaking havoc whilst the key holder or authorities arrive. When used as a car alarm or van alarm, the cargo area is protected as never before. Crowd dispersal systems can be used to stop congregation of intimidating youths on the perimeter of property. Return to top
	Alarm Verification Products Over 98% of burglar alarm sirens are ignored and the police will not respond without good cause. Now there is a simple but effective security system that videos the cause of the alarm activation and the police have a duty to respond when there is a verified crime in progress. Return to top
	CCTV Products Security cameras are excellent deterrents. Today, for many domestic and small businesses, there are spy cameras, security cameras and IP cameras that are well within the scope of the competent DIY with plug and play packages and wireless camera kits. For larger homes and businesses the burglar alarm can incorporate CCTV cameras and be monitored by Alarm Receiving Centres. Return to top
	Access Control The most obvious, yet most forgotten way to stop thieves is to hinder their progress - close the door! Make access to the property less easy - be it a house, factory, car park or room, fit a lock. These days it is simple to allow authorised people to gain access without carrying a bunch of keys. It could be as easy as using your thumb, a mobile phone or a proximity sensor. Range of access control products available here. Return to top
	Monitor what is happening When a sensor for any type of alarm is activated someone should be informed. This applies to intruder alarms, water levels in bilges, loss of power, unauthorised movement of equipment. Ideally the recipient should be an alarm receiving centre, a guard or other keyholder. Don't rely on your bell, 98.7% of alarm bells/sirens are ignored and police will not attend unless a crime in progress can be verified. In addition, summoning the wrong type of assistance - a caring neighbour tackling a group of intruders, for example may give unexpected results. There are too many cases of unprepared neighbours being killed!! Return to top
	Do a Business Survey Do a Home Survey For you to really take control, we suggest you do a survey as part of your risk assessment. The guidelines will be of help to determine risk and which pieces of kit to install.

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Facebook users in line for insurance hike
Rebecca Camber, Daily Mail
Users of social networking websites could face higher insurance premiums because burglars are using them to 'shop' for victims' personal details.

Experts from leading insurer Legal & General warn that parents could eventually see their premiums rise even if only their children are members of popular sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

Many of the millions of users of these sites post details about their home, whereabouts and holiday plans on them - effectively an invitation to a burglar.

The warning comes in the wake of a report called The Digital Criminal, commissioned by Legal & General and prepared by reformed thief Michael Fraser, star of the BBC's Beat The Burglar series.

Is your postcode pushing up the cost of insurance? Check with The Postcode Breaker...

Mr Fraser said: 'There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that burglars are using social networks to identify likely targets. They gain confidence by learning more about them, what they are likely to own and when they are likely to be out of the house.

'I call it "internet shopping for burglars". It is incredibly easy to use social networking sites to target people, and then scope out more information on their actual home using other internet sites like Google Street View, all from the comfort of the sofa.'

A burglar might look out for alarms or security lighting on any pictures of the home, as well as any photos of pet dogs who might be guarding it.

There are now 8.5m Facebook users in the UK and at least 2.4m Twitter users.

Graham Cluley of web security firm Sophos said: 'It is staggering what people are putting on the web. Our research shows that 41% of people are divulging personal and private information to complete strangers on Facebook, such as their date of birth, where they worked, where they lived and what they were doing. People are boasting about how they are having a fantastic time on a beach in Mexico on a webpage that has their home address.

'Criminals who put together the jigsaw can use it for identity theft or burglary. It is just as dangerous as leaving your windows or doors open at home.'

The Digital Criminal report, which polled 2,000 social network users, found that nearly four in ten had posted online updates detailing their holiday plans.

One in seven had seen other users' home addresses posted on pages that could be viewed by strangers.

Teenagers are the worst when it comes to giving away personal information, with nearly two-thirds of 16 to 24-year-olds sharing their holiday plans online.

But the report found that nearly half of all respondents were unconcerned about the security of social networking sites. In an experiment, 100 friend requests were issued to strangers selected at random.

On Twitter, 92% accepted the stranger as a friend, as did 13% of Facebook users, potentially allowing the stranger to learn about that person's interests, location and movements.

Plans being considered by Legal & General include questioning customers about whether any of their family members belong to any social networking sites.

But yesterday privacy groups accused insurers of using the popularity of social networking sites as an excuse to increase premiums.

Simon Davies, director of Privacy International, said: 'This is a disgraceful attempt to leverage yet more from customers.'

Malcolm Cooper, director of pricing and underwriting at Legal & General, admitted: 'It's a challenging one for the insurance industry. Just because someone is burgled, you can't prove that it's down to details posted on Facebook.

'It could be that we start asking how many youngsters are in the home for example.'

Burglaries rose in 2008-09 for the first time in six years. Police recorded 284,445 house break-ins, up 1 per cent on the previous year.

Deputy Chief Constable of Cheshire Graeme Gerrard said: 'People should make use of the security facilities available on social networking sites to restrict access to their personal information and do their best to protect themselves while online by using firewalls and the like.'

• When Josephine Knight got tickets for this year's Glastonbury Festival, she rushed to post a jubilant message online.

The 30-year-old marketing executive, above, was so excited she instantly joined a Facebook group of those who were going to the music festival.

In the weeks before and during the festival itself, she continued to post further messages to the Facebook group, which had thousands of members.

But when she and her partner Chris White, 30, returned from Glastonbury they discovered their two-bedroom flat in North London had been burgled.

Treasured possessions worth more than £500 had been taken from the home in Camden.

She now believes the burglars used information and pictures on Facebook and Twitter - which she also used during the festival - in order to target her flat while she was away.

'Whilst I am careful about who I accept as a friend, some of my friends have up to 600 friends on their sites who could potentially access my page,' she said.

'And because I was sending messages to a festival 'group', I did think afterwards that strangers could have seen and known we were out of the house.'

She has since taken much of the information off Facebook.

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