The Best Tools For Preventing Break-Ins
Whether at home or work, security is a vital part of daily operations. Keeping your premises safe should be a top priority, especially due to the rising concerns of break-ins and the ongoing threat of criminal activity.
There are various security tools now available to protect your home or business, with the two most popular being CCTV and intruder alarms. However, in a bid to deliver the best protection to your premises, you may be wondering which is best.
Burglar alarms and security cameras are two of the most effective, and therefore popular, tools for security. They each offer benefits in terms of preventing break-ins and can be a useful way to deliver peace of mind to your family or employees.
In this guide, security experts Lincs Alarms are sharing everything you need to know about burglar alarms and security cameras to determine which is better at preventing break-ins. No matter your needs, budget, or concerns there is a security system out there for you.
Introducing Our Security Tools: Burglar Alarms Vs. Security Cameras
Before we can begin to explore which of these security systems are better at preventing break-ins, we first need to understand what they are and how they work.
Most homeowners, landlords, or employers have likely experienced CCTV and burglar alarms in the past as these are common types of security measures. However, as a refresher:
What Are Burglar Alarms?
These devices detect unauthorised entry to the home or commercial site. They will trigger an alarm to alert emergency services, occupants and neighbours that an intrusion has occurred.
Based on the kind of burglar alarm used, this alert can be an auditory alarm, a smartphone notification, or direct contact with emergency services. There are multiple types of burglar alarms available, including wireless, monitored, and smart alarms alongside their counterparts.
What Are Security Cameras?
Security cameras, also known as CCTV, record or stream footage of a home or business. This footage can then capture any criminal activity, which can be used as evidence.
CCTV can be used inside or outside of the premises, with most users relying on a combination of both for maximum coverage. Like burglar alarms, there are several types of security cameras available including motion-activated, doorbell cameras, wireless, and smart cameras.
At A Glance Comparison
To help you determine which is better at preventing break-ins, let’s take a closer look at both burglar alarms and security cameras to see what they offer:
Burglar Alarms Pros
- A loud alarm can lead to immediate action, scaring criminals and causing an emergency response
- Alarms are triggered through the detection of unauthorised entry, whether this is through motion sensors or additional programming
- Immediate response is possible, due to the sounding of the alarm
- Suitable for all kinds of premises, including small homes and large commercial sites
Security Cameras Pros
- Ongoing visible feed which can showcase criminal action as it takes place
- Integration with smart technology can support instant alerts based on motion, sent directly to the homeowner or employer
- One payment is needed for the security cameras and the installation but can be free to use from here on out
- Video evidence can be incredibly useful during criminal trials and insurance claims
Preventing Break-Ins With Cameras Or Alarms: What Do They Do?
Now that we understand the basics of security cameras and burglar alarms, it is time to consider their role as a deterrent.
Preventing break-ins focuses on stopping criminal activity before it takes place, which is why we need to assess the effectiveness of these devices as deterrents. By deterring criminals from your home or business, you do not have to worry about damage, theft or vandalism.
Criminals are less likely to target locations that will be hard to break into, and security systems like cameras or alarms can help with this. In many cases, the visual presence of burglar alarms or security cameras can ward off criminal behaviour, because they become aware they are being monitored. However, how effective they are at this role varies:
Burglar Alarm As A Deterrent
Burglar alarms can be effective tools for preventing break-ins because they provide:
- Loud alarms that scare off intruders and criminals
- Obvious alert to homeowners, neighbours, and emergency services that a break-in has occurred
- Provides an immediate response to break-ins, as the alarm will sound whenever the criminal enters the home or a specific space
However, it is important to note that burglar alarms are not a definitive solution to preventing break-ins. While the loud alarm can scare criminals off, some may just decide to act quickly before the police arrive which can lead to loss of personal items or business assets.
If the alarm is triggered by a criminal, there is no visual evidence available to show who this is or what they did. In many cases, alarms are triggered accidentally by pets, children or other forms of harmless movement. These false alarms can make you less confident in the ability of the burglar alarm and prevent you from acting as required during a true emergency
Security Cameras As A Deterrent
Security cameras are great tools for business or personal security because they provide benefits such as:
- People behave differently when they know they are being monitored, which is why visible security cameras is such an effective deterrent
- Cameras record footage which can later be used as evidence, whether in criminal court or as part of an insurance claim
- Most security cameras allow for remote monitoring, so you can have eyes on your premises even if you are not present (such as through a smartphone app)
Security cameras can be an effective deterrent in many cases, but they are limited as they cannot physically stop intruders. Criminals may take extra precautions to make sure they are not identifiable and continue their break-ins, including tampering with the cameras to prevent them from being seen.
In most cases, having a security camera is not enough as additional tools are needed for maximum effectiveness. For example, security lighting can improve the quality of the video feed, making it easier to identify criminals.
Which Is Better At Preventing Break-Ins?
Although both burglar alarms and security cameras play a role in preventing break-ins, they are not a comprehensive solution when working alone.
Burglar alarms can provide an instant response to an emergency, but whether this is connected to an emergency service or will hinder the criminal activity taking place can vary based on individual circumstances. Alternatively, security cameras can provide constant monitoring of the premises so criminal activity is noticed, but how instant the response is will vary based on who is watching the feed at any given time and whether notifications are possible.
With this in mind, the best tool for preventing break-ins is an integration of both security cameras and burglar alarms.
Preventing Break-Ins Through Integration
Combining the powers of burglar alarms and security cameras is the best way to protect your home and business from break-ins. Both can help with preventing break-ins, by acting as a deterrent to criminal behaviour.
This is improved through the instant response delivered by burglar alarms, and the video evidence from security cameras. Combining both tools creates a smart security system, which provides remote monitoring and control to protect your premises even if you are not present.
Any motion detected on the camera can trigger the alarm, which leads to a prompt emergency response. All evidence is recorded, to make the investigation easier and ensure justice is served, if required.
Lincs Alarms: Your Partner In Security
At Lincs Alarms, we serve both domestic and commercial clients across the region. We offer a range of security tools, including CCTV and intruder alarms, to protect your home or business.
Our experts can recommend the best security system for you, and deliver a professional installation for peace of mind. Ongoing maintenance and repairs are also offered by our team, so you can always be actively preventing break-ins.
Contact Us Today
For better protection of your home or business, contact the team today. We can recommend the best security system for your premises and install it to high standards.
