Choosing the right intruder alarm system for your home or business is no easy task. Nowadays, there are so many different high-tech options that it can be a bit overwhelming. Don't worry, we've got a guide to show you some of the different types of intruder alarms and their key features, this should help you make an informed decision on your property's security system.

If you're looking for a bespoke home or commercial security system, complete with an intruder alarm, we can help. Get in touch with the IDS team now.

Passive Infrared (PIR) Detector 

Typically one of the most common types of intruder alarms, passive infrared detectors are mounted on walls around a property and are triggered by a change in radiant heat. A single passive infrared detector is capable of monitoring an area between 10 and 15 metres in front of it, meaning you only need to install a few of these around a single building to achieve maximum protection. 

How do passive infrared detectors work?

This type of intruder alarm has two beams that gather information about the space in front of it and splitting it into different 'planes' (up to 20 different zones). If the alarm will sense a change in radiant heat between its planes or zones, for example, if a person enters the room, the alarm will trigger. As you can imagine, an empty shop shouldn't have people walking around it at night, so these alarms are effective at detecting intruders. 

Where should I install a passive infrared detector?

As you can imagine, the passive infrared detectors we mentioned above aren't suitable for all kinds of places. If you installed a passive infrared detector in a family home, for example, you'd probably find it's triggered by the dog multiple times a day! As such, passive infrared detectors are best suited to locations that are vacant for long periods during the day/night. Commercial properties like shops and offices tend to find passive infrared detectors more effective than residential properties.

Quad Element PIR Detectors

If you're worried about false alarms, there is an advanced PIR detector that might be more reliable. On the whole, quad element PIR detectors are similar to the standard passive infrared detectors, however, there are two detectors working side by side. Both need to be triggered to set off the alarm.

How do quad element passive infrared detectors work?

Unlike a standard PIR detector, the quad element PIR detector has four beam planes working at the same time. So, an anomaly in one of the sensors shouldn't lead to a false alarm as often as it might do with a standard PIR detector. This type of intruder alarm has become a lot more popular over the last few years.

Where should I install a quad element passive infrared detector?

Since these alarm systems are more reliable and less prone to false alarms, they can be installed pretty much anywhere!

Monitored Intruder Alarms

Most intruder alarms are great for alerting people in the local area, but that doesn't always mean that someone will respond and stop the incident in its tracks. If you're looking for the best type of intruder alarm to prevent active break-ins, we'd recommend a monitored intruder alarm.

These are regular intruder alarms that are accompanied by a monitoring contract. Here, someone will monitor and respond to suspicious activity in real-time without you having to lift a finger. With this type of intruder alarm & contract, you can rest assured that the relevant emergency services will be on the scene as quickly as possible.

Read More: Burglar Alarm Monitoring from IDS Security

Where should I install a monitored intruder alarm?

Monitored intruder alarms can provide an additional layer of security in any location. Whether it's an office block, your home, or your shop. If you're looking for a simple & cost-effective type of intruder alarm, this might not be the best option for you - simply because the monitoring contract is an ongoing cost. That being said, if you're looking for the highest level of security and you're happy to pay for the additional monitoring service, then this is one of the best intruder alarm options on the market.

Here at IDS Security, we offer a number of different types of intruder alarms to suit your security needs perfectly! Our technicians will work with you to help you create a bespoke security system for your home or business. By tailoring our systems to suit you, we can offer the maximum level of security and reassurance.

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When you've put your heart and soul into your small business, the last thing you want to do is leave it vulnerable to burglars, fires or other potential hazards. Investing in a good security system can really limit the potential risks and help keep all of your small business assets safe!

Here at IDS Security Systems, we offer a wide range of business security systems that can be tailored to suit the needs of your small business perfectly. Today we're going to look at the elements that make up the best security systems for small businesses. If you'd like our help designing a security system for your small business, give us a call on 029 20 753 251.

Preventing Break-Ins

Most small business premises contain a range of valuable items that are (unfortunately) very attractive to burglars. Laptops, products, and cash registers can be stolen and re-sold for a hefty price if criminals get their hands on them. Don't worry, there are things you can do to make a break-in at your small business premises less likely, starting with a good, reliable intruder alarm!

Before the days of intruder alarms, it was very easy for criminals to target a vacant store and make their way in to claim their bounty - nowadays (with a good intruder alarm) their chances of breaking in without detection are much lower.

Modern-day intruder alarms are triggered by motion sensors, meaning any unusual activity within your small business will be flagged up right away. Thanks to smart technology, you can even have intruder alerts sent directly to your mobile phone in real-time, meaning you can assess the situation and call the necessary emergency services quickly.

Intruder alarms are a great deterrent for criminals, and the loud noise they emit will do a great job of driving unwanted visitors back out onto the streets. Some neighbours or passers-by might hear the alarm and be able to intervene before the incident goes any further. For these reasons, intruder alarms are an important element of the best security systems designed for small businesses.

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Fire Safety

While your small business is in its early phases, you might not give much thought to the fire safety system on your premises. After all, they're not really necessary if no one's working there, right? Wrong! It's absolutely vital that your small business premises has a suitable fire safety system in place from day one. Fires can still start without human intervention, and whether you're renting or buying your business premises, you want to make sure it won't go up in flames.

Our team of installers have implemented fire safety systems at a broad range of premises, both commercial and residential, so we're happy to help you make your business safer whatever the size. We first start by assessing the building and surrounding grounds, then we can make a detailed plan to show you where all of the vulnerable areas are. From this point, we can arrange to install a fire safety system that will keep your premises safe no matter where a fire breaks out.

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CCTV Systems

CCTV cameras are essentially the eyes and ears of your small business when you're not around. With CCTV installed at vulnerable entry points, you can keep an eagle-eye on your small business 24/7. Some small business owners consider using smart devices to create a CCTV network on their premises, however, these aren't always effective, so we wouldn't recommend them if you're looking for the best security system for your small business. 

Time and time again, we are asked to rectify problems created by these smart devices because they've either been installed incorrectly, or they've malfunctioned and the business owner can't find the right support to get them up and running again online. Unfortunately, this is part of the package when you choose to take your small business security into your own hands. If you're looking for the highest level of protection and the best small security system on the market, we'd highly recommend choosing a CCTV system from a professional company. 

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Read More: Do Smart Devices Make Good Security Systems?

So there you have it, a round-up of the things to include if you want to create the best security system for your small business. There are a lot of different security companies out there, but if you choose to work with us, we'll take all aspects of your small business into consideration and help you install the best, bespoke security system for your needs.

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Smart devices have become increasingly popular over the past few years, and companies like Google, Amazon and Nest are really pushing the boundaries of smart technology.

Nowadays, you can change the colour and intensity of light in a room using a simple voice command, you can change your home's temperature from your smartwatch, and you can even ask Google to tell you a joke! But can smart devices reliably protect your home in the event of a burglary or fire?

Today we're going to take at some of the potential problems people overlook when they purchase a smart security system. More...

Have you been thinking about investing in an access control system for your home? There are lots of reasons why a home access control system could be right for you! Adding an access control system to your home is an excellent way to improve security and monitor people's visits. Nowadays, you never can be too careful when it comes to home security, so if you want to learn more about the benefits of home door entry systems - just keep reading.

Better protection

When you have a lot of valuable possessions in your home, installing a home access control system can really give you peace of mind. Standard home doors are easily compromised, meaning you constantly feel on edge when you know the property is vacant. Installing a state-of-the-art home access control system will provide you with an extra layer of protection and put your mind at rest.

Access multiple doors

For those of you with larger homes or numerous different entry points, you might find it a nuisance to carry a huge set of keys around! There's one for the front door, a different one for the back door, another to get into the porch... eventually you start to feel like a school janitor with millions of keys and no idea which one works in which door! 

If you're fed up with carrying a huge bunch of keys around with you, you could streamline the whole system by installing a convenient home door entry system. Whether you choose a key fob, a key card or a more advanced biometric system, you can have complete access to every door in the house with a single fob, card or fingerprint.

Better still, these technologically advanced home access control systems are very difficult to replicate, making it unlikely that someone could access your home - even if your fob or card got lost. This is just another way that access control systems for homes can be beneficial.

Speak to visitors without opening the door

Whether you're running a business from your living room, or you've got overly-enthusiastic neighbours, an intercom can be a valuable home access control system. Rather than standing up and rushing downstairs every time the doorbell rings, you'll be able to see and speak to your visitors with the click of a button. You can even grant them access to your home without fumbling for your keys. This is great if you're constantly having parcels delivered, or clients visiting your home on a regular basis.

Speaking to visitors remotely through a home door entry system is also hugely beneficial for the elderly, who may struggle to answer the door quickly. Better yet, they'll be able to see exactly who's on the doorstep without opening the door, this is especially beneficial during the COVID-19 pandemic but will also help prevent vulnerable people from falling victim to door-step scammers in the future.

Integration with other home security systems

Here at IDS Security Systems, we believe that your security system should fit your requirements exactly. If you're interested in our access control systems for homes, why not take a look at some of our other home security systems to provide you with additional layers of security.

There are very few criminals who will successfully break into your home if you've got an effective home door entry system alongside an intruder alarm and CCTV cameras. That's why we believe in being completely flexible when it comes to fitting a home security system that works for you. 

Other home security services we provide include, fire alarm installation and round-the-clock call out and monitoring contract. Working together to establish your requirements, we'll be able to make your home safe and secure so you can rest easy!

Home Security Systems > 

For more information on our home access control systems, or to book an appointment with our technicians, give us a call on 029 20 753 251 now!

For the past year, the UK has been subject to a range of lockdown restrictions that have drastically changed our normal lives. The usual routines of heading out to work, popping to the pub on a Friday, and meeting friends for coffees have been taken away from us in order to keep the country safe. 

When thinking about the impact that the "stay at home" orders have had on crime rates, you'd probably expect to see them go down dramatically. After all, a large number of crimes including drug dealing, anti-social behaviour, and shoplifting require criminals to go outside. 

That being said, it might be naive of us to think that criminals who already break the law on a daily basis are sticking to the lockdown restrictions religiously, even if it means putting their lives and the lives of others on the line. 

So, let's dig a little bit deeper into some crime statistics that were collected during lockdown to find out whether crime rates have, in fact, gone up or down. 

Data collected by The Office for National Statistics

During the months of April and May 2020, the UK was put under strict national lockdown restrictions to control the spread of COVID-19. The Office for National Statistics conducted a Telephone-Operated Crime Survey to find out how trends in crime were changing during this period. 

They were then able to compare the crime rates during this two-month period to a pre-lockdown two-month average to establish whether or not crime rates had gone up or down.

What did they find out?

The Office for National Statistics reported that during the period between April and May 2020, crimes (no including computer misuse or fraud) fell by 32%. During this time, there was also a shift in the public's perception of police officers, with 91% of all adults in the survey reporting that they were satisfied with the way the police in their area were responding to the ongoing situation.

Which crime rates fell the most and why?

There are a few crimes in particular that happened far less frequently due to lockdown restrictions. One of these was theft. In fact, theft offences fell to almost half the level recorded in April and May 2019.

Of these theft offences, domestic burglary saw a significant drop. With people at home more frequently and for longer periods of time, the opportunity for domestic burglaries in vacant properties was dramatically reduced. 

Shoplifting offences were also less frequent. A lot of shops that would usually be open to the public were closed, therefore removing the opportunity for theft in public spaces.

Were there any exceptions to this trend?

Yes, sadly the coronavirus pandemic didn't stop certain criminals from carrying on with their daily business. Drug offences actually rose by 22% in April and 44% in Mary 2020 compared to the same months in the previous year. 

This doesn't necessarily mean that the number of drug offenders doubled during this time. With police attention away from crimes like shoplifting and domestic burglary, and with fewer people out on the streets, it was easier to identify potential criminal activity and prosecute accordingly. 

Home and Business Security

While these statistics indicate that certain crime rates have gone down, that doesn't mean that now is a time to neglect your security measures. 

Business owners, who may have empty premises for the next few months (or longer) should really consider improving their business security to protect any assets inside. While shoplifting is certainly easier when a shop is open and operational, burglars are guaranteed to attempt a robbery at an unoccupied business if they can see there are no security measures in place.

Business Security >

Homeowners who have been spending more time than even in their properties might have become a little bit relaxed with their security systems. After all, we know that burglars are unlikely to attempt a break-in if they know you're at home. 

That being said, many of us will be returning to work, visiting friends, and (hopefully) heading off on holidays later in 2021, so now is a great time to get your home equipped with a reliable home security system. 

Home Security >

Our engineers are still working despite the COVID-19 lockdown and we've got measures in place to keep you safe. Get in touch to arrange a free quotation today!

Read More: Keeping You Safe During the COVID-19 Pandemic