What are the different types of alarm?
Broadly, it boils down to a choice between "bells-only", a monitored alarm and/or a speech dialler.

• A bells-only alarm, aka an audible-only alarm, simply makes a racket when it is triggered. A bells-only alarm may deter intruders and alert your neighbours when it goes off, but on its own won't generate a police response,

• With a monitored alarm, you pay extra to have your system connected via telephone line or radio network to a "receiving centre", which typically monitors signals received from your alarm 24 hours a day. What might happen is that a detector is triggered and a signal is sent to the receiving centre. Someone at the centre then immediately phones your home for password identification and to check everything is OK. If the password ID is not given, or the phone is not picked up, one of the keyholders you have nominated and/or the police are notified.

A monitored alarm will incur monthly or annual service charges on top of the installation costs.

• A speech dialler is a cheaper alternative to a monitored system. This is a device that can be connected to an alarm, or may already be built into the control panel. If there is a break-in, the speech dialler automatically calls the phone numbers that have been programmed in and leaves a pre-recorded message. Which? says having a speech dialler installed as an extra typically costs £100 to £150.

I like the idea of the police being notified. Tell me more.
Many companies will allow you to have your system linked to the police. Security firms say this is a good idea because many police forces won't respond to a bell-only alarm, unless there is also first-hand evidence of a crime being committed.

Because of the problem of false alarms, the police will usually only go out to your home if two detection devices (such as sensors) are activated in sequence. If only one is triggered, just the keyholder will be contacted. Even if two or more detectors are activated, do not assume officers will drop everything and rush to the scene immediately.

If you keep having false alarms, you will find yourself struck off the police register. , For example, notch up three false alarms within 12 months and you will be demoted to "level three police response". The bad news is that this equals no response; it means your system is "banned".

Which firm should I use?
Talk to friends and neighbours about who provides their alarm. Are they happy with it? Does it go off when it shouldn't? How much do they pay for monitoring and maintenance? Go for a company that is approved by an independent body such as the National Security Inspectorate (NSI).(NACOSS)

Will it ring an insurer's bell?
Most insurance companies offer a discount of between 2% and 15% on the cost of home contents insurance if you have a burglar alarm, according to Which? magazine.

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