Are burglar alarms worth it?
Thinking about installing a burglar alarm? Read this first

When I got back from my holidays in November last year, I returned to find my house in an impeccable state.
Well, apart from the fact that the front of the burglar alarm in the hallway had been removed from the wall and the wires had been cut using a pair of kitchen scissors.
I feared the worst. But as I entered the living room, I found a note from my friend who’d been making regular visits to my house to feed the cat.
“Hi Kris!” it read. “Hope you had a nice holiday. Just to let you know, there was a bit of a problem with your burglar alarm. Sorry if it’s caused you any bother. Bye!”
Several weeks beforehand, the alarm had decided to go off at 4am without any reason following a power cut, which didn’t exactly endear us to the rest of the street. It looked like the same thing had happened while we were away, leading to my friend’s improvised Mission Impossible-style wire cutting. (By the way, we don’t in any way endorse any DIY alarm tampering. Always strongly consider getting a professional in when it comes to electrics – Safety ed)
No cause for alarm
To be honest, I was pretty pleased when we got an electrician to remove the burglar alarm entirely – it turned out it had been wired wrongly by the last owner of the house, and I didn’t know the code for it. Anyway, the cat would end up setting it off if it was switched on during the day.
But it got me thinking – each time the alarm sounded, not one of our neighbours had come round to see if we were being burgled.
I asked the people of Twitter what they usually did in the event of an alarm going off. The answer, it would seem, is very little.
“My ears prick up if it goes on for a longer time than it'd usually take for someone to turn it off,” said @Petegriffiths.
Meanwhile, @Denialvibes opined: “One step up from a car alarm. Irritated but slightly concerned. Monitor with interest.”
However, the best response probably came from @Kittus: “I pick up a couple of glowsticks and 'large it' until it stops,” he quipped.
So, do burglar alarms even make that much of a difference to the security of our homes?
Using my own home – a fairly typical urban terraced house – as a test, I ran a couple of quotes on Gocompare.com and found barely any difference in the price of buildings and contents insurance with and without various flavours of alarm. Insurance companies, famously anally retentive about risk, don’t really seem that bothered either way.
Indeed, in its latest Focus on Property Crime report, the Office of National Statistics revealed that “no single one of the security devices asked about lowered the risk of victimisation,” but a combination of locking windows and deadlocks “significantly” lowered the risk of a burglary.
Elsewhere, the Straight Statistics blog has argued that by “fitting and maintaining an alarm system… a householder will typically avoid one burglary roughly every 300 years.”
Call in the professionals
Getting the basics right is probably a less expensive and more effective way of improving your home security, but Gocompare.com’s home insurance expert Ben Wilson argues that burglar alarms are worthwhile… providing they’re properly installed and maintained.
“A burglar alarm offers an extra level of security for you, your family and your possessions," he said. "It will serve as a deterrent to potential intruders and provides you with peace of mind, but make sure it’s done properly."
That’s because poorly installed and maintained kit may well prove expensive – and annoying – in the long run.
“Using accredited companies to install and maintain your alarm is a must," said Wilson.
"And if you’ve got a burglar alarm which you have told your insurer about, make sure you’re using it – if you’re robbed and it isn’t armed, it might well invalidate a claim."
A freelance personal finance journalist.
-
-
Octopus Energy relaunches energy tracker deal – we explain what you need to know and if it could save you money
If you’re an Octopus Energy customer, you may be able to save on your energy bills with the relaunch of its tracker deal. We look at how it works
By Sue Hayward • Published
-
Three energy firms pay £8m in switching compensation - has your provider paid out?
More than 100,000 customers have received compensation after changing providers, but is now a good time to switch energy suppliers?
By Tom Higgins • Published
-
Travel insurance: what to look for when buying travel cover this Easter
Buying travel insurance can seem like one more job on your holiday ‘to do’ list, but it’s important you don’t leave home without it. We explain what to look for when shopping around for the best deal
By Sue Hayward • Published
-
Missed flight cover: when can you claim if you miss your plane?
Bad weather, traffic jams, breaking down or not having a valid passport could all mean you can’t get as far as the airport – we look at whether your travel insurance will pay up
By Sue Hayward • Published
-
Six reasons your home insurance could be refused, cancelled or voided
Check your policy and read the small print to ensure your home insurance is not refused, cancelled or voided
By Sue Hayward • Last updated
-
Average price paid for home insurance ‘at lowest levels in at least a decade’
The average cost of home insurance in 2022 was £300 - how does your premium compare?
By Katie Binns • Published
-
Revealed: the job titles that add £100s to car insurance - and the cheaper alternatives
Job titles that will see the biggest rise in car insurance costs in 2023 have been revealed - is your job title one of them? And how to find cheaper alternatives
By Vaishali Varu • Published
-
How to avoid sneaky car insurance fees
Some motor insurers are increasing fees and charges for motorists. We reveal how to avoid them
By Sue Hayward • Last updated
-
How to get cheap car insurance: 10 ways to cut the cost
If you’re a driver, you can’t hide from paying for car insurance but knowing how to get cheap car insurance can cut the cost without compromising cover quality.
By Vaishali Varu • Published
-
Amazon sells insurance: is comparing and buying an insurance policy through Amazon any good?
Amazon Insurance Store launches in the UK to sell home insurance
By Sue Hayward • Published