Home burglar alarms have become ever-more sophisticated in recent years; technology has changed for the better, and these days it is possible to buy a system that is a long way from the simple bell in a box that they once were. One of the major developments in alarm systems is the way in which they can be monitored remotely, either by the home owner or by a contracted company, and this is a major bonus that has been proven to be a deterrent to burglars.

Many systems come with a contract by which a company responds to an activated alarm: they receive a signal electronically that the alarm has been triggered, and will visit the property in a given time. There are some that automatically inform the local police that the house may have an intruder; however, while these are an attractive option it may be better to opt for a system monitored by an independent company, as police may be delayed if there are more important events to attend to. A monitored alarm system may also come with a maintenance contract, which is also a welcome part of the deal as alarms should be tested on a regular basis.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Alarm Monitoring - Keep in Touch at All Times Most people have a mobile phone that is able to download apps, and some alarm systems can be monitored via an app on an iPhone or other smartphone. These work by either calling the phone when the alarm is activated, or by sending an SMS message to the handset, and they serve a very useful purpose. Once informed, the homeowner can let the police or a key holder know that there is a possible burglary underway, and as the information is transmitted instantly it offers greater security all-round.

In more advanced systems the homeowner may be able to activate a camera inside the house, and view the situation on a computer; this has its advantages, but it requires a camera in each room to be truly effective, and can be expensive. The simplest form of monitoring is that we described using a mobile phone and, as the homeowner will most likely already own a handset, it is simply a case of installing the app. Check your smartphones app-store to see if one is available, and if your alarm system is not able to engage a monitoring system it may be worth upgrading to a better system as soon as possible.