Occasionally we’re asked if burglars can disable alarms, and it’s not surprising that some people have concerns about the security of their alarm system. After all, if you’ve gone to the expense of having an alarm fitted, you want that peace of mind an alarm should provide.
So, can burglars disable alarms? Unfortunately, the answer is yes and depending on your alarm system, here’s how.
Traditional wired alarm system
Since traditional burglar alarms rely on a phone line, simply cutting the phone line will disable the alarm from communicating with the outside world. However, modern systems can use dedicated 4G communicators that use the alarm panel’s backup battery so the system can still operate and communicate in the event of a power cut.
Wireless alarm system
The two standard practices that burglars use to disable wireless alarm systems are:
- Jamming – a burglar uses a wireless alarm jammer device to block cellular signals between your sensors and the alarm base station. As the base station doesn’t receive the alert signal, it won’t raise the alarm.
- Crash and smash – most alarms have a 30-60 second grace period when you enter your house. A thief uses this time to break (“crash”) into your home and destroy (“smash”) your security system before the alarm activates.
However, while savvy burglars can disable alarms, the odds of it happening are relatively low. Most break-ins are opportunistic, and a burglar is more likely to target a building without an alarm than one with one. Why go to the trouble and time of disabling an alarm if there is a property next door with no security?
To minimise the chances of your alarm being disabled, opt for a modern wireless system with built-in protection measures. For example, many newer alarms have anti-tamper protection, which will sense any damage to the hardware casing and sound an alarm. And sensors that are able to detect a radio jamming attack and will set off an alarm.
Also, ensure that your alarm is regularly serviced and you have a backup power supply.
If you have concerns about your alarm system and would like a no-obligation quote for an upgrade, please call us on 01392 368830 or email us.