Traditionally it would have cost from €600 to install a monitored alarm system and it’s up to €1,500 for a standalone alarm. However you can save hundreds by installing this alarm system, which costs just €49. The security system also comes with 24/7 monitoring.

How to deter burglars from your home

Nobody wants intruders in their home, it should be a place for us to relax with our families. You can deter burglars with a decoy box outside the home that states it is a monitored home. A flashing light also helps it, so it’s visible at night, during the long, darker Winter evenings. Burglars are more likely to avoid monitored homes, as they’re aware of the instant Garda response, once the alarm is triggered. This alarm sounds even if someone attempts to break-into your home, so you don’t need to worry about waiting for someone to enter your property to set off the system.

What is alarm monitoring?

Alarm monitoring means that your home is connected to an alarm receiving centre 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, yep, even on Christmas Day! This round the clock protection offers peace of mind, as you know you and your family will receive a call if anyone ever tries to gain access to your home.

When you get a call, you just say your Secure Word if everything is okay, but if you need assistance or if nobody answers, then the Gardaí will be dispatched to your home.

Can it be fitted in any home?

Most alarm systems these days can fit any type of home or apartment. The set up of the sensors will differ depending on whether you live in a semi-detached, bungalow or terrace home for example ,but this system can be customized to fits your home’s needs.

The system is extremely modern. With its wireless set up, it only takes around 90 minutes to fully set up and protect your home. It can usually be installed within 2-5 business days. You won’t need to worry about running wires through your home, anyone drilling big holes to run cables or anything like you’d get with traditional alarms. The wireless set up makes it possible to remotely solve issues over the phone, handy right?

How can I get this offer?

Click your county below to see if you can avail of this €99 installation offer

Carlow

Cavan

Clare

Cork

Donegal

Dublin

Galway

Kerry

Kildare

Kilkenny

Laois

Leitrim

Limerick

Longford

Louth

Mayo

Meath

Monaghan

Offaly

Roscommon

Sligo

Tipperary

Waterford

Westmeath

Wexford

Wicklow

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However, what is the best alarm system for you? There are wired, wireless, monitored and non-monitored alarms. We breakdown the benefits of each to help find the best alarm for you.

Alarm panels

You may think that all alarm panels on the Irish market are the same, but be sure to ask what features the panel has. With HomeSecure’s latest alarm KeyPad, you get a Stay and Away function. The Away mode is your standard, arm all sensors setting, which is ideal when your home is empty.

Our Stay function is extremely useful, for home’s set up with perimeter protection. This function solely arms your perimeter sensors. With the majority of Irish break-ins actually occurring between 5pm – 11pm, the Stay button is vital to any home’s security and can deter someone from trying to gain access to your home.

Our alarm system also comes with emergency panic buttons, which can be used if you require the Fire Brigade, Gardaí or an Ambulance, so you’re getting the fastest response in any urgent situation.  Once again though, not all alarm panels will have the same features, so make sure to investigate.

How do I choose what sensors I need?

There are many ways to secure your home. As your doors are the most common entry points for burglars, you should always put a sensor on your perimeter doors.  Over half of all burglars will enter through a front, back or side door; so securing these is critical.

The Gardaí do require at least one motion / internal sensor to help verify break-ins, but after that, it’s really up to you on how you want to secure your home.

You can choose to add a sensor to all of your windows, some of your windows or none at all. It’s recommended to protect vulnerable windows, such as ones at the back of your home and ones that can be easily accessed from a slanted roof or garage. Not all companies offer the same level of flexibility, a lot will offer a ‘one-size fits all’ pack. Make sure you get the home security that gives you and your family peace of mind.

Remember that burglars don’t carry ladders, so you don’t have to put a sensor on every window, you can always use a motion sensor to cover a whole room and a series of windows.

It does depend on what type of house you do have. If you have a bungalow, it’s recommend to go for a more motion-based burglar alarm setup.

You can always get guidance over the phone from the sales team and on the day of an installation, the engineer will give his professional recommendation on what needs to be covered. HomeSecure engineers will ask you a series of questions to help set up the sensors in a way that works for you and your family.

Monitored vs non-monitored alarms

An age-old question when it comes to home alarms, is whether or not to get it monitored. If an alarm isn’t monitored, the external bell will ring for up to 15 minutes once the alarm has been activated. A non-monitored alarm system will have a bigger upfront fee, usually €800 – €1,000 for a good standard one.

A monitored alarm that has a verified break-in can alert the Gardaí and with HomeSecure, the nearest mobile unit will be dispatched to your home. The upfront cost on monitored alarms is usually lower and the fee is spread out over a number of years with your monitoring costs.

Burglars are savvy to monitored alarm companies and know not to even approach these houses, as they have the best protection. A monitored home is proven to be three more safer than a non-monitored home.

Self-monitored vs monitoring station

There are options to have a self-monitored alarm or have your alarm monitored by a monitoring station. Let us explain the main differences.

A self-monitored alarm works as a text service. This means when your alarm has been activation you can get a text message. One benefit of this is, it’s a cheaper way to monitor your home. The main disadvantage here, is you are don’t have a guaranteed Garda response. As of January 2008, the Gardaí can only guarantee to respond to houses when there has been a verified break-in. Receiving a text isn’t a verified break-in, as you have no way of knowing if it is a false alarm or not. Another disadvantage is, it requires you to respond. If you are at work and not looking at your phone, a text is pretty much useless.

When your alarm is monitored by a monitoring station, is it generally a more expensive option, but you do receive round the clock protection. Here if your alarm is activated, the monitoring station will call your designated keyholders to confirm if you are okay. If your keyholders don’t answer, if you confirm nobody is home or if a perimeter and internal sensor are triggered, the monitoring station can dispatch the Gardaí immediately, as this is treated as a verified break-in. Unlike the text service, you’ll have full-time staff dedicated to your home’s security. 

Conclusion

With your home being the biggest asset you will ever own, it is critical to give it the protection it deserves, so although there are cheaper options, we recommend getting a monitored alarm.

With most self-monitored systems, you may have to pay for call out fees, if you are getting your alarm serviced or repaired, so although it may seem like a cheaper option, there are more hidden costs here. With many monitored companies including HomeSecure, your maintenance fees are included in your monthly fee.

Here at HomeSecure we have made house alarms more affordable, by offering monitored alarms from just €49! With our monthly fee, you will receive 24/7 monitoring, an annual service and you’re covered for unlimited call-outs, if you have any technical issues with the alarm.

For more information call 01 920 3787

Independent Research carried out by Accuracy Research on behalf of HomeSecure. Results based on 1,008 respondents and are nationally representative. Additional security stats taken from on Garda Siochana website site and other industry sources

The post What is the best house alarm system for you? appeared first on House Alarms Systems | Monitored Alarm Systems | HomeSecure.

The Gardaí revealed that burglaries increase by around 20% after the clocks go back every year and the final weeks leading up to Christmas are always some of the busiest for burglars. To help protect your home this Christmas, we have compiled a quick list of simple but effective ways you can stay one step ahead of the burglars.

• Don’t let deliveries stack up

There’s a good chance that you’re getting more deliveries than ever especially coming up to Christmas; 34% of people in a recent poll in the Journal said they plan on doing all of their Christmas shopping online. It’s important you don’t let piles of deliveries stack up on your front porch, as a passing-by burglar may believe you’re not home and could try their luck.

If someone is working from home, make sure they keep an eye out for deliveries. If nobody is home, you can instruct the delivery driver to give the items to a neighbour you know will be home.

You can also add an external camera or a doorbell to the front of your home to keep an eye out for deliveries. Our external cameras come with motion detection so that you’re alerted when someone is at the door and our doorbell cameras have two-way audio so you can communicate with the delivery driver.

•  Light up and lock up

Whenever you leave your home, even if it is to just visit a neighbour or go for a quick walk, always remember to lock up all doors / windows and light up your home in the evening. Leaving external Christmas lights on or even just a living room light / lamp on where you’re out can give the illusion that someone is in and will make a burglar move to find an unoccupied home. Remember they’re always trying to make their crime as quick and as easy as possible, even just leaving a light on could help protect your home this Christmas.

• Don’t leave anything on show in the window

Burglars like to work under the cover of darkness in the winter months with the most common times to strike are between 4pm and 9pm. It’s believed that many burglars will scope out houses in the day time and return when it’s dark to break-in. Make sure you don’t leave anything valuable in eye shot of someone passing by. Expensive gifts on the tree or on the window could invite an intruder to target your home. Having a tree in the window is fine, but keep gifts hidden.

• Social media posting

One that is relevant all year round, but especially important at Christmas, is to be careful what you post on social media. Burglars are known to keep an eye on social media accounts and with many people leaving their accounts public, anyone can see what you post. If you post that you’re heading across the country to stay with relatives over Christmas, that is advertising to burglars that your home will be empty. Also be careful posting about new expensive items; If a thief sees you have high value items like a new iPhone or laptop, they could make targeting you home a priority.

• Set your alarm system

Nothing protects your home as much as your monitored alarm system. HomeSecure customers are proven to be over 8.5 times saver than the national average, as burglars look for an easier place to target. If you leave your home, even for a short period set your system to Away, arming all doors, windows and motion sensors.

Even when you’re home, especially in the evening, we recommend setting the Stay Mode. This arms your perimeter sensors, but disables motions, so your family can walk around knowing they’re secure.

Remember, even if you forget to lock a door, once your system is armed (stay or away mode) the system will go off if someone tries to gain entry and our monitoring station will be alerted.

Unsure if you set your system? Just take out your app and check the status. You can always set the system from your app as well, if you’re in set to the Stay Mode and if you’re out arm the Away Mode. Protecting your world, no matter where you are!

All of the staff here at HomeSecure wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

If you’re looking to secure your home this Christmas with a monitored alarm system call us on 01 920 3787.

The post 5 Ways to stay one step ahead of the burglars this Christmas appeared first on House Alarms Systems | Monitored Alarm Systems | HomeSecure.

LauraLynn, is Ireland’s only Children Hospital, and was HomeSecure’s official charity partner from 2018 to 2023. LauraLynn is based in Leopardstown Dublin and focusing on providing a personalised service to children with palliative care needs and complex disabilities.

HomeSecure started a One 4 One campaign allowing customers to add a €1 donation to their monthly monitoring bill, which was matched by HomeSecure, with the €2 going to LauraLynn each month. This has been running for the last number of years, with the donation growing to €250,000 just four years later. Our staff members have also visited the hospice, tidying up their garden and painting on the windows, to add a bit of sunshine and colour for the children in the hospice.

Recently, LauraLynn held a Heroes Ball to raise funds for the specialist palliative care they vide to children with life-limiting conditions and their families. HomeSecure were one of the sponsors of the night and some members of the HomeSecure staff attended the night stating it was an “extraordinary night, filled with laughter and excitement to celebrate a great cause”.

Kerry Mc Laverty, CEO of LauraLynn said “We are delighted to have Homesecure as a really valued partner of LauraLynn for the last number of years and I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the team and their generous customers across the country for raising an incredible €200,000 to date, it’s a huge milestone and achievement. The funds raised will have a big impact on the lives of the children and families we support across the country”

Managing Director Hugh Ryan wanted to thank the customers who donated to LauraLynn “Thanks to the generosity of our customers, HomeSecure has been able to provide ongoing support to LauraLynn who are an exceptionally worthy charity providing essential services to hundreds of families every year throughout Ireland”.

HomeSecure is incredibly proud of our corporate partnership with LauraLynn.  

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Home intrusions did still happen in 2020 and 2021, but figures were far down on previous years. As 2022 has been a welcome return to normal life in Ireland, no more being limited to your 5km or having a substantial meal to enjoy a pint. It has also meant a more return to normal burglaries taking place across the country.

Since the elimination of Garda measures like roadblocks and street patrols, there has been an increase in burglary gangs using high powered cars to target areas across the country. It wasn’t because burglars feared the virus that burglaries went down, it was the added risk of being caught. According to figures released by the Central Statistics office, there has been a 35% rise in break ins this quarter compared to the same quarter last year. With crime rate on the rise, especially burglaries over the last few years the Gardai came up with a strategy labelled ‘Operation Thor’. Gardai tried to intercept planned burglaries before they happened. In 2015, there were over 18 thousand burglaries reported. By 2021, this figure had dropped to just 6,000 (the pandemic would also have played a huge part).

You’re probably asking yourself which areas were targeted, and do I need to be on high alert? Dublin, Tipperary and Limerick have been the most prevalent areas for home burglaries. Unsurprisingly, Dublin was the number one hit area. Dublin’s leading burglary gang is based in Tallaght, while the group targeting Limerick is based across the border in Tipperary. We do encourage our customers to be extra vigilant, even if you’re not situated in these areas. Just because you are home doesn’t mean your home won’t be targeted. If you have a HomeSecure alarm, set the alarm even if you’re heading out for a short period of time. Burglar gangs usually look for patterns when targeting a home and if they do break in, they will be in and out in a few minutes.

HomeSecure customers’ homes are 8.5 times safer than the nation average. All our customers have a deterrent box saying ‘Monitored alarm’ outside the home, which will make the burglar think twice about gaining entry. If you are not a HomeSecure customer but want to be safe after reading this blog post, you can freephone us for a quote on 1800 844 024. We offer 24/7 protection, 365 days a year.

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The so called notorious ‘Cock Wall’ burglary gang have been responsible for a series of burglaries across Ireland. Their spate of break-in may be at an end after five, include two senior, members were arrested over the weekend

The Gardaí had the gang under surveillance and caught them red-handed as they entered a home in Dún Laoghaire. A senior source said the intruders went into every room in the house and the occupants were home at the time but didn’t suspect a thing. He went on to say:

“It shows how good they are at what they do that they can creep into the property without drawing attention to themselves. Fortunately, Gardaí had an operation in place watching them and once they left the premises, they were all arrested.”

The men in question are understood to be aged between their early 20s and 40s, with two of the arrested suspected to be senior members of the burglary gang.

From everyone at HomeSecure, we’d like to commend the Gardaí on their successful operation here! It is also a reminder for homeowners to stay vigilant as burglaries are still happening. It can be easy to switch off when you are home, *particularly as we’re all home more often these days.* As we saw with the instance in Dún Laoghaire, burglars will still strike, even when you’re home. We urge all HomeSecure customers to remember to set their system to the ‘Stay Mode’ when they’re home and to the ‘Away Mode’ when out of the house, even if you’re just going on a short walk within your *5km radius*.

Over the weekend, the Gardaí also revealed that burglaries in Dundalk last month were more than double the same period in 2020, in spite of the level 5 lockdown. Another reminder to keep your home security top of mind and if you’re someone looking to secure your home with a monitored alarm,*free phone* us on 1800911731

The post Notorious Five arrested in Garda surveillance operation appeared first on House Alarms Systems | Monitored Alarm Systems | HomeSecure.