Home & Office Security Systems

History

• Home and office security systems evolved from simple mechanical intrusion detection systems. Before the advent of the modern security system, people would hang a bell or a can from the door to alert occupants of a room or building about the opening or closing of that door. Eventually, someone connected a bell to several batteries. A relay in the door triggered the electric bell to ring on the outside of a building. Most modern security systems evolved from this early concept in wired security.

Components

• Home and office security systems have a number of components. Window and door sensors detect when they are opened. Breakage sensors can detect if a window is broken. Motion detectors can sense movement within a particular area. Pressure sensors, often placed under rugs, can detect someone walking through a door or climbing through a window. Sirens range from bells to very loud electronic alarm systems. Because modern home and office security systems are digital, most modern security systems have a keypad to enter a code to arm and disarm the system. However, some systems use an electronic system similar to the activators used in car alarms. Some security systems include phone or wireless components to notify people off site of the alarm condition. Some security systems can include either audio of visual monitoring of an area.

Monitoring

• Although some security systems are intended to either scare away an intruder with a loud alarm or to notify occupants of an intrusion, many modern security systems are able to notify a remote monitoring center of an intrusion. The monitoring center can then call the location of the intrusion. If no one answers, the monitoring center may then call local authorities to investigate the detected intrusion.

Effects

• A study by the Rutgers University School of Criminal Justice found that an alarm system has a positive effect on reducing property crimes. This is because most burglars avoid homes and businesses with a security system installed. The study found that advances in technology have increased the reliability of security systems, while reduced costs have made them more available to people in middle class neighborhoods.

Considerations

• The increasing popularity of security systems has resulted in some municipalities making false alarms an infraction. Chicago, for example, can issue a $100 ticket for every false alarm. This can be an issue for people with pets who use motion detectors. Older motion detectors are very hard to calibrate for animals, and are more prone to triggering false alarms. Installing audio of video monitoring can allow a monitoring service to check for intruders before notifying local authorities.