I'm sure you're right, that if they're determined to get in, they will. On balance though, I think I would prefer to have an alarm, rather than not. However, I think most burglaries are down to opportunists, rather than professionals, and the chances are they will move on if they see an alarm system.

It's all down to personal choice.

so the control unit is a mobile phone
therefore it will work by regular polling as with a mobile.
that means it is a low level signal which could be blocked out by another on the same frequency

we don't have a landline either as we use a wireless dish for our broadband etc.

those really clever professionals who go for the high end will have researched the types of control systems on the market and as so many people will have a box with name on it, or a plate to advertise the company concerned.

otherwise it is just snip a wire here and the thingy is dead.

The control box / mobile phone unit is inside the house.

It will be tripped before anyone can get to it to tamper.

It has a battery backup which lasts many hours.

From experience the response from Securitas is from instant to 30 minutes +

don't need to tamper,
http://www.globalgadgetuk.com/personal.html
they are talking about having similar devices in prisons to stop use of mobiles there.

seem to remember that night patrols are the lightest manned, all you need is to trip an alarm or two at the other end of town and the world is your oyster.

in response to Abyss, AFAIK not many low level video recordings on such systems are suitable for evidence in a (British) court. The approved software costs much much more than a house alarm. That is why so few video recordings from shop raids can be used, even though they make for good video on the tele.

and to billgates - your alarm system should be sophisticated (or basic) enough to have zones and you switch on the outer (door/window) zone only when you go to bed - and who would want to watch you having a pee ?

In our case they wouldn't work. The range is too short. You would trip the perimeter alarms/cameras before you got close enough to jam the signal.

definitely something to protect

Fred, you probably have thought about possible holes in your system(s)
but I wouldnt want anyone to think that buying an alarm from Brico would be the answer to all their prayers, and probably wouldnt cut much ice with the insurance company either.
Like some other things, it isnt what you have its how you use it.

You mention insurance. I know some companies may insist on it but if you tell them you have an alarm you may have difficulty claiming if for some reason you hadn't turned it on, particularly if they gave you a discount.

The Securitas system uses the video and audio signals to determine whether there is anyone inside the property.

well it was headlined in the UK some time ago about the guy who filled up at petrol station, went in to pay and someone drove off with his new Porshce (?). Think he left the keys in the ignition.
the insurance didnt pay out.

Never mind the Porches, what about BMWs supposedly theftproof yet being stolen by the thousands worldwide every day ?

Simple, it even showed a 15 yr old starting one up in a couple of minutes on Watchdog the other day.
Simply order a spare key fob readily available on the internet, sit in the car a couple of minutes, programme it, then drive off.

Some insurance companies are still not willing to pay out despite a mass of available evidence proving just how easy it is.