Baltimore County Police Detective Sgt. Darryl DeSousa has seen many types of burglars.
Some just grab and go - others case a home for days, calculate exactly when the owners are away, put on a disguise and make their move. During the past two years, however, DeSousa can't recall a single burglary when a home's alarm system went off and the burglar got away with something of value.
The primary reason alarms work: Crooks want to be in and out quickly, he said. Any inconvenience is a reason to go to the next house.
From 1991 to 2001, consumers spent more than $45.1 billion on home security installations and monitoring costs. The Bethesda-based National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association, a major industry group, estimates that 18 percent of American households are protected by electronic burglar alarm systems, and the figures keep growing.
Some experts attribute the steady climb to a decreased sense of security, particularly after the economy's slowdown, last year's terrorist attacks and conflict in the Middle East.
"My husband travels a lot. I feel better having it," said Casey Reeve of Howard County, who recently installed motion sensors on her first-floor windows and doors. "If it goes off, you know. It gives you a little bit of time to prepare."
The Reeves, who have a long driveway that's secluded from the road, plan to install a driveway sensor, as well, to alert them of any visitors, invited or uninvited.
"[Burglars] generally take the most vulnerable homes first. [They want] concealment, easy access and something that looks deserted," said Jean O'Neil, director of research and evaluation at the National Crime Prevention Council in Washington.
The NBFAA estimates last year's total alarm industry revenue (residential and commercial) to be $20.3 billion, up from 2001's $18.7 billion. In 1998, revenue was at $14.9 billion.
Costs for such systems can reach $1,000 and carry monthly monitoring fees. And experts said that regardless of how good the system is, common sense and helpful neighbors help improve security.
What to consider
When shopping for a system, the first thing to consider is protecting access to one's home, experts said.
First-floor and basement-level doors and windows are where most break-ins occur.
Most systems work by sensing motion or glass breakage - or a combination of both.
Window and door sensors are small magnetic strips, about the size of a piece of gum. One strip is placed on the bottom of the window or door. Its mate is placed on the top of the sill, positioned so the two come together when closed. A wire on one end leads to the alarm. When that magnetic bond is broken, the alarm is activated. The resident usually has 30 seconds to deactivate the alarm before it automatically calls the alarm company and sets off a siren.
Interior motion detectors are about the size of computer mice and cost about $120 each. They need only be in rooms that allow entry from outside the home. Motion detectors pick up body heat and air movement inside a room, with most operating by microwave or infrared technology.
But motion sensors aren't perfect and can lead to false alarms when, for example, a pet or a child gets up in the middle of the night. And something as simple as a bird pecking a window can activate the glass alarm. Also, by the time the motion sensor detects the motion and goes off, an intruder could be five to seven steps inside the home, said Lou Goldberg, president of Digital Electronics Security Systems Inc. in Baltimore.
More elaborate systems are either on the market or about to make a splash.
Driveway sensors act like big magnets in the ground. They detect the metal of a car and activate a beeper inside the home while turning on outside lights.
Cameras can work with televisions and the Internet to offer security.
Residents can position a camera at a door, use an empty TV channel to receive the picture, and always see who is there. The National Association of Home Builders has introduced such a system at its LifeWise senior citizen prototype home in Bowie.
Homeowners also can use the Web to monitor their home's security while they're away. Many alarm companies will set up a program that allows clients to log in to the company's Web site and check the alarm status of their home at any time.
"I have one client who travels a lot. When he's away for four months a year, he logs onto his Web site ... and he can see his home," Goldberg said.
Florida-based ADT Security Services Inc. has introduced its "Safewatch iCenter," which blends Internet information, security and home control. Priced from $3,000, iCenter functions as a home's central communications center. It also enables owners to remotely control their systems using the Internet and ADT's Web site, or by dialing directly to the house. The system can control lights, garage doors and small appliances.
"It's great for kids and the elderly. And it will arm everything," said Ann Lindstrom, an ADT spokeswoman.
In a typical system, a homeowner activates an alarm by punching in a code on a keypad. When the alarm is tripped by an intruder, a siren sounds to alert anyone in the home. A monitoring company is alerted by a remote transmission and a representative calls the home to check on a false alarm.
Costs and savings
Many basic alarm systems cost less than $1,000 to install, with monthly fees of up to $30 for monitoring. Some companies will install a system for free when a customer signs a monthly service contract that lasts for several years. Also, some insurance companies will add discounts of up to 20 percent for certain systems.
But some experts said customers should read long-term contracts carefully before signing. They can be tricky to get out of at moving time and often carry termination fees, Goldberg said.
Also, most jurisdictions have added fees for false alarms that summon police to a home. Baltimore County, for example, allows residents three false alarms before imposing a fee, said police spokesman Bill Toohey. The fourth false alarm will cost a homeowner $75 and subsequent fees increase after that.
"There were startling numbers of false alarms in 1995 and 1996," Toohey said. "We had 85,000 alarm calls for service, and of those, 95 to 98 percent were false.
"The police were running around like crazy. It's way down now, with the fees."
Consultants like Goldberg said it's wise to consult your builder about an alarm system. And choosing a reliable company that will be there next year is crucial, Lindstrom said.
Sold as options
More Maryland builders than ever are offering security systems as options. Many include pre-wiring as a standard feature, so homeowners can choose their own alarm company later without having to renovate.
Custom homebuilder Pat Hagan said more than 80 percent of his clients include electronic security systems in their plans. They spend from $3,000 to $8,000.
"Most people want them. By far, the largest demand is for the basics: windows, doors, glass-breakage," Hagan said.
Interest has been lower, but steady, within the production home market, and even in starter homes. There, clients lean toward pre-wiring pack ages, rather than entire systems,some builders said.
Columbia-based Ryland Homes' spokesman Earl Robinson said security has become more prevalent today.
"It's about feeling good inside your house," Robinson said.
About half of Ryland's clients want their homes wired for alarm systems. Robinson said it's rare for clients to want the entire package of the sensors, keypads and motion detectors. Usually, they want to install their own later.
Bob Ward Homes, Harford County's largest homebuilder, includes security packages in its list of options. Pre-wiring costs about $600, while a total system runs about $1,000 and includes wiring, a control panel, a siren, and door and window motion detectors.
"We don't sell as many systems as you'd think," said Ward spokeswoman Linda Veach. "Some get one later on."
Home security is more than electronics, experts said.
A lot still depends on common sense and taking responsibility to use the system correctly.
"Use your locks," said O'Neil of the National Crime Prevention Council. "Half the people in a survey we did [two years ago] said they didn't always lock their doors. Of completed burglaries, over half are without force - [by way of] unlocked windows or doors."
She said consumers may want to wait on installing a system if it figures to become more trouble than it's worth by dealing with many false alarms, children who don't set the system when they leave or other issues.
The systems also need to be used in conjunction with strong locks, solid construction and neighbor cooperation.
Human eyes are as effective as any electronic system, perhaps more, police said. Neighbors can collect mail, newspapers, turn lights on and off, and report suspicious cars.
"If there's snow on the driveway, have a friend drive on it," O'Neil said. "You want the guy to believe the house is occupied."