What is a Monitored Home Alarm?

A monitored home alarm is a type of security system. It is set up to make a high-decibel alarm sound when an entry point is breached while it is armed. The alarm is then noted by a monitoring service, which in turn attempts to discover whether the alarm is a real sign of an intruder or a false alarm. If the monitoring service confirms an intruder or cannot confirm that it is a false alarm, monitoring officials typically call the police on behalf of the homeowner. Many residents find that monitored alarms give them added peace of mind just in case the sound fails to scare away intruders.

Monitored home alarms work just like other alarms. They are typically set up to monitor entry points into a person’s home. For example, a monitored home alarm system may include components that set off the alarm if a door or window is opened and the appropriate code is not entered within a specific amount of time. Often, alarm systems also have motion detectors. Once the alarm system is armed, motion in the range of a motion detector typically causes an alarm to sound.

With a monitored alarm, a resident gets a bit more security than he would with a basic alarm system. In the event that an alarm sounds, the resident isn't solely responsible for summoning the police to his home. Instead, the monitoring company has a system installed to watch for alarms. After a monitored home alarm sounds, monitoring service employees typically attempt to call the residence. The person who answers the phone is supposed to deliver a passcode or secret word that lets the monitoring service know that all is well in the home.

If a monitored home alarm sounds and the resident of the home doesn't answer the phone, the monitoring service employee typically calls police for the resident. The same thing usually happens if the resident answers the phone and is distressed or gives the wrong passcode. The fact that the police may be sent, even if the resident answers the phone, may improve a resident's chances of escaping harm during a home invasion.

While monitored home alarms do help some people feel more secure, they are not perfect. Some people are uncomfortable with the fact that monitoring service officials usually call the residence before calling the police. In some cases, this delay could allow enough time for an intruder to steal property and escape or even harm the resident.