Like the name implies, a security alarm is supposed to sound an alarm whenever security is breached in the area in which it is installed. Whether it is a private residence, a business or even a vehicle the purpose of a security alarm is to alert anyone within listening range that something wrong is happening and hopefully, scare away the person attempting to enter an unauthorized dwelling, business or car. Today's alarm systems are also designed to notify a security monitoring system so they can notify emergency services that they are needed at a specific address.
In most instances, once a local alert has been made the person committing the illegal act will be long gone by the time the police arrive. No burglar is going to be willing to hang around to find out if the house or business has a dialing system or not, most will just assume they do. Even if they do not believe it, they are not going to hang around a house that sounds like it is jumping up and down and pointing to the person trying to climb in the window.
Some professional burglars might hang around a few minutes, knowing it will take awhile for the police to arrive, but for the most part, those attempting to break in will leave as quickly as they possibly can. For some homeowners, that is sufficient in the way of a security alarm as the entry has been prevented and the only thing left behind is a broken window or jimmied lock. Others however, will not be satisfied unless they can catch the person that attempted to violate their private space.
For them, having cameras as part of security alarms so they can get a good look at the intended burglar and bring them to justice is a major reason they had a security alarm installed on their home or business in the first place. Even with all the neighbors or in the business next door looking out the window to see what all the fuss is about, a video of the crime in action will hold up so much better in court than a few inconsistent statements from witnesses.
However, the video cameras need to present a high quality image that makes it possible to identify the perpetrator. Too many systems produce a grainy image that is impossible to identify, even if the individual is standing directly next to the video. The price difference between a cheap black and white camera and a decent color camera may be less than $100 and when the cost of a burglary is factored in, represents a minor difference in the cost of security.
Unless the homeowner is an expert in security, it always best to have a survey conducted on the home or business to make sure the security alarm is installed to provide the best possible protection against a break-in at the most cost-efficient price. Many trying to calculate their own needs will buy more equipment then they need and then install it where it does the least amount of good.
