Most of us have some contact with intruder / burglar alarms, either directly at home or work, or with neighbours and friends premises.

Despite this, the world of - PIR's, contacts, central stations, ARC's, digi's, REDCARE, DUALCOM, PAKNET, hardwire, wire free, URN's, foil, chime, double knock, rays, inertia switches, closed circuits, tamper protection, single pole loops, key pad and control units is to most people, a total mystery!

The alarm industry has its own jargon. Unlike DIY, plumbing, electrical installation and even the law, there is little information on the subject available to the public. In some cases this is for security reasons, but generally secrecy is not necessary and ignorance is not bliss! A lot of security websites promise much, but usually inform the reader of all there is to know about intruder alarms in a dozen lines and two pictures!

This site has been developed to give basic and more advanced information to the man in the street and user of security systems, without giving away information that will compromise security. For really in depth information, links to other sites are provided.

A comprehensive GLOSSARY is also included to clarify common Security System terms and abbreviations.

The site contains thousands of words of information to help you operate and understand intruder alarm systems. Using the information supplied by this site will enable you to question your prospective supplier on the merits of their proposals and maintenance contracts and to check and understand if the supplied alarm system specification will give you the security cover you really want.

The information available will help you reduce false alarms (COMMON ALARM PROBLEMS) as well as saving you time and money by tracing your own alarm system faults, without the help of an alarm engineer.

As this site will be used as a reference document, it has been neccessary to repeat a small amount of information in a limited number of sections.

Delving a little deeper into the site will help the DIY enthusiast to design their own system, and help considerably with the design, siting and fault finding of alarm equipment. It will guide you on what basic units are available, along with their advantages and disadvantages. Various types of signalling -(how the alarm informs a third party that it has operated)-are discussed, and the basic facilities available on modern alarm control units are explained.

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) 2007 SECURITY SYSTEM POLICY is presented in an easy to understand form, which will tell you the most relevant details.Details of where to obtain the latest updates is included. A section on the Scottish policy ACPOS, is also included, as it differs from the ACPO Policy The policy is very relevant if you have dealings with police calling systems. ALARM CONFIRMATION is discussed in detail, an important development in false alarm management.

This site is a new venture and we would welcome your comments and any suggestions for additions or deletions! With your help stopthief.info will be THE source for real intruder alarm knowledge.

EVEN IF YOU HAVE NO INTEREST IN BURGLAR ALARMS--LOOK AT "YOU COULDN'T MAKE IT UP!"A regular changing example of security related gaffes.

A Brief History!

This site was launched at 1400hrs.GMT on December 11th. 2006 By David Saunders. Dave has spent the last 42 years working within the British Security Alarm Industry. He has held posts in manufacturing, installation, commissioning, service and system design, working on systems ranging from Buckingham Palace, Cabinet Ministers, film stars to Sausage skin retailers and crematoriums! His last position , before retiring, was with Cleveland Police, as Security Systems Manager, running the Alarms Administration Department.

Some of the first systems he serviced used wind up gramaphones to play a pre recorded message to Scotland Yard (on 78 rpm records)!-and actually dialled 999 with a brass finger operating, a standard telephone dial--- http://www.scienceandsociety.co.uk/results.asp?image=10327398 Those of you that have clicked this link will now believe! (The pick up was a wartime carbon throat mike insert, as used by the USAF)The "needle" was like a 2 inch nail-filed to a point!It was very reliable and well into the seventies, a pair of them were used as back up signalling to one of the most high security sites in Great Britain.

Early door contacts(switches) were brass strips and clips, called Kerry Clips after the RELY-A-BELL engineer who invented them.-Heath Robinson had nothing on them-but they worked and some were still around in the 70's!-

Rely-A Bell--was a very old and well respected alarm company at the time. Signal Alarms were the same company.The address was the side door to 54 Wilson Street, London, EC2 a very old rabbit warren of a building. Long since demolished.

If you watch the film "The Blue Lamp" you will see a Rely-a-Bell alarm ringing!

RELY-A-BELL was later to merge with BURGOT, pronounced "GOT" not "GO". Finally being owned by CHUBB (Now inregrated with Initial). --times have changed!

LAST SITE UPDATE (Full History in AMMENDMENT HISTORY section)

29th. May, 2008---GETTING QUOTES additional information added.---(DJS)

14th May,2008---YOU COULDN'T MAKE IT UP! New item added---(DJS)

6th March,2008---EMERGENCY CHECK LIST-additional info added RE UTILITIES ADVICE LOCATION---(DJS)

11th August, 2008---WELCOME---Additional history added.---(DJS)

20th August, 2008---YOU COULDN'T MAKE IT UP! New item added---(DJS)

22nd. October, 2008---WELCOME--additional item re Rely-a Bell and ACPOS Policy---(DJS)

28th November, 2008---YOU COULDN'T MAKE IT UP---additional item added---(DJS)

19th February,2009---D.I.Y---ADITIONAL INFO ADDED RE DOOR CONTACTS ON WIREFREE SYSTEMS.---DJS