Driveway Security
As the words suggest, driveway alarms alert you if an intruder wanders into your drive. Usually this will trigger an alarm or more commonly, a light, which will hopefully scare them away.
They are often the first piece of security most homeowners buy, owing to their affordable price and ease of installation. They can also be very portable ,so it’s quite easy to move them around to get the best coverage.
As with all security, you first need to decide what kind of alarm you need, and you might ends up buying more than one. The most obvious requirement is to detect a burglar or intruder, but they can also be set up to detect children (you might not want your children or their friends playing in the drive, especially if it’s large or you own a yard) or just metal objects.
Most common driveway alarms take the form of either a light, camera or both. But there are other options you might want to consider.
Heat Sensor – you can set the alarm to be triggered by heat. This way you can make sure that no cars or tree branches will trigger the alarm, only a human (it can be set so it doesn’t react to the heat given off by small animals too)
Intercoms – do you want to be able to communicate with anyone.? If the alarm is attached to a gate, this might be a good option. You can verify who requires access to your property, then let them in if you wish.
Handheld – if you move around your property a lot, this might be good for you. It’s basically a handheld radio that alerts you if an alarm has bee triggered.
Audio – if you have more than one alarm in different locations around your property, the alarm can actually announce which one has been triggered.
Camouflage – you can purchase alarms that are already disguised to make them harder to see. A birdhouse is a popular option.
Then you need to decide where to put it. You should place then as high above ground as possible, because you want to avoid small animals setting them off. You also need to think about the area of coverage you require. Make sure the detector will cover the area you need. Don’t put it near any overhanging branches from a tree, or other obstructions that might prematurely trigger the alarm. If you have large power transformers near your home, or a mobile home or garage door built of aluminium, you might experience interference. Check the specifications before you buy.
Driveway alarms provide a good level of protection for a very reasonable price. According to a recent survey, homes that have no security are almost 3 times more likely to suffer a burglary. A driveway alarm helps swing the statistics in your favor.