NCJ Number
194513
Journal
Security Journal Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Dated: 2002 Pages: 57-68
Date Published
2002
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Results of a survey conducted by the British Security Industry Association which investigated current trends in domestic alarm purchasing, marketing, and burglar behavior are presented.
Abstract
A recent survey regarding attitudes about burglar alarms among United Kingdom residents revealed a lack of concern among homeowners about having alarms. Homeowners were generally disinterested in the false alarm problem as well. The majority of survey respondents who did own or install a burglar alarm did so in response to an actual or attempted break-in. The economic value that homeowners placed on burglar alarms was considerably lower than the actual costs sited by suppliers. Cost appeared to be a major deterrent for homeowners with 44 percent stating they would pay nothing for a burglar alarm. The author found a significant amount of data that demonstrated the efficacy of burglar alarms in deterring crime which should be incorporated into marketing campaigns. The author attributes the homeowners lack of concern about having a burglar alarm to a lack of risk awareness, high costs, and poor quality systems. The author suggests that marketing campaigns should focus on raising risk awareness while promoting informed decision-making. Quality enhancement of the products and flexible payment plans would likely result in increased purchases as well. 6 Tables, 19 notes