NCJ Number
154755
Date Published
1994
Length
177 pages
Annotation
This report comprehensively analyzes commercial security and the effectiveness of burglary and fire alarms, explains burglary patterns, and outlines the decision process of burglars in their choice of a commercial target.
Abstract
The study reveals why alarm owners buy such equipment and discusses how an alarm installer is chosen, how prices for alarm installation and monitoring are established in the marketplace, and whether alarms are beneficial to the community and to insurers. The authors show that alarms are effective in deterring intruders. The chance of burglary is 4.57 times higher for nonalarmed properties, and a sign indicating the existence of an alarm system serves as a deterrent. Alarm system effectiveness, however, differs according to commercial establishment. The report provides guidance on alarm marketing and development and notes ways of strengthening the influence of alarm associations. The report specifically looks at commercial burglary prediction, the structure of the alarm industry, the effectiveness of commercial alarms, costs and benefits of alarms, and false activations. Questionnaires used in the study of commercial security are appended. 10 tables and 41 figures