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Each page answers one question directly, in the first paragraph, then covers the detail.
How much does a burglar alarm cost in the UK?
There is no single price for a burglar alarm. The cost depends on the size of your property, whether the system is wired or wireless, how many sensors it needs, and whether you take annual servicing. Locks & Alarms Ltd quotes each job after a free visit, so the figure reflects your property rather than a market average.
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Wired vs wireless burglar alarms: which is better?
Neither type is better in every case. Wired alarms carry signals over cables, so they need no sensor batteries but require chasing walls or lifting floors to install. Wireless alarms use radio links, install with little disruption and suit finished homes, but their sensors run on batteries. The right choice depends on the building, its wiring and how it is used.
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Do CCTV cameras deter burglars?
Visible CCTV cameras give a burglar a reason to pick another property. A camera raises the chance of being identified, and most burglars prefer targets that carry less risk. Deterrence depends on the cameras being obvious, working and able to record usable footage, including at night. CCTV works best alongside an alarm, good locks and lighting.
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Can I have a burglar alarm with pets?
Yes. Pet-tolerant PIR sensors are designed to ignore the movement of animals below a certain size while still detecting a person. Where each sensor points matters as much as the sensor itself: aimed away from stairs, cat trees and furniture pets climb on, they cause fewer false alarms. The quote visit looks at your home and your pets and decides the right setup.
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How long does burglar alarm installation take?
Installation time depends on the system being fitted. A wireless alarm with a few sensors is a shorter job than a wired system that needs cabling run through the property. The number of sensors and the size of the building set the workload. Locks & Alarms Ltd confirms the expected duration at the free quote visit and books the installation around you.
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What happens during a security survey?
A security survey is how your free quote is prepared. You book a free quote, an engineer visits your property, walks the entry points, and listens to what you want to protect. They recommend a system, then send a fixed written quote. There is no obligation and no pressure to decide on the day. Reviewers for Locks & Alarms Ltd describe detailed advice at quotation and no-pressure visits.
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Are your engineers DBS checked?
Yes. All Locks & Alarms Ltd engineers are DBS checked and fully qualified, and every engineer is employed directly, never a subcontractor. A DBS check is a criminal record check run through the UK Disclosure and Barring Service. The review record backs this up: reviewers describe letting the same family into their homes for 13 and 20 years.
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Monitored vs bells-only alarms: what is the difference?
A bells-only alarm sounds a siren at the property and relies on someone nearby hearing it and acting. A monitored alarm also sends a signal, to an app on your phone, or to a receiving centre that follows an agreed response plan. The difference is what happens after activation: noise alone, or noise plus a notification. A quote for either type is decided when an engineer visits.
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Smart locks vs traditional locks: which should I choose?
Traditional locks are mechanical: no batteries, no app, and decades of proven use. Smart locks add keypad, fob or phone entry and let you share or revoke access without cutting keys, but they need power and occasional software updates. Check your insurance terms before changing locks. Many doors use both: a smart layer over a mechanical lock.
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How often should CCTV be serviced?
There is no fixed rule for how often CCTV must be serviced. The right interval depends on the equipment, where it is mounted and how exposed it is. Locks & Alarms Ltd alarm customers already book annual services and yearly checks, and the practical approach for CCTV is the same: agree a servicing schedule at the free quote visit.
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How fast are emergency locksmith response times?
Locks & Alarms Ltd runs an emergency call-out across Kent. No single arrival time fits every job: distance, traffic and the time of day set it, so you get an honest estimate on the phone. A reviewer in DA14 described a “Very prompt response to my request” for a lock repair.
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Which areas does Locks & Alarms cover?
Locks & Alarms Ltd is based in Crayford, Kent (DA1 4NP) and covers the whole of Kent. The review history carries the proof: completed jobs in 18 postcode districts, covering Dartford, Crayford, Bexley, Bexleyheath, Erith, Belvedere, Sidcup, Welling, Gravesend and Sevenoaks, plus jobs in SE2, SE28, ME19, CR3 and W11.
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What is an anti-snap lock and do I need one?
An anti-snap lock is a euro-cylinder built to resist lock snapping, a forced-entry method where the cylinder is broken at its weakest point so the door can be opened. Anti-snap cylinders use sacrificial sections and reinforcement so the lock keeps holding if attacked. Locks & Alarms Ltd fits anti-drill and anti-snap cylinders as standard on replacement locks.
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Do burglar alarms reduce home insurance premiums?
Sometimes. Many insurers ask whether a property has a burglar alarm and approved locks, and some offer discounts when they are fitted and used. Terms vary between insurers and policies, so check your policy wording or ask your insurer directly. What matters most is answering their questions accurately, because a wrongly declared alarm can cause problems with a claim.
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What is a keyed-alike system?
A keyed-alike system is a set of locks that all open with the same key. One key operates the front door, back door, garage and any other lock in the set, so you carry one key instead of a bundle. It suits homes and small business premises. It is different from a master key system, which layers different levels of access.
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Why is my uPVC door sticking and how do I fix it?
A uPVC door usually sticks because it has dropped on its hinges or moved out of line with its frame, so the locking mechanism and keeps no longer meet cleanly. Warm weather makes it worse, because the door expands. Most sticking doors need adjustment, not replacement. Adjusting the hinges, locking mechanism and keeps usually restores smooth operation.
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What should I do after a break-in?
Call 999 if the intruder could still be inside, and wait somewhere safe. Otherwise report the burglary on 101 and get a crime reference number, which your insurer will need. Do not touch the points of entry until the police advise you can. Then contact your insurer, secure the property, and review your locks, alarm and CCTV once things are settled.
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Why does my house alarm keep going off?
A house alarm that keeps going off on its own is usually reporting a fault: a failing battery in the control panel or bell box, a detector set off by insects, pets or moving air, or a door or window contact that is loose or not closing properly. The keypad or app normally shows which zone triggered, and that points to the cause.
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What should I do if I'm locked out of my house?
Look for a spare key first: a partner, family member, trusted neighbour or, if you rent, your landlord or letting agent. Check any other door you can reach safely, but do not force a window or door, because the damage can cost more than a locksmith. If there is no spare key, call an emergency locksmith and ask for an arrival estimate.
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Do burglar alarms deter burglars?
A visible burglar alarm gives a burglar a reason to choose another property. The bell box on the wall shows the house is protected, and a sounding alarm cuts short the time an intruder is willing to stay. An alarm deters best when it is visible, working and set every time. It works alongside good locks, lighting and CCTV.
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How often should a burglar alarm be serviced?
A burglar alarm is normally serviced once a year. An annual service tests the control panel, detectors, door contacts, sounder and batteries, and finds faults before they cause false alarms or leave the system unable to sound. Some insurers ask for evidence of regular servicing, so check your policy. Locks & Alarms Ltd services systems it fitted and existing systems.
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When does a burglar alarm battery need replacing?
A burglar alarm battery needs replacing when the keypad shows a low-battery or fault warning, the system beeps, or false alarms start, often after a power cut. The control panel has a backup battery, and wireless sensors have their own. An annual service tests them all and replaces any that are failing before they cause a problem.
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Are wireless burglar alarms secure?
Yes. A professionally installed wireless burglar alarm is secure. Professional systems encrypt the radio signal between sensors and the control panel, check regularly that every sensor is still in contact, and raise a tamper alert if a device is opened or removed. The main upkeep is sensor batteries, which the system reports when they run low.
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Can an old wired burglar alarm be upgraded?
Often, yes. Where the existing cabling and equipment are suitable, an older wired burglar alarm can be modernised by replacing the control panel, keypad and communications equipment while re-using the wiring and, where appropriate, the existing detectors. That avoids a full replacement and can add app control and alarm notifications, depending on the existing installation.
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Can a smart lock be fitted to my existing door?
Usually, yes. Many smart locks are made to replace or work with the lock already on a uPVC, composite or wooden door, so the door itself stays. What fits depends on the door, its locking mechanism and the cylinder. A locksmith checks these at a quote visit before recommending a smart lock, a mechanical code lock or a high-security cylinder.
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Door entry vs access control: what is the difference?
A door entry system lets you see or speak to a visitor and release the door for them. An access control system decides which people can open which doors, using fobs, cards, codes or an app, without anyone having to answer. Many buildings use both: door entry for visitors, and access control for the residents or staff who come and go daily.
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