Warning: Hidden alarm panels might be doing more harm than good

Visible panels deter criminals better, change my mind.

5 comments

5 Comments

Totally agree with this. My old place had one of those slick hidden panels and guess what? The only thing it did was make my insurance guy happy on paper. After reading @sage675's story about Kyle, it's exactly why I slapped a big decal on my front window. Why bother hiding it if the whole point is to make them think twice?

claire8723mo ago

Yeah after reading about Kyle's place, what's even the point if they don't see it? The whole scare factor is gone lol. Just makes way more sense to have it out in the open so they pick another house.

michael_green442mo ago

Consider how a hidden panel can still trigger a silent alarm and catch them inside. That surprise factor can lead to an actual arrest instead of just scaring them off. It's not always about the initial scare, it's about the final result.

sage6753mo ago

My buddy Kyle had a hidden panel in his Philly row home. Burglars didn't see it, broke in, and the silent alarm only got cops there after his stuff was gone.

leewalker2mo ago

My cousin in Fishtown had the same thing happen with a hidden motion sensor last year. It really does feel pointless when they don't even see the system to get scared off. I'm totally with @charles122 on this, a big obvious decal is way better for stopping the break in before it starts. Sorry about your buddy Kyle's stuff, that's such a frustrating situation. The hidden panel just seems to help the insurance company more than the homeowner.