New Zealanders Ignore Security Alarms

13 January 2005

New Zealanders Ignore Security Alarms

New Research shows one in five New Zealanders ignore security alarms

Auckland - If you're guilty of ignoring a neighbour's security alarm, chances are you're not alone. Research* shows one in five (23%) of us "do nothing" when we hear a burglar alarm and only 27% will look out the window to see if they can see anything.

But burglars beware - some people still take action when they hear an alarm. According to ADT/Armourguard's research 28% of New Zealanders say they call the Police, the most likely to do this being people with a family and pre-school children (42%) and those renting or boarding (35%).

If you live in Christchurch alarms are least likely to raise a stir - 37% of Cantabrians do nothing when they hear an alarm, higher than anywhere else in New Zealand. However, if you live in Wellington there's around a 50/50 chance that your neighbour will at least look out their window to see if they can see anything.

Ken Pascoe, General Manager, ADT Security New Zealand, says the findings confirm New Zealanders are becoming apathetic towards alarm bells, and the only way to be certain that someone will respond to an activated alarm is to have round-the-clock monitoring.

"Most of us are guilty of having ignored a security alarm or complained about the noise, while potentially a neighbour's property is being invaded.

"Having a monitored alarm gives you peace of mind that there is someone on watch every hour of every day."

ADT/Amourguard's research shows around half of New Zealand's alarmed homes (51%) are monitored by a security company with the top reasons for this being added security (50%), peace of mind (37%), and the reason that the household had been burgled previously (12%).

ENDS

© Scoop Media