How Duress Codes Work Work With Security Systems To Improve Safety

HSC Staff Writer

Burglar alarms are the best way to prevent crime and keep your family protected, however what happens when someone follows you into your house or apartment and forces you to disable your alarm system? This is a question often asked of us in lieu of all the news you see about home invasions and the like. Well most good alarm systems have a feature a lot of people don’t take the time to learn about, but could save their lives in the event of an emergency. The feature I speak of is a Duress Code on the home security system.

Duress Codes on Home Security Systems

It’s late at night and you get out of your car after a long day and just want to get into bed. Suddenly, a man with a gun sneaks up behind you and tells you to lead him into your house. He sees the alarm system and tells you to disarm it or else. This is where a duress code comes into play. In this situation the last thing you want to do is not listen to the criminal, however you know full well that if you disarm your alarm you’ll be in the house alone with him and who knows what will happen after that. Well a duress alarm can save you. You see the duress alarm is activated by punching in a code that will disarm the home security system, however at the same time it will send a silent alarm to the burglar alarm monitoring station advising you are in duress. Since Police are notified what type of alarm is activated chances are they will take the duress alarm with even more intensity than a regular alarm. The duress alarm allows you to obey your captor while still sending help on the way.

Duress codes are one of many features those with home security systems often don’t know they even have as a resource. Our advice to everyone is to install a home security system, but a security system is only as good as the user. Learn about your system inside and out. Most burglar alarm systems are easier than ever to use, however you must take the time to learn about your home security system.