INTRUDER ALARMS - HAVE A CHECK SYSTEM IN PLACE RE BATTERIES AND SIM CARDS

Information provided by the Police -  it is always useful to check that your intruder alarm is operating correctly.

For those with intruder alarms, the battery life can be up to 5 years, but it is recommended that the batteries are changed every 3 years to ensure that the alarm is effective.

It is also recommended that you mark the date the batteries were installed on the batteries with a black marker so you don't rely on your memory.

Police have also added that it is worth carrying out a monthly check on your SIM card to ensure it is functioning correctly and that renewal has not been overlooked.

If your alarm system sends out alarm activations or alerts via GSM SIM card, please take some time to ensure that your SIM card is working correctly. If it is not, then you will not receive a text message should your premises fall victim to burglars.

In the case of a SIM 'pay as you go', this must be topped up with €10 of credit every year. If it does not get topped up, the card will be disconnected - and the first you will know about it will be when you do not get an alert text message in the event of a breakin.

If you have an annual contract SIM card, as long as you, or your alarm company, pays the SIM card bill annually or monthly, the SIM card will never be disconnected and will always work.

There have been instances recently where it was thought that the alarm had not worked correctly. However, it was found that the problem lay with the SIM card.   Despite being on an annual contract with an alarm company, some SIM cards had been deactivated - most likely because of non-payment of monthly accounts either by the homeowner or the alarm company - the system, therefore, was unable to send text messages to alert the homeowner and/or alarm company.

TO CHECK YOUR SIM CARD IS FUNCTIONING:

Set off the alarm. Let it ring for about 30 seconds to give the SIM card chance to send out the text messages to the numbers stored in the system.  If you do not receive a message, then it is likely that the SIM has been deactivated.

You can also call the alarm SIM card number. It will ring if it is working. If it has been deactivated you will get a Cypriot voice message, followed in English, stating the number is not active.

It is recommended that a regular monthly test is carried out so that you ensure your system operates correctly in the event of a breakin or attempt thereat.