Everybody ignores alarms these days
By Koalemos
@Asylum (47893)
Manchester, England
October 7, 2015 11:52am CST
I was sat at my computer scrolling through a few discussions here when I heard a burglar alarm. My immediate response was to put on a pair of shoes and go out to check which house it was. It turned out to be the house 2 doors away and his car was not there so he was obviously not at home.
A quick look around the front revealed no disturbance, but I could not gain access to the rear so I returned home and looked over the fence from my bedroom window. Nothing appeared to be untoward, so I assumed that the alarm was at fault and there was no need to telephone the Police.
I telephoned my neighbour, who I knew would have the owner’s number and he sent a text message to inform him that the alarm was activated. Shortly afterwards he returned home to cancel the alarm.
This seemed an insignificant incident, but I was appalled that I was the only person who appears to have taken any interest. His alarm is loud and must have been clearly heard several streets away, yet not one resident responded. I wonder how they would feel if their house was burgled and everyone simply ignored it?
10 people like this
8 responses
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
7 Oct 15
This is very likely to be the reason, but I will not ignore a neighbour's alarm whether it is risky or not. The lack of concern shown by the public is the reason that it can be risky. During the days of my childhood the whole occupants of the street would have responded, thus eliminating any potential danger.
2 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
8 Oct 15
That is a very common reaction everywhere. While I was still working I often used to be amazed at how little attention people paid if a Fire Drill took place. Some people would wander into the next room to collect a coat, some wait until others have reacted before considering it and during break times I have known people to remain in the canteen and say "I am on my break".
2 people like this
@Shellyann36 (11385)
• United States
7 Oct 15
This is bad! I would be shocked and totally disappointed if it were to happen in our area. Of course we live in the country and our neighbors are friendly. We sort of have it worked out that we look after each other's property.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
7 Oct 15
There are very few households in England that would have a monitored alarm. These are commonplace for companies, but private homes simply have alarms that sound and attract attention, which should be adequate if other people took any notice.
A monitored alarm would involve a monthly fee and the cost would be prohibitive for many families.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
8 Oct 15
That should be the standard everywhere, but is sadly not so. The same people that ignore the alarms would be very annoyed if they returned home and found their home burgled and the alarm still sounding yet nobody paying any attention.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (457312)
• Switzerland
8 Oct 15
@Asylum It was the same with the car alarms in France, but I have to say that they were to blame for this. Most people did not care to rush to turn the alarm off when they opened the door, they tool all their time... well done for them if their cars were stolen.
@TheHorse (205134)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Oct 15
Heh. We had the same thing happen with gunshots in Oakland! I was tutoring a kid client in fractions and percentages when we heard gunshots across the street. The mom said, "Oh, they're always shooting up that house." I said, "Shouldn't we call the police?" The mom said, "Somebody else probably will." When I called the police the next day to inquire about whether they wanted further information (there were seven shots, and the mom saw the car they came from), the police told me nobody had reported the incident. When I asked if they wanted to know what the drive-by car looked like, the police said they weren't interested. I sighed and muttered something to myself about the word going to hell in a handbasket.
@Marilynda1225 (79556)
• United States
7 Oct 15
I notice that car alarms are ignored all the time too
