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Simple Burglar Alarm

Keyless combination door lock that sounds alarm if anybody tries to use it...
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...because it's just an alarm, not a door lock, but only you know that.

On the top of the keypad, written by hand on a piece of adhesive tape is: "Combination: 12345". Any self respecting burglar will take the easy way in and assume the owner is forgetful and put a reminder on the top of the lock. When he tries to put that combination, or any combination of numbers in the alarm goes off.

doctorremulac3, Jul 06 2013

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       'Start' charging? In my state we get charged for any alarm response, bogus or not. Same for an ambulance call, whether or not you ride in it, and for the fire department, even if the property owner wasn't the caller and there isn't a wisp of smoke to be found. The only way I've found to get out of the charges that I've found is if you can _prove_ the response was generated by a prank.   

       A much simpler and far more effective alarm is a dog. It doesn't even have to be a large dog, just a loud one, although going with one of the stereotypical guard dog breeds makes the cops' jobs much easier, as a close encounter with a snarling pit bull* during a midnight break- in can conveniently result in a trail of urine leading straight to the would-be robber.   

       * He's not vicious at all; he's growling because he's nervous and confused and tends to default to the 'world's biggest badass' setting
Alterother, Jul 06 2013
  

       Anyway, shouldn't that be an "anti-burglar alarm" as otherwise it sounds like something for a burglar to use?
not_morrison_rm, Jul 06 2013
  

       //we get charged for any alarm response, bogus or not. Same for an ambulance call, whether or not you ride in it, and for the fire department, even if the property owner wasn't the caller and there isn't a wisp of smoke to be found.//   

       You are kidding, no? Do you, by any chance, not pay taxes?   

       Here, I believe that commercial premises can be charged for more than a certain number of false fire alarms, but the basic idea is that the emergency services are there as services for use in any actual or suspected emergency.   

       Is there a "Please tip your paramedic" sign in the ambulance too?   

       And in any case, what if the burglar isn't simple?
MaxwellBuchanan, Jul 06 2013
  

       'We' are a commercial premises. Like many rural businessfolk, my wife and I live upstairs. We pay taxes unless we can legally avoid them, and because our residence is zoned as a commercial structure we pay for every EMS response to our address, no matter the cause. Maine is a pretty poor state and municipal agencies have to generate as much of their own revenue as possible.
Alterother, Jul 06 2013
  

       //we pay for every EMS response to our address, no matter the cause.//   

       Right. So your taxes pay for...? And I realize this is probably a stupid question, but isn't Maine part of the USA? Isn't the idea of all being in the same country that some areas are too poor to pay for basic services whilst others are too rich to need them, and so it all averages out?
MaxwellBuchanan, Jul 06 2013
  

       //If it's the sort of system that automatically summons police assistance, they'll quickly tell you to take the combination off the 'lock' or they'll start charging you for the bogus 911 calls.//   

       It's a $4.95 box with an alarm buzzer.   

       As far as kids risking getting their asses beat to push a buzzer on somebody's door, you should probably give them more credit. Ding-dong-ditch has been around for a while. It's hardly causing an epidemic of sleepless nights.
doctorremulac3, Jul 06 2013
  

       Around here we just pay for ambulance rides. No fee for fire or police, ever.
Kansan101, Jul 07 2013
  

       // ambulance rides. No fee for fire or police, ever.   

       Hmm, what about spontaneous human combustion? Ambulance or fire engine?   

       Or presuming the fire station is near the hospital, set fire to your own front porch, then sneak a ride on the back of the fire engine as it returns to base.
not_morrison_rm, Jul 07 2013
  

       I'd rather the fixed fee....round here, if you have an accident, the private rescue teams race each other to pick you up. No wonder: if you aren't fully with it you end at hospital minus all valuables.
Ling, Jul 07 2013
  

       // Right. So your taxes pay for...? And I realize this is probably a stupid question, but isn't Maine part of the USA? Isn't the idea of all being in the same country that some areas are too poor to pay for basic services whilst others are too rich to need them, and so it all averages out? //   

       Yes, that's the idea, but I'm afraid it's all got rather political. Since money somehow equates to political clout despite the best intentions of etymologists worldwide, the richest states get the most and the rest...well, we do okay for ourselves.
Alterother, Jul 07 2013
  

       // the richest states get the most and the rest...well, we do okay for ourselves.//   

       But you have all those lobsters and... ah... many other natural resources!   

       I'm sure a deal could be worked out. For example, here in the UK, Wales is allowed to call the police or fire brigade for free, because they're only next door. And usually if it's a fire call, we send our special fire engine that we keep for false alarms. In exchange, we are allowed to call the Welsh "British" when they win at rugby.
MaxwellBuchanan, Jul 07 2013
  

       This is kinda like the hidden camera antic where they placed a big red button in the middle of a town square...and waited nearby with a team of emergency guys and stuntmen.
Ling, Jul 08 2013
  

       And inside the house is the rottweiler.
pashute, Jul 10 2013
  
      
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