New research from Tesco Home Insurance has suggested that burglar alarms are no longer the deterrent to thieves that they once were and as a result many feel they are not worth the cost. In addition, they may not even result in a reduction in the cost of annual contents cover.

Ian Crowder of AA insurance says that his company do not automatically offer a discount for having a burglar alarm, instead they look at home security as a whole.

According to Mr Crowder, "Alarms aren't the deterrent they once were. They go off at all hours and people just seem to ignore them. I know of instances where burglars will set the alarms off deliberately, stand back and wait to see if anyone comes. And when they don't, they go ahead."

Malcom Tarling of the Association of British Insurers agrees, adding that it is normal these days for home insurers not to automatically reduce the cost of home insurance for those with a burglar alarm.

“Sometimes when there are lots of valuable items in the house or it is in a high crime, often urban, area, it will be a precondition of obtaining insurance that an alarm is fitted – there won't be discounts," he said.

"Insurers will only offer them according to their previous claims experience,” he continued. “If they don't think it will make much difference in your area then no discount will be on offer. The best advice is to check with your insurer what reduction in the premium you can get before going to the expense of having a burglar alarm installed.”

Mr Tarling adds: "Accepting a higher excess, joining the local neighbourhood watch or even working from home bring discounts. Most people don't realise that burglaries tend to happen in the afternoon when people are at work, rather than at night."