So, recently I've been seeing these crappy ads for Broadview Security on TV. They're taking over the Brinks company I guess. Each commercial shows a woman at home alone and some guy smashing down the door and invariably, hightailing it once the beeping of the alarm starts. See here for an example.
These commercials are utter crap. The threats are real (although probably not as cliché as the ads make them appear), but the sense of security of a beeping alarm and a reassuring phone call are, quite possibly, lethally naive.
Sure, there are a few idiots who will run at a high pitched siren, but even the most sophomoric criminals know that the cops are a long ways away and have plenty of time to ply their trade.
Seriously, so what if Broadview calls you? What good is that going to do someone? "This is Broadview Security, we're calling because there's an alarm and we want to record the sounds of you being raped and stabbed to death". That's a lot of good.
You may not have the minutes to spare before the cops arrive. Until they perfect teleportation, the cops have to drive to your house, navigating any traffic that might be in their way as well as having to locate your exact residence. During that time, criminals are not going to be deterred by your house alarm.
You have to be the deterrent. Arm yourself with anything that gives you an advantage. Range, motion, and force multiplication are the goals. You want to get yourself away from your attacker (range), be able to move while doing so (motion) and use something that will concentrate your effort into a smaller point (force multiplication) just like a thumbtack concentrates the gentle pressure of a fingertip into a pinpoint in order to push through a solid object.
Personally, you know my suggestion for the best tool to protect yourself with. A firearm gives you all three – range, motion, and immense force multiplication (a simple pull of the trigger emits hundreds to thousands of foot pounds of pressure in a tiny spot). If you choose to use a less capable weapon such as a knife or a bat, remember that you are going to have to forgo range and motion and will need to get close to your attacker to make it work.
Of course, no gun, club, or any sort of weapon is worthwhile if you're not willing to use it. And that is what bothers me the most about these commercials. They give the false illusion that there is no need to defend yourself, that loud noise and an incoming phone call are all that's needed. Our society continues to push more and more personal responsibilities onto 'others'. So many unfortunately realize the folly in doing so too late.
It doesn't have to be that way.
Because a loud noise is all you need