ePub: Alarms for closed pubs

Alarms these days don't just ring a bell when somebody breaks in. The latest from security company Clearway detects movement, smoke, fire, water, gas and vibrations - and it can also photograph intruders, beam information off site and initiate a security response.

The i-Witness Keyless Alarm is aimed at pubs - especially pubs that are closed for refurbishment or redevelopment. With prices of scrap copper, lead and steel rocketing, pub owners are becoming increasingly worried about their buildings being stripped out by thieves - making that refurb even more expensive.

Kent-based Clearway Group, which already works for a number of leading pub companies including the county's regional brewer Shepherd Neame, believes the new alarm is the "ultimate solution" for peace of mind against break-ins, vandalism and other damage where there are empty properties to be secured.

The alarm, backed by Chubb, is fully portable, can be fitted within 20 minutes and can either be battery or mains powered. There is no need for telephone lines as the system uses the mobile phone GSM network to transmit alarms and information.

"Within seconds of a problem occurring a message can be transmitted to designated individuals for them to respond," says Jon Harwood, Clearway's director of business development. "If there's an intruder the alarm can even take good-quality photographs to help identify them to security and police.

"Temporarily closing a pub for a re-fit is expensive enough," he adds. "Break-ins can double the cost. That's why more firms are looking at this alarm as a cost-effective way of protecting their asset."

The i-Witness is heavy-duty, maintenance-free and housed in a vandal-proof casing fitted to a wall. It uses a simple keypad and fast 3G modems and has a 102-decibel output.