Burglar Alarm vs CCTV Surveillance: Hong Kong Comparison & Cost Guide
Quick Answer
Burglar alarms use sensors to detect intrusion and trigger immediate alerts — active early warning. CCTV provides 24/7 video recording and post-incident evidence — continuous monitoring. Alarms react instantly but lack video; CCTV records video but cannot actively alert. A complete security solution combines both.
Burglar Alarm System
Retail store overnight security, warehouse intrusion prevention, office after-hours security, jewellery shop protection
HK$12,000 – HK$130,000
✓ Pros
- Instant intrusion detection, automatic alarm triggering, connects to security monitoring centre, strong deterrent effect
✗ Cons
- No video recording, potential false alarms, requires regular testing and maintenance, needs backup battery for power outages
CCTV Surveillance System
Car park round-the-clock monitoring, office foot traffic surveillance, retail loss prevention, construction site safety management
HK$15,000 – HK$280,000
✓ Pros
- 24/7 recording, complete post-incident evidence, remote monitoring capability, AI analytics features
✗ Cons
- Passive monitoring cannot prevent incidents in real-time, needs human or AI monitoring to detect anomalies, high storage costs
Comparison Guide
Burglar Alarm System
VS
CCTV Surveillance System
Compare differences, pros & cons, and Hong Kong market pricing to help you decide.
比較指南
防盜系統
VS
CCTV 監控系統
了解兩者的分別、優缺點及香港市場收費，幫你作出更清晰的選擇。
Service Comparison
Burglar Alarm System
Retail store overnight security, warehouse intrusion prevention, office after-hours security, jewellery shop protection
Price RangeHK$12,000 – HK$130,000
✓ AdvantagesInstant intrusion detection, automatic alarm triggering, connects to security monitoring centre, strong deterrent effect
✗ DrawbacksNo video recording, potential false alarms, requires regular testing and maintenance, needs backup battery for power outages
CCTV Surveillance System
Car park round-the-clock monitoring, office foot traffic surveillance, retail loss prevention, construction site safety management
Price RangeHK$15,000 – HK$280,000
✓ Advantages24/7 recording, complete post-incident evidence, remote monitoring capability, AI analytics features
✗ DrawbacksPassive monitoring cannot prevent incidents in real-time, needs human or AI monitoring to detect anomalies, high storage costs
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Burglar Alarm System | CCTV Surveillance System |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Retail store overnight security, warehouse intrusion prevention, office after-hours security, jewellery shop protection | Car park round-the-clock monitoring, office foot traffic surveillance, retail loss prevention, construction site safety management |
| Key advantage | Instant intrusion detection, automatic alarm triggering, connects to security monitoring centre, strong deterrent effect | 24/7 recording, complete post-incident evidence, remote monitoring capability, AI analytics features |
| Key drawback | No video recording, potential false alarms, requires regular testing and maintenance, needs backup battery for power outages | Passive monitoring cannot prevent incidents in real-time, needs human or AI monitoring to detect anomalies, high storage costs |
| Price range (HK) | HK$12,000 – HK$130,000 | HK$15,000 – HK$280,000 |
Price Comparison (Hong Kong)
Prices are market references for Hong Kong and may vary based on provider, scope and timing.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Burglar Alarm System
Retail store overnight security, warehouse intrusion prevention, office after-hours security, jewellery shop protection
- Advantage: Instant intrusion detection, automatic alarm triggering, connects to security monitoring centre, strong deterrent effect
Choose CCTV Surveillance System
Car park round-the-clock monitoring, office foot traffic surveillance, retail loss prevention, construction site safety management
- Advantage: 24/7 recording, complete post-incident evidence, remote monitoring capability, AI analytics features
Consider your budget, specific requirements and timeline when deciding between Burglar Alarm System and CCTV Surveillance System in Hong Kong.
FAQ
Should a shop install a burglar alarm or CCTV first?
If the shop has valuable goods and is unattended after hours, prioritise a burglar alarm for instant alerts. If the main purpose is daily operations monitoring and loss prevention, prioritise CCTV. With sufficient budget, install both — CCTV footage can verify alarm events and reduce unnecessary responses from false alarms.
What are the annual maintenance costs for burglar alarm vs CCTV systems?
Burglar alarm annual maintenance costs HK$2,000–8,000 (sensor testing, battery replacement); monitoring centre connection adds HK$500–2,000/month. CCTV annual maintenance costs HK$3,000–12,000 (lens cleaning, NVR checks, HDD replacement), with cloud storage as an additional monthly fee.
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