Will a car alarm stop a burglar?

If a burglar is looking for an empty house to rob, setting off your car alarm may deter them. But there are easier ways to signal that you are home. In an especially crowded area, someone planning a more violent break-in may get skittish about the added attention, but this is not guaranteed.

According to Snopes, [The typical burglar looks to rob domiciles where no one is home." But in this case, setting off your car alarm may be overkill. Simply flipping on a light makes it clear that someone is home. Hopefully, this will convince the typical burglar that your home is not worth the effort.

Snopes adds that if you flip on a light and then continue to hear or see someone breaking in, it`s time to call for help. At this point, you should dial 911 immediately.