Smart Bell - the Doorbell Burglar Deterrant

The latest home security gadget that tricks burglars into thinking you're at home is about to be launched in the UK market.

Home security can come in many guises and fits many pockets. Some people's home security is just ensuring doors and windows are locked, others might fit a surveillance system, others might fit an alarm, or just fake box.

A lot of house burglaries are simply by bored and opportunistic burglars passing by - they'll pick a random street and try to find houses where nobody's at home. So you're not dealing with a determined burglar a lot of the time, but somebody who is lazy and a bit dim probably.

Some burglars, to find out if you're at home, will ring your doorbell - if you're not there you won't answer the door. This is when they make the decision to burgle your house, or carry on to the next one.

But what if you ARE there? Well, you'll answer - and they'll carry on knocking down the street.

And that's what makes the new Smart Bell absolutely ingenious.

The newly invented Smart Bell looks like a regular doorbell, but has a built-in SIM card - and when a burglar rings your doorbell, it calls your cell phone and you get to talk through the intercom to the burglar, who assumes you're inside.

This is also a great gadget for receiving parcels as you can speak directly to the driver and tell him where to leave it/what to do.

Or what if you're expecting a friend to call round and you want to pop to the shops, or want to be down the garden.... the Smart Bell will call you and you can speak directly to your friend.

The Smart Bell has been invented by a schoolboy, Laurence Rook, for a competition - the product needed to be a Dragons Den style product and have a working prototype. Obviously having a working prototype of an electronic gadget's a bit harder than a jar opener, so he had a lucky break when the idea was shown to a family friend, Paula Ward - herself declared the world's best female inventor in 2004 - as she took the designs and plans to China and had a prototype made up.

The Smart Bell now has some huge orders and is expected to be in UK shops before too long.

Laurence Rook didn't originally design it as a burglar deterrant, but to solve the problem his mother had about missing parcel deliveries - it was only after working on the design that they realised it'd be a good burglar deterrant too!

The benefits of the Smart Bell home security system far outweigh the cost, which is expected to be about £40 (US$60). It can be used by many people, for a variety of reasons - so it's not something that's a waste.

The Smart Bell home security system can help people who want to:

• Have added security as you don't have to answer your door, even while you're in, to strangers.
• Answer the door from the comfort of your armchair, sending away cold callers and fraudsters. Ideal for the older generation.

• Answer the door, to let family/friends know you're on your way to answer the door... it's just taking a little more time. Ideal if you've broken a leg, are less mobile, or simply 'on the toilet'.

• Deter burglars by making them think you're in the house.

• Speak directly to parcel deliveries and mail deliveries - giving you the chance to speak directly to the delivery driver.

• Wait in for a caller, perhaps a repair man, but you still want to be able to go about your daily life and not feel trapped to sit beside the front door.
• Ask a neighbour to wait in for a repairman who is expected, you can answer the doorbell/phone then tell them to wait for Mary at number 6 to come and let them in - then you can phone Mary!

I'm sure you can think of times when a Smart Bell would be useful for you - or somebody in your family!

So, I think you'll agree, the Smart Bell home security system is ingenious, affordable and a great gadget to have as it can be used for more purposes than simply as a burglar deterrant!

Hats off to Laurence Rook - I'll be getting a Smart Bell the minute they're in the shops - will you?

That's a very good question - the Smart Bell doorbell home security system is in production - and nationwide stores have placed large orders, so it's in the pipeline.

Commtel Innovate are the wholesalers of the unit, and they will be shipping out to High Street retailers later in 2011, including:

• B&Q
• PC World
• Currys
• Comet

So you'll also be able to purchase it online through their online stores, if you've none of those near you!

Richard Drewnicki, the Chief Executive of Commtel UK, says:

'There is certainly a market for this kind of product. We hope it will prove popular.'

These will make a great gift for the person who has everything!

Finger Photo by Jologon