If an intruder alarm panel begins to sound during working hours when it is known to be switched off, what should you do?

• A. Ignore the alarm and continue
• B. Notify the police and go back to duty
• C. Investigate the alarm panel
• D. Silence the alarm and leave

Answer: (C)

Treat any alarm activation as a real signal that something may be happening. If the intruder alarm panel begins to sound during working hours when it should be switched off, your first step is to investigate the alarm panel and the area to determine what caused it. Investigating helps you confirm whether there is a genuine intrusion, a tamper, or a system fault, and then you can respond appropriately—securing entry points, calling for assistance, or escalating to police if needed. Ignoring the alarm, silencing it and leaving, or simply assuming it’s a false alert without checking could let a real threat go undetected. So the best course is to check the panel and assess the situation before deciding on the next actions.