A CHARACTERIZATION OF THE CRIME OF BURGLARY, BASED ON DATA OBTAINED FROM VARIOUS GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY SOURCES, IS USED TO DEVELOP A REPRESENTATIVE ANALYTICAL BURGLARY MODEL IN WHICH TYPICAL POLICE RESPONSES TO A BURGLARY CALL ARE EXAMINED. ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS COMPARES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SEVERAL DIFFERENT BURGLARY ALARM SYSTEMS AGAINST POTENTIAL MONETARY LOSSES AND APPREHENSION RATES. THE RESULTS OF THESE ANALYSES ARE USED TO IDENTIFY TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF IMPROVED BURGLARY ALARM SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING: SIMPLE SENSORS WHICH CAN DISCRIMINATE AND RESPOND TO HUMAN INTRUSION AND YET BE IMMUNE TO OTHER SIGNALS SUCH AS THOSE COMMON TO THE RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENT; A MEANS FOR INEXPENSIVELY COMMUNICATING THE ALARM DATA FROM THE INSTALLATION TO THE POLICE OR AN ALARM COMPANY; AND NEW CONCEPTS FOR LOGIC CONTROL OF ALARM SYSTEMS TO DECREASE THE NUMBER OF FALSE ALARMS EXPERIENCED WITH CURRENT ALARM SYSTEM INSTALLATIONS. SPECIFIC TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SIMPLE BUT EFFECTIVE ALARM SYSTEM COMPONENTS THAT ARE ANALYZED AND DESCRIBED WERE INCORPORATED INTO SUBCONTRACTED STUDIES AND DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS. RESULTS OF THESE EFFORTS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...EB