Cannon Fire & Security, Bristol, 2013

“Cannon Fire & Security” burglar alarm, Bristol • One of Cannon’s multifarious logos, this time featuring a semi-oval, aka a “swoosh”. • Spotted: West Street, Bristol, Avon, BS2, England, 2013 […]

Astrotech, Islington: astronauts

"Astrotech Security" burglar alarm, Islington • A highly-wrought computer game-style design attempting to conjure up technology so advanced it's used by astronauts. Or something. • Spotted: Whistler Street, Islington, London, N5, England, 2005 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Islington North

“Aeon”, Bristol: eternity

"Aeon Electronic Protection Systems" burglar alarm, Bristol • Now we move on to astronomical time, literally - the term "aeon" has been used to describe the period between big bangs, though to the ancient Greeks it meant simply eternity. All that and a crosshair too. • Spotted: Royal Oak Avenue, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West

“Expo”, Islington: gun sight

"Expo" burglar alarm, Islington • Yet another gun-sight crosshair – very James Bond. Not, presumably, named after the Stockhausen composition for three shortwave radios. Tomorrow: monograms. • Spotted: York Way, Islington, London, N1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Islington South and Finsbury

“Wilton Alarms”, Islington: registration marks

"Wilton Alarms" burglar alarm, Islington • This definitely looks like a gun sight's crosshairs, though if I'm honest it also resembles the registration marks printers use to help line up their plates correctly. On the website of Wilton Alarms, the Dorking-based firm explain they're now known as Wilton Security Systems. Luckily they still retain this logo, so I narrowly escaped confusing them with Wilton Alarm Systems of Wilton in Salisbury,  whose unmistakable rapier-wielding wasp is one of my favourite sounder designs, as featured here. • Spotted: Wharfdale Road, Islington, London, N1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Islington South and Finsbury

“Trade”, Camden: crosshairs

"Trade Security Systems Plc" burglar alarm, Camden • This is a funny old logo. It's a bit hard to make out, as one of the colours has faded, and I'm not really sure what the design is meant to signify. However the thing it resembles most to me is the crosshairs of a gun sight, so into the "shooting" theme it goes. • Spotted: Warren Street, Camden, London, W1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Holborn and St Pancras

“Sector Guard”, Southwark: targeting

"Sector Guard Fire & Security Systems" burglar alarm, Southwark • A successor to yesterday's Sector Alarm, this still targets felons with crosshairs, albeit a smaller radar sweep. Inclusion of that ever-poular burglar alarm word, "Guard", is another nod in the direction of the military. • Spotted: Blackfriars Road, Southwark, London, SE1, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bermondsey and Old Southwark

“Sector Alarm”, Tower Hamlets: radar

"Sector Alarm" burglar alarm, Tower Hamlets • Felons beware – there's radar sweeping the sector, and crosshairs sighted on you. All suggesting some pretty big guns, and possibly an anti-missile facility. • Spotted: Cambridge Heath Road, Tower Hamlets, London, E2, England, 2006 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Bethnal Green and Bow

“Contract Security”, Westminster: hitman

"Contract Security" burglar alarm, City of Westminster • Yikes! Does this sounder mean the kind of contract that involves a hitman? It does have crosshairs, after all. Unless they're compass points, or weird spurs. • Spotted: Eastcastle Street, City of Westminster, London, W1, England, 2012 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Cities of London and Westminster

“Impact Alarms”, Richmond: tenuous

"Impact Alarms" burglar alarm, Richmond upon Thames • Somewhat tenuous in its relation to shooting, but bullets certainly do make an impact... • Spotted: Kew Green area, Richmond upon Thames, London, TW9, England, 2005 • Politics: In the Conservative constituency of Richmond Park

“Hunter”, Lambeth: art shoot

"Hunter" burglar alarm, Lambeth • What do hunters do? They shoot things. I rest my shooting-related case. Incidentally, I found this burglar alarm on the side of one of Damian Hirst's many studios, the one where teams of assistants used to make spot paintings for him. He's now had the entire road closed down (thanks, Dame, now I have to make a massive detour!) while the building is turned, at vast expense, into a swanky art gallery and restaurant. So the burglar alarm is no more. • Spotted: Newport Street, Lambeth, London, SE11, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Vauxhall

“Cannon”, Bristol: big guns

"Cannon" burglar alarm, Bristol • A word, fact fans, derived from the Italian for "big tube". And basically a giant gun, so obviously shooting-related. • Spotted: All Saints Lane, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West

“Marksman”, Bristol: take aim

"Marksman Security Ltd" burglar alarm, Bristol • Today I start a brief and brutal run of shooting-related sounder designs, both deliberate and coincidental. The word "marksman" is a fairly unambiguous reference to firearms, as are the target-like soundwaves (if that's what they are)... so, take aim! • Spotted: Broad Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1, England, 2011 • Politics: In the Liberal Democrat constituency of Bristol West

“Sensormatic”, Hackney: pilfering fingers

"Sensormatic" burglar alarm, Hackney • We've had a few threatening hands, and now here's a technical one. I'll give Sensormatic the benefit of the doubt, and assume that the crosshairs refer to some form of sensing equipment, rather than the ability to shoot pilferers through the hand. • Spotted: Mare Street, Hackney, London, E8, England, 2010 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of Hackney South and Shoreditch