I Think it Finally Stopped

Remember when car alarms first entered into our lives? That array of annoying sounds meant to scare off would be carjackers or alert car owners their precious vehicles were in danger. Were they ever useful? They've at least changed over the years to a simple honking. Regardless I still question their usefulness. Does anyone stop and take notice anymore if they hear one go off? No. Most of the time a triggered alarm happens because a bird landed on the roof, or another car drove by too fast. So why do we still have them?
Last night a car in the immediate area was sounding off. Yep, it was one of those older ones that followed the pattern of irritating buzzes and sirens. It went on. And on. And on. And on. Finally it stopped and I thought I'd be able to sleep. No. It was merely a brief pause in the pattern. It continued like this through the entire night. Don't they turn off at some point? By morning I was begging for someone to take the car, steal it, do whatever, just stop the friggin' alarm!
When I eventually got myself out of bed to face the world, my roommate was in the kitchen with the same sleep deprived angry face I had. I was not alone. This comforted me. We discussed our belief that only people with old cars no one would actually steal use that alarm, so they are in fact pointless. Just then, it started, AGAIN.
I screamed out, startling my roommate who hadn't even noticed the aggravating cacophony resumed she'd grown so accustomed to it. I began muttering and looking about for a bat to take with me as I planned to find the source of this fracas and take care of it myself. Well, someone must've heard me because, believe it or not, it finally stopped. Peace. Quiet. Sigh. Though at any moment I almost expect to hear the din start again.