Fiber optic sensors have become a mainstream sensing technology within a large array of applications due to their inherent benefits. They are now used significantly in structural health monitoring, and are an essential solution for monitoring harsh environments. Since their first development over thirty years ago, they have also found promise in security applications. This paper reviews all of the optical fiber based techniques used in physical intrusion detection systems. It details the different approaches used for sensing, interrogation and networking, by research groups, attempting to secure both commercial and residential premises from physical security breaches. The advantages and disadvantages of the systems are discussed and each of the different perimeter protection methods are outlined, namely, in-ground, perimeter fence, and window and door protection. The study reviews the progress in optical fiber based intrusion detection techniques from the past through to current state-of-the-art systems and identifies areas which may provide opportunities for improvement, as well as proposing future directions in this field.