A lot has been said about the effectiveness of home security systems in keeping burglars at bay. We provide you with the true and tested facts that will help you make an informed decision.
Burglaries in homes are vicious invasions of one’s privacy that make individuals uncomfortable in their own homes. As a result, most homeowners will go to the extent of installing home security systems to prevent any intruders from accessing their homes and provide them with the assurance wanted. However, do these systems contribute to preventing the break-ins as they are meant to? Studies point towards the fact that professional burglars are less likely to target a house with a security system.
A survey conducted on burglaries to determine houses with security systems found that houses without security systems were 300 percent more likely to be burgled than houses with Home Security Systems. Visibility; simple things such as placing a sign that shows the house is under the alarm company, or placing a sign that shows that the house is being monitored can help to discourage burglars because they know that they will easily be apprehended. In the same manner, camera systems mounted outside the house, lights, and fences put signals that a house may be too dangerous for burglars who are evaluating their targets.
However, not all home security systems that are available in the market are effective in preventing burglary. While monitored systems that are professionally installed are likely to provide a higher level of security than those systems that are installed by the owners themselves, the cost of such systems is considerably higher. Self-monitored systems may be susceptible to burglars sounding the alarm because they know that police will not be alerted immediately; on the other hand, professionally monitored systems contain faster responses to alarms if activated. This also applies to such things as security signs and outdoor cameras; burglars could also get used to seeing this equipment around, and it ceases to have any effect if they realize nobody is overseeing it.
Which Factors Help to Reduce Burglary Risk the Most? Speaking about the types of security, the studies indicate that any form of security is preferable to having no security at all, but professionally monitored systems are generally more effective in minimizing burglary victimization. This study learned that incorporating professional monitoring services into security systems reduced burglary incidences by 20 percent as compared to the systems that had no monitoring. The ultimate home security system monitors the house round the clock and has multiple forms of intrusion detection from interior motion sensors, entry on doors and windows, glass break detectors, and smoke/fire detectors.
Similarly, security devices such as surveillance cameras mounted outside the compound, video doorbells with cameras, and exterior lights eliminate the aspect of operating under the cover of darkness as commonly practiced by burglars. The presence of security lights and clear visibility of security cameras ensure that the burglars can not hide in the darkness as they undertake their criminal activities. In case of a break-in, the recorded video footage also provides the victims and police with probable cause for identifying the culprits. While recordings may or may not result in an arrest, camera footage results in a form of deterrence because perpetrators are more likely to be caught on camera and face the consequences of their actions.
The vulnerable groups of people about burglary incidences This also comes in handy in the understanding of general risk factors that burglars look for in homes thus assisting homeowners in their security choices. Although it can be said that burglaries can occur in all types of homes, the concepts suggest that some homes are more likely to be targeted than others. Individual dwellings are preferred to homes located in crowded areas because it becomes easier to gain unauthorized access than in an area where people may notice you. A similar case applies to characteristics that suggest residents are absent, for instance, on a vacation, or have minimal watchfulness resulting from factors such as high fences or shrubs. In the same way, residents of homes close to a highway are likely to escape more easily, but their homes are also likely to suffer more damage.
Occupancy is also considered since burglars often prefer low-income residences and such neighborhoods are common in urban areas. Tenants are also more vulnerable than their owning counterparts in terms of risks. But enhanced security measures counter this by increasing security measures which make access and security a leveled playing ground. Indeed, the increase in the optional independent professional monitoring service reveals one of the highest decreases in burglary risk for the endangered populations and areas. Increased security also prevents secondary crime, which is when a victim is invaded again in up to 30% of break-in occurrences.
Monitored Security vs Self Monitored: Which Should I Opt for? When it comes to the aspect of burglary protection, then it is important to note that professional monitoring is preferable rather than DIY systems. In monitored security, agents are notified of alarms and must call the appropriate emergency response if necessary. This is in contrast with fully standalone systems where homeowners are only confined to responding to alarms, thereby providing the intruders more time the escape. Another benefit of professional systems is also the reliability benefits of correctly installed sensors and wiring as against generic, self-programmed products. Although monitored systems are available, they are not for free and come with monthly charges or subscriptions.
But for homeowners who cannot afford or are not willing to pay monitoring fees, a self-contained system does provide some amount of worth and protection. Thus, although the deterrent effect is lower in the case of self-installed security and without a professional monitoring service, the act of installing security nevertheless deters some opportunistic burglaries. CCTV surveillance cameras, lights that turn on automatically, and an alert system through a mobile phone are smart, affordable solutions to security. Other measures include posting warning signs which also contributes to the self-monitored solutions’ ability to discourage more break-ins while still paying attention to the alarms. What needs to be borne in mind, consequently, is the fact that professionally supervised systems provide indicated large benefits, which are to cover blind areas and contribute to quicker responses during emergencies.
The Bottom Line Growing cases of crime make families apprehensive and on the lookout for measures that can help them avoid being victims. But it is imperative to understand that no anti-theft system will make a home a fortress against burglars, nevertheless, effective home security would deter the majority of thieves who target specific opportunities. Infrastructural security measures show that people of the residents are serious about security and it becomes dangerous for the thugs to try Illegal entry into the premises. Full-time supervision and at least two kinds of intrusion prevention protocols are the most effective in discouraging burglars. Home security systems which can be professionally installed and monitored can be quite costly, however, the costs are relatively small when compared with the losses, as well as the psychological trauma, experienced as a result of home invasions. To most homeowners, the kind of security mentioned above brings a lot of comfort and minimizes the chances of a crime happening on the property. Such choices return systems that deter evil-doers and prevent break-ins at an early stage.
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