INTRODUCTION
Home security systems play a vital role in the security and safety of households. Households without adequate security systems stand the risk of vandalism or being broken into. This is not to say that households with home security systems never get broken into, however, the statistics that we shall see speak for the chances you have if you install a home security system.
Who really are burglars and how do they operate? Perhaps this would give us an idea of the impact a home security system can have on a burglar – before even considering any statistical analysis.
A burglar is a person who commits burglary and burglary in simple terms is entering a building illegally with the intention of committing a crime, especially theft.
Burglaries mostly take place at moments when the occupants of an apartment are absent. During this time, properties could get stolen, people could get blackmailed and sometimes murder takes place.
A typical burglar wouldn’t like to be caught in the act. He steps in when you’re absent, carries out his intent, and zooms off as soon as he can. They work with limited time and thus would be on the look for easy. In addition, they work in “silence” and wouldn’t want to be seen by the public or do anything to call the attention of others to them.
Security systems
Security systems come in various forms and serve different purposes. Examples are :
- Monitored alarms
- Intruder alarms
- CCTV cameras
- Motion detectors
- Censors, among others.
The basic concept behind these systems is to create awareness should any unfavorable event occur – like an intrusion, fire outbreak, etc. This awareness is created sometimes by loud-sounding alarms or automatically notifying the owner of the apartment or sending a notification to emergency units – it just depends on the type of home security system.
What happens when security systems are triggered?
Alarms cause panic and fear of being caught in the hearts of burglars which makes them immediately flee for safety. The punishment for burglary varies across various locations and mostly depends on the extent of damage caused. A burglar could serve up to seven years in prison or a year with up to $5000 fine or a more serious punishment depending on the crime committed.
Let the Statistics speak
According to FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Statistics, burglars have a 300% higher tendency to attack homes with no home security systems as compared to those with home security systems. This is largely due to our earlier discussion about burglars and how they’d rather look for easy that would most likely not attract public attention to their operations.
The report also suggests that 95% of burglars enter into homes forcefully. Tools such as hammers, screwdrivers, pry bars, and others are used during the forceful entry.
Good security systems can easily detect these and will immediately respond to the intrusion by calling the attention of others to what’s going on in the house.
The same report shows that 63% of burglars said that they would first check to see if there’s any security system or alarm in the apartment before deciding whether to go in or not. 60 percent also said that they changed their mind whenever they notice the presence of a security system.
Suggestions from the report also indicate that 65.1% of the burglars knew the victims and that only 27.5% admitted to not knowing the victim. Not all burglars are interested in causing major damages. Some are only interested in carting away with as many valuables as they can. The report also suggests that 60.1% of the buglers had no weapon while 30.1% had weapons. An attack involving no weapon is most likely not intended to cause physical damages. Another shocking thing the report reveals is that people in rented apartments have higher chances of being burgled than the ones in their personal homes.
Although most people think security systems are made to protect homes from burglars and intruders, the truth is that they go far beyond that. Home security systems can prevent various forms of threats like fire outbreak, gas poisoning, unwarranted movements, medical rescue, and others.
A short story
Some people enjoy home security systems simply because it gives them first-hand proof of how everything in their home went, including crime scenes. Especially when the security system is wireless and connects to their mobile phones, they can control various electronic devices in their home right from the office or anywhere else they might be.
A former skeptical user of home security systems once relayed an incident that made him a permanent user of security systems. He was in the office when his alarm turned on to notify him that someone had crossed the entrance into his apartment. Said that he picked up the phone and started to communicate with the potential burglar via secret speakers installed in various locations inside his apartment. He told him that he was aware of his intrusion and would only give him ten seconds to leave the house, otherwise, he’d be trapped inside and will be eventually arrested. Without hesitation, the burglar immediately fled and even thanked him for being so generous with him.
Some others expressed how happy they were for being able to nab the burglar who had broken into their apartment not noticing the presence of secret cameras in the house.
Home security systems have proven to be an effective security measure that prevents a significant number of burglaries from occurring .
