Does a home alarm system prevent intrusion?

Last Updated: December 7, 2025

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Michael Rosenberg

Specializes in translating complex information into readable, engaging content. Michael@top10us.com

Over the years, a lot of people have questioned the effectiveness of home security systems. Do these things really work? Can they really prevent intrusions? Although, some doubt the effectiveness of home security systems partly because they haven’t had any experience with it. Whereas, some others doubt it’s effectiveness just out of the natural fear of trying new things which many people have. Naturally, it’s normal to doubt something you haven’t experienced or used in the past. This is why we have written this article to present the facts and help you understand how and why a good security system is still the best option in the security and safety of your home.

Noteworthy, everyone is unique. And the factors that cause them to believe a concept aren’t the same. Although some people get convinced with facts and statistics. However, some may need the help of a friend or family to understand and be convinced. Whereas, the others rely on testimonials for making their decisions.

Whatever it is, don’t wait to be a victim before making a decision. Find whatever works for you in the decision-making process and get to the action with no delays. Learning from experience is not the best way to learn – especially from a bitter one. The security and safety of your household are paramount. In order to properly answer the question of whether security systems work or not, you need to understand what they really are and how they work.

What really are home security systems?

As the name suggests, they are simply systems that secure or protect homes and households from intruders. In addition, they come in various types and they work differently to protect homes from burglars and intruders.

Some examples of home security systems are:

  • Motion detectors
  • CCTV cameras
  • Fire alarms
  • Carbon monoxide detectors
  • Lighting, Etc

How they work

Firstly, home security systems have been around for a very long time. Although changes and improvements have been made because of technology. However, their basic approach hasn’t changed. It remains as creating awareness of what’s going on whenever an intrusion is suspected. An intruder who burgles into your house wouldn’t want to be seen. Simply put, he wants to carry on with his business secretly without creating unnecessary attraction. In addition, he knows that if caught, he will be reprimanded. Therefore, if he sees anything that can increase his chances of getting caught, he runs to safety. This is why some intruders take some time to observe their prey and pick out the easy ones.

Do they really work? What burglars say

How can we truly ascertain the effectiveness of home security systems on burglars? We would most probably need a burglar to do that. To understand their mindset, thought process, and how security systems influence them, we need to listen to them.

Noteworthy, a study that surveyed 400 burglars and how security systems influence their decisions provides the answer. Noteworthy, this study reveals that as many as 60% of burglars confess to being deterred by home security systems. Some said they would normally look out for possible security systems in the household they want to attack before attacking. If there’s any security system, they simply look somewhere else.

Although not all burglars look out and plan their attacks before launching them. Some burglars, however,  simply take advantage of a breach in security like an opened door, unlocked windows, or any other compromised entry point. These kinds of burglars would easily cease attack if they noticed any kind of security system. Burglars who deliberately plan their attack and spend time trying to figure out how to defeat your security system would not be deterred by your security system unless they find it exhausting to bypass.

The logic

As strange as it may sound, a typical burglar doesn’t want trouble. His interests are in your valuables. If you create one for him via your security system, he would immediately flee to avoid being caught. Some homeowners place signs and stickers as clues to suggest to the potential intruder that there’s a high chance of getting caught if they try to intrude. Furthermore, others boldly place a tag of the name of the security company that facilitates and protects their home. All these have been proven to influence the decision of burglars. It’s, however, important to make sure that you truly have the security system written on your sticker.

In conclusion, deliberate burglars take their time to study homes before approaching them. If they observe that there’s no security system in your apartment, it gives them more confidence to attack.

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