I could never forget the day my home was broken into and burglarized.
My family and I lived in a second-story apartment in a quiet neighborhood.
One-night, burglars busted the lock on our 1950s wrought iron gate, opened the sliding door, and made their way in through the living room.
When I got to the apartment, not only had the place been turned upside-down, but I could sense a sort of heaviness in the air; then I understood why they call it a home invasion.
Burglars had invaded our space, which left us feeling violated and vulnerable.
I could close my eyes and see the intruders inside our home, stealing not only our things but our sense of security.
Weeks passed, and even though the windows and doors were locked, we felt unprotected. We wanted to continue living at that house but needed to repair the physical and emotional damage that had been done to be able to move forward beyond this incident.
Changing the door and window locks and purchasing a motion-sensitive light for the yard helped, but still, we needed peace of mind.
After learning about the benefits of a home security system, we decided to acquire a home burglar alarm.
Looking into several home security providers, many companies offered the usual security package of motion sensors, camera surveillance, and security signs and stickers.
I read that signs can act as a deterrent to burglars, but living in a second-floor, it didn’t make too much sense.
Having experienced a break-in, we wanted to explore all the options that could help us rectify the security problem and prevent another break-in.
Eventually, we went with a home security company that guaranteed fast response time, 24/7 camera surveillance, motion detection outdoor lights, window and door alarms and the best thing of all—24-hour monitoring.
Still, after installing the best home security system we could find, we still had three unanswered questions:
- do home security systems reduce crime?
- how do burglar alarms limit the homeowner’s losses after a break-in?
- how can we improve the response time?
Burglar Alarms DO Reduce Crime
It has been scientifically proven that home security systems drastically reduce our likelihood of becoming the victim of burglary.
The Rutgers University School of Criminal Justice (RSCJ) conducted a study from 2001 to 2005 that studied the effect that security systems and cameras have on crime rates in any given American household.
They were able to conclusively determine that installing a burglar alarm makes a dwelling less attractive to would-be and active intruders and protects the home without displacing burglaries to nearby homes, actually decreasing crime rather than simply displacing it.
Even more, not only do home security cameras reduce crime but they also deter burglars.
A ground-breaking new study conducted by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte entitled “Understanding Decisions to Burglarize from the Offender’s Perspective” found that when selecting a target, most burglars said they considered the signs of increased security – including alarm signs, alarms, dogs inside, and outdoor cameras or other surveillance equipment.
Approximately 83% said they would try to determine if an alarm was present before attempting a burglary, and 60% said they would seek an alternative target if there was an alarm on-site.
This study gathered responses from more than 400 convicted offenders that resulted in an unprecedented look into the minds of burglars, providing insight into intruder’s motivations and methods.
Prevention Tip:
4 out of 5 burglars use social media like Twitter and Facebook to select targets.
Don’t announce vacations or trips on social media.
Burglars check those sites to find out when you won’t be home.
They Limit Losses, Too
Did you know that having a monitored home security system can lower your homeowner’s insurance rates?
On average, installing burglar alarms and monitored security devices in your home can reduce your homeowner’s insurance by up to 20%.
According to the FBI, homeowners who were the victim of burglary offenses in 2016 suffered an average of $2,361 per break-in (with an estimated $3.6 billion in property losses.)
Insurance companies understand that a professionally monitored security system adds an extra layer of protection to your home, creating a safer environment for your family.
They also know that monitored security systems reduce the likelihood that your home will be burglarized or suffer costly water or fire damage.
The Insurance Information Institute noted that many insurance companies are encouraging homeowners to install security devices such as burglar alarm systems by offering them substantial discounts on homeowner’s insurance.
In a survey by the Electronic Security Association, ten of the biggest homeowner’s insurance companies revealed discounts of up to 20% for properties with monitored home security systems. For more information about discounts, homeowners should consult their insurance providers.
Prevention Tip:
The most frequently stolen items are jewelry, electronics, tools, and clothing. Make an inventory of your valuables.
List descriptions, serial numbers, and sales receipts to use as documentation if you need to file an insurance claim.
Beware: Response Times Can Vary!
There are about 36 million security systems in the United States, half of them in homes. But even though the systems are working correctly, the police response times can be slow.
According to an interview conducted by the New York Times, “in big cities like New York, Atlanta and Chicago police could take 30 to 45 minutes to respond, while in smaller towns the best that can be hoped for is six to eight minutes.
Given that those times are in addition to the two minutes it takes for the alarm to register at the monitoring station and the operator to call you.”
We learned that many alarm companies outsource the actual home alarm monitoring to a third party monitoring center.
These companies provide homeowners data about their average “alarm response times,” but you can also find out the monitoring center they use and find more information on the monitoring center’s website or by contacting them.
However, response times vary according to location, and there are no laws or standards to regulate them as emergency services are funded and operated differently by country or city, which results in upper-income areas having shorter response times.
Homeowners can find out the crime statistics in their area here.
Lastly, to improve your alarm response time you can:
- add a home security camera for video evidence
- replace old alarms with new equipment
- install equipment properly
- use cellular monitoring services
- be mindful of pets, especially with motion sensors
- reduce false alarms
Try To Reduce False Alarms
Part of the slow response is due to the high number of false alarms.
In 2004, a study by the Center for Problem-Oriented Policing assessed that between 94% and 98% of alarms are false alarms.
Despite that technology today is more advanced and newer systems have been implemented, the number is still as high as 80%.
Because false alarms are costly to the department and taxpayers, some police departments started charging homeowners after the first or second one.
Installing home security cameras that work directly with your home security systems helps to provide visual evidence if your alarm is triggered.
If you see something, you can call 9-1-1 to help prioritize the alert, or if you are home during the event, this will also prioritize the call.
Bottom Line
What I learned from my experience is that an alarm system not only provides an essential aspect of a secure environment, it can also grant peace of mind.
A security alarm is an excellent deterrent, but your response time to an alarm event will vary greatly depending on several factors.
A burglar alarm will not give you protection against all sorts of crimes, but it will fortify your defenses and substantially reduce the risk of another break-in.
Most thieves wander through neighborhoods looking for an entry point, like an open window and your security system tells you to close that window.
To get the maximum security, you should combine a burglar alarm system with proper locks, protective windows and doors, and camera surveillance.
You can also take a look at our list of some of the most prominent home security companies, which we have rated based on everything from customer satisfaction to pricing.