Home Security Systems and Theft Prevention

In recent years, burglars and intruders are getting smarter and stealthier. They look for those easy target residents whose houses are poorly protected and secluded enough to shield their activities.

Consequently, if you own a home, you should always invest in some type of home security equipment to insure your family’s safety and protection. The best way to avoid a bad situation is to take preventative measures to make your home less appealing to would be intruders.

Theft Prevention

Make sure your home doesn’t look like an easy target. Don’t give burglars a place to hide or conceal their activities. This means making your home easily visible. You should have proper outdoor lighting in the front and the back of your house that either stays on all night or uses a motion detector as a trigger. A thief is less likely to try and break into your home with a spotlight shining on them. Also consider trimming large bushes and moving anything on your property that can be used to shield a break in.

There are many small things you can do to deter a thief such as leaving an interior light or TV on in your house when you are away from home. Another good trick is to put a “Beware of Dog” sign on your property even if you don’t own a dog. Thieves are looking for an easy target and many will just move on if they think they might have to face a large animal or enter a risky situation.

Security Systems

There are a lot of different home security systems to choose from and come in many flavors such as alarms, CCTV or wireless security cameras, electric fencing systems, and motion detection. Each type can be useful for their specific purpose depending on your needs. CCTV cameras are great to keep an eye on things in real time when away from home. It allows an overseeing of real time events within and outside your home. You can now even watch from your smart phone! This is highly recommended for families with elderly relatives and young children.

Generally, there are two types of home security systems, unmonitored and monitored. The most popular type is an unmonitored security system, and is mostly used in private residences because it is generally cost effective and easy to install. An unmonitored alarm system will sound off a very loud alarm whenever it detects any unauthorized access in the home. These types of systems usually have door and window sensors that are triggered if they are opened or if any glass is broken. The alarm is useful as a deterrent to scare off any would be thieves but is only beneficial if you live in a populated area or neighborhood. It may still work in a more secluded area but would be less effective.

A monitored security system is the most effective of the two alarm systems. The monitored system will give you everything the unmonitored system will, and will also automatically contact a monitoring group whenever its sensors are tripped. This group overseeing your alarm will usually call your home first to ensure that the alarm wasn’t accidentally set off. If you don’t answer or don’t know your security code, they will send the police to your home to investigate.

Monitored systems also tend to be more advanced and have extra features such as security cameras and motion detectors. They can also tie into your other security devices such as smoke detectors and heat sensors. All these extras mean extra cost. Monitored security systems will usually have an upfront cost for equipment and a monthly monitoring fee.

Home security preparedness is important and often overlooked until you need it. Over the years security and monitoring systems have become more affordable than ever. Any costs that it incurs in the present will pay off very well in the future. The more prepared you are, the less chances you have of being a victim.