Theft is one of those that are on the rise. Nearly three-quarters of all crimes today are property crimes, involving theft, burglary, and vandalism. And a lot of that is crime against homes and property owners. Local authorities and the police have a lot of work ahead of them. Although they work hard to end crime in their area, it really can’t be stopped.
No matter what happens, thieves and vandals will find a way to succeed in their job: take or destroy your possessions. When they’re not on someone else’s property, they look for opportunities, study home layouts and vulnerabilities, and take note of family habits and schedules. In fact, statistics tell us that a home in the US is broken into every 15 seconds. And while some thieves and vandals are eventually caught and arrested, most seem to disappear into the shadows.
You can take precautions to avoid becoming the next victim in 15 seconds. A combination of common-sense security measures and equipment can protect your home and family from crime. Here are some ideas that can help you take a bite out of crime.
* Mark your Property
Anything of value you own should be protected with a number or symbol that makes it easy to identify it as yours. While marking property cannot prevent its theft, it can help you recover stolen property before it is sold on the black market. Engravers, microdots, lasers, and UV pens are great tools for marking your property. Most thieves study their target victims, and knowing what marks your property can prevent theft.
* Secure your home
It may sound like fun, but many homeowners forget to close doors and windows. An easy and simple solution to prevent theft, get in the habit of securing your windows and doors before leaving home. Make sure the exterior of the home is well lit and free of obstructions and places for burglars and vandals to hide. Let people know when you are going away for several days and ask your neighbors to be on the lookout for strangers on your property. These simple steps will go a long way in protecting your property from theft and vandalism.
* Get a burglar alarm
A simple alarm that sounds when an unauthorized person tries to enter your home is a good first step in preventing theft and vandalism. The piercing scream of an alarm is enough to put off even the most audacious thief or vandal. Police report that burglar alarms prevent more than half of all home break-in attempts. There are a variety of alarms available on the market, and prices start low.
* Install a home security system
A great tool to prevent theft is the home security system. A thief who knows you have a security system will probably break into your house the next time he’s out for a quick burglary. If he is not aware of his system, it will sound the alarm and hopefully scare him. Home security systems include burglar alarms, but they also have other features to protect your life and property. They can incorporate fire alarms, carbon monoxide monitors and “panic buttons” that allow you to sound an alert in an emergency. They can alert the local police or emergency service directly or go through a 24-hour security monitoring service.
The most elaborate and expensive systems incorporate cameras and video monitoring equipment that allow you to keep an eye on your family and home 24 hours a day. A video monitoring system also allows you to record visual images, and this can be very effective in post-theft law enforcement efforts. It has a record of the thief or vandal that the police can use to track and arrest them. He also has evidence that can be used in court to prosecute them.
Home security systems have made great technological advances over the last decade, and today you can even get systems that allow you to program and control other home functions. You can link the lights, heating system, home entertainment center and kitchen appliances to not only make your life more convenient and save time, but also make it look like your home is occupied when your family is away. from the city.
Wireless technology has entered the home security market and you can get wirelessly monitored home security systems that have all the benefits of the older types AND the ease of installation and maintenance of wireless technology.
With a good home security system, you can go beyond simple protection measures and continuously monitor your yard, garage, and interior of your home. You can make permanent video records of attempted break-ins and successful break-ins. You can even turn on your coffee maker in the morning!
* Use a professional security monitoring service
Even if you have the top-of-the-line home security system with all the bells and whistles, it won’t be any good at preventing break-ins if you can’t monitor it 24 hours a day. Professional security companies like ADT or Brinks offer that service for a reasonable monthly fee. They have professional monitors that man your system 24/7 and can alert law enforcement and emergency services when your system alerts.
Whatever you decide to do to protect your home and family, you need to make sure you cover these basic areas. Millions of American homeowners have invested or plan to invest in security and surveillance systems. You should be one of them if you want to fight crime and prevent robbery.
You get the added bonus of peace of mind knowing your home and family are safe and secure from rampant crime in our society today. No one can predict the future, but you’re sure to be a safer and wiser homeowner if you take the time to learn as much as you can about home security. As an educated consumer, you can assess your home’s vulnerabilities and plan a security system that will prevent break-ins and meet your security needs.
