An Alarming Response
When most of us think about a home break-in, we imagine an intruder entering our home in the middle of the night, maybe breaking in through a window or the back door while we sleep. But according to FBI statistics, most home burglaries occur during the summer months when we are out of town or during the day when no one is around. So, short of quitting your job or never going on vacation, how can you keep your home safe? A reliable, affordable home security system seems the logical choice.
There are as many choices for home burglar
alarms as there are ways for burglars to break
into your home. The most basic alarm includes nothing
more than a simple alarm that is triggered when one
of the common entry points is tripped -- downstairs
windows, front and back doors, cellar windows, etc.
Statistics show that most burglars enter through the
first floor of the home.
An alarm system on its own won't be enough if you
are out of town and your neighbors are out of town
or out of earshot. For even greater security, you
really need a monitored home
security system.
An Extra Set of Eyes
A home alarm system that offers around-the-clock monitoring
makes even more sense. A home security system monitored
by ADT, for example, gives you 24/7 coverage by experienced
professionals. You’ll have the peace of mind
knowing that any break-in that triggers an alarm will
alert the central monitoring office and that dispatchers
at hand will send a response unit to your home. Of
course, just knowing that your home is equipped with
a burglar
alarm will be enough to deter most would-be burglars.
After all, who would attempt to break in to a home
that they know to be protected by an alarm system
when there are plenty of other easy targets.
That's why it is important to prominently display
your home security system sticker in plain sight at
multiple entry points if you do opt for a home
security system monitored by ADT or another of
the many alarm companies. That alone will deter many
criminals.
So How Much Security Do I Need?
The answer to that question is depends on your neighborhood
and its general crime level, the layout of your home,
the amount of time you spend away from your home,
and a host of other factors. For example, if you live
in an attractive home in a high-crime area, you may
want to select a monitored home alarm system complete
with monitored alarms at common entry points and monitored
security cameras to give you the ultimate in peace
of mind. ADT and other alarm companies can give you
an estimate based on your needs. They will be able
to tailor a home
alarm system to your needs and help you set it
up for maximum deterrence.
Use Your Head
A monitored home security system is just a small part
of what you need to do to protect your home from burglars.
A lot of the rest of the fight is just common sense.
Keep these tips in mind:
- Make it look like someone is at home. Keep
your lights or TV on a timer if you are going to
be out late.
- Keep doors and windows locked. It seems
obvious, but more than half of home break-ins occur
through an open door or window.
- Keep expensive gear out of the garage.
Garages are often targets for thieves, particularly
for bikes, which are often easily resold. Keep them
inside your home.
- New home move-in. This is a vulnerable
time. Transfer your home
alarm system from your old house right away.
- Don’t procrastinate. Fix broken locks
or windows right away.
- Don’t flaunt. Keep valuables out of
sight and keep your drapes drawn.
- Do flaunt your home security camera/sticker.
More than Just Burglary
But naturally, to optimally protect your family, you'll
need to prevent unfortunate occurrences other than
just break-ins. Alarm companies like ADT also offer
alarms for fire and carbon monoxide poisoning. In
fact, you may be able to get a discount by purchasing
multiple systems from one company.
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