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The Hard Facts on Home Security

April 6, 2016

The facts are inescapable that according to the FBI the United States leads the world in the occurrence of burglaries with four burglaries occurring every minute; that's one burglary every 15 seconds. As startling as that statistic may be, there's no reason to give in to fear; the members of the Electronic Security Association (ESA) have the best methods and technologies available to counter each problem posed and increase the safety of your home.

Around 60 percent of burglars used forcible entry to gain access to a home, with 30 percent entering the home through an unlocked door or window according to statistics from the FBI’s website. Be sure to lock every door, every time whether you are home or not. Many electronic security systems include access control solutions that can tell you when a door is ajar, as well as electronic locks that can be operated remotely via a smartphone app.

According to the FBI, about 33 percent of intruders enter a home through the front door. While you don't want to forget the other potential entryways in your home (windows, back doors, garages), burglars will almost always attempt your front door first. Be sure to fortify your front door with a strong lock, potentially one with an electronic lock that can be monitored and operated remotely. A camera mounted at eye level pointed toward the front door could also identify potential intruders, if they were to gain entry.

A study conducted by the University of North Carolina found that most burglars try to determine if a home has a security system before breaking in. That same study said that they would deliberately avoid homes if they knew it had a security system, and would immediately flee if those systems sounded an audible alarm. Be sure to advertise your security system in readily-visible spots in both your front and back yards. Make sure your system also comes with an audible alarm as well.

25 percent of burglars reported cutting telephone or alarm wires before they broke into the home, in an effort to foil alarm systems. An ESA member company can design and install a wireless system that operates using cellular signals, which eliminates the risk of disabling a system by cutting wires.

According to the FBI, the average dollar loss per burglary in the U.S. is $2,185. That amount far exceeds the typical cost of a basic security system, and doesn't include the mental and emotional costs a break-in inflicts on your family's peace of mind. The financial reparative process through the justice system can take an inordinately long time and may not pay for everything. Coupled with the costs incurred in the criminal justice system, a typical home invasion costs approximately $20,000. An electronic home security system can not only save you the emotional and monetary costs of a burglary, but it may help you gain home insurance discounts as well.

The FBI data shows that burglaries are notoriously hard to solve; only 13 percent of burglaries are cleared by police investigators. The recovery of stolen property is even rarer. The best way to avoid being part of these statistics is to protect your home with a security system from an ESA member company that can be found by visiting Alarm.org.


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