It’s a well-known fact that burglars operate primarily on the premise that they won’t be discovered. In fact, over 80% of burglars state that the main reason that they chose a particular house to burglarize, is because they were confident that they wouldn’t be caught.
With this in mind, can the threat of discovery be enough to prevent a burglar from entering your home? Is it possible to protect your home merely by the suggestion of someone being present in your residence?
This is the key concept behind the market for “Burglar Deterrent” audio CD’s. There are actually many companies that specialize in making these CD’s, and marketing them as being an alternate “security system“. In fact, popular ‘burglar deterrent’ audio CD company AudioGuard advertises their product on their website as follows:
“A revolutionary new home security device which drives potential burglars away from your home. The 3 CD set incorporates a wide selection of everyday household sounds associated with occupancy and advanced subliminal technology to deliver a powerful deterrent to prowlers.” – AudioGuard.com
How do Burglar Deterrent Audio CD’s Work?
In most cases, a burglar deterrent audio CD will include recorded sounds that give the impression that a residence is occupied. These sounds often include things like vacuuming, children laughing, chairs moving, TV audio noise, footsteps and other normal house sounds. The idea behind playing these CD’s is that they will give a potential burglar the impression that there are people inside of a house. These CD’s are marketed as being most effective when used while a homeowner is on vacation or out running errands.
Are Burglar Deterrent CD’s Effective?
As of right now, there is no conclusive evidence directly associating the use of burglar deterrent audio CD’s and reduced instances of burglary in a home. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that they aren’t effective at preventing burglary. As stated before, burglars like to commit crimes when they believe that there is a low chance of them being caught (and having to face the consequences of their crime). By this theory, a burglar that hears human activity inside of a home may think twice before attempting to commit a burglary.
Should Burglar Deterrent CD’s Be Used for Home Security?
As with any alternative home security device, it’s always good to use diversity when planning for protecting the security of your home. However, just like with many other devices, a burglar deterrent CD alone will not be enough to completely protect a home against being potentially burglarized. The most effective home security approach involves a plan that combines a variety of anti-burglar tools to make a home safe and secure. Some examples of features that may be combined with a burglar deterrent CD may include:
- Suspending Paper Delivery – An audio CD of human activity will be ineffective if it’s obvious that no one has been home for quite some time.
- Motion-Activated Security Lights – These lights are inexpensive and easy to install.
- Monitored Security System – A monitored security system is a great way to ensure that your home will be protected in your absence.
AudioGuard Sample CD
This excerpt from a YouTube video (embedded at 1:16) gives an example of some of the sounds played on Audioguard’s Burglar Deterrent CD’s. There are three CD’s, each of which is recommended for different situations.
Household Sounds
This YouTube video simply gives short excerpts from some of the household sounds that can be used to simulate that someone is at home.
Related posts:
- How to Think Like a Burglar
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