This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

Some experts estimate that around 14% of homes in the United States are protected by monitored security systems. However, a burglary occurs every 15 seconds in the US. When asked why they don’t have a monitored security system, many people often cite one (or several) popular home security misconceptions. Here are five common home security myths.

Myth #1 – Home Security is Expensive!
Surprisingly, home security doesn’t cost as much as you might think. Some security companies offer a basic level of monitoring for around $40 per month. However, you also have to factor in the discount that having a monitored security system gives you on your homeowner’s insurance. Most insurance companies will give you around a 20% discount for having a monitored security system installed. However, some companies offer up to a 40% discount! In some cases, you might find that having a security system pays for itself in insurance discounts.

Myth #2 – I’ll Always Have to Pay for Monitoring.
If you’re tech-savvy, you can design your home security system without requiring it to be connected to a monitoring station. Some people don’t like the idea of paying monthly for home security, and that’s completely fine. Instead, you should focus on designing a system of sensors that sends you alerts (email, text, call, etc) when the sensors are triggered. You can even set up a video surveillance system that you can view remotely while you’re away at work.

Myth #3 – My Pet Could Set Off the Security System.
Most monitored home security systems are now designed to accommodate for at-home pets. The sensors can be placed in an area above the pet’s height, or they may also be put at a setting that detects movement over a certain size. For example, some motion sensors can be set to only go off if they detect motion of an object over 50 pounds, which is more than most pets weigh. If you have a pet, talk to a home security company – there are probably many options available to you!

Myth #4 – I Won’t Get Burglarized.
Tough financial times are making more people resort to desperate criminal measures. The average person will lose from $1000 – $5000 from a burglary. Are you willing to take that chance? Spending money improving your home’s security is like buying “insurance”. Even if you don’t get burglarized, it’s impossible to put a price on peace of mind.

Myth #5 –  Installing a Home Security System is Difficult and Expensive.
If you purchase a monitored home security system from a company along with a monitoring package, in most cases you may be able to get the system installed free of charge. Free installation has become a standard for many home security companies. If you don’t plan to pay for monitoring, you still don’t have to be an expert to install a home security system in your home. Stick to wireless systems, which are much easier to set up and install. Most stand-alone systems come with detailed instructions that will walk you through the installation process.

This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

As the financial system in the United States becomes more unstable, it seems that more people are being affected by burglaries. Burglaries are now becoming an issue even in reputable neighborhoods, or communities that have never had previous issues with crime. Raleigh, North Carolina is no exception, as the city has seen a marked increase in the number of burglaries over the past several months.

Jessica (who asked that her last name be omitted for privacy reasons) never thought she’d be the victim of a burglary. Her neighborhood is very close-knit, with most of the nearby residents being good friends. Every other Saturday, someone in the community has a barbeque, and most families from her street will attend.

Several weeks ago, Jessica was picking her two children from day-care, after a long day at work. She’d only been gone from 9am – 3pm. She usually worked short days so that she could pick up her children before the day-care charged her for extra time. After pulling her car into the driveway, Jessica removed her children from their car-seats, and made her way up to her front door. Here’s her recounting of the events, from an email interview.

*******

It was so weird. I could tell right away that something wasn’t right, kind of a strange feeling. I was carrying Amy, since she was tired, and needed a nap. Joshua immediately ran up to the door. “Mommy, our window is broken,” he said. As soon as he said that, I stopped, and called for him to get back in the car. I put Amy back in her car seat, and then walked up to the front door.

The glass on the door was broken. I didn’t even think – I went inside. I know you’re not supposed to go inside, but I wasn’t thinking straight. My home was a disaster. All of our electronics were gone – television, dvd  player, our Wii, stereo… even all of our dvds, including our home movies. Why would they have taken our home movies? I went into my bedroom, and the little ceramic container I keep my jewelry in was smashed on the floor. Nothing was left. The television from my bedroom was gone as well. They even took the baby monitor – which had a video screen, so I guess they thought it was valuable.

I ran outside, and drove to my neighbor’s house with my kids. I finally called the police. They came, and I filed a report. Not one of my neighbors remembers seeing anything unusual. I don’t even know how the burglars carried out two televisions and so many electronics without someone noticing something. I’m still working on the insurance claim, but it’s so hard explaining this to my kids. They don’t really understand the whole concept of “theft” yet, or where all of their movies went. The police told me that there’s a very poor chance that any of our belongings will ever be recovered. I don’t really care about the other stuff, we can always buy a new TV. But our home movies are irreplaceable.

********

Jessica’ s story is a solemn reminder that burglary can be a devastating experience for any family. Also, it occurred in a very close-knit community, with no history of burglaries (as far as Jessica can remember). It also shows just how little power the police actually have when it comes to theft. Only a very small percentage of burglaries ever resolve with the items being returned. In Jessica’s case, no amount of insurance money could replace the home videos that were taken from her home.

The best way to deal with a burglary is prevention. Once you’re a victim once, you’ll probably want to make sure that it never happens again. Having to walk into your home after it’s been burglarized can be a very traumatic experience, one that will leave long-lasting emotional scars.

That’s why it’s so important to make sure that you take steps to burglar-proof your home. Install secure deadbolts, and buy a home security system (even a basic, inexpensive model). Install window break sensors that will detect any unwanted intrusion into your home. Make windows inaccessible by planting thorny or dense decorative plants. These steps will help you to make sure that your home (and family) will remain safe, even when burglary statistics are rising.

This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

A new tactic that many burglars are now using is called “distraction burglary”. This type of burglary combines an identity scam with a burglary or other crime. Since it involves clever manipulation, distraction burglary can be extremely dangerous if you aren’t familiar with the warning signs of this type of scam. Here is some information to help familiarize you with distraction burglary, as well as how to spot different types of distraction burglary scams.

How Do They Do It?

Usually, distraction burglaries involve at least two perpetrators. One of the burglars will take the role of distracting the person who lives in the home, usually by engaging them in conversation. While this is occurring, the other accomplice(s) will break into the home, usually through a back door or window. In some cases, a distraction burglar may work alone, and focus only on gaining entry for themselves into the home. No matter what tactic they use, the underlying principle is the same – they want to distract/deceive you long enough to burglarize your home!

What Tactics Do They Use?

Here are some of the most common scam tactics that may be used by distraction burglars. Remember – some of these tactics may be very convincing.

Lost Pet
In some cases, the distraction burglar will appear at your door, claiming to have a lost pet. They may ask for your help in searching for their pet, or may claim that they saw their pet run into your yard. While you’re distracted helping them search for the pet, their accomplice may break into your home.

Utility Company
The fake utility company representative scam is used by many distraction burglars. In many cases, a person will appear at your front door, claiming that there is a maintenance emergency inside of your home. They may be wearing a uniform from a local utility company to increase their credibility. Once they gain entry to your home, they will either perform the burglary themselves, or distract you while their accomplice burglarizes your home.

Police/Fire Official
The fake police/fire official scam is used by many burglars, sexual offenders and other individuals. A criminal will knock on your front door, claiming to be a fire or police officer. They may ask you to answer questions about a local crime, or give official-sounding reasons to enter your home. The best way to ensure the identify of a fire or police official is to ask them for identification before opening the door. Once you have their information, you can call your local police or fire station, and confirm their identity.

Note that this list is not all-inclusive. Other potential tactics may include someone claiming to be a neighbor, a Door-to-Door Salesman, a religious leader or any other identity that may allow them to gain entry to your home.

What Can You Do to Protect Yourself?

Trust your instincts. When someone that may be acting suspicious knocks on your door, always ask for identification first. Most law officials or utility representatives will be more than happy to provide identification and/or confirmation of their identity.

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This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

During the month of August, there were over 50 burglaries in Nashua, New Hampshire. Police feared a burglary ring was responsible for the increase in robberies, but they were unable to catch any thieves. In one of the burglaries, though, a large amount of fireworks were stolen. The fireworks would lead to a breakthrough in the case. Police and detectives were asked to watch for firework violations, and on August 28, Officer Mike Dore heard the sound of fireworks exploding.

After investigating, police found that the fireworks’ packaging matched the description of the stolen fireworks. The burglars had unknowingly blown their cover. Authorities searched the burglars’ home and storage shed which contained $100,000-$200,000 in stolen goods. Some of the stolen property included laptops, flat-screen televisions, digital cameras, video game systems, DVDs, jewelry and gun parts. Four pickup trucks were needed to transport all of the stolen items to the police department’s storage warehouse.

Police arrested three men: Victor Rodriguez, 17, Leonardo Barroso, 17, and Mario Rojas, 25. They have connected the men to 18 burglaries so far, and police are anticipating three more arrests. Police have labeled the burglar ring as a “criminal enterprise.” Chief Donald Conley said, “These three are in the business of burglarizing homes. It’s what they did for a living and it wasn’t going to stop.”

The burglars knew what they were doing. They broke into most of the homes during the day or when owners were out of town. The burglars used social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to find homeowners that would be out of town on vacation or away for the night at a concert or movie. The police again cautioned residents to be careful what they post online. Captain Ron Dickerson said, “Be careful of what you post on these social networking sites. We know for a fact that some of these players, some of these criminals, were looking on these sites and identifying their targets through these social networking sites.”

Sources:

http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Nashua+burglary+ring+used+Facebook+to+target+victims&articleId=ef061d29-a781-4e68-8139-b3eb944d7607

http://www.geek.com/articles/news/100000-facebook-burglary-ring-cracked-by-police-20100910/

http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/849532-196/city-burglary-ring-busted.html

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This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

While walking or driving down the street, you may see signs for lost cats or dogs and the homeless holding signs asking for help. A woman in Fresno, California is displaying a different kind of sign. She hung up a 5’x5’ cardboard sign that says, “My house was robbed 8/31 @ 3:30-4:30.” She included her phone number for anyone to call with information.

The sign is hanging on her gate for drivers, walkers and neighbors to see. The burglar victim hopes that someone may have seen the thieves or suspicious activity and call her with information.

Burglars hit her house twice in two days. The first day the thieves mostly made off with jewelry. The victim, Catherine Cormier, said, “I thought that was the end of it, and I found my TV at the front door, which is kind of odd. I thought they just didn’t have time, they were spooked or whatever and so I hooked it up again.”

The next afternoon Cormier left between 3:30 and 4:30. When she returned, she found that burglars had once again robbed her home. Her entire entertainment center was gone. The burglars stole three televisions, a DVD player, a computer and a sterling silver set all in less than an hour. Cormier also found a charred drape which makes her believe that the burglars tried to burn the house down to hide any evidence.

After the second burglary, Cormier pulled out the cardboard and black paint. She told reporters, “I figure burglaries are a dime a dozen and the sheriff’s department doesn’t have time to investigate thoroughly, so I thought maybe somebody saw something.”

So far, she has not received any tips or information, but the sign draws attention to her home so another burglar would have a hard time sneaking over the gate again.

Sources:

http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=7651838

This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

In regards to securing your home, it’s easy to get caught up in elaborate security systems, burglar-proof locks and other sophisticated devices. However, many people often forget that first-floor windows are an entry point for around 20% of burglars! Here are a few quick tips to help you to ensure that your windows are secure.

Glass Break Sensors
Installing a glass break sensor close to your windows can provide a high level of protection against burglaries. While a glass break sensor may be used as a stand-alone device, the most effective glass break sensors are combined with a monitored security system. This often allows you to be alerted (by email, text or a cell phone call) when the sensor is activated. Glass break sensors are usually relatively inexpensive, and may even be included in some home security system package deals.

Security Lights
It’s essential that you install your security lights so that they provide coverage for your ground floor windows. Motion activated security lights can be positioned so that they are activated as soon as motion is detected at or near a window area. When installing your security lights, be sure to take into account their range of detection for motion. If its within your budget, try to purchase high-quality, weatherproof security lights that are able to detect motion within a wide radius of their installation point.

Video Surveillance
Many people have security cameras that capture footage from the door entry points of their home. If possible, you should install your video surveillance cameras so that they provide footage of all first-floor windows as well. If placed correctly, you can also combine outdoor video surveillance with motion-activated lights, in order to ensure you get clear video footage of any movement that occurs near your first-floor windows. If you have video surveillance cameras with night vision, be sure that they can automatically adjust to capture footage in different light conditions.

Window Locks
It may seem like common sense, but a high-quality window lock is a great investment for protecting the security of your windows. Most windows come with a standard locking mechanism that may or may not be secure. Remember, many burglars may smash through a pane in the window, in order to reach through to unlock the window. You can prevent this by having high-quality window locks that aren’t easy to disengage.

Security Landscaping
An alternate method that you can use to increase the security of your windows is to do some selective “security landscaping”. For example, you could make your windows difficult to access by planting dense or thorny vegetation directly below your window. Rosebushes, blackberries and other plants with thorns are useful to help add a bit of security to your first floor windows.

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This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

Most people assume that the majority of burglaries occur during nighttime hours. However, statistics have actually shown that a larger percentage of burglaries occur during the daytime. ** This is because many burglaries are crimes of opportunity, and daylight hours are when most people are out for various activities. For example, if a homeowner accidentally leaves their garage door unlocked after driving to the store for an errand, a burglar may see the unlocked door, and take that opportunity to steal items from the garage.

Crimes of Opportunity

It may seem like common sense, but it’s essential that you never leave evidence of expensive items outside of your home. For example, dispose of large cardboard boxes for big-screen TV’s, entertainment systems and sports equipment discreetly. It’s usually best to cut the boxes into smaller pieces, and dispose of them in a black trash bag. If possible, avoid getting expensive items shipped directly to your house during the daylight hours. You can either pick up the items yourself, or arrange to have them delivered during odd hours of the day or night. This may seem like overkill, but it can go a long way in helping to prevent your home from being burglarized.

Classification of Burglaries by Law

Did you know that in many jurisdictions in the United States, burglaries that occur during the night hours are prosecuted more severely than burglaries that occur during the day? In California, there used to be a law that classified the punishment for daytime burglary to be “burglary in the second degree”, while a burglary that occurred during the night was classified as “burglary in the first degree”. Though this law has now been refined, many states still follow the different classifications for daytime and nighttime burglary. In these states, a “night” burglary occurs anywhere from 30 minutes after the sun sets, while a “day” burglary occurs anywhere from 30 minutes before sunrise.

Daytime Security

Many people don’t pay as much attention to their home’s security during the daylight hours. This is because people tend to feel “safer” when not surrounded by darkness. However, in relation to burglary statistics, this could be extremely unwise. Here are a few tips to help you to improve the security of your home during the day:

• Always lock your doors when you leave the house, even if it’s only for a few minutes.
• Never assume that your garage will be safe while unlocked, even if you’re currently at home.
• Store all important valuables in a hidden wall or floor safe.
• While at home, keep the deadbolt on your door securely locked.
• If you run errands during the day, double-check your door and window locks before you leave.
• If your children are going to be home alone, be sure that they know never to open the door to a stranger.
• Adopting and training a guard dog can be a great way to increase the security of your home.

**Author’s Note: There have been dozens of studies that have analyzed the specific time of day when burglaries occur. In some cases, these studies contradict each other. However, it seems that most sources have confirmed that daytime burglaries are more common.

This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

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.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

In 2008, homeowners lost around $4.8 billion dollars as a result of property theft. If you’ve been the victim of a burglary, you are already familiar with the fact that is extremely unlikely that your stolen goods will ever be returned. Protecting the security of your home is essential – not only for the safety of your belongings, but for the safety of your family. There are many important security measures that you can take in order to increase the security of your home. This includes purchasing sturdy strike plates for your doors, deadbolt locks, a monitored security system and motion-activated security lights. However, it’s also important that you are aware of the “burglar mindset” that may lead a criminal to break in to your home. Here are a few tips to help you to “think like a burglar”.

Evaluate Your Target
Stand out near the road, and look towards your house. Are the windows well-lit? Is your car easily visible in the driveway? Are there concealing bushes that could provide cover? Some opportunistic burglars will decide instantly if they will attempt to target a specific house.

Check the Windows
In general, doors and windows represent the most common methods of entry for many burglars. Take a quick walk around your house, looking at each window. If it helps, pretend that you’ve locked your keys inside, and need to enter your home. Can the screens be pried off? Are all of the window locks visible? Do the bushes underneath the window allow you to be concealed while opening the window?

Consider Second-Floor Entry
Though a majority of burglars enter on the first floor, they may use a second-floor entry point if it is easily accessible. Check around your house for any dense brush, trees or nearby structures (such as a shed or garage) that may give a burglar the ability to access your home.

Are You Concealed?
Many burglars only commit a crime when they are at a low risk for being caught. This may mean entering a home that isn’t well-lit, or having a method of entry that will go unnoticed. When you walk across the yard, do your security lights turn on? Is it possible to reach the back of your house while evading security lights?

Check for Deterrents
There are two main visual deterrents that may convince a potential burglar to avoid your home. The first is a yard sign for a reputable monitored home security system. However, some burglars may experimentally write or put a sticker on your yard sign, and wait to see if you replace the sign. If you do, chances are that your security system is up-to-date. The second main visual deterrent is an aggressive, barking dog. If you don’t have a guard dog, you can sometimes still imitate this deterrent with a motion-activated “barking” front door alarm, or by purchasing dog toys to place around your yard.

To Catch a Thief – The Psychology of a Criminal
This interesting video includes a lecture by David Mutton, former Chief Psychologist for the New South Wales Police on the psychological mindset of most criminals.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

It’s estimated that around 14% of homeowners own some type of burglar prevention system for their home. This may include monitored security systems, simple motion detection alarms, security lights and video surveillance. However, many people don’t fully understand how having a monitored security system directly affects the chance that their home will be successfully burglarized. Though some of these statistics are circumstantial (relating to the crime rate in an area, the type of home, neighbors, etc), they can still provide a window of insight on the effectiveness of monitored security systems.

In a quick “unofficial” poll conducted of 30 unrelated individuals (via Twitter), only four users stated that they believed that a monitored security system would actually reduce their chance of being burglarized. Six out of these 30 users said that they believed that a monitored home security system is worth the cost. In reality, the statistics tell a different story.

Chance of Being Burglarized

In a year-long period of time, some statistics state that a home has a one-in-four chance of being burglarized (Note: This is without paying attention to circumstantial situations). The Greenwich Study of Residential Security provided some interesting statistics about the different percentage of homes that were burglarized with and without alarm systems. According to this particular study, a home without an alarm system is from 2.7 to 3.5 times more likely to be burglarized than a home that has a burglar alarm. In this study, the importance of displaying a security “Alarm Sign” (which is included with most all monitored security systems) was also highlighted. Since the Canadian homeowners in the study often failed to display their signs due to heavy snow, the benefit of having an alarm system was slightly lower for residents in that category.

Another interesting statistic (from a study by the National Burglar and Fire Association) was that 9 out of 10 convicted burglars admitted that they would avoid stealing from a house that had a monitored security system.

When a monitored security system is combined with other security features (such as deadbolt locks, security lights and video surveillance), the chance of being burglarized drops even further. One statistic even stated that homes that use combined security measures have less than a 1% chance of being successfully burglarized.

Cost of Monitored Security

The actual cost of having a monitored home security system is subject to a lot of misunderstanding. Due to the fact that most monitored security systems include a monthly fee (and a contract), many people often see them as an unnecessary expense. However, the average burglary (according to a 2005 FBI study) will result in $1,725 in losses. Depending on the crime statistics in a specific area, a home could have a 25% chance of being burglarized each year. This could be interpreted as a homeowner having a one-in-four chance of losing around $1,725 each year from a burglary.

A basic security system package will cost around $40 per month, resulting in $480 spent per year on monitored security. However, having monitored security often results in a reduction in homeowner’s insurance of up to 20%. If your home insurance costs you $100 per month (or $1200 per year), you would save $20 per month (or $240 per year). This means that you could interpret the average cost of a security system to $20 per month, or $240 per year. However, every homeowner’s situation is different, and you must evaluate if having a monitored security system is within your budget.

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