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.
Related posts:
- Monitored Home Security System – Is it Worth the Cost?
Did you know that in 2002, there were 2,151,875 burglaries in the United States? Compared to other countries, the burglary incidents in the United States...
- What is Monitored Security?
If you lived in a million-dollar mansion, you would need to take extra measures to protect your property. Many wealthy individuals choose to enlist the...
- Crime Statistics for 2009
The FBI recently released 2009’s crime statistics, and for the seventh consecutive year, the number of property crimes in the United States declined. The number...
- Outsmart Burglars with a Cellular Alarm System
With the rise in burglary rates, many people are choosing to purchase a monitored security system for their homes. However, as homeowners are upgrading their...
