How Home Security Systems Work
According to statistics put out by the FBI, the average annual burglary count every year is more than two million. This is unlawful entry into a structure to commit a crime, so that includes vehicles, homes, businesses, and more. Even split between so many different subheadings of different structures, that’s a lot of theft each year! Anyone who has been burglarized can tell you that, even if you get every item of property back, the peace of mind we usually have about our homes is very hard to get back. So how can you protect your home and your family?
Most Effective Home Protection Methods
When it comes to making sure your home is safe from burglary, the best theft deterrent methods are likely the ones you first think of. The best way to keep thieves from breaking in is to make it look as difficult as possible to get in and to make it apparent that they will be caught before they can get to anything and get away. This means doing the following:
- Making locks apparent – yes, a burglar will be able to see your door locks, but what about windows? It’s a small step, but making sure your door and window locks are visible from the outside shows a burglar they will have to work to get in, which can help turn burglars away from your home
- Lock up when you leave – another simple step, but a very important one. Many burglars will take the time to learn your schedule and habits to be sure there is a time they can get in without getting caught. If your windows are visibly locked and they see you lock up when you leave, that is another layer of mess to deal with that they won’t want to.
- Have the police check your home security – at most police departments, they offer an underutilized service: an officer will come and walk through your home, inside and out, and tell you any weaknesses in the security of your home.
- Get a security system – a home security system is probably the most effective theft deterrent, and no, buying one of those “protected by ADT Home Security” signs won’t work; burglars are clever enough to know when there is actually an alarm system in effect and when there isn’t. However, a series of alarms and cameras is probably the number one way to keep burglars away.
How It Works
With modern security technology, a home security system is more than just a loud noise when your door is forced open. With modern home surveillance systems, not only can you have alarms connected to your doors, there are also window alarms, motion sensor lights, and wireless-connected home security cameras. This means that any point of entry will set off alarms, not just your doors; those little alarm sensors on your windows are the equivalent of a flashing neon sign that says “we’re protected!” In addition, wireless home security cameras allow you to check how your home is doing from anywhere in the world, as long as you have an internet connection. Motion sensor lights mean cameras can even capture video at night.
The Benefits
With modern home security systems, you have a wealth of options to not only protect your home, but run it more efficiently as well. To start with, you can monitor every camera in your home on any computer or mobile device with the internet. This way, if someone does force entry into your home, you can see if it’s your teen who forgot the alarm code or if it’s a stranger ransacking your valuables. This way, you know what’s going on when the alarm system notifies the monitoring company and the police about a break in.
Even better, with some systems, you can turn off the alarm remotely before the authorities are notified, if you’ve checked the cameras and it’s someone you trust in your home. Which means the reverse works too; you can set the alarm from work if you forgot to do so as you left the house. In addition, if you invest in a smart thermostat, you can adjust the temperature in your home and check up on everything, even when you’re on vacation several states away.
If you’re ready to protect your home from burglary, call Destin Locksmithing to get a home security system installed in your Panama City Beach home. Schedule your consultation today!