Do I Really Need Home Security?

Criminal statistics indicate that a home is burglarized approximately every fifteen seconds in the United States. Of all of these crimes approximately sixty-six percent are residential burglaries. Unfortunately only half of these crimes occurred during standard “business hours” of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., which means the rest occurred while someone was probably in the residence.

All of these figures demonstrate that almost any home is open to criminal invasion of some kind or another. Another interesting statistic indicates that roughly 80 percent of convicted criminals interviewed admitted to the fact they did not usually bother with homes or buildings that had security systems installed. This means that a simple window decal or yard sign from a security provider could reduce the chances of being burgled by around 80 percent!

Okay, clearly it is a good idea to have a home security system, but what should I look for in a provider? The answer to such a question can vary from household to household and from budget to budget. There are a lot of essential services available through most “basic” packages, but the primary issue should be “monitored”. This means that the security company ensures the equipment is up and running twenty-four hours a day and is also available to speak directly to the homeowner around the clock as well. Of course many monitored systems provide battery and cellular backup where available which is a double protection against power outages and downed telephone lines.

What else should the company provide besides “monitored” services? Technology makes it very simple for any security company to create “levels” of service in any home or property. They can install sensors able to detect breaking glass, smoke, carbon monoxide and differentiate between house pets, children and full-sized adults. This means a home could have an enormous amount of coverage and be easily protected from almost any possible threat.

What if we are planning on adding on in the next few years? Many security companies can offer equipment that is wireless and easily expanded. This means that an initial installation could monitor a home with several bedrooms and two floors and if the homeowners decide to add on more rooms the system could just have the appropriate equipment added and operating right away!

Another issue of concern should also be the reputation of the security company. Many services exist to offer home security equipment and monitoring, but if they are not able to back up their promises with a proven track record the homeowner may not get the kind of attention they need.

So, full monitoring, multiple levels of service, expandability and a good reputation are the keys to finding the right home security provider? Yes, and of course any interesting options should also be investigated to see if they would add to the value of a home security system. This could be “panic” buttons that send an instant alarm to the monitoring company, wall panels with two-way communications and cellular telephone alerts for the times when you are not at home.