It’s tough to measure “potential opportunities,” so research on how effective home security systems actually deter crime is mixed. One expert said Recent York Times that he saw little evidence of risk reduction with things like alarms and locks, while National Homeland Security and Security Councilindustry trade association, boldly claims that houses without any security are 300% more likely to be burglarized. (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program defines burglary as “unlawful entry into a facility for the purpose of committing a crime or theft”, FYI.)
Even the perpetrators themselves are divided. Some convicted burglars examined by an Oregon news station in 2017 said they were not deterred by signs and alarms from security systems that could be disabled or avoided, but most would stay away from a home with a enormous, thunderous dog. However, 60 percent of burglars surveyed for the oft-cited University of North Carolina questionnaire a few years earlier, they would have found another target if they had seen an alarm on the spot.
These findings should also be taken into account in conjunction with the fact that intrusion rates have recorded approx decrease over the last decade; they only accounted for about 16 percent of total property crimes in 2019 (this also includes motor vehicle theft and arson). Burglary crime rates have increased it has continued to decline since the pandemic; However, according to police data, only every third crime against property is reported to the police Pew Research Centerso take these statistics with a grain of salt.
The one thing everyone agrees on is that most burglaries happen when no one is home – in which case a home security system or a camera that serves as your eyes and ears from afar can provide invaluable peace of mind.
As a side note, installing a home security system can also qualify you’ll get a sedate discount on your home insurance, which certainly won’t hurt. Contact your insurer to find out more.