The recent credit crunch and economic problems have caused many people to fear that there will be an escalation in crime in their neighborhoods, particularly in terms of home invasions and burglaries. As a result, more homeowners are growing concerned about different ways in which they can protect their families and their properties.
Estimates indicate that burglaries occur once ever 15 seconds in the United States. As the economy worsens, there is a very real concern that crime rates may spike as well. The good news is that there are steps which homeowners can take to ensure that their property is protected.
One of the best things that a homeowner can do to protect their home and family is to use a variety of different deterrents. Experts point out that savvy burglars will spend out twenty minutes surveying a neighborhood to determine which homes will be the easiest targets. For the most part, burglars and criminals are much like businessmen. They want to get the job done, but they also want to do it without being detected so they can continue their business of stealing. This means they will select the weakest home.
Solid door looks and good exterior lighting are excellent places to get started with a home security plan, but you should not stop there, especially in light of possible escalating crime rates. A door lock will really not be much of a deterrent against a determined burglar. On average, an experienced burglar only takes about sixty seconds to gain entry to a home. When choosing door locks, make sure you choose a secure dead belt and that it is installed on a door with strong framing.
Along with door locks and lighting, you also need to make sure that you have a comprehensive home security alarm as well. A security alarm sign can do wonders for turning away a would-be burglar because they know the chance of being detected rises dramatically if they try to breach a home that is secured with a home security system. 65% of criminals interviewed have stated that they would steer away from a home that is protected by a home security system. Of those that would attempt to break-into a home with a security system are banking on the fact that the alarm system is not turned on, so it is imperative to make sure that you keep your security alarm turned on even when you think you will only be gone from home for a few minutes.
Finally, having your home security alarm connected to a live monitoring center can also help to provide your home and family with a far greater degree of protection. Burglars are more likely to stay away from homes with live monitoring alarm systems because they know that law enforcement will arrive quickly.
While there may not be much you can do about the economy, you can take steps to ensure that your home and family do not become a victim of rising crime rates.