Residential Home Security
Violent home
invasions have moved into the suburbs. While
homeowners have always been concerned about
burglaries when they were not there, home
invasions occur when the homeowner is at home.
Often the homeowner ends up injured or killed.
And home invasions are not a “big city” crime.
Crime occurs in all types of neighborhoods. In
July 2009, in Manatee County, Florida, which is
described by its local newspaper as a quiet
community, officials responded to three home
invasions in one week. In Pima County, Arizona,
23 home invasions were reported in a six month
period in a small suburb.
These incidents
have led homeowners to think more about how to
secure their possessions and protect their
families. Some have taken extreme measures.
Others have implemented small changes to
increase security. Here’s a quick overview of a
few
residential home security measures:
·Alarm systems.
This is what most homeowners consider when
looking for an additional security measure. An
alarm can protect a home while the residents are
away or asleep. When an intruder enters, the
alarm sounds. The homeowner is called as well as
the police. Alarms are also available to warn
residents about fire or the presence of carbon
monoxide. But for an alarm to work the owners
have to remember to set it. Many homeowners
don’t set their alarms when they are home,
making them vulnerable to home invasions. An
interesting tidbit: Many homeowners don’t
purchase an alarm system but place a sign in
their yard indicating that the home is protected
by a security system.
·Firearms.
Guns are a controversial home security measure.
Some will say that having a gun in the home is
more of a danger than a means of protection.
When children are in the home, guns are often
locked in a secure location which gives
homeowners little time to get to them if they
are needed immediately. However a homeowner with
a gun will scare an unarmed thief away and will
be able equally armed if the intruder is, too.
·Guard dogs.
Dogs are truly man’s best friends. Even small
dogs will do all they can to protect their
owners in case of an attack. Many homeowners
have dogs outside that watch the house night and
day.
·Security
lighting. Thieves like to hide. If they
strike at night they will likely run if a light
comes on as they try to break into a home.
Motion detectors, which only come on when a
person nears the home, are popular because they
save electricity and will surprise a thief who
thinks the home is an easy mark in the dark.
·Landscaping.
High shrubs give thieves a place to hide while
they try to crawl into your windows. Removing a
favorite bush or replacing it with a smaller one
to protect their home is a sacrifice many
homeowners are willing to make.
·Neighborhood
watch programs. Initiated by the residents
and supported by local police, neighbors are
simply encouraged to watch out for each other.
Suspicious people are reported to the police.
When one resident is away, another keeps an eye
on the home.
Most people don’t
rely on one method of residential home security but on a
combination of techniques. Residential home
security is a personal preference that goes
beyond locking the doors and windows at night.
