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Did you know that over 1 million homes are burglarized each year? That’s not a number that is getting any smaller, either. To put it into perspective, in 2020, the United States burglary rate was 314.2 cases per 100,000 residents.
Burglaries, including home invasions, not only cost you dollars and cents but also in emotional trauma. There is nothing like the gut-sinking feeling of walking into your home, only to find that it has been invaded by an intruder and your belongings have been destroyed and stolen.
The scariest thing about home invasions and burglaries is 65% of them are committed by someone the victim knows.
Potentially even more frightening is that households composed of single females with children had the highest rates of burglary while someone was present. And what’s worse is that according to Forbes, 51% of those homes broken into, will be broken into AGAIN in four to six weeks.
Protecting your home and family can’t take a back seat anymore. It’s more important than ever.
Rather than waiting until after disaster strikes and suffering the emotional trauma and financial losses that come with home invasions and burglaries, it’s time to be proactive and protect your family.
It’s easy to get a security system with monthly monitoring for far less than your average losses if your home is broken into. Post the signage your security company gives you. Burglars will skip a house with an obvious security system for easier pickings.
With the advent of wireless cameras, you can mount cameras anywhere. Whether it be under the eaves, in a tree, on your doorbell, in a plant pot, etc. This allows you to catch perpetrators in the act and be notified via your smartphone if anything is happening at your house while you’re away. If you have a security system with 24/7 professional monitoring, such as Vivint, ADT, or Frontpoint, their monitoring professionals automatically notify the police.
Most victims are very active on social media. Telling everyone on the Internet that you’re on a beach sipping a margarita is a surefire way to let the world know you are not at home, leaving it wide open to a potential bad guy.
Having a homeowner’s insurance policy can help you mitigate some of the monetary losses if your home is broken into.
Standard door and window locks offer very little protection. A good preventative measure would be burglar-proof deadbolt locks on the doors and adding a simple pin lock on windows.
Other options would be to install window break sensors, which are included in the basic packages of the top home security systems. In addition, purchasing a smart doorbell system adds another level of security with their two-way talk capabilities, motion sensors, and video capture. Ring, Frontpoint, and SimpliSafe offer flexible options that you can install in minutes while ADT and Vivint offer video doorbell options with their professionally installed home security systems.
Just as it sounds, a motion sensor light will activate if it senses any movement in its range. The sudden illuminating effect can startle and temporarily blind a potential burglar. Many home security companies have unique solutions for motion sensors and lights.
Remove landscaping close to your home that will give burglars a place to hide. Hide any yard valuables and secure any sheds. Cover grills, hide outdoor entertainment systems, lawnmowers, etc.
Nothing says “do not enter” better than a barking, growling dog. But you don’t have to take on the responsibility of having a dog to get this benefit. Simply adding a “Beware of Dog” sign can help deter burglars.
Yes, burglars can hop a fence, but having a physical barrier helps keep your things inside your yard and home. Don’t make it easy for them!
Personal safety doesn’t stop at preventing burglars from stealing your stuff. It also means keeping your family safe from other catastrophes that are far more insidious. Fire and carbon monoxide poisoning are two that can creep up on you as you sleep and have deadly consequences. When choosing your security system, consider smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors that connect to your security system. Many of these work with the major security companies, such as ADT, Vivint, Ring, FrontPoint, and Brinks.
Don’t take chances with your personal safety. Visit our top picks page to learn more about the best home security systems.
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Freelance Editor for SmarterHome
Deborah is an American freelance writer living in Chelem, Yucatan, Mexico, who specializes in business, marketing, and career writing.
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Requires 36-month monitoring contract starting at $38.99/mo. without QSP (24-month monitoring contract in California, total fees from $935.76) and minimum installation amount of $599 for professionally installed systems OR month-to-month monitoring contract for ADT Self Setup systems starting at $24.99 without QSP (one month minimum) and minimum purchase amount of $194.98. Professional monitoring required for ADT to notify emergency contacts or services on your behalf. Service and installation charges vary depending on system configuration, equipment and services selected. For reactivations of professionally installed systems, a $99 test and inspect fee applies . Upon early termination by Customer, ADT may charge 75% of the monthly service charges due for the balance of the initial contract term. Quality Service Plan (QSP) is ADT’s Extended Limited Warranty and is available for additional fee. Additional charges may apply in areas that require guard response service for municipal alarm verification. Professionally installed system remains property of ADT. Local permit fees may be required. Prices and offers subject to change and may vary by market. Additional taxes and fees may apply. Satisfactory credit required. A security deposit may be required. Simulated screen images and photos are for illustrative purposes only. For Self-Setup Systems, cancel by calling 888-392-2039 or by following the instructions in your order confirmation email. To avoid contract termination charges, cancellation must occur no later than 30 days after the contract date. Contract termination charges may be applied for cancellation after the initial 30-day period. Equipment must be fully removed and returned before a refund will be processed. Any shipping costs previously paid are non-refundable. Google and Nest Doorbell are trademarks of Google LLC. Some features, including mobile notifications, remote control, video streaming and video recording, require working internet and Wi-Fi. Minimum OS requirements are available at g.co/home/req. iOS is a trademark of Cisco and is used under license. Google Nest products and services featured are designed to make life easier and to build a helpful home and were not designed specifically for life-sustaining or safety-critical use cases. These products and services are compatible with the ADT Self Setup System, and depend upon working internet, Wi-Fi, and, in some cases, the service availability from ADT and/or Google. To learn more, please visit http://g.co/nest/TOS.
Money-back guarantee only applies after ADT has made attempts to resolve a system-related issue and has not been able to resolve that issue within the first six (6) months of your original activation. ADT Money-Back Guarantee is not transferable. Equipment must be returned before a refund will be processed. Conditions preventing normal system operation cannot be caused by the customer. For professionally installed systems only.
Customer may receive reimbursement of up to five hundred dollars ($500) of Customer’s homeowner’s insurance deductible (if any) if, and only if, ALL requirements for Theft Protection Guarantee are met to ADT’s reasonable satisfaction. Customer must request reimbursement within 60 days of property loss. Request must be mailed to ADT and include: Theft Protection Guarantee certificate signed by Customer, a letter from Customer requesting reimbursement, a copy of the police report, and a copy of the accepted insurance claim. ADT reserves the right to reject any application for reimbursement that does not comply with all of the requirements. For professionally installed systems only.
