Three tips to keep your property secure.

In 2022, there were almost 900,000 burglaries reported in the US or approximately 1 in every 270 homes. While you cannot live your life worrying about someone breaking in, there are a few things you can do to enhance your home’s security and catch any intruder who breaks into your home.

Use a Home Security System

One of the best ways to catch burglars is to use a professionally monitored home security system. A home without a security system is 60 percent less likely to be broken into. Getting a home security system professionally installed can help with protecting you and your assets, as well as deter criminal intent, in several different ways:

Protection:

• Automatically notify authorities when an intruder sets off an alarm. When your security includes 24/7 professional monitoring, you can arm your home against unwanted trespassers by forwarding alarm signals to authorities in case an event occurs.

• Have awareness in real-time when someone has entered your home. Whether you receive a notification on your phone that your front door has been opened or see activity on a security camera, being informed of activity on your property can help you to respond accordingly.

• Collect evidence of a break-in. Whether you are reporting an incident to law enforcement or to insurance, collecting timestamps from security logs or sharing video evidence can help provide essential information to responders.

Deterrence:

• Simply having a security system is known to reduce the likelihood of a break-in. This benefit is reflected with properties that use window decals or yard signs to advertise the home is protected. Similarly, homes with visible outdoor security cameras act as a less overt warning against would-be intruders.

• Smart home automation can project the appearance of occupancy. One fact about burglary is that there is less perceived risk to the perpetrator when a home is unoccupied. Having an automation schedule or using a smart home app for remote activation of lights and other electronics can help keep your home from seeming like an empty, dormant target.

• Video analytics can differentiate between people and other kinds of motion, and features like Perimeter Guard can leverage the audible systems on an outdoor camera to create loud and startling whistles and beeps. This both startles bad actors as well as draws attention to the camera, letting them know they are being recorded,

• Having a local alarm that sounds lets others know someone is in your home. Having an audible alarm sends a message—first, alerting the intruder to the fact that they are not going unnoticed. Secondly, anyone in earshot can be made aware that your alarm was tripped, including neighbors who can potentially help witness an event.

If you are looking to catch any potential burglars looking to enter your home, be sure to use a home security system.

Organize a Neighborhood Watch Program

Another way to catch a burglar who may be casing your neighborhood is to organize a neighborhood watch program. One reason why theft and home burglaries are so common is that most of us don’t know our neighbors and don’t look out for each another. Organizing a neighborhood watch program can help your neighbors get to know one another and keep an eye out.

A stay-at-home mom may be able to watch the neighborhood during the day while she is outside playing with her kids, while a working couple may keep an eye out as they sip wine on their porch in the evening.

The more you get to know your neighbors, the more you can know about their habits and when activity in the community looks suspicious. If you notice unusual behavior at a house and know the owners work during the day, you can call authorities and possibly catch a burglar.

Again, if you have a home security system, it can act as an extra layer of defense, which in this case could provide additional benefit to your neighborhood watch. If you determine someone is casing your neighborhood, having outdoor cameras can help capture their vehicle details, such as vehicle make, vehicle model, and at what time the vehicle is present.

Report All Crimes to the Police

The last way to catch a burglar is to report all crimes to the police. Many people are hesitant to call the police if their home shows signs of a break-in. They may assume police can’t do anything after the fact. However, this is not the case.

No matter how minor the issue may seem, police can use the information you provide to determine what neighborhoods might be getting targeted or determine where to ramp up patrols.

While it is unlikely police will find the culprit who broke your window or tried to pry open your door, reporting that information can help to stop future burglaries in your neighborhood.

Using a home security system, organizing a neighborhood watch program, and reporting all crimes to the police can help catch burglars and lessen the likelihood of future neighborhood burglaries. Are you interested in home security monitoring? Contact Brinks Home™ to speak with a Security Consultant that will provide customized home security solutions with a free quote today.