Burglary

Every year, over 2 million homes are burglarized—that is a burglary every 15 seconds! Here are some common mistakes people make when trying to protect their homes from burglary.

Not setting security system

One mistake many people make is not setting their security system when they are only planning to be gone for just a few minutes. One house in my neighborhood was burglarized last Christmas during the 30 minutes the mother took to pick up her child at school. Sophisticated burglars watch neighborhoods and learn when res­idents go to work or run errands and how long they are likely to be away, so the burglars are ready to make their move the minute you leave.

The best systems offer multiple lay­ers of protection—motion sensors, light sensors, glass breakage sensors, etc. Burglars often break into bedrooms while the family is home eating dinner in the dining room, so you may want to get a zone system that has room-by-room controls that allow you to keep the system on in unused areas of the house.

Low-cost, high-technology systems incorporating infrared motion detection, remote controls, and easy-to-install door and window sensors are available for use in apartments and small homes. If you have pets, you can prevent false alarms by looking for systems that incorporate “pet alley” settings that keep detection just above their usual paths.

For more security with doors and windows, purchase individual alarm units to supplement existing security measures.