Using burglary statistics to set up your home security plan
There is a lot to learn from burglary statistics, especially when you are setting up your home security plan. The most important, that robberies make up about a quarter of property crime, speaks for itself, but there are ways to dig much deeper into the facts and figures. Once you have an idea of how thefts occur and what is being stolen, you will have a better idea of how to defend yourself against them. Here are five key theft statistics and how to use them when setting up your home security plan.
1. More than 3/5 of burglaries involve forced entry. If thieves break through locks and windows all the time, the need for a home alarm system is obvious. Once the sensors are activated in your alarm system, the clock starts ticking for a thief. They will have to leave quickly or face the authorities in minutes. If you don’t have an alarm, they can go about their business calmly and efficiently.
2. Most robberies happen during the day. You think of the image of the clever ‘cat thief’ operating at night, slipping across rooftops without making a sound, but in reality most thieves work during the day. The reason is that most people go to work during the day, so this is the ideal time to find a vacant house. To make sure you don’t miss out on your security plan, sweep your home alarm system and check that windows and doors are locked around the house.
3. Most of the time, burglars spend less than 10 minutes inside a house. It is obvious why a burglar does not want to stay in a house too long; the idea is to shorten that time even more. Once their alarm starts to sound, they will want to take whatever is available and leave. Do not store valuables that can be easily carried outdoors. Using a safe to store cash and other expensive items is the way to go.
4. Cash, jewelry, and weapons are among the most stolen items. Because the thief doesn’t have much time to look around when the house alarm goes off, these items generally end up being stolen most of the time. As in the previous statistic, all signs point to a safe or the use of a safe. Also, keep laptops with user codes that protect important files. Computers are appearing on the list of the most stolen items.
5. The most frequently used entry point is the front door. Front doors are obvious places that anyone can pass when entering a home; for thieves, it is no different. Make sure you have a good deadbolt system installed on your front door, plus hinge-side protection for an experienced door-removing thief. Obviously this process would take longer, but it is something that could be done at night.