Nearly every home security company will tell you that security systems deter burglary. We wouldn’t expect them to say anything else. But is it true? Yes and no. Certain aspects of a home security system can be effective deterrents. But there are always those burglars willing to take their chances.
A number of studies done over the last two decades have provided some insights into how burglars think. The studies make one thing perfectly clear: burglars do not go into a job wanting to get caught. In fact, they do everything they can to avoid it. Therein lies the real deterrence. If you can make a burglar think that his chances of getting caught are fairly high, he will think twice about breaking into your home.
So, what types of things really deter burglars? According to a 2019 survey of 86 convicted burglars doing time in state prison, here are the top deterrents that actually work:
1. People Inside the Home
Every inmate who answered the survey indicated they knocked on doors before attempting entry. If someone answered, they would make up an excuse and quickly leave. None of them would attempt to enter if they knew someone was home.
This makes perfect sense. Burglars just want a quick score. They are not looking for confrontations with homeowners. Their interest in avoiding people actually makes other types of deterrents more effective.
2. A Dog Inside the Home
A fair number of the respondents indicated they were not big fans of dogs. Smaller dogs don’t seem to bother them, but larger breeds do. The respondents indicated that a large breed dog they felt could be threatening would be enough to send them packing.
One particular respondent mentioned dogs he viewed as “home protectors”. He didn’t elaborate, but I am thinking of breeds like German shepherds, Dobermans, and labs.
3. An Alarm System
Although the surveyed burglars were mixed about whether they would attempt to enter a home with a security system, the majority of them said they would immediately leave if an alarm went off. Again, burglars are not in the business of getting caught.
Gone are the days when home security systems were mere noisemakers. These days, most home security systems are monitored by someone. It might be a professional monitoring center or the homeowner himself. Either way, an alarm going off in the home tells a burglar that someone is being notified of the crime in progress.
Once an alarm begins sounding, a burglar only has a limited amount of time to get away. So most say they would get out quickly. There is no point in lingering once it is apparent that someone knows a burglar is in the house.
4. A Car in the Driveway
Seeing a car in the driveway forces a burglar to consider whether someone is actually home. It is quite possible the house is vacant. After all, how many families own multiple cars but only use one when they go out together? Still, a car in the driveway could indicate that someone is actually inside the house.
The people behind the survey went so far as to say that leaving a cart in the driveway is “one of the best precautions you can take.” So if you are on vacation and leaving at least one car home, don’t park it in the garage. Leave it in the driveway. And if you only have one car, ask a neighbor to park his car at your house.
5. Exterior Video Cameras
Responding burglars also said that video cameras give them pause. Seeing external video cameras mounted in strategic places forces a burglar to assess his risks of getting caught. Interestingly, at least one respondent said that the combination of video cameras and closed blinds suggested the possibility of high-value items inside the home.
Vivint Home Security recommends video cameras as part of a monitored home security system. Even if cameras alone are not enough of a deterrent to a burglar who believes a home offers valuable items, remote monitoring and an audible alarm could be enough to send him running within seconds of breaking in.
6. Sounds of Potential Activity
Given that burglars want to avoid contact with residents, it is no surprise that many of the respondents admitted being deterred by sounds of potential activity. For example, hearing the television or a radio tells a burglar someone might be home.
This suggests that integrating home security with smart home automation could make a home safer. Say you’re on vacation and you have programmed your lights to go on and off at various times. Can you also program your TV?
You could use the TV to your advantage even when you are not on vacation. For instance, burglars prefer to break in during the early afternoon hours. Kids are in school, and parents are at work. Early afternoon is a safe time. But if you could program your TV to turn on at noon and off again at 3:00 pm, you have another deterrent in your arsenal.
7. High Visibility
Last but not least is high visibility. The burglars responding to the survey indicated they would look for homes that were separated by neighboring properties by some distance. They also looked for homes with obvious blind spots. Burglars prefer yards with overgrown bushes and trees because they restrict the view from the street.
On the other hand, a highly visible home is more difficult to approach without being seen. So burglars would avoid homes that can be easily seen by both neighbors and passersby. The more visible the first-floor windows and doors are, the less attractive a home is to burglars.
Burglars have told us exactly what deters them. Certain features of a home security system are on that list. If you have a system with cameras, an audible alarm, and around-the-clock monitoring, you are in good shape from a deterrent standpoint. Now work on some of the other things that keep burglars at bay.
