Home Burglary Myths BUSTED
Most Americans are not unaware of crime, but they are very likely misinformed. Much of what we believe is shaped by how crime is depicted on television, in movies, and even in video games. This leads us to draw some wrong conclusions—and those assumptions can put us, our family, or our property in harm’s way.
Myth: You probably do not need to worry about a burglary.
Fact: The United States leads the world in the number of burglaries with four occurring every minute. That is one every 15 seconds. According to the FBI 2012 Crime report, we can expect one in every thirty-six homes in the United States to be burglarized this year.
According to FBI crime statistics, the average loss to home burglaries is $2,185, which exceeds the price of a basic security system.
Myth: Thieves nearly always gain entrance from the back of the home.
Fact: While it is always important to secure the back of your home, national crime statistics show that 33 percent of intruders enter the home through the front door. Many intruders will target a home specifically because of the type of front door, such as a hollow core.
Much of what we believe is shaped by how crime is depicted on television, in movies, and even in video games. This leads us to draw some wrong conclusions—and those assumptions can put us, our family, or our property in harm’s way.
Myth: The master bedroom is the smartest place to hide valuables.
Fact: The master bedroom is the first place targeted in most burglaries.
Myth: burglaries happen while you are at home asleep.
Fact: 65% of burglaries happen between 6 am and 6pm, while most people are at work. Most thieves do not want to run in to residents.
Myth: Having neighbors keep an eye on your home while you are at work or on vacation is enough to deter or catch crime.
Fact: The average burglary lasts only 8 minutes. Even the most diligent neighbor cannot have eyes on your home 24/7 and 8 minutes is much shorter than you would spend doing normal tasks like washing dishes or walking the dog.
Myth: If a window is locked, an intruder will move on to another point of entry.
Fact: In window entry crimes, 61% of them involve breaking the pane. This makes glass break sensors an important layer of protection.
Myth: Commercial properties are more at risk than residential properties.
Fact: According to the FBI, Burglaries of residential properties accounted for 73.9 percent of all burglary offenses, however, the value of what is taken from commercial properties is generally greater than from residential.
Myth: Home alarms are only helpful in alerting you to crime, not in deterring crime.
Fact: A study by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology found that most criminals try to determine if a home structure has a home alarm system before attempting a break-in. In fact, a vast majority of convicted burglars say that they intentionally avoided homes with security systems. Equally important, if an alarm sounded, they admitted to fleeing the home immediately.
The final myth is that many homeowners believe that they cannot afford home security systems. The truth is, according to FBI crime statistics, the average loss to home burglaries is $2,185, which exceeds the price of a basic security system. And that does not factor in the cost of raised home insurance premiums or the emotional damage caused by crime. The true price of crime is incalculable, and what is lost is priceless. Call Guardian today (800) 282-6998
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