Security systems make us feel safer. But, do they actually deter would-be intruders. The answer is yes, according to a new study. The research, funded by the Alarm Industry Research and Educational Foundation (AIREF) and led by the University of North Carolina’s head of Criminal Justice and Criminology, revealed many of the motivations and techniques behind today’s criminals.
The Research
The study, entitled “Understanding Decisions to Burglarize from the Offender’s Perspective,” involved interviewing over 400 male and female convicted offenders from prisons across North Carolina, Kentucky and Ohio. The best way to find out how to prevent an intrusion is to ask the intruders themselves how they pick a target. Specifically, the researchers focused on motivation, target selection, deterrent factors, techniques and gender differences.
The Results
One of the most interesting findings came from a subset of interviewees, those who were likely to plan ahead and spend time organizing a break-in. The researchers found that 83 percent of these intruders would first check to see if the homeowner’s have security systems. Sixty percent of those admit they would move on to another target if a security system was present.
Among the offenders who said they did not discover the security system until the break-in was already in progress, 50 percent said they would abort the intrusion. Only 13 percent said they would continue as planned.
Additionally, the burglars said they typically enter homes through unlocked windows or doors, or by forcing windows or doors to open, techniques that would set off an alarm if one is in place and armed. Other variables considered by these convicted burglars included the proximity of the home to other houses or people, the ease of an escape route and the presence of increased security, including signs from an alarm company and surveillance cameras.
There’s no doubt that security systems make your home less likely to be burglarized. We urge you to compare security systems. We know you’ll want to join our thousands of satisfied Long Island customers. All Island Security has been installing custom home security systems for more than 25 years.
