60% of Burglars Avoid Houses with Alarms
Having a security alarm for your home has always been marketed as an excellent deterrent. But if a potential intruder saw one, would it make them think again about breaking in?
The answer is yes, as 60% of burglars really do avoid houses that have alarms. That’s according to research into how offenders made their decisions. Read on as we dig deeper into the minds of offenders…
A burglar’s perspective
Three states were chosen to participate in the study – North Carolina, Kentucky and Ohio. A total of 422 prisoners (male and female) were randomly selected from those incarcerated for burglary. It was self-administered by all 422 seasoned offenders, with an average of 12.9 arrests each over their criminal careers.
The average age was 21 when first committing a burglary, but there is a wide range of ages involved between 6-50 years old. Some respondents were involved in other forms of serious crime such as homicide and assault but over 54% admitted that burglary was the most serious offence they had been involved in.
What motivates burglars?
Reasons aren’t complicated when it comes to why people commit burglaries. Some may carry out home invasions due to foolishness or just for a thrill. But a large number of respondents indicated that their robbery was related to a need to acquire money for a drug and alcohol habit (51%).
Other reported answers were to afford living expenses (49%), partying (35%) and gifts (17%).
What do burglars look for when selecting a property?
When deciding where to break in, just under a third of the study’s respondents reported that they do research. They find out everything they can about the property including:
- Ease of access – an unlocked door or window
- Homeowner routine – no lights or clues you are on holiday (full mailbox)
- Security measures – alarms, cameras and dogs
41%, however, indicated that they carried out a robbery on impulse – perhaps due to desperation for money to fund a drug habit, or a sudden idea brought on by alcohol.
What deters burglars?
Onto the most important thing to know – deterring a potential burglar away from your home.
Effective ways include:
- Close proximity of other people – a busy street and neighbours that will notice strange activity.
- No escape routes – if there isn’t a quick way to a getaway car, chances are a burglar will think again.
- Increased security indicators – for example, signs that show you have an alarm, dog or outdoor cameras.
As around 60% of the burglars in the study indicated that the presence of an alarm would make them look for a different target, it is safe to conclude that alarms are an excellent deterrent.
Top tips on alarms
- Make sure you find the right alarm for your home – consider your budget, location, types of home and level of protection you want.
- Always set your alarm – you don’t ever want to be caught out on that one day you decide not to bother.
- Maximise the deterrent – install a visible alarm box to advertise to burglars that your home is protected.
Want to deter burglars from your home?
Securing your home with an alarm system is the best deterrent, as confirmed by burglars themselves! So, let Selectron supply the best intruder alarm for your needs and maximise security for your property.
Contact our friendly, professional team today and our experts will guide you through effective, home security installations to give you that peace of mind you deserve.
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