Home security

Home security is something applicable to all of us and involves the hardware in place on a property, and personal security practices. The hardware would be the doors, locks, alarm systems, lighting, motion detectors, and security cameras systems that is installed on your property. Personal security practices would be ensuring doors are locked, alarms activated, windows closed, extra keys not hidden outside and many other routine tasks which act to prevent a burglary. According to an FBI report 58.3 percent of burglaries involved forcible entry. A typical burglary lasts for about 8 to 12 minutes and on average a burglar will break into a home within 60 seconds. Home security can be strengthened by adding a first line of defence like a thorny shrub or bush to give the burglar a hard time. A motion activated bright light can play a psychological role in deterring a burglar, also acting as a second line of defence along with outdoor security cameras. In order to protect the entry points, we need to have window and door sensors. Once a burglar gets passed the second line of defence, motion detectors kick in. A motion detector can raise an alarm or send a security footage to the home owner if it's linked to a camera system. Investing in a small safe for storing valuables like passports, jewelry, important documents, is a good word of advice. A few tips to remember is to never hide extra keys outside, never turn off all the lights, applying small cctv stickers on doors, and keeping good tabs with neighbours.

Industry

Forecasts suggest the DIY home security market will be a $1.5 billion market by 2020. Data report from Federal Bureau Of Investigation show 1.7 million homes were burglarized in 2014. The same report shows that an estimated loss of $3.9 billion was suffered by the victims in the same year. Overall, when the average value was applied to the estimated number of burglaries, the average dollar loss per burglary offense was $2,251.

See also

• Security
• Physical security