Security Features.

by Bob Goldsmith.

How do burglars choose the homes they decide to burgle? A recent research study carried out in the United Kingdom suggests that the presence of alarm systems or watchdogs do not deter burglars. And that they choose residences that appear easy to enter, easy to escape from and appear to be lucrative targets.

The research involved interviewing male prisoners aged between 21 and 60 years all of whom had carried out between 20 to 100 plus burglaries within the preceding three years.

The research study was carried out by researchers on behalf of Portsmouth University.

The researchers say that all 50 of the convicted burglars "felt security features were rarely enough to deter them". However 17 (34%) said they were dissuaded by alarms and 14 (28%) said the most common reason for giving up on a burglary was "insurmountable security".

Well, these criminals may say that security features, which I think we can take to mean alarm and surveillance systems, rarely deter them, but I believe that 34% being put off burgling homes that have alarms, is a mighty good endorsement for alarms. Likewise I find it comforting that 28% acknowledge that they find the security at some homes to be insurmountable. 22 out of the 50 prisoners said they are discouraged from breaking into homes guarded by dogs.

I will say though, that I agree that most burglars will seek easy targets, homes that don't present much of an effort to gain entry. A home with a carelessly left open window would be a good example. Of course, when I say "most burglars" I included the most casual and opportunistic of burglars, these types are not going to tackle any sort of security system.

34% of burglars interviewed put off burgling homes that have alarms.

Also, I do not put alarm and surveillance systems top of my list for making a home secure against intruders. Top of my list are measures such as good locks in good doors set in good frames, quality window locks, neighborhood watch, and making sure that my home looks occupied at all times. But that does not mean that I do not recommend installing security systems. As well as taking common sense measures I certainly do recommend installing security systems, I wouldn't want to live in a home without them.

Why then did the interviewed burglars claim that "security features" seldom discourage them? I wonder if there was perhaps an element of bravado in their answers? And I wonder if their statement that they "choose residences that appear easy to enter, easy to escape from" is the more revealing one.

Around two thirds of the prisoners claimed that they follow a pattern once inside a home. They said they first make for the master bedroom, where they expect valuables to be hidden, and then other bedrooms, including children’s rooms, and finally the living rooms.

Yes, of course there are burglars that can indeed overcome most "security features" that they come across, (in fact it would be foolish to think of any home security measure as burglar proof.) But the truth is that there are innumerable housebreakers out there that have a lesser degree of expertise. These fellows will not be able to overcome good home security measures, will bolt if they trigger an alarm, and will be defeated by securely locked doors.

What do these less than expert burglars do when they decide that a home has more security features than they can overcome? They move on. Sadly this is usually to look for "residences that appear easy to enter, easy to escape from and appear to be lucrative targets." I don't know about you, but I prefer my home to be one that has enough effective security to cause most intending intruders to move on.

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