SECURITEL BLOG

Home Security has evolved tremendously over the first two decades of the 21st century, and there’s plenty of conventional wisdom you may have picked up on from colleagues, friends, and family, but there’s a lot that’s changed and some that was never true in the first place. Check out these 5 home security myths – debunked. 

Myth #1: You’ll need a landline phone number.

At one time, home security systems were connected throughout the home and to monitoring centers through a phone line. In the film Breaking In, the burglars disable the home security system by cutting the phone line – similarly in The Sopranos. Fortunately, today’s home security systems often communicate to each other through dedicated connections, or through Wi-Fi. Your smart home security system can reach you through cellular networks as well! No landline phone number required.

Myth #2: Home Security Systems involve expensive construction.

When you think about installing a home security system, you might think of spending lots of money, tearing down walls to run cable or rewiring your electrical system. Today’s home security systems involve very little modification to your home. Modern systems are designed to be non-invasive, and a whole home security system can generally be set up or removed in one day, without any hard hats involved. In fact, many components can be installed with no modifications to your home at all, making them an option for renters as well as homeowners. 

Myth #3: Burglars break in at night.

While you might imagine a burglar preferring the cover of night to help them make a clean getaway, FBI statistics indicate that most home break ins happen during daylight hours when everyone is at work and kids are in school. Burglars are hoping that residents are far enough away with work or errands to not respond to the break-in quickly, and that neighbors would likewise be out of the house and unlikely to spot suspicious activity. A professional home security system responds in real time to a break-in, day or night.

Myth #4: Home Security systems will help you catch a burglar, but don’t stop burglaries.

The logic goes, “How is a camera going to stop a break-in? They’ll be in and out before we can catch them, right?” Not true!

Homes without Home Security systems are 300% more likely to be burglarized, and 85% of break-ins are done by amateurs, according to the National Council for Home Safety and Security. The same organization found via interviews that 41% of burglaries were done impulsively, and that 83% admitted to casing a house specifically to check for an alarm system, with 60% changing their mind about entering the home after seeing a home security system installed. If you can turn away a burglar 60% of the time just by having a home security system – not even using it – you can be sure you’ve got a good investment. 

Myth #5: Home Security is too expensive and confusing – just get a big dog!

Dogs certainly do help deter burglary – they’re not the least bit shy about using their voice to let you know when they’ve noticed something out of place or don’t like someone. Career burglar Jack Black wrote in his memoir that “Dogs, young or old, are the bane of the burglar’s life.” While your best friend can help scare off would-be burglars, they won’t be able to do much once a burglary is in progress, and no matter how big Fido is, don’t send your buddy up against a burglar without backup. Most burglaries don’t involve a weapon, but they unfortunately might. 

Modern home security systems have become affordable and easy to use, make sure you’ve got one, so your brave buddy doesn’t have to go up against someone.

SECURITEL provides home security protection and we can answer all your questions. 

As one of Wisconsin’s fastest-growing security integration companies, our technicians are experts in all aspects of home security.  Give us a call today at (844) 781-7668 and see how our knowledgeable and friendly staff can help you get the up-to-date protection you need!