| Everybody worries about the security of their homes | | | | A home security system is well-worth the money |
| and families. The question is: how can you make your | | | | you will spend on it. The stress of being burgled or |
| home safe without turning it into Fort Knox? The sad | | | | even held up, as I was, will make you wish that you |
| fact is that, if someone is resolute to get into your | | | | were more security conscious. But it does not stop |
| house, they can and will. Ten years ago, my home | | | | when the burglars leave. Then the police come and I |
| was 'safe', but I was conned into opening the door | | | | spent from midnight until 4AM at the police station. I |
| and I let my attackers in. No home security system | | | | had to go back at least a dozen times after that. My |
| can safeguard against circumstances like that. | | | | insurance company had dozens of questions and it |
| Burglars look for homes that look vulnerable. Most | | | | took four months to get a disbursement. |
| criminals are opportunistic. In other words, if they see | | | | I felt certain that the burglars knew me, and I felt |
| an open door or window or if it is obvious that no | | | | threatened everywhere I went for months. I could |
| one is at home and if there is no obvious security, | | | | not stop glaring into people's eyes to see if I could |
| then it is worth them attempting to get in. Open | | | | recognize my intruders' (they had masks on, but I |
| gates are also an incitement. So are valuable | | | | saw one man's eyes). My life has changed drastically. |
| possessions put on show in windows. | | | | I even moved out of my house the next day and |
| It only takes minutes to steal something, you would | | | | never went back again. |
| be astonished. I let two armed robbers into my | | | | As I said before, I had a decent system in place, but |
| house and they timed 15 minutes to take everything | | | | I had turned it off when I got home and opened the |
| of value in my house and then a car stopped outside | | | | front door to my burglars. My suggestion is to get a |
| to pick them up. It was night time and I was tied up. | | | | wired or wireless home security system and, if you |
| It could have been a taxi, which would not have | | | | can afford it, get a monitored home security system |
| aroused my neighbours' suspicion. | | | | with at least one surveillance camera, but preferably |
| It is imperative to show people (opportunistic | | | | one on each external wall and one inside in the hall. |
| thieves) that you have a home security set-up of | | | | Get contact sensors for all external doors and |
| some type. If you cannot afford a good, working | | | | vibration sensors for every windows. Put a personal |
| alarm system, get a dummy siren box with a flashing | | | | panic button by all external doors and have exterior |
| light. It is not as good as a proper system, but it | | | | lights that are activated by motion or body heat |
| would take a brave or desolate burglar to find out, | | | | outside. Keep your system switched on and be very |
| which means that you cannot tell anyone at all, in | | | | suspicious of who you open the door to. |
| case it gets out. | | | | |