Home Security Audit Guide

Some Myths & Realities of Home Security

Almost everyone has an opinion why burglaries occur, or how to prevent break-ins. Here are answers to a few myths about burglaries.

Myth: Most residential burglaries happen at night.

Most residential burglaries happen during the day when you are not home.

Myth: A chain lock offers good security.

Chain locks offer little protection against the threat of forced entry and can result in a false sense of security when a superior lock is disengaged. A peephole on your door is a better option because it lets you see who is outside your door while preventing that person from seeing inside your home.

Myth: An alarm system is all that I need to protect my home and my family.

Unfortunately, this view is not shared by the average thief, and the homeowner may still be at some risk. Residential alarm systems offer an increased level of security and some deterrence to the criminal. However, they should not be considered as exclusive replacements for other home security measures but should be used in conjunction with them.

What You Should Know

• Police do not directly monitor burglar alarm systems. It may take a couple of minutes before the call is directed to the police.
• Because of other crime prevention priorities, police cannot always treat residential alarm calls as a high priority. Check with your local police about their policy on responding to alarm calls.
• Burglars spend between three to four minutes in a home, and, in most cases, the criminal will be gone before the police arrives.
• Most alarms will alert the alarm company through your phone line. This may render your phone line unusable. If you are home when someone tries to break in into your house, it may be impossible for you to call for immediate help. If you have an alarm system, you may want to consider adding a second phone line. Check with the alarm provider on how your phone line is used.

Alternatively, an exterior mounted alarm with a flashing strobe light may be used. This may alert neighbours to contact the police and scare off the thief. Homeowners would need to verify that there are no bylaws or city codes restricting the use of this feature.