Deterring the Would-be Burglar
The fact is, if someone really wants to break into your house, he will likely find a way. But unless you happen to be housing the Hope Diamond or a couple of thousand shares of Google, most burglars aren't going to go out of their way to break into your place. Most burglars are looking for something fast, easy and lucrative, and those are the priorities when planning a break-in. Taking into consideration burglars' common motivation will help you plan your home security methods so they are practical, affordable and convenient for you.
A church in Montclair, California, was recently burgled. The thieves stole a coffee cup that contained the office's petty cash, gleaning maybe twenty dollars. To get that twenty dollars, the thieves entered through two fences, crossed a courtyard set up with motion-detecting floodlights, climbed a set of some fourteen stairs, and removed the front door from its hinges. These were some determined, albeit stupid thieves. In fact, to a security expert, the escapade suggests the classic "inside job", because the incident occurred when the on-grounds caretakers were away on vacation. Since this fact was mentioned on a previous Sunday to the congregation, and since a hidden (but unlocked and empty) safe was rifled that night, it seems reasonable to assume that someone attending the church who was already familiar with the office was also responsible for the burglary.
This story just serves to illustrate the point that, even with a fine security system, and with the stigma attached to robbing a place of worship, a building can still be burgled. The thieves in this case were unusually dumb: the risk of getting caught in this upper-middle-class community was considerable, and the pay-off was negligible. Most thieves wouldn't have bothered with a set-up like that.
Like all of us, most thieves prefer easy work to difficult work. If you make your house look easy and accessible, you are inviting burglary, or more terrifying, robbery. (The terms are often used interchangeably, even on the news, but "burglary" implies theft when no one is home, and "robbery" implies that the victim was present.) The tougher you make it to break in, the less your house seems to offer to a burglar, the safer you will be.
There are two ways to deter a would-be burglar or robber. Psychological deterrents prevent a burglar from deciding to break into your house in the first place. Physical deterrents may change his mind once he starts trying to break in and encounters difficulty. Wondering whether to use psychological or physical methods? You should use both of them!
After all, what good does it do you to have an alarm system, if thieves don't know about it? Sure, they might get caught upon breaking in, but wouldn't you rather they decided not to break in in the first place? Placing alarm signs on your windows, exterior doors and in your yard will cause some burglars to move right on to the next house. Signs that warn of the presence of a large, aggressive dog, can also work as deterrents, even without the dog. Vigilant neighbors, a lively, secure-looking house, and plenty of light at night are also psychological barriers to theft. Prominent video cameras posted in residences and stores are effective both as deterrents and as backup evidence when thieves are determined to continue. Videos cameras have caught more stupidity than one would imagine, and are often useful in convicting criminals once they've been arrested.
Physical barriers to theft include strong locks on doors and windows, tall fences and the actual big dog who has been trained to chase strangers away. Strong doors are important too: they should be solid, (never use interior doors on the outside of your house) and the lock should be constructed so that the door can't be kicked open. Alarm systems, either silent or loud, with sirens, bells and instant response from the company and police are useful in that the noise or light may chase a burglar away before he does any real damage.
