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September 2009
Index of all
past
Affiliate Corner columns
Home Security
By Colin Cunningham,
ADT Security
When a home is sold, it is likely that the REALTOR® cheerily wishes the new owners “good luck” or “hope you enjoy your new home” or something similar. But how many remind the new homeowner of the need to prevent the one thing that can ruin the dreams and happiness of those very people – a potential break in?
In the excitement of the next few weeks and months, those proud homeowners do everything to ensure the coziness of the property. They add to the look, inside and out, but so many forget the obvious…securing the home against theft and vandalism.
Here are some statistics which home owners should be aware of. A gentle reminder from their REALTOR® may save a lot of heartache in the future.
- Property crime accounts for 75 percent of all crime in the United States.
- Burglary accounts for 21.9 percent of property crimes committed nationally.
- $4 billion is lost in property nationwide; the average dollar loss per burglary is over $1,800.
- 63.1 percent of burglaries take place between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
- 81 percent of burglaries occur through the first floor – the floor on which security equipment is installed.
- Last year, Aurora saw 5,113 property crimes; 1,058 of those were burglaries.
- A burglary takes place every 14.6 seconds.
- Home invasions are on the increase.
- One in six homes will be burglarized; burglars spend no more than one minute entering the property.
- Homes without an alarm system are three times more likely to be broken into.
- 99 percent of all police officers believe that homes should have alarm systems.
- Burglars sometimes wait until homeowners have replaced their stolen items through an insurance claim and then rob the property again – this time for brand new items!
As someone who was a victim of burglary shortly after the death of my mother, I can assure you that I will never again be cocky enough to think that it’ll never happen to me. I didn’t just lose some jewelry; I lost the sweat and toil of parents and grandparents, now gone.
Think about it – do you want to take the same chance? Can you help your clients avoid making the same error in judgment?
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