Do Burglar Alarm Systems Stop Attacks?

Burglary is a crime committed when residents are least likely to be home. Burglars want valuables, not confrontations. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), 60% of residential burglaries occur during the daylight hours. But if you walk in on burglars, or if burglars unexpectedly discover you in your house, they may resort to violence. When burglars do encounter residents who cannot protect themselves, the BJS reports, the results can be tragic. In thirty percent of these cases, the victim is threatened or, worse, assaulted. In ten percent of these cases, the burglaries turn into rapes. There may be no greater cause for alarm than facing a burglar who feels cornered in your house.

Law enforcement agencies say that while burglars are stealthy, their behavior is predictable. Burglars like to scout potential homes and study the arrival and departure patterns of their residents. They note signs on lawns announcing protection by a reputable alarm company. But there are plenty of homes to choose from. Only one out of five American homes is electronically protected. Burglar alarm systems, with ear-splitting alarms, let residents and neighbors know immediately when there is an intrusion and may chase burglars away before there is a confrontation with residents. Nearly 10 percent of all nationally reported burglaries are identified as foiled attempts, where the intruder left before entering the home beyond the front door.

Burglars work quickly. They spend less than a minute getting in, and they want to finish the job without interruptions. Residences armed with burglar alarm systems can deter entry in the first place, running off burglars before they are startled or encountered by people in the house.