Do I Really Need a Home Security System?

Without protection from a smart home security system, your odds of falling victim to burglary are vastly increased—and these crimes are not uncommon.

In 2018, the FBI reported more than 1.2 million burglaries nationwide, with more than 65 percent of them invading someone’s home. Burglars strike every 13 seconds in the U.S.

And since only 13 percent of reported burglary cases are solved by the police, Pew Research Center asserts that half of homeowners don’t even bother to report burglaries to law enforcement, making the actual number of break-ins even higher.

Average property loss per crime: $2,799 in 2018, leading to overall losses of $3.4 billion, the FBI reports.

Your chances of falling victim to a burglary increase depending upon where you live, the time of day, and the time of year. Southern states experience 47 percent of the nation’s burglaries, with the warmer weather cited as a contributing factor. The West and Midwest each suffer another 21 percent and the Northeast comes in last, at 11 percent.

Pleasant weather drawing people outdoors is also a factor in the time of year homes are most likely to get burglarized. The U.S. Department of Justice states that burglaries spike about 10 percent in the summer when people are more likely to travel or be away from their homes. And while some criminals do use the darkness of night as a cover, more than 60 percent of burglaries happen between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. when people are likely to be at work, school, or running errands.

Most convicted burglars surveyed in a Security magazine report said they open first-floor windows or doors—or force them to open—to creep into a house. Only about one in eight picked locks or used a key that they had previously acquired to gain entry.

Homes without security systems are 2.7 to 3.5 times more likely to be targeted by burglars, according to a study sponsored by the Alarm Industry Research & Educational Foundation (AIREF). But even so, only 17 percent of U.S. residences have home security systems. The annoyance of running wires to install a system, remembering to arm it, and potentially dealing with false alarms are cited as reasons people hesitate to protect their homes.

But here’s the thing: smart security systems sit at the intersection of convenience and function—safeguarding your home and loved ones while adding conveniences that unite home security and smart living. And the best modern systems have solved or mitigated many of the issues people worry about.

Wireless home security systems eliminate the need for expensive installations that require a professional to drill holes in walls—instead arriving preprogrammed and often making installation as simple as sitting sensors on a shelf.

Smart security systems also remove any hassle from activating the system, sending instant reminders to arm it remotely if you forget. There’s no need to race back home; simply open the system’s app and tap a button on your smartphone or another device to switch its status to “away” mode. These systems can also be programmed to automatically perform actions whenever you leave via an invisible “geofence” tied to the location of your smartphone.

The ability to remotely control a home security system from anywhere also makes it easy to stop false alarms that result in mistaken dispatches of law enforcement. Users can quickly check footage recorded by home security cameras through the system’s app, confirm if there is a threat, and then either remotely cancel the alarm or send the police.

Typical monthly fees for a monitoring plan pale in comparison to the expense of the average burglary. And, of course, the cost of losing family heirlooms or sentimental possessions to a thief can’t be measured, nor can the peace of mind that comes from knowing the police or fire department will be on their way if you aren’t home or worse—you are home but can’t call for help yourself.

One of the main reasons to invest in a smart home security system is to prevent criminals from targeting your home. Nine out of 10 convicted burglars say they avoid homes equipped with security systems.

And even if thieves are bold enough to try their luck, more than half said they would abort the burglary attempt if an alarm sounds, according to the Security magazine report. Only 13 percent said they would continue regardless. That means perimeter protections like door/window and glass break sensors can stop criminals in their tracks, with motion sensors and other interior protections ready as a second line of defense if a burglar manages to get inside without detection.

A study conducted by the Rutgers University School of Criminal Justice concluded that residential security systems can even reduce crime in an entire neighborhood. It found that a decrease in burglaries over four years in Newark, N.J., coincided with an increase in home security systems. In neighborhoods where security systems were densely installed, burglaries also significantly declined at homes without them; the study concluded that the mere presence of the systems can impact an area’s overall crime rate.

People accrue items throughout their lives that hold meaning—representing who they are, their accomplishments, and memories of the people they love. If burglars snatch your grandmother’s wedding ring, its retail value fades in comparison to how irreplaceable it is to your family.

Many of us know someone who has lost electronics, jewelry, or other high-value items to burglary, but the loss is compounded when the haul includes a priceless family heirloom. Not only can an obvious home security system (including signs that mark its presence) deter crime, but statistics show that the sound of the alarm is likely to send criminals scurrying from the house before they ransack prized possessions.

If the worst happens and any family members are home when a break-in occurs, the alarm can also warn them to escape or hide in a safe location, so they don’t stumble into a burglary in progress—and send help if they are unable to call for it themselves. Tragic outcomes can occur when intruders expect a home to be empty and are surprised by someone inside. And criminals who break into a house knowing someone is home can create far more dangerous situations.

Smart systems will also send instant text, email, and/or push notifications to homeowners and renters after an alarm sounds, enabling them to react quickly. The alerts prompt them to review real-time footage from their home security cameras to call for help or simply confirm the presence of a threat to the monitoring company. The monitoring service will call the police if the homeowner or renter can’t be reached after two attempts.

Frontpoint Security systems are designed so that all home security cameras start recording if an alarm is triggered, often providing the only clues police have to a burglar's identity. Wireless home security cameras will also record if any motion is detected—even if the system isn’t armed—and alert users to check the footage to ensure there isn’t a problem. Video can help people speed insurance claims as well by documenting what was stolen during a burglary.

A house fire happens every 88 seconds in the U.S., killing seven people and injuring 32 more every day, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The synthetic materials commonly used in modern construction and furnishings make homes burn hotter and faster than ever before, sometimes leaving families with as little as two minutes to escape before the house is engulfed by flames.

NFPA states that your chances of dying in a home fire are twice as high if your house lacks a working smoke alarm. But traditional smoke detectors are rendered useless if no one is home to hear the alarm, the batteries are dead, or people are overcome by smoke and can’t call for help.

Smart smoke and heat sensors linked to smart security systems take fire protection to the next level. Unlike intrusion detection features, they don’t need to be “armed,” rather work around the clock to catch home fires early.

These sensors instantly alert the monitoring service and send mobile notifications as soon as smoke, high temperatures, or a suspicious rise in heat is detected. The alert specifies the part of the house where a threat is sensed, allowing people to quickly check their cameras to confirm an emergency to the monitoring service or call the fire department themselves. And again, the monitoring service will send help if the homeowner or renter can’t be reached.

Smart home security systems can also send help and alerts to escape to safety if your home’s carbon monoxide sensors go off, indicating unsafe levels of the toxic, odorless gas. Carbon monoxide gas—often generated by incompletely burning sources of carbon fuel like wood, gasoline, or heating oil—is the second-leading cause of non-medicinal poisoning in the U.S.

Since the gas is undetectable by human senses, people can be blindsided and quickly incapacitated by carbon monoxide poisoning, leading to tragic results. In Frontpoint’s monitored home security system, the detection of this gas by CO sensors sends help immediately, without any confirmation calls to residents.

Smart living boils down to conveniences that make people’s lives better. Smart security systems live up to this promise by enabling people to access their homes from anywhere via an app available for any smartphone or mobile device. The app makes arming or disarming the system and viewing real-time videos to check on your home as simple as tapping a button. You can see and speak to people in the house through cameras with two-way audio capabilities, and even remotely answer the door.

Smart door locks let you unlock and lock the door from anywhere, letting contractors or other visitors in and out of the house without having to give out entry codes or even leave your desk at work. They also provide awareness of who is coming and going from the house when you aren’t home through unique entry codes for family members and trusted guests.

A range of additional smart home features can be controlled by smart security systems as well. Cozy in bed and suddenly realize the lights were left on downstairs? No problem. Simply whip out your smartphone or life your smartwatch and turn them off.

On vacation and receive warning of an unexpected cold front? Adjust the thermostat remotely to keep your home’s pipes from freezing. Smart systems can even be incorporated into smart hub “scenes,” making locking the doors, turning off the lights, and arming perimeter sensors as simple as saying, “Alexa (or ‘Hey Siri’), good night.”

Monitored home security systems protect your home around the clock, letting you focus on life. Smart systems continuously track events that signify a potential threat, from broken windows to unexpectedly opened doors to rapid increases in temperature. And besides notifying the homeowner or renter, a monitoring service will respond instantly to emergencies.

Every second that passes during an emergency event like a fire, flood, or home break-in can lead to greater losses. If you are on vacation or simply away from your smartphone when an alert comes in, the watchful eye of a monitoring service stands ready to protect your home and loved ones.

Still concerned about the cost of a system? Consider this: those payments may be significantly offset—or be covered completely—by the insurance discounts and increased home value that often accompany an installation. While the cost of homeowner’s insurance varies based on many factors, a home security system can lower premiums by as much as 20 percent, and other smart security features like smoke and heat sensors can reduce them even more.

Realty Times states that high-quality home security systems can also provide returns over time, raising a home’s value by as much as 5 percent. The allure of strong protection and security is attractive to potential buyers, Realty Times asserts, upping the chance of offers. Of course, wireless systems are also easy to transport, making it just as simple for homeowners and renters to take their system with them if they move.

Whether you are at work or out of town, systems can check on family members and pets from anywhere. Cameras with two-way audio capabilities allow you to see and speak to people in the house, calming anxious pets, communicating with children home alone after school, or making sure caregivers treat elderly relatives properly.

Smart door locks generate alerts every time someone unlocks the door with their unique code. For example, this feature lets parents know when kids arrive home safely from school, if they don’t arrive at the expected time, or if teens are sneaking guests inside. Smart locks will also send alerts if someone forgets to lock the door, prompting you to remotely secure the house.

Doorbell cameras can be another important feature when kids are home alone. They allow children to see who is at the door without approaching it and parents can answer remotely so it seems like they are home.

How many times have you left your home and realized you left a light on or forgot to raise the thermostat? A whopping 42 percent of the energy usage of U.S. households is consumed by heating and cooling systems. Smart security systems empower homeowners to reduce energy waste by controlling all of these devices remotely.

Modern wireless home security systems are more affordable and easier to install than the wired systems of the past. And they can save homeowners money by reducing insurance premiums, increasing home values, and enabling energy management. But their greatest benefit remains the security and peace of mind people gain from installing them.

Home security systems reduce the chances of a home break-in and respond quickly to emergencies. They also provide amazingly complex control of other smart devices in homes—making life vastly safer and more convenient.

Frontpoint keeps families safer and more connected in their everyday lives. We've been revolutionizing the home security industry for over a decade. And we're just getting started. To shop DIY home security systems, check out our Security Packages. If you have questions or would like to discuss a quote, contact us at 1-877-602-5276.