One of the objections to investing in electronic home security is the fact that devices like cameras and door sensors will not stop a truly determined intruder.
Someone who wants to break in badly enough will do so. So then why do we have home security at all? The answer is nicely encapsulated in a single word: deterrence.
One of the biggest fallacies of electronic home security is that it can, all by itself, prevent crimes like burglary and home invasion. Reality tells a different story. Home security is intended to be just one layer in a multi-layered defense system. It is also a deterrent layer. When combined with other layers, it does exactly what it is intended to do.
An Intruder at Windsor Castle
Anyone willing to argue against electronic home security based on the fact that it will not stop a truly determined intruder should take a look at a recent security breach in the UK. The breach involved an intruder who scaled a wall at Windsor Castle while royals William and Kate were at home with their children.
The intruder was apparently high on drugs at the time he got in near one of the gates on the property. Fortunately, he didn’t get very far. He was discovered by police and detained. He was then charged with trespassing on royal grounds.
This is not the first incident involving Britain’s royal family. In 2021, a man armed with a crossbow and the intent to kill the Queen also scaled a wall by propping a ladder against it. And in 1982, the most infamous breach of the royal grounds was perpetrated by a man named Michael Fagan. The unemployed painter eventually made it to the Queen’s bedroom where he engaged her in several minutes of conversation.
All the Intruders Were Caught
All three of the intruders manage to circumvent security to gain access to the grounds. But none of them actually succeeded in harming the royal family. All were ultimately caught and detained.
The fact that these three men were able to breach security does not imply that the wall surrounding Windsor Castle grounds should not be there. Erecting the wall was not a poor investment by the UK government. Likewise for any electronic security that protects the property.
The wall likely keeps out more intruders then the general public knows. In addition, electronic security and roaming personnel successfully deter most people who would have a reason to try to break into the castle. We only hear about the select few who succeed; we never hear about those who never even attempt a break in.
More Than Sensors and Video Cameras
Anyone who wants to invest in video cameras and security sensors can certainly do so. Big players like Vivint Home Security sell their equipment alongside lesser-known brands. But the most effective home security is more than just sensors and video cameras. It is a comprehensive system made up of multiple layers of security.
Here is what you get with a typical electronic home security system:
- Window and door sensors
- A motion sensor or two
- One or two video cameras
- A central control hub
Homeowners can add broken glass sensors, smoke and CO detectors, and as many cameras as they like. Smart locks and smart garage door controllers are also on the table, as well as automated lighting.
Installing a top-of-the-line system with all the bells and whistles offers more deterrence than an entry level system with just a few components. But homeowners can still do better. They can add more layers of security that only enhance electronic home security’s deterrence.
Hardening Common Entry Points
One of the most effective home security layers is the hardware layer. By hardening common entry points against intrusion, homeowners make it physically more difficult to break in. Two things immediately come to mind:
- Deadbolt Locks – Deadbolt locks take considerably more effort to breach than traditional handle locks. Not having them installed on first floor doors doesn’t make sense.
- Window Frame Locks – Window frame locks are separate locks that actually screw into the window frame to prevent the sash from being lifted. Getting around them takes a lot more effort. An intruder would have to break the glass, then reach in and remove the lock – all of which takes time.
Hardening common entry points forces intruders to invest more time and effort to break in. That’s the last thing they want. Time is the enemy when breaking into a home. Intruders want to get in as quickly as possible so that they aren’t noticed by passersby.
Maintaining a Clear View
Yet another layer of home security involves the view of the home itself. Intruders appreciate anything that gives them cover, including landscaping and exterior structures. So maintaining a clear view of the home from multiple angles works to a homeowner’s advantage.
Keeping landscaping neat and trimmed is an effective security solution. Installing motion activated flood lighting is another good choice. Both are enhanced by exterior surveillance cameras that provide clear views around the entire perimeter.
Make the Effort Not Worth It
The whole point of installing electronic home security is to create yet another barrier to successful entry. Combined with other strategies that create a comprehensive, multi-layered environment makes life as hard as possible on intruders. That’s why homeowners do it.
Hardening one’s home against intrusion is all about making the effort not worth it. If an intruder needs to work too hard to break in, he is likely to look for a softer target. Electronic home security adds to the required effort. So do deadbolt locks, prickly shrubbery, floodlights, etc.
No, electronic home security won’t stop a truly determined intruder all by itself. But as the UK’s royal family knows, multiple layers of security work extremely well to protect life and property. If multiple levels of security keep the royals safe, they will keep you safe as well. Every layer of security will only make your electronic system more effective.
