In 2004 the Bureau of Justice reported that:
-77% of all crime was property related
-17% of all crime domiciles were violated by a burglar
-85% of all burglaries the offender gained entry into the house or other building.

In the article "Home Security: Do It Yourself Home Security" we talked about ideas to prevent entry to your home. But the fact is that a determined burglar will get into your home. That is his job and let's face it, looking at the statistics, they are unfortunately good at it. Remember this: property crime occurs every 3 seconds, a home burglary every 15 seconds.

The home burglary that has received the most attention recently involved the theft of a laptop from a Veteran's Affairs analysts' home. The laptop reportedly had the personal data for 26.5 million veterans.

Three other tactics might be used to help prevent a burglary are home security alarms or burglar alarms, property marking and home security cameras.

Property marking is simply marking all your valuables with an identifying "signature" so they can readily be identified when recovered. Methods of marking include micro dots, laser pens, and ultraviolet pens. The key here is to have signage letting everyone know your property won't be so easy to sell on the black market because it is marked. Believe it or not most burglars do read and study their targets.

Home security cameras as part of a home security system are very effective in two respects. First as a deterrent. If a burglar sees that a property is covered with surveillance cameras they will have second thoughts in targeting that property. Second, if they are not that smart and decide to enter anyhow, a good surveillance system will capture the images of the perpetrator making it easier for the police to capture the bad guys. Home security cameras can be wired or wireless, real or dummy, indoor or outdoor, or any combination thereof.

Alarms can act as a successful deterrent. 90 % of police believe alarms deter burglary attempts. There are all kinds of alarms including expensive home security alarm systems monitored by ex-police officers. Silent, noisy, wired, wireless, door, window, motion, monitored, unmonitored-you name it and there is an alarm for it. Signage again is the key. Let burglars know they are in for a hard time ahead of time. The thing is alarms work.

Alarms, surveillance cameras, and property marking are three more ways you can protect your home from burglary. Home security has become a huge business in the United States. With the advances in home security alarms, home security systems including wireless home security and home security cameras maybe, just maybe the bad guys will think twice before breaking into your home

If you think crime can only happen to the other guy you are wrong. The "other guy" is thinking the same thing and YOU are that "other guy". There is a reason why they call it self defense. You have to protect yourself.