Home Security Benton Harbor MI

Statistics from the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association show that a burglary is committed every 10 seconds in America. Also, burglars are 3 times more likely to attempt to enter homes that do not have alarm systems, then homes that do have home security. Single-family homes are twice as likely to become targets, and homes on corner lots are especially vulnerable.

Additional statistics report that 38 percent of all assaults and 68 percent of all reported rapes occur during a home invasion. Once a home has been broken into once, the odds of additional burglaries increase. This is because stolen possessions have been replaced with new items that are more enticing to criminals. Don't become a statistic. Responding appropriately to protect your home and family is particularly critical if you have already become a victim of crime.

You love your family. You want to protect them, and your possessions. You lock your doors, but this is not enough. Twenty-three percent of burglars bypass the locked door and enter through a first floor window, while 2 percent climb in through the second story. Nine percent of burglars break in through the garage, and 4 percent find a way in through the basement. Don't make it any easier for them.

A home security system may be just what you need to protect your family and your home. There are basically three types available today. Two types may be purchased at hardware stores or home centers, and may be installed by the homeowner. These are the stand alone and wireless alarm systems. Professional contractors should always install hardwired alarm systems.

When operating most home security systems the owner disarms the alarm by punching in a pin number on the control panel. If the pin number is not entered within a certain amount of time after entrance is detected, the home alarm activates and an alarm monitoring company or the local police department may also be notified. Some home security system options also notify you with a beep anytime a door is opened.

This is an important aspect to consider when choosing which home security system to purchase. If your local police department does not accept automatic calls from home alarm systems, you will also have to choose an alarm monitoring company. This company will have their own suggestions on which home security system you need. Many alarm monitoring companies will not only notify police, but can also notify the fire department if needed, or get you medical assistance.

Another consideration when evaluating home security systems is the age of your home. If you are building a new home in Benton Harbor it is easier to wire a home alarm system while it is a frame. If you own an historic home, or access is difficult, wireless is a better option. Some home security services will do a free estimate, and come out to your home to assess your security needs.

A home security system is only as good as its installer and operator. Be sure that the installer explains how the system works to everyone who will be using it. Each person in the home should be aware of the basic elements of the system.


Keypad/control panel - This is a device used to arm (turn on) or disarm (turn off) the system. It is the location where your system wiring terminates and your backup battery is located. The control panel is the most important part of the security system since it monitors the conditions of all the other devices. Control panels were once made up of relays, dry cell batteries, and a key to turn the system on or off. Now thanks to modern technology, they contain a microprocessor, allowing them to perform many more tasks at the touch of a button. Options and features differ by manufacturer, but most control panels have a test button allowing you to test the system and a button that lets you change your user code.

Most control panels need to have a code entered using the keypad to arm and disarm the system. More then one keypad may be installed in a home. Some good locations are near the front door and near the upstairs bedrooms. Many keypads also act as panic buttons by allowing the alarm to be set off when certain buttons are pressed.

Siren - A loud siren will alert the members of the household when there has been a break-in. This noise often scares away the intruder immediately or lessens the amount of valuables taken because they know the authorities are on the way. Security experts recommend that one siren be installed inside the house near or in a bedroom, and a second siren be installed on an exterior wall or in the attic near a gable vent. If you live in a neighborhood where the houses are close together, a siren with a flashing light will help identify the source of the alarm. Many areas require that the control box for the alarms have an automatic cutoff to silence an exterior siren after a certain amount of time. This is useful if the alarm is activated while you are away.