Five Home Security Urban Legends… and the Truths Behind Them

With dark evenings and Halloween on the way, it's the season for urban legends. But in the spirit of October's Crime Prevention Month, we're not going to spread any. We're going to debunk them instead.

Home security is an emotive topic. You'll typically hear plenty of anecdotes about burglaries, as well as lots of myths and misconceptions.

Here are a few of the home security myths we've encountered, and some surprising truths relating to them. We hope you'll use this knowledge to better protect yourself and your family.

Urban Legend 1: Burglaries happen at night

We all know the stereotype of the nighttime cat burglar, clad in black, hoisting himself up through your open window and rifling through your belongings while you slumber unaware.

But burglars don't just want to avoid being seen. They want to avoid meeting the homeowner. That's why most residential burglaries happen during the daytime when you're at work.

Withsmart home security, though, you can see exactly what's going on at home, thanks to video cameras and image sensors that alert you to important activity. Should you miss an alert in an emergency, 24-7 professional monitoring has your back.

Urban Legend 2: I always lock up, so my house is safe

First: are you sure you always lock up? Many burglaries are simple "unlawful entry," in which the burglar uses an open door or window. It's easy to forget when you're in a hurry—the good news is that Alarm.com can let you know.

Second, nearly three-fifths of burglaries are forcible entries, which might involve kicking in a door or breaking a window. It's easily done. A smart home security system is a great deterrent, however. According to one survey of convicted burglars, four-fifths will check for a security system at a home, with the majority retreating once they discover one.

Urban Legend 3: My dog is all the home security I need

Nope. Although many burglars prefer to avoid homes with dogs, a dog can be distracted easily and is typically less than reliable. Find out more here.

Urban Legend 4: I don't own anything worth stealing

You may not have any collectible art or sports memorabilia in your home. Your basement may be devoid of gold bars. But that doesn't mean a burglar would come up empty at your house.

Related: Burglary prevention insights for smart homeowners

The number-one item that burglars look for is simple: cash. They're also interested in everyday items like jewelry, electronics and prescription drugs, all of which are easy to sell. Even the power tools in your garage can make attractive targets.

Urban Legend 5: Security systems are easy to beat anyway

While this can be true of systems that rely on a phone line, or that piggyback on a broadband connection, an Alarm.com-powered system can defeat many common burglary tactics.

Our dedicated cellular connection can't be defeated with wire cutters; with a cellular signal, there's no wire to cut. An Alarm.com-powered system can alert your monitoring station even if an intruder attacks the security panel itself, thanks to Crash and Smash protection.

Want to know more about Alarm.com?

Professionally monitored and supplied by security dealers, Alarm.com technology is the homeowner's partner of choice when it comes to fighting crime.

See how we stack up against some common criminal tactics here—or click the button below to connect with one of our service providers.