The total number of U.S. homes protected by security systems is still in the minority. This, despite years of data demonstrating that security systems deter crime. It is almost as though people either don’t believe the data or do not think there’s any chance they could be victimized. That’s too bad because waiting until you’ve been burglarized before installing a security system is pretty much too little, too late.

• You Have the Motivation

It is clear that burglars are not afraid to ply their trade whenever given the opportunity. If that were not the case, articles like this one would never be written. So right off the bat, the mere fact that you own possessions someone else might want to steal is motivation enough to prevent such activity.

If you have a family, there is added motivation. Even run-of-the-mill burglaries that could have been committed without any fuss can turn violent at a moment’s notice. Not doing everything you can to prevent that seems to run contrary to the natural human desire for self-preservation.

Perhaps you are motivated to protect family and property, but you’re not convinced that a home security system is the right way to go. Well, please reconsider. Below are the top two reasons every U.S. home should have a security system – including yours.

• Reason #1: Criminals Fear Them

Researchers at the University of North Carolina conducted an interesting study some years ago, a study in which they actually questioned convicted burglars about their activities. They learned a lot of amazing things. For starters, 83% of the burglars admitted that they look for security systems before choosing to enter a home. Just 17% did not.

Ask yourself this: why would a burglar check to see if a home was equipped with a security system? Because they are afraid of being caught and they know a security system increases the chances of that happening. Ergo, the criminal is also afraid of the security system itself.

Why Its Risky

Think of it from the criminal’s point of view. Security systems increase the risk all the way around. And make no mistake about it, burglars are not stupid. They don’t do what they do because they have a secret desire to get caught. They do not want to get caught any more than you do when you run a red light.

So what creates the elevated risk? According to Vivint Smart Home, it boils down to two things:

• Alarm Monitoring –  A monitored alarm is being watched 24/7. As soon as a burglar breaches the front door, someone will know about it. That gives the burglar a lot less time to get in and out before the police respond. If you know the cops are right around the corner, are you going to take a chance?
• Video Evidence – Security systems with video cameras produce evidence that aid in both investigations and prosecutions. There is only one thing burglars hate more than video evidence: getting caught. Once caught, video evidence can seal the deal.

Even the toughest burglars fear security systems. Some see security systems and still aren’t deterred by them, but they are the minority. And that leads us to the second reason every U.S. home should be equipped with a security system.

• Reason #2: Security Systems Deter

That same University of North Carolina study showed that 60% of burglars will turn away from a house if they notice it equipped with a home security system. That is an amazing statistic. It lays to rest any questions of whether home security deters criminals. It clearly does.

We now know that burglars actively look for home security systems before entering houses. We also know that the majority of them will abandon a house they know is properly equipped. For these two reasons alone, every home in America should be equipped with a monitored security system.

Deterrence Is Most of the Battle

So much of our nation’s crime fighting activities are focused on catching and punishing criminals after the fact. We absolutely should investigate crimes and prosecute criminals but dealing with crime after the fact doesn’t stop it from happening.

Deterrence is most of the battle when it comes to reducing crime. Deterrence is about giving criminals valid reasons to abandon their plans. It is about making life so difficult on criminals that they don’t have the will or determination to persist. Effective deterrence is not always easy, but it is necessary – and it does work.

• Homes Without Security Systems

Knowing what we now know about how criminals view home security, what about property owners? A home without a security system is like a nation without an army. It is an open invitation to anyone willing to invade. So why do homeowners not invest in a security system?

The possibilities are endless. For some people, it is cost. They have only seen prices for top-of-the-line, professionally-installed systems and just assume they cannot afford it. They do not realize that even an entry level DIY security system is better than nothing at all.

Others might resist because they believe having a home security system makes life too complicated. They worry about false alarms and malfunctioning equipment. They have heard about long term contracts and don’t want to get entangled in one.

Still others do not protect themselves because, despite statistical data proving otherwise, they are not convinced that home security works. They continue living under the mistaken assumption that home security is a waste of money. They believe the chances of becoming a victim are not very high, so investing in home security is like throwing money away.

Every homeowner is free to do as they see fit. But the data doesn’t lie. Home security systems do cause criminals to think twice before forcibly entering a home. The fact that the majority of them would walk away in the presence of a security system tells us everything we need to know: every home in the U.S. should be protected by a monitored home security system complete with video surveillance.