Home security doesn’t have to begin with a complicated fleet of cameras or multidevice security kit ( although I’ve found some very good ones ). When I looked into the data around the effects of security cams, I was pleasantly surprised to find only a single home security camera or a device such as a video doorbell has a big impact — and that’s coming from burglars themselves. The best study on the subject, titled “ Understanding Decisions to Burglarize from the Offender’s Perspective ,” was conducted by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, along with other colleges and organizations, including the Electronic Security Association, offering support. This project interviewed over 400 burglars to learn more about their habits and motives. One finding caught my eye: The majority of burglars said they considered warning signs when selecting a target and specifically called out not only alarm signage but also outdoor cameras, surveillance equipment and increased security in general. Overall, 83% of interviewees said they tried to find out if the home they were targeting had a security alarm , and 60% said they would choose another if they noticed the alarm (down to 50% if they noticed an alarm halfway through breaking-in)
