Home Invasion and the Threat to Senior Citizens in the State of Florida

Home Invasion and the Threat to Senior Citizens in the State of Florida

In the state of Florida, on average, there is one property crime every 44 seconds, one larceny every minute, one burglary every three minutes, one aggravated assault every six minutes, and one robbery every 15 minutes according to statistics maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement . And according to the US Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics, more than nine out of 10 crimes committed against the elderly between 1993 and 2002 were property crimes .

However, there are steps you can take to help defend your family and your property against criminals, thus making your home a less appealing target.

Install a Home Security System

A monitored home security system is an excellent tool for helping secure your home. In the event of a break in, a security system with 24-hour monitoring can alert Brink's Home Security's monitoring professionals, even if you are asleep or away from home. The best security system providers also give you decals and yard signs to alert possible intruders that the system is actively monitored.

The alarming increase in residential robberies should also be cause for concern in communities across the nation. FBI statistics show that residence robberies increased every year from 1999 to 2003, rising a total of 18%. In this more brazen type of robbery, the criminal typically gains entry into the residence either through a ruse or through brute force.

A brute force home invasion is bold and reckless by nature, and the perpetrator often knows that even though a residence may be equipped with an alarm system, the resident may not have the system armed in the middle of the day. To help protect yourself against this kind of threat, it is important to arm your security system even when you are home.

Beyond leaving your system armed when you are home, it is helpful to find a security system with single-touch emergency buttons. Security system keypads vary widely among providers, so you should make sure your provider offers keypads with this kind of functionality. These emergency buttons allow you to obtain assistance with the touch of a button. It is also important these buttons are clearly labeled and easy to access in an emergency.

Other Home Improvements

Sometimes in a home invasion robbery, the perpetrator enters the residence not by force but by using a ruse-posing as a utility worker, a stranded pedestrian, or even a Good Samaritan seeking help for a supposed accident nearby. For this reason, it is important not to allow any unexpected strangers in your house. If your residence is equipped with an intercom system, use that to communicate with the person, or just communicate through the closed door. If your residence does not have a built-in intercom system, it would be worthwhile to invest in one-off-the-shelf intercom systems are available at many home improvement and hardware stores. If someone asks to use the phone, you can do it for them without making yourself vulnerable by opening the door.

Additional home improvements that can significantly help to protect against a home invasion robbery include investing in solid doors and quality locks for all doors and windows. Sliding glass doors also need good locks, and you should always install a security bar or even use a wooden board or rod cut to length to immobilize the sliding door from the inside.

About the Author Brink's Home Security offers state-of-the-art home security monitoring services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No matter whether you are home or not, you can help protect your home with one of the most advanced home alarm systems in the world today! Police, fire and medical emergency agencies can be notified and on their way in the event of a home invasion, fire or medical emergency! Click here to schedule an appointment for your FREE home security system needs analysis, or give us a call now at 1-800-379-9194. A knowledgeable Brink's home security specialist can recommend the home security system ideal for helping protect your family and home.

"2006 Annual Crime Clock." Florida Statistical Analysis Center, Florida Department of Law Enforcement. http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/FSAC/. "Victim Statistics." Bureau of Justice Statistics, US department of Justice. http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/cvict_v.htm.

Brink's Home Security offers state-of-the-art home security monitoring services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No matter whether you are home or not, you can help protect your home with one of the most advanced home alarm systems in the world today!