ADT, the UK’s leading home security company, has conducted a national study of when alarm activations occur. The peak time of day is around 7am for most of the country.
The data is visualised to make it easy for homeowners to review their local area.
The study coincides with research amongst convicted burglars that shows an ‘increasingly professional attitude’ to committing a burglary and a growing ‘culture of entitlement’ where failure by homeowners to conceal or protect their valuables is seen as an ‘invitation to burgle’.
‘Burglars are much more resourceful and strategic than the public are aware of - they approach burglary almost as if it were work, requiring the same organisation, planning and teamwork.’ said Mark Shaw, General Manager for Residential Business at ADT. ‘Opportunistic theft tends to be at a low level’.
72% of the reformed burglars surveyed said they planned a break-in by researching a property before committing a burglary, with many observing from gardens and bushes nearby.
The research showed that if a householder has not followed what they regard as basic rules of security, they are regarded as ‘fair game’. Signals which encouraged burglars to proceed include; valuables in clear view (‘I walk past their house and it’s just all on show so if they haven’t gone to the trouble of hiding it, I think you don’t care’), partially open windows, unlocked sheds and a lack of outside lighting.
The research revealed how gangs of two to three burglars can sweep through a property in five minutes by working together and checking as many as ten locations in a room. They are well aware of ‘secret’ hiding places many people use - including biscuit tins, cereal packets, fridges, freezers, washing machines, ovens, behind wardrobes, under mattresses, in pillow cases and at the back of sock drawers.
The research offered insights into key deterrents which would drive criminal gangs away from a property. These include gravel driveways ‘because the crunching noise really travels at night’, ‘dogs - they make a noise and no-one wants to get bitten’, ‘new, secure-looking doors and locks’, ‘sensor lights’ and ‘CCTV’.
73% were always/usually put off committing a burglary by believing somebody to be in the house, 60% were deterred by the presence of a dog but only 6% were discouraged by evidence of a neighbourhood watch scheme.
4 out of 5 burglars would still target a home with a bell only alarm as they are ‘going off all the time and everyone ignores them’ whereas 94% would avoid a home with a monitored alarm and commented they would ‘stay away like the plague’, ‘are the police on their way? Not worth it’ and ‘[I] read magazines on security and know what to look for’.
Mark Shaw, General Manager for Residential Business at ADT said ‘What people don’t tend to think about is the emotional state that they could be put into by knowing that their house has been violated effectively by burglars coming into their property.’
‘We want to urge homeowners to be even more vigilant and take the necessary steps to secure their possessions and ensure they feel safe in their own homes.’
It’s not what they take, it’s what they leave behind. www.adt.com
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ABOUT ADT
ADT is the world’s largest electronic security company based on revenues. It designs, installs and services electronic security systems and fire detection for residential, business and government customers. In the UK and Ireland, ADT's portfolio includes intruder alarms, video surveillance, access control, electronic article surveillance, radio frequency identification, fire detection, integrated solutions and monitoring. ADT solutions are used to deter thieves and help protect people, goods and property. For more information visit www.adt.co.uk
ADT is the security partner to over half of the UK’s schools, universities, local authorities and primary care trusts. ADT is the preferred choice for 89 of the country’s top 100 companies and over 210,000 homeowners.