Is residential security unnecessary?
Improving residential security can seem unnecessary, but the truth is it is more important now than ever before.
Home burglaries are traumatising, and often costly crimes – and one happens in the UK every 106 seconds. The Office for National Statistics puts the average cost of a residential burglary in the UK at £3,030, but for London-based homes, it can cost nearly three times as much. Often affluent and richer neighbourhoods are targeted because of the obvious wealth contained within.
What is residential security?
Residential security is a term encompassing the measures of protection applied to people’s homes and personal possessions. A home security operative maintains domestic security features to guard a residential property and ensure the total safety of its inhabitants. It differs from commercial security, which refers to the safeguarding of property owned by a business or institution.
Residential security comes in many forms, including:
Security operatives
Security teams patrol an area on foot or in vehicles to protect people and property. They can work as a mobile security unit or in a security control room monitoring CCTV cameras. They’re usually the first response to a security problem.
Alarms
An alarm system often includes sensors at entry points that detect movement. When activated, it signals to a response centre. Operatives then respond to this alarm by checking the property it came from.
Sensors
Sensors placed at entry points are there to detect movement, like the front door. When someone opens the door, it sets off the alarm, which sounds through the home and then alerts a response centre. Sensors should remain activated 24 hours a day, seven days a week, however, residents can time them to be on during the night or whilst they’re away from their home.
Locks and barriers
It’s possible to upgrade the typical locks found in a home, including door and window locks, to become more secure. For example, keyless entry locks can combine an electric lock with an access control device. This allows a fob or card to open a door without keeping track of any keys.
Gates and restricted access
Gates help protect the home’s perimeter and restrict access to unauthorised individuals. Gates keep out unwanted individuals while permitting access for those with legitimate business on the premises. Security operatives can also guard gates.
Video intercom systems
Video intercoms monitor and communicate with visitors. They work by displaying live footage of visitors on an in-house screen, and security operatives also sometimes monitor this. A video intercom system consists of a camera and a monitor or receiver unit connected by wires to the main power supply. The camera is usually on an outer wall, although it’s suitable for installation anywhere on a property.
Personal Protection Dogs
Protection dogs provide a visible deterrent to intruders and offer a more unobtrusive method of protection. Trained German shepherds are a common choice and can often work well in tandem with residential security teams.
Panic Rooms
Installing panic rooms is increasingly becoming standard practice, over fears of being in a house with an intruder. A basic panic room can be hidden behind false walls and fitted out with essentials and communication lines directly with security or emergency services.
Although homeowners cannot eliminate the risk of being targeted, they can protect themselves, and minimise the threat. Priavo are on hand to help, for more information on improving residential security, visit our services page, or speak to one of our experts at enquiries@priavosecurity.com.