Traditional alarm systems serve to protect against two main threats, home invasions and burglaries.

One may wonder what the difference is between these two invaders.

Both kinds of criminals have very different methods and motivations. It’s important to understand this so you can take appropriate steps to protect yourself and your family.

A burglary is a crime of opportunity. It’s someone who is simply looking to steal valuables from a home and to sell for a quick profit. The last thing burglars want is to be caught and statistically, most burglars tend to target homes that they believe are empty. They tend to take place in less than 10 minutes and avoid committing crimes when there may be other people around. Most burglaries occur when no one is at home in houses without home security. It’s rare for a burglar to break into an occupied home or for a homeowner to return home and find a burglar on the property. Burglaries can be dangerous crimes, but burglars rarely target people; they target property.

Home invasion is a different type of crime with different objectives. Rather than looking for a few valuables to steal, home invaders are often seeking a much bigger prize. And will confront homeowners directly to get the information or valuables they want.

The biggest difference between home invasions and burglaries is that home invaders enter with the intention to encounter people inside the home. The home invader also relies on fear and intimidation for results and often will not hesitate to use violent confrontations if their demands are not met.

A security system with a panic button and silent alarm is a great deterrent to both burglaries and home invasions. To find out more about these systems and how to secure you’re home, contact our Joplin, MO office today.