Do You Constantly Check Your Home Security System Online?

I know plenty of people who frequently check their home security camera live feeds on their phone, now that wireless installation is reasonably-priced and tracking is so easy online. But I don’t know many people who would know what to do if they ever saw a burglar in action on their phone.

Do you quickly return home to confront the intruder? Do you call the police and hope they’ll show up in time to apprehend the thief? Do you rely on your homeowner’s insurance policy to cover any losses, and expect to use the video recording in court someday?

According to the FBI’s 2014 report, Crime In The United States, “There were an estimated 8,277,829 property crimes (burglaries, larceny-thefts, and motor vehicle thefts) reported by law enforcement. Financial losses suffered by victims of these crimes were calculated at approximately $14.3 billion…

” Larceny-theft accounted for 70.8 percent of all property crimes in 2014. Burglary accounted for 20.9 percent, and motor vehicle theft for 8.3 percent.” The same report gives the percentage of burglary offenses that were “cleared” as 13.6%. Clearance is defined this way: “…an offense is cleared by arrest, or solved for crime reporting purposes, when three specific conditions have been met. The three conditions are that at least one person has been: arrested, charged with the commission of the offense, [or] turned over to the court for prosecution (whether following arrest, court summons, or police notice).”

My point here is that a small percentage of burglars are arrested, charged or turned over to the court for prosecution. Which means, unless your police protection is quick and effective, a slick security app on your phone may not provide much value. You’re not likely to get your possessions back, and the culprit is not likely to end up in jail.

Honestly, the cameras installed on the exterior of your home will probably help to deter a crime more than the video recording will help to solve one. Victor Urbach said it this way in one of his popular newsletters:

“If you have a burglar alarm system in your home, don't keep it a secret. Make sure you have a metal sign on your lawn and alarm decals on your windows. Even if you don't have an alarm system, you should make it look like you do. Get some of those stick-on window break sensors, the lawn sign, and the window decals.”

In other words, let it be known you have home security in place. Plenty of homes don’t have it, so your would-be burglar will probably move on down the street. But don’t think you’re safer or smarter by checking your security camera live feeds constantly. You’re not.