In a staggering statistic, only 20% of Americans said that property crime is not a problem where they live. This means that a large majority of people live with the fear of burglary, theft, arson, vandalism, and more. 

It’s no wonder, then, that security system purchases are on the rise! In a 2021 Porch survey, more than 43% of people said they had at least one home security camera, and a smart home security study estimates 47.8 million residences will incorporate smart home devices by 2025. 

This determination to reduce property theft has more than one benefit: Security systems better protect the homes of those who invest in them, and their neighborhoods, too. 

How do home security systems make neighborhoods safer, exactly? 

Learn more about building or converting your Nashville residential security system with NCA. 

They Heighten Neighborhood Awareness

A few of the top security measures Americans use to better protect their homes include more outdoor lighting (36%), doorbell cameras (30%), and optimized security cameras around their property (29%). These measures in and of themselves will bring a heightened awareness to any movement on your property and likely any surrounding homes, sidewalks, and even the road.

A North Carolina neighborhood, for example, utilized a series of outdoor home security cameras to protect its residents from car break-ins and home thefts. When two cars in the neighborhood were broken into and ransacked, with no eyewitnesses, residents were able to file a police report and provide footage with details on the thieves’ vehicle. 

They Monitor Homes & Dispatch First Responders

With central station monitoring through a service like NCA, your home’s security system notifies first responders when a window or door is broken, or when a fire or carbon monoxide alarm sounds. Home security monitoring services protect your family from the inside-out and simultaneously benefit your neighbors, as well. 

The reality is that 60% of intruders who realize their target has an alarm system will seek out an alternative target. Ideally, if every home in your neighborhood had a visible security sign or camera, that would definitely keep burglars moving! On the other hand, if your home is broken into, the added protection of a central monitoring service will dispatch first responders who will either pursue or catch the intruder, preventing them from moving on to other homes in your neighborhood. 

They Deter Sticky-Fingered Neighbors

While many neighbors who are well-aware of each others’ routines can check-up on one another and notice when something is amiss, sticky-fingered neighbors can also monitor your comings and goings and use it to their advantage. This is especially unpleasant to think about, but 65% of intruders are acquainted with their targets, and many live within two miles of the targeted home. 

Another statistic worth noting is how most break-ins occur during the workday, between noon and 4 p.m. If an opportunistic neighbor’s best time to maneuver the neighborhood is while residents are away at work, then home security systems will be the best first-line of defense for the neighborhood as a whole. Plus, they would increase the intruders’ odds of being caught – to their embarrassment – which is a pretty strong deterrent! 

Join the NCA family! Get a free quote or build a quote according to what you need for your home security system.