The combination of a deep recession and widespread law-enforcement funding cuts will most likely spell a banner summer for burglars. If your house makes a good target – it’s upscale, off the beaten path, and in or near a city – an alarm system is your best defense, according to Temple University economics professor Simon Hakim, who studies security and policing. Installing one will reduce your risk of a break-in by two-thirds.
A top-shelf security system that includes a detector on every door and two on every window could set you back thousands. But unless you have Picassos hanging on your walls, it isn’t necessary, says Stan Martin, executive director of the Security Industry Alarm Coalition, a trade association dedicated to reducing false alarms.
