[Discuss] VoIP residential home telephone service -- OT

[Steve Epp]

A home security system will not prevent all break-ins.  But it will 
significantly reduce the likelihood of break-ins.  I believe the 
percentage is about 80%.  In other words, for every five people that 
consider breaking in, four of them will be deterred by the presence of a 
home security system.  Those four will move on to a 'softer' target 
(i.e. a house with lessor security).

Steve

Adam Parkin wrote:
> pw wrote:
>> John Blomfield wrote:
>>> insurance. House break-ins are caused by people that not only steal 
>>> things but trash your home creating very very high repair costs.
>>
>> Well, that's not really true either.
>> Usually, by the time the alarm service gets to your house,
>> the damage has already been done. Same repair costs plus the cost
>> of the alarm company.
>
> So you're saying that if (for example) a group of teens who are 
> looking to cause trouble break into a place and hear an alarm that 
> they'll still stick around to trash the place instead of just bolting?
>
> And as to the other comment someone made about how insurance will 
> cover repair costs: sure, but what if you have irreplacable items?  
> For example my Dad has a collection of rare collectibles many of which 
> would be extremely difficult (if not impossible) to replace.  Sure the 
> insurance might mean that he gets a nice cheque in the event that his 
> house gets broken into and the stuff trashed, but that's not the 
> point.  There's a reasonably good chance that a home security system 
> will prevent that damage from occuring in the first place so he feels 
> it's worth the expense.
>
> It's the same reason people use anti-theft devices on cars.  Things 
> like the "club" or alarm systems don't really do anything to prevent 
> someone from breaking into your car (if they want in, they'll get in), 
> but if your car has extra security systems, and the car parked next to 
> yours doesn't, it's much more likely a potential thief will choose the 
> non-protected car over yours (assumming all other things being equal 
> -- if you park a Ferrari next to an old volkswagon bug that's another 
> story).  If you have an ADT sticker on your front door that's a 
> deterrant to someone thinking about breaking in.  It may not 
> necessarily stop them, but gives them a reason to look elsewhere.
>
> As for whether the cost of house insurance is "worth it", that's 
> really a relative question and depends on a number of factors: the 
> liklihood you'll have someone break in (which largely depends on the 
> neighbourhood you live in), what you have in your possession and how 
> important it is to you, how much you earn (ie can you afford it), the 
> security provider in question, etc, etc, etc.
>
> Okay I'll stop now that this thread has completely gone off the deep 
> end away from being on-topic. :p