Are Home Security Cameras Worth It? Here Are 7 Facts That Prove They Are

According to Our Watch, domestic burglary has risen by more than 30% in the UK. But crime isn't even the only thing that you need to worry about when it comes to safety at home.

What about the babysitter you just hired? The nanny? Your elderly parents? The kids and the pets? Home security isn't just about what's outside but what's inside also.

Look, we're not trying to scare you, but every day, people ask us "Are home security systems worth it?" and we'd like to share these 7 facts with you to help you make your decision.

Are Home Security Systems Worth It?

From crime statistics to video surveillance laws, we got it all covered.

1. Protection Against Imposters

Over the years, there have been many reports of people dressing up as fake utility workers and police officers to cheat people out of their money.

While not everyone who shows up at our front door has malicious intentions, we simply do not know. And this can happen to anyone whether you live in a small town or a big city. If strangers appearing at your door make you nervous, installing a home security system can help you calm some of those nerves.

2. Deter Burglars When You're Gone

According to a study done by the Alarm Industry Research & Educational Foundation, 83 percent of convicted burglars said they looked at alarms and cameras as a deciding factor on which houses to break in to and 60 percent of them said they would choose a different target when they saw them. Furthermore, over half of them fled the scene once they found out there were alarms.

While security systems are not 100 percent burglar-proof, they allow 24-hour monitoring, they can lock doors, call the police immediately, and capture video footage, which can be all useful in catching the burglars.

3. Protect Your House from Emergencies

Unfortunately, home burglaries aren't the only things we need to worry about when we're gone. Water pipes can burst, trees can fall, and gas can leak. While nothing can prevent these things from happening 100 percent, you can prevent them from getting worse if they do happen.

Today, advanced alarms and cameras can detect smoke, gas, fire, flooding, and more. So even if you're thousands of miles away, even if you have no family around to help you out, security systems can send help right away.

4. Reduce the Cost of Home Insurance

Many home insurance companies nowadays will lower insurance premiums for their customers if they have a home security system. This is because they know cameras and alarms are effective in deterring burglaries and preventing home disasters, which in the end, helps them save money.

Home insurance deductions can go up to 20 percent depending on the type of security system you have but check with your insurance company to make sure.

5. Protect Your Loved Ones

We all like to think we can trust the people we hire but it never hurts to be extra cautious especially when they're new. If you depend on babysitters, nannies, dog walkers, or any type of people to help around the house, then having cameras around the house can make sure your loved ones are getting the help they need.

According to Nanny Paye, an online nanny service company, it is legal to install cameras in your own homes as long as you do not record private rooms such as the bathroom or the person's room if they live with you.

As a good practice, you should also let the care personnel know they're being recorded and tell them it is for safety reasons, not because you don't trust them. Also, if something were ever to happen such as a person breaking in or if your child breaks something important, the videos recorded will protect them as well.

6. Prevent Stolen Packages

Have you ever had your packages stolen from your doorstep? If yes, then you know how frustrating it can be. First, you would have to call the post office to verify that it was stolen and not lost or delayed. Then you have to call the company, tell them what happened, and if you're lucky, they'll send you a new one.

During last Christmas, 1 out of 5 packages was stolen in the UK. In addition, lost packages also create an air of suspicion and mistrust in the neighborhood because you don't know who did it.

To prevent this, you can install CCTV cameras by your door with a clear sign that state you're recording. This should make most thieves think twice about stealing your packages.

7. Keep an Eye on Aging Parents

Not everyone lives near their parents or can afford to hire help for them. And not everyone likes to be helped.

If you have aging parents whom you cannot get to easily or they don't want help, but you're worried they might fall or get into any kind of trouble at home, you can talk them into letting you install a security system for them.

In addition to extra security in the house, you can also connect the systems to your phone so you can check on them once in a while. No one likes to be monitored and watched, but if something happens to one of your loved ones, you'll be glad that there's a way to check on them and get them help.

Is Your Safety Worth It?

So there you have it, our answers to your question, "Are home security systems worth it?" We hope they didn't scare you too much but only made you more aware of the security issues that exist.

At the end of the day, it is up to you to decide whether security systems are worth it but don't forget also that they can be customized and tailored to your needs. Security systems aren't only used to deter crime but to protect people we love and prevent problems we cannot control from getting worse.

If you would like to have security systems installed or would like more information on how to do so, please contact us on our website. We'd be more than happy to help you.