Study – Gates Curbs

Residential Burglary

Homeowners take a meticulous approach in protecting their homes

against invasion. The popular choice nowadays remains closed-circuit

surveillance, an effective albeit costly way of monitoring properties. There

are monthly bills to worry about, not to mention the initial cost to install

the system. Not every Australian has a couple of thousand dollars tucked

away in the bank for security systems like this.

The AIC, however, published an article about residential burglary that

offered a low-cost alternative and expounded on how it curbs home

robberies. Gates, unbelievably, have an effect on the minds of burglars.

Surveillance videos are useful afterwards in looking for the perpetrators,

but it is easy to hide one’s face from the camera.

Gates as an Access Control Measure

In the article, AIC provided three studies done by prominent Australian

researchers on two periods in 1995 and 2011. All inquiries showed the

inherent effectiveness of property barricades, gates for one, in stopping

burglaries.

The study also mentioned that gates alone could not stop burglars from

invading. It would be better if they were on easy points of entry,

combined with other security devices and most importantly, a vigilant

mind.

Removing Other Risk Factors

Several elements can still encourage burglars to enter the property even

with the presence of various security measures. When residents are

always out and the shrubbery has grown high, robbers see this as

opportunities. Proximity to pawnshops also increases the risk of being a

victim of residential burglary.

The latter might be little harder to address, but the previous two are

resolvable with simple fixes. Trimming the bushes gives the property

better ‘surveillability’, while light sensors can help create the illusion that

there are people inside the house.

No Opportunities, No Burglaries

Burglars do their deed for easy money. They

look for opportunities that will provide them

the easiest jobs. The best homeowners can do,

aside from erecting gates and installing

security systems, is blocking opportunities. It

does not mean to keep everything inside,

rather be vigilant at how a home looks from

the outside.

It will be hard to guarantee that a house is

completely burglar-prone; frankly, because

everyone can be a target at any time.

Nonetheless, it should not stop homeowners

from employing safety measures that decrease

the risk for residential burglary.

Sources:

http://www.boardwalk.com.au/gates/

http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/rpp/100-

120/rpp120/10_burglary.html

http://www.talktalk.co.uk/money/features-new/insurance-burglars-and-what-

they-look-out-for.html