Most of us are well aware of the importance of protecting our homes. We lock up at night, we have a neighbour check in on the house while we’re away and we have a good home insurance policy in case the worst happens.
However, there are certain facts about home security that seem to go against logic and common sense. We’d like to share a few of the most surprising examples with you now.
1. MORE CRIME HAPPENS ON BRIGHTER NIGHTS.
This is surprising because we assumed it would be more advantageous for criminals to operate in the cover of darkness.
Most studies are clear that more outdoor lighting decreases crime (be it public street lights or motion lights on private homes). However, some studies look at the level of moonlight and crime activity and find that there is significantly more outdoor crime on nights with more moonlight. According to one study, there is a 5.7% increase in crime on nights with a full moon and no cloud coverage compared to nights with no moonlight. (1)
The reasons for this are just theories for now (more light = criminals spotting vulnerabilities, people being less cautious when travelling alone since it’s not as dark), but whatever the reason, there may be something to those warnings about being more careful when there’s a full moon.
2. WEDNESDAY IS THE 3RD MOST POPULAR DAY FOR HOME BREAK-INS.
After Friday and Saturday, “hump day” is when most home burglaries happen. Why? What makes Wednesday more popular than Tuesday or Thursday for example? Probably nothing, but surprising nonetheless. Learn how to prevent home break ins on every day of the week.
3. DOORBELL CAMERAS DON’T SOLVE MANY CRIMES.
We see videos posted all the time of “porch pirates” in action, but it seems they may not do much more than provide social media content.
One investigation from NBC News found that there were little to no crimes solved despite doorbell camera partnerships with hundreds of police agencies (2) and researchers at MIT found that “the only study carried out independently of Ring found that neighbourhoods without Ring doorbells were less likely to suffer break-ins than those with them.” (3)
A doorbell camera may not be all that effective, but having a monitored security system can keep your home safe and get you a discount on home insurance.
4. 1/3 OF HOME BREAK-INS ENTER THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR.
When we picture a home robbery most of us tend to imagine a burglar sneaking in the back door or craftily entering through a window.
In reality, the seemingly bold move of entering through the front door accounts for about 34% of burglar entry points, which is the highest % of entry points ahead of first-floor windows and back doors. (4)
One reason for this could be due to people leaving the front door unlocked during the day because they feel safe.
5. HOME INSURANCE PROTECTS AGAINST HOME BREAK-INS.
Your homeowner’s insurance policy protects you against both theft and damages related to a home burglary. This often also applies to seasonal residences as well. Ok, so this one is probably not all that surprising but it’s always worth mentioning!
While loss prevention is your first and best line of defense, ensuring your home is fully protected with a quality home insurance plan is essential in the event of the worst-case scenario.
Erie Mutual Insurance proudly serves the commercial insurance, farm insurance, home insurance and auto insurance needs of members throughout Southern Ontario including Haldimand, Niagara and Hamilton.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have about this or any other topic related to your insurance.
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SOURCES
1 – https://jacobdkaplan.com/documents/moonlight_paper.pdf
2 – https://www.nbcnews.com/news/all/cute-videos-little-evidence-police-say-amazon-ring-isn-t-n1136026
4 – https://www.adt.com/resources/how-do-burglars-break-into-houses
