One in three Australians are considering adopting a new security system to go on the defensive against criminals at home, with some clear reasons why.
It’s that time of the year: when we all put in orders for gifts galore, and everything arrives bit by bit. Australia Post works overtime, Amazon deliveries get made, and couriers aplenty leave boxes on your front step while we’re not there, giving criminals an obvious target.
The risk is already there, and Facebook neighbourhood watch groups are already talking about how individuals in fluorescent vests are walking streets and checking out doors, looking for things to pinch.
If you’re concerned, it turns out you may not be alone. Recent research from Ring aligns with those fears, with over 70 percent expressing concerns about leaving their home unoccupied for when they go on holidays, while the concerns leading up to the holiday season sees parcel theft tied at number two with damage to their home.
Burglary sits at number one, with Australians worried that criminals will do some damage with a break-in, and those living there would none the wiser.
That could be why security camera maker Ring is seeing roughly 35 percent of Australians are considering making a move to a new security system this year, with 85 percent taking some form of protection in general.
“As Australians spend more time out of the house and travelling this summer, the ability to keep a vigilant and watchful eye on our prized possessions lessens,” said Mark Fletcher, Managing Director of Ring in the Asia Pacific region.
The research covered over a thousand Australians in the space of a week aged 18 to over 65, and found that across most of them, security at home for gifts was a concern. So much that 35 percent of Australians expected more deliveries than usual, but also that a mere one percent difference (34 percent) was concerned about deliveries being stolen.
It probably makes sense that over half of those surveyed were willing to invest over $100 to protect their property, with many highlighting live view, motion detection, and remote door bell rings bring delivered to a phone as important features.
The good news is those features are something remote doorbell security systems have, not just Ring models, and that the technology provides some peace of mind, even if it might not be a total coverall “stop” for the fervent of criminals.
For many, it’s the notification that helps, and possibly the act of catching someone in action.
Smart video doorbells are a good example of this. Ever since Ring launched the category in 2016, video doorbells security systems have essentially become concierges for your front door, providing a way for you to not only get eyes on and answer the door when you’re not there, but also talk to who is there remotely.
If someone decides to wander to your home, 3D tracking can pick up on that, and you can log in and be ready, warning someone that you’re home, particularly if they’re looking to steal something. It’s just one more way security solutions can assist.
Security cameras can be set up at a home’s most vital points, and depending on how concerned you are, power backed up with an “uninterruptible power supply”, what is essentially battery-based power for if or when criminals decide to cut power, allowing your cameras to keep rolling. In America, the recent home security risk is largely around WiFi jamming, something that poses a more serious problem there, considering the technology is legally found in the States. Here in Australia, WiFi jammers are illegal, so are less likely to be found and used.
Whatever is used, the addition of security cameras the front and back of the house can provide a sense of protection, and while not perfect, it may just act as the ideal DIY deterrent homes need.
