About Security Statistics

Home security statistices need not impede your security devices and alarm systems decisions

It's hard to argue with statistics. After all, they are based on hard facts. Be that as it may, it's critical that we avoid taking these statistics so seriously that we make conclusions based solely on what they seem to say. If we immediately believe what some statistics appear to imply, it may cost us dearly.

Take security statistics, for example. Though their accuracy can't be questioned, their use can be cast in doubt. These statistics are often manipulated to sell an idea or market a product.

Some security devices are advertised in ways that lead us to believe that using them will lower our chances of being robbed. It's ads like these that use statistics to back up their claim. (e.g. 90 percent of police believe that alarm systems deter burglary attempts.)

While an advertised product may be beneficial to home security, the statistics that support it seem to lead us to the conclusion that it's all that we need to secure our property. Which likely isn't the case. The product may contribute to the effectiveness of our home security, but it can't possibly be the only thing that we should depend on.

Also, security statistics often fail to account for our commitment to home security. Even if a product's claim (e.g. that it can make a home five times more secure) is true given certain circumstances, it can't be if we don't properly or actively make use of it.

Even crime rate statistics, which don't market anything, can be misleading. These statistics show which cities are most vulnerable to certain crimes, and in doing so, they may give people reason to be unnecessarily wary or overly relaxed.

The city of New York, for instance, boasts some of the lowest crime rates among all US cities with populations equal to or greater than 250,000. This may make New Yorkers feel too safe and cause them to neglect their home security, unaware that their city actually leads most others in the number of reported crimes.

Keep in mind, though, that statistics are essentially just numerical facts. In that sense, they can actually serve as useful information. But each time we see them, we should take them with a grain of salt.

The article was written by Mr Yaniv Z. owner of the Nationwide home security experts "Window Gates", installing window security bars and gates, on doors in homes or offices.