General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: So what's wrong with home security systems? [View all]hughee99
(16,113 posts)The lighting doesn't really matter all that much if no one is around.
Having a sticker in your window that suggests there's a security system might be more effective than the security system itself if it's going to take responders 20 minutes to get there.
I don't really disagree with your distinction between high and low tech criminals (I'd think high-tech criminals would tend to pick houses with more valuable items, perhaps try to find a place that's empty, and wear masks and gloves so shooting people in the head isn't necessary to cover their tracks). I would just say that for the most part, a security system's value is going to be in deterring criminals in the first place (a well placed sign) or alerting you to their presence (if they didn't see or don't care about the sign). If you are stuck in the same room as the criminals, or without a route of escape, the security system is essentially useless.
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