Theft is obviously an issue and it can occur anywhere. Most often we publicize the nefarious bank heists, jewelry smuggling or the theft of famous artworks in Hollywood films. A national favorite is the famous theft by “D.B. Cooper” who fled, by parachute, from a plane with $200,000 in 1971. But let’s be reasonable here. Auto theft and home thefts are more likely to happen to grounded everyday citizens. That doesn’t make these thefts any less interesting however. Recently the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) released their analysis of vehicle thefts from 1960 through 2013 and the results were fascinating to say the least. We took the information and thought about its relation to home security. Here’s our lowdown:
A Numbers Game
The National Insurance Crime Bureau reported that last year 699,594 automotive vehicles were stolen. That details a 58% reduction in auto theft since 1991. In 1991 the theft was 1,661,738! To make sense of these numbers a few things must first be recognized. In the 1990s, the idea of a single vehicle for a family home became displaced. For one reason or another everyone in a household needed a car. As cars populated the roads thieves saw a cash crop. The main reason for this was that production offered cheap vehicles to a consumer market. But to some extent these automobiles are valuable and what one puts inside them even more so. But during that process they skipped some steps. They completely mismanaged auto security. But, its not all their fault, since that time we’ve replaced keys with computers, fingerprint technologies and voice-verification systems. These technologies amplify security.
The decrease in theft percentage from then and now is just wild. That decrease is 437.71%. Some states saw their automotive theft remain the same or change very little, while other states adopted newer security technologies in their vehicles or benefited from other vehicles being safe— becoming something like a Müllerian mimic. So the increase in security helped everyone’s case and auto theft went on the decline.
Homes Security
We can draw a parallel to home security here. Since home security has been on the rise in consumer interest, especially in those cities with populations greater than 250,000, we’ve seen a steady decline in home invasion and burglary since 1960 as well. Although it might be emotionally painful to have one’s automotive vehicle stolen, think of how much more emotional it might be to have the most secure place in your life compromised. Valuables looted, generations of history taken from you without the slightest trace and more importantly the risk of your life and those around you. Home invasions do happen and unlike the chameleon auto approach, it’s best to adopt a form of property security that matches your security needs.
Conclusion
Today there are plenty of great solutions for commercial and residential properties that can keep them, their valuables and their persons safe. High-tech auto locks are leading the way. Personalized easy-to-use interfaces have revolutionized all former conceptions of what it means to be secure in today’s evolving word. If you’re concerned with security. Don’t stockpile yourself in to the negative statistics. Go see how you can protect yourself and the community around you by making upgrades to your home as soon as you can.
