Do Home Security Systems Guarantee Safety?
Find out the truth when it comes to keeping your family safe at home.
Aug. 15, 2007 — -- "Don't wait for something to happen to you."
That's a message that has millions of Americans signing on the dotted line with home security alarm companies that claim the only way to be safe is with a security system.
But can home alarms really guarantee you won't be burglarized?
To answer that question, "20/20" enlisted the help of two former thieves Jon Douglas Rainey and Matt Johnston, the hosts of "It Takes a Thief" on the Discovery Channel. For three seasons, the duo has shown just how lax people are when it comes to protecting their homes. But can a burglar alarm make a difference?
One study, conducted by Dr. Yochanan Shachmurove and called "The Probability of Crime Victimization," found that a quarter of the homes that were burglarized had alarms. We decided to find a volunteer family to help find out why.
As parents of three children who'd just moved into a new house, Wendy and Jay — they asked that their last name be kept private — wanted to make sure their new residence was safe. They had been burglarized years before, losing valuable jewelry and, more importantly, their sense of security.
"It's a discomforting feeling to know that someone has been in my personal space and has been touching my personal items," Wendy said.
Could Rainey bypass their new alarm system?
Security expert Frank Santamorena cased the property. Sophisticated thieves often work with accomplices who, like Santamorena, pose as workmen to scout out houses in advance, for security lapses. He was optimistic he would find some at Wendy and Jay's home.
"It's a brand new system," he said. "Happens all the time."
On the day of the test, the security system was on and the doors were locked. Rainey began by slipping along the back of the house. Then he picked up a rock and shattered a basement window. Despite the noise and movement, the alarm didn't sound.
Rainey climbed in through the window and made his way to the top of the basement stairs.
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