Shomrim is often asked how homeowners can maximize their home safety.
To better understand the nature of the problem, here is a brief review of the kinds of property crime we see.
To start with, our areas do not see the kind of crime glorified in the popular culture: we almost never see, for example, an alarm system that has been cracked by a clever mastermind. But while "our" thieves may not be geniuses, they are not suicidal. The vast majority of them are looking to thieve and leave, as quickly as possible. They *are* afraid of being caught.
How do these criminals operate?
Walk-by traffic: These criminals are often young and impetuous, and they cannot move faster than their feet, a bicycle, or a bus can carry them. They will steal a bicycle that is left in plain sight (or convince the rider to let them "show some tricks". They are pretty good at wheelies, but even better at the disappearing act). They will enter an open window or door, and take anything that can be carried easily, and can be pawned: jewelry, cash and electronics are most popular. They also will ransack cars, often in the dead of night. These would-be criminals can be deterred when they think they are being watched (by cameras, people, etc.)
Criminals with Cars: Less common in our community, but more effective because they can leave the scene quickly. These criminals often drive around slowly, looking for likely properties. They tend to avoid cameras, alarm systems, and homeowners, but not always. If they break into a property with an alarm, they are relying on a slow police response which means they have ample time to search, steal, and then leave. We have seen a real uptick of this kind of criminal over the last year.
While criminals sometimes walk around a house and try doors and windows, they know that if they are spotted, it will be reported and they might be caught. So in our experience, every would-be thief has a story to tell: they thought a friend lived there, or they wanted to enquire about buying a car, etc. And the way they sell such a story is that they actually go door-to-door, knocking on each door, and offering a service or apologizing because "we thought it was Steve's house." If the homeowner is not there (or looks like an easy mark), then they often commit a crime at that point.
The majority of these thieves don't work alone. So if you see a pair of people going up to a front door, and a third person remains behind the wheel of the car, calling 911 and Shomrim without delay is simple common sense. We live in an era of smartphones, and casual camera footage (especially of license plates) always helps as well.
This is one reason why Shomrim encourages homeowners to get camera systems. Cameras work. They deter criminals, and push crime away. They are, however, not cheap.
But there are now some other SUPERB technological solutions to make us more secure, and to deter would-be thieves: Doorbell Cameras. (We owe a debt of gratitude to Advanced Security Safe & Lock for bringing them to our attention.)
A doorbell camera is not merely a way to see who is at the door. The newest cameras can take a picture of the person at the door when they ring the bell (or even every time there is motion sensed!). And they allow the homeowner to take a snapshot or a video of whomever is outside the door, without opening it! That picture can then be viewed, depending on the system selected, later by Police or Shomrim. Or it can be viewed, LIVE, on any smartphone anywhere in the world.
That's right: you can see who is at your door, and talk to them, *and* capture their image on camera from just inside the door, or from your bedroom, or from your vacation halfway around the world. And the person at the door cannot be sure you are not home!
The camera images captured can then be shared. If these doorbell cameras had been in place last week for the Hatton break-in, the criminals would either have avoided every home with such a camera, or pictures of the robbers would have been posted on flyers within hours of the crime, improving the chances of apprehending them.
Shomrim does not sell any systems, and we have no financial stake in any specific solution. But we DO have a very strong desire to reduce crime in our neighborhood, and we want to make sure that every homeowner knows what we think might help make our streets and homes safer.
So without further ado, here is a very quick overview of the mainstream systems we have seen (There are numerous other solutions about which we have no specific knowledge):
Advanced Security Safe & Lock, (410) 764-2001, offers a system that requires no wires, and can take video or stills. Every time the doorbell is pushed, the camera takes a picture. Or the homeowner can record stills or video of the view outside the door with a push of a button on the system on the other side of the door. No wifi or remote operation. The picture/video is recorded on a flash memory card which can then be distributed as needed. No internet required. $325, including installation.
If you have internet and a wifi network at home, capable of 1.25 mbps upload from the exterior door, then there are two other primary options:
Skybell (formerly iDoorCam). http://www.skybell.com/ Does all of the above, but is also wifi-operated, and can be viewed via smartphone. Motion-sensing activation (which would be problematic on Shabbos and Yom Tov) could be very helpful. They say: "We're developing features that will allow the device to start calls, snap pictures and send alerts based on motion detection, even without a visitor pressing the button." (This is important because a smarter thief might knock instead of using the bell.) The biggest downside is that Skybell requires doorbell wiring, and some configuration (as well as a home wifi network with 1.25 mpbs upload speed from the Skybell location). $199 for the system, uninstalled. It is quite likely that the security companies in town would offer installation for those who need it.
Doorbot: http://www.getdoorbot.com/. Can be wireless or wired (easier to install than Skybell) Can be integrated with a door lock ("Lockitron", so you can remotely unlock or lock the door. Doorbot does NOT record video, which makes it unhelpful for identifying miscreants after the fact. It does not have motion sensor hardware, so it cannot be activated that way. $199 for the system, uninstalled. It is quite likely that the security companies in town would offer installation for those who need it. Doorbot is not yet shipping.
NOTE: Both Doorbot and Skybell are new products, and are not perfect. Both promise features that do not yet exist. We cannot vouch for either one.
But we do know that criminals in our area avoid being filmed, that camera and video footage of suspicious people (especially at close range where the resolution is particularly good) is extremely valuable for identifying people and both deterring crime before the fact, and ensuring that criminals are arrested after the fact. And we can tell you that Shomrim members will be trying these products shortly!
Other practical advice:
1: Alarms, like cameras, do have a deterrent effect. They also ensure the thief spends less time in the home, since they know, once the alarm goes off, that the police or Shomrim or a neighbor are on their way. There have been numerous cases of homes without alarms where an intruder broke in at night while families were sleeping and never heard a thing. An alarm wakes up homeowners in the event that the house has been broken into at night.
2: There are reasonable ways to make it harder for a thief to break in. Security bars are an option, but so, too, is an inexpensive film that strengthens window glass considerably: (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=3m+security+film) And while door jambs are weak (a great many doors can be kicked in, even with a deadbolt lock), there are reasonable solutions http://armorconcepts.com/Door-Jamb-Armor/ that reinforce doors.
3: Jewelry: Thieves go straight to the dressers in the master bedroom. Consider keeping inexpensive or fake jewelry where thieves would expect to find it - and keep more valuable items elsewhere.
We hope this helps!
Baltimore Shomrim
