Home Security
- 1. Types of Alarms
- 2. Windows & Doors
- 3. Gates & Fences
- 4. Security Lighting
- 5. Lawn Security
- 6. Protecting Your Assets
Self-Protection Products
- Asheville Home Security
- Ames Home Security
- Elyria Home Security
- Dickinson Home Security
- Florissant Home Security
- Chatham Home Security
- Detroit Home Security
- North Shore Home Security
- Black Jack Home Security
- Mableton Home Security
Gated Community: Effective or a Waste of Money?
Ever since the real estate boom began, around the 1980s, there has been a building and buying trend toward gated communities. Instead of locking criminals within bars, people are willingly placing themselves behind a new set of bars, hoping to keep the criminals out. The proponents of the gated community trend say they are a safe haven for homeowners, while detractors suggest the alleged security benefits do not measure up to the price tag. So, which is it?
In truth, a gated community is likely to have a lower crime rate than a nearby, non-gated neighborhood. But, all gated communities are not created equal. Those with a uniformed guard monitoring the entrance to the community are safer than counterparts with a simple buzzer system. The presence of a guard is a very real deterrent, enough of one that most criminals will certainly favor a location without the hassle. A typical guard-monitored community has one gate for residents that requires a code or special card for entry, and then a separate gate for all guests. This system does work to provide greater security, which for some, is enough to warrant the extra cost that comes with it.
A gated community without a guard could still prove to be a nuisance for criminals, but one they may be more than willing to endure. For every person who thinks of the word safe when they hear of a gated community, there is another person that thinks of the word wealthy. A patient criminal may be all too willing to wait for an opportunity to sneak his way into a gated community for a chance at the wealth he believes to be inside. And we’ve all seen how easy it is for someone to slip in through an open gate on the heels of a resident’s car.
Bottom-line: Whether you live in a gated community or not, there is no solution that will offer 100 percent protection. If residents within a gated community take security lightly, any benefits will be quickly erased. Gated communities can provide some additional security, but there are plenty of safety measures a homeowner can take on his or her own to generate additional security as well. In the end, it boils down to a matter of preference and budget.
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