I grew up in a small farming community.
Most everyone who lives in the area operates dairy farms, apple orchards or vineyards.
There was never a need to lock the doors of our homes, garages, garden sheds or vehicles. I played with all of the neighborhood kids. We had barbecues and picnics and invited all of the families on our street. Unfortunately, as the years have gone by, there has been an increase in crime. There have been a variety of break ins during the middle of the day. It typically involves multiple people, kicking in the door when the house is most likely to be empty. They go through the house as quickly as possible and grab everything they can. They target small electronics, jewelry, cash and power tools. My husband and I still live in this same town. We operate several hundred acres of grapes that are made into jelly, jam, grape juice and wine. The year-round maintenance of the fields often keeps us out of the house from dawn to dusk. When I arrive home after dark, I don’t want to be afraid to step inside. Locking the doors isn’t enough. We can’t have a dog, because we don’t have the time to care for an animal. Our solution is a home security system. Our house is now outfitted with motion-sensitive lights, surveillance cameras, automated door locks and sensors on all of the windows. If anyone steps onto the property, opens a door or window or breaks the glass, an alarm goes off. My husband and I are immediately alerted. If we don’t provide a password, the local authorities are notified. I feel that the alarm is enough to scare off any intruders. Plus, we have signs on the property indicating that we have a security system. The majority of break-ins are prevented by the presence of the signs.