Burglars break into approximately two million homes every year. The majority of these break-ins are residential and involve coming in through an unlocked or open window/door. Prevent this with a home security system that detects open windows and doors when armed. Here are the basic components that should be a part of every system:

Sensors

There should be door and window sensors placed on every single point of entry, including doors and windows with difficult access points. Do not assume a burglar will not try to climb a pipe to get in through a window.

Motion Detectors

Infrared motion detectors pick up human movement as far as ten meters away. Place a few of these units pointing to areas that lead up to entryways.

Siren

The best and most effective way to drive a burglar away is to activate a siren when a sensor is triggered. Do regular tests of the siren to make sure it works and to make people in the area aware of your system.

Alarm

Make sure to arm the system as often as possible. The majority of burglaries are during the day due to school and work. However, if you plan on being in one part of the house for a long period, activate the alarm, so nobody will attempt it while you are in the house.

Cameras

Although not essential, there are two reasons to have some real or dummy cameras around. The first is to have a visible sign of a security system. Most burglars live close to their targets and will note this when casing a potential target. The second (in the case of real cameras) is to be able to review footage and see if anyone is around the house too often.