Illinois Home Security

Illinois’ Largest Cities: Chicago, Aurora, Rockford, Joliet, Naperville, Elgin
Law Enforcement Personnel: In 2007 the total number of law enforcement personnel in Illinois was 60,819. Sworn officers totaled 42,605 (full and part-time) in 2007 which accounted for 70.1 percent of the entire state of Illinois law enforcement community’s work force.

Property crime rates in Illinois compare favorably with the national average. However, the violent crime rate (per capita) exceeds the national average. As such, Illinois home security should be a primary concern.

Year	Population	Violent Crime	Property Crime	Murder	Forcible Rape	Robbery	Aggravated Assault	Burglary	Larceny- Theft	Vehicle Theft
2008	12,901,563	67,780	378,355	790	4,118	24,054	38,818	78,968	266,815	32,752

The Illinois State Police have issued a number of warnings to Illinois residents. Illinois Home security is at the heart of their message. Two such warnings are listed below.
One warning is aimed at Imposter burglaries. The scammers will appear to be legitimate workers who approach homeowners (often targeting seniors) with a preconceived and believable purpose. Sometimes the culprits pose as utility company employees, city contractors or even social workers. They will often even dress in fake work uniforms, drive official-looking vehicles and show fake identification. However, their real objective is to keep the homeowner occupied while their cohorts look for valuables inside the home. Illinois Police warn residents not to be fooled by the presence of women and children…they will often play an important role in the scam. In this scenario, home security or alarm systems don't actually provide additional protection.
Another area for concern is Home invasion burglaries. This crime is typically committed by two or more participants who create a distraction while gaining entry to an unlocked residence. One portion of the team will typically approach a homeowner in the yard, using any number of techniques to gain the victim’s attention. Some examples might include: being lost, faking illness, a lost pet or inquiring about purchasing a home in the neighborhood. Meanwhile, the suspect’s partner(s) have managed to enter the victim’s home, undetected. It’s not unusual for the thieves to get in, steal valuables and get out without even being detected. Days or even weeks sometimes pass before the theft has been realized.

Police authorities are quick to warn that while many of these offenses are only distraction theft/burglaries, an increasing pattern of violence is emerging. Most of the violence occurs when the victim becomes aware of the distraction and tries to prevent the criminals from taking his/her valuables. However, many thieves don’t bother with creating a distraction; they simply use physical force or brandish weapons in order to gain immediate entry. Having a quick alert security system would be useful in this situation.

Understanding Illinois home security options is vital in order to effectively protect your family and your belongings. Consider the installation of a home security system which might include home security cameras and wireless security alarms. Although installation is typically done by professional installers, countless do-it-yourself options are available.