The story of a 14-year-old Phoenix boy who shot an intruder last month sent shivers up the spines of many a parent around the country. Just thinking of what could've happened to the teenager and the three siblings he was babysitting is the stuff of every parent's nightmares. Fortunately this quick thinking boy protected not only himself and his home, but also his three younger sisters.
The story should be cause for concern as well as motivation for parents to invest in home security. This was not a case of a crime-ridden neighborhood being victimized by burglars in the middle of night. It was a typical, middle-class area where teenagers are commonly left home alone while parents are at work. And this attempted burglary occurred at 4:30 in the afternoon to boot. Perhaps the only reason the boy was able to defend himself is the fact that one of the perpetrators rang the doorbell ahead a time to see if anyone was home.
Home Security as a Deterrent
There's no way to know for sure if a home security system would have deterred the two Phoenix burglars, but statistics say security systems are effective to that end in most cases. According to research burglars who see a home security placard on the front lawn, or stickers on the windows and doors, are more likely to move on to easier targets rather than risk getting caught. They know homes that are alarmed and monitored are much too risky when compared to those that aren't.
If this Phoenix home had been alarmed, and the alarm wasn't active when the break-in occurred, the boy could have hit an alarm panic button in addition to defending himself and his siblings with his parent's gun. And if he had not been armed, the panic button would have immediately put the alarm company dispatchers in contact with local police officials to get help there as quickly as possible.
Educating Children Is Crucial
With or without a home security system, it's crucial for parents to teach children how to be safe when home alone. That starts with helping them understand the need to keep doors and windows closed and locked at all times. Children should never open the door for anyone, including people they know, unless the visit has been prearranged. When they see adults outside the home they don't recognize they should be well versed in calling for help using the 911 system.
For added peace of mind parents can install security cameras as part of their home system. Security cameras can be monitored remotely using a laptop computer, tablet, or mobile phone. This lets parents keep tabs on what's going on inside the home even when they're not there.
We are eternally grateful that the children in the Phoenix incident were not harmed in any way. We hope the unfortunate events will be used as a motivation for parents to do everything they can to protect their own children from being victimized.
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