"I don't have anything to steal," says Jonathon to the security consultant while discussing home security.
It's a common response one hears as a security system consultant. "We're just starting out," "We are minimalists and most of what we have is not worth much," similar statements are made to reflect that even in the event of a break-in, the monetary value of what might bet taken is small.
While this can be true, this picture shows a safe that was in our own Bill Wood's clients' home. A couple that did not think about their identity being stolen and now all of their important papers are in the hands of a burglar. This safe was tucked away in an Attic.
Having your personal papers stolen can lead to identity theft. Information as simple as the mail on your counter can lead to months of being drug through hell as someone else assumes your identity and wreaks havoc on your credit, bank accounts and life.
About Identity Theft and Home Security
"Identity theft can be a difficult crime for a victim. You are faced with tasks that may be confusing and situations you don't know how to handle. All too quickly, you will find that in identity theft cases, the burden of proving innocence rests on the shoulders of the victim." - http://www.idtheftcenter.org
Approximately 15 million United States residents have their identities used fraudulently each year with financial losses totaling upwards of $50 billion. On a case-by-case basis, that means approximately 7% of all adults have their identities misused with each instance resulting in approximately $3,500 in losses and months of recovery. In some cases it takes years to rebuild after the damage is done.
When someone gets a hold of your mail or gets into your house and find personal documents, they are in a position to cause a lot of damage. Damage that will take a lot of work and a lot of time to undo.
While chances of identity theft might not be the sole reason that you get a home security system, it's one more reason to consider when thinking about home security. An alarm system not only safegaurds against theft of your belongings, it as well protects your personally security in the event of a home invasion or similar incident while you are present. Home security also protects against flood, fire, carbon monoxide gas and yes, protecting your home from intruders also helps prevent identity theft.
If you'd like to learn more, give us a call at 1-800-310-9490 or set up to have a security consultant visit your home and explain all of your options.
