Updated January 16, 2023 – When you have a home security system in place, the company usually provides you with signs and stickers to put in your yard, doors and windows so potential burglars know that your home is being protected by a security system.
But, what if you put up signs and stickers without purchasing the security system – will that work as well as having a real security system?
Do fake security signs really work? The short answer is “Yes, usually.” According to a study of 422 incarcerated burglars across three states, seeing that their target had security measures in place was a big factor in many burglar’s decisions to bypass their target. These factors included home security signs, cameras, dogs, and alarm systems.
In this article, we’ll take a deeper look at the results of this study and the answers from the burglars. We’ll also decide if sign placement is helpful and whether whether a knock-off sign is as effective as the real ones.
Do Security Signs Deter Burglars?
As I mentioned in the opening section, there are studies out there that can help us get into the mind of a criminal so we better know what they are looking for. In other words – what makes our house an easy target or what makes a potential intruder pass us by?
In a 2012 study by Joseph B. Kuhns from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC), 422 incarcerated burglars (both male and female) from North Carolina, Ohio, and Kentucky answered survey questions about their mindset in deciding which target to burglarize.
The research revealed that there are generally two types of burglars:
- Opportunist burglars will seize the chance to steal. They may not have planned anything or even intended to burglarize someone at that particular moment – until they realized there was an opportunity like an open garage door or an unattended laptop sitting on the seat of a car.
- Planner-types who will scope out a target and do their research before committing to the burglary. About 12 percent of the burglars in the study were deliberate planners, although another 37 percent said they sometimes planned. These people often take one to three days to plan the crime. And about 20 percent of them will cut the wires to your landline home security system before attempting the burglary.
Kuhns notes, however, that having a dog or security alarms in place also makes an experienced burglar choose a different target.
He says that, “Signs or stickers that advertise alarm ownership are also effective deterrents.” So basically, those security system signs and window decals can work!
In fact, Kuhns’ research found that, “About 60% of the burglars indicated that the presence of an alarm would cause them to seek an alternative target altogether. This was particularly true among the subset of burglars that were more likely to spend time deliberately and carefully planning a burglary.“
Unfortunately, that means about 40 percent of the burglars would still consider robbing a home that had working security system with an alarm.
Circling back to the two types of burglars in the previously mentioned study, a sign is often the best deterrent against an opportunist burglar because they are simply seizing the chance to take something on the spur of the moment.
The risk to reward ratio is too great if an alarm or security company yard sign is present.
The burglars who plan their crimes are a slightly different story, though.
In their case, they will check out your residence thoroughly to determine how easy a break-in would be and what they would need to do to get in and out quickly. Home alarm systems don’t always matter to them.
If a deliberate planner is willing to try to rob your home while you have an alarm system, then having a few home security yard signs on your property is probably not going to slow them down.
Are Fake Security Signs Legal?
Whether or not fake security signs are legal really depends on the state and local laws of your area.
In some jurisdictions, it is legal to post a fake security sign as a deterrent measure, while in other places it may be considered fraud or deceptive advertising.
Be sure to check your local laws before posting any fake security signs!
If it’s legal in your area and you want to give would-be thieves a warning, a fake sign might be worth trying out.
However, if you’re looking for the most effective security measures available, investing in real cameras or an alarm system could make all the difference.
Where Do You Put The Security Sign On A Yard?
It’s not a good idea to just randomly stick an alarm company sign in your yard. There are placement nuances that will make posting a sign more effective.
Brick House Security (consultants to over 400 of the Fortune 500 companies) reports that:
- The print on your signs should face the road so that traffic can see it (having the sign closer to the road is also better).
- The sign should placed be 12 – 18 inches above the ground.
- If you can do so, it’s better to mount the home security sign on a structure (i.e. a fence) to avoid wind or lawn maintenance damage.
- Use more than one sign to be sure anyone walking onto the premises has a good chance of seeing at least one of them.
- Window stickers are important, too. They should be placed at the the side and rear entry door of a home – and at eye level.
Are Fake Security Signs Effective?
The experts say that one place you don’t want to skimp is by adding fake home security signs and security stickers around your residence. The same goes for using fake cameras.
They just give you a false sense of security, nothing more.
This is because it isn’t hard for a burglar to do a quick Google search for the company name to see if the name listed on your fake security sign is a real company or not.
Once they know the company doesn’t exist, they can proceed to rob your home without fear.
Also, if you’ve recently had works to your home, they may have figured out that you don’t actually have an actual security system.
Another potential risk comes from the fact that burglars can be people who’ve been to your house before, like a house cleaner or delivery worker. In that case, the person likely will know if the sign is a fake. If it is, they’re home free.
Reader’s Digest
It’s also a bad idea to use a home security sign from a real company unless you actually do use and pay for their service.
This is because there can be copyright issues at play if you do.
That company has copyrighted their name and trademark, so you are breaking the law and can face legal trouble if you use it without their permission
This means that ordering ADT stickers and fake ADT signs without using and paying for their service is not recommended.
But, I personally think that posting generic security camera signs like these should work well. Of course, you can visit your local police station and ask them what their recommendations are as well.
Conclusion
Fake security signs can be useful in deterring theft. Studies show that when potential criminals see a sign warning of surveillance or other security measures, they are more likely to think twice before committing a crime.
In one survey, almost 80% of respondents said they believed fake security signs would make them more cautious and less likely to commit an offense.
However, it’s important to note that these signs alone are not enough to fully protect businesses and homes from a professional burglar.
A fake sign should be part of a comprehensive strategy that includes robust locks (consider using smart locks) and other physical deterrents as well as proper lighting and real surveillance systems.
This layered approach goes a long way to ensure both the safety of property and its occupants – even if some of the measures appear to be fake.
Though it may seem counterintuitive, research shows that the presence of a fake security sign can help deter potential crime and provide an added layer of protection.
So if you’re looking to add another level of safety to your home or business, installing a fake security sign is definitely worth considering. It just might be enough to make criminals think twice!
To keep your home safe, be sure to place a home security sign where it can be easily seen, use alarm company stickers on windows and doors / entry points, keep bushes trimmed away from windows, and turn on your alarm system (many people have them and don’t arm them!).
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