How secure is your security?

• Quite often security measures are taken to guard the home, whilst the tool shed is overlooked. A popular target, the tool shed, or garage, houses many expensive items as well as the family car. It is a good idea to include this area when implementing home security systems.
• Physical barriers like screen doors and windows with locks will generally only slow thieves down.
• If it is worthwhile breaking into your home and he or she can work unnoticed, thieves will happily spend a little extra time breeching your security.
• Installation of screen doors can be futile if windows are left vulnerable.
• Locks, bolts, screen doors, and bars, are only effective if always locked.
• Alarms are an expensive psychological deterrent. However your contents can be long gone by the time a response to an alarm has been actioned.
• Dogs are often just as effective noisemakers, and can even bite an intruder. Four-legged companions such as these are often best accompanied with a clearly visible sign saying "Beware of Dog".
• Roving patrols for both private and commercial properties offer little more than intermittent checks on locations. Areas are often under-manned, whilst inspections occur sporadically, providing thieves with ample time to locate and seize your assets.
• Furthermore, guards are advised not to enter a structure believed to be housing thieves. Instead they are required to call the police, whom can often take far too long to action a call.
• Locks, bolts, cameras and alarms are undoubtedly an effective deterrent, however they can often cost more than a break in. Some packages are valued at $3,000, more than the cost of the average television, VCR, and stereo combined!
• Add to the cost of these security measures an average yearly total of $480.00 in contents insurance, plus $300.00 excess in the event of a claim, and the cost of home security is phenomenal.
• These measures, whilst arguably effective, can just as easily be rendered useless, and are often more expensive than the potential losses of a robbery. None of the above measures can stop an intruder from wishing to enter a structure. Nerds can however, by sending a message to thieves that the goods inside cannot be sold.

• Prevent thieves from selling your goods.
• Inform anyone anywhere running a search on your items that they are stolen.
• Be presented to the police as a detailed account of all goods missing from your home.
• Virtually guarantee that if recovered, the goods will be returned to you. Remember that if you cannot provide model and serial numbers of items stolen, if recovered they may be auctioned, as the police cannot be sure it belongs to you.
• Can't provide records that can be presented to insurance companies to substantiate and assist in fast claims.
• Can't produce records that will ensure the full value of goods stolen will be replaced. (See our information on insurance in "things you should know")
• None of the above measures are as affordable. You can register up to 250 items a year for as little as $25.00.
• Be utilised as a tool in the justice system, used as a guide for police when searching the Nerds database.