We understand the seriousness of helping protect your family and home. That means doing research to compare home security systems. With all the companies to choose from, it can be difficult to know which system is right for your home. Brink’s makes the decision process easier for you with our Home Security Comparison Checklist. Simply mark the answers to these important questions to compare any home security system to Brink’s.

According to statistics from the FBI, a violent crime occurs every 18 seconds, a violent assault every 29 seconds, a rape every five minutes and a murder every 24 minutes. It is a sad fact of life that crime is so prevalent, and fear of crime is a concern that must be tackled.

It is perfectly rational and understandable to take precautions to protect yourself and ensure that you minimize the chances of you becoming a victim of crime. There is no way to totally eliminate your chances of becoming a victim. However, if you are in a state of constant anxiety, always worrying about going home after dark or afraid to walk under that bridge or such, this is unhealthy. Yes, the numbers are high, but then so are the chances of you not being a victim as well. Unfortunately, too many people let themselves be ruled by the negatives of life and be dominated by fear.

Personal security can be best summed in two words: common sense. To feel more confident, and actually be more safe, consider your personal habits. If you walk in the street with your head slumped forward, your hands in your pockets and you looking around nervously, you are projecting an air of weakness that the potential crook will pick up on straight away. They are predators and as such are very skilled in detecting body language. If you appear confident and assertive, they will think twice before making a move on you.

Be very careful if you feel so compelled to carry a weapon, as this can cause problems legally and using it effectively during an incident. Be aware that is a crime to carry a firearm without license, and permits for carrying a concealed firearm are typically not issued to average citizens. However, one handy tool to always have is a fully charged cell phone. A cell phone is perfect during emergencies, but it is crucial that you ensure that your cell phone is fully charged at all times.

Vary your routine; don’t get trapped into a regular schedule that someone could easily track you by. This is a precaution that will be excessive for most people, but a change in routine may be called for times such as divorces or a fight with someone at work where emotions can run high and better judgement are lost. This is an issue more for women especially in the context of stalking. Women should remember that the police take stalking very seriously, and it is something that is being stamped on very harshly by the courts.

If at all possible, minimize the time you spend traveling alone. Traveling in a group is an excellent way to ensure your safety. You don’t need to walk along side Superman or a karate expert, but it is for the psychological effect since it is physically harder for a criminal to subdue and control a group of people than it is to subdue someone who is alone. Criminals want an easy mark and don’t want any undue attention, so they will go with the most vulnerable victims.

When you are outside, always be alert. Keep your things with you. If you have children with you, never let them out of your sight even for just a few seconds. When you arrive home, make sure to keep all the windows and doors bolted and secured. Make it a habit to lock all doors and windows even if you are in a safe neighborhood. It pays to err on caution's side.