Crime has been with us in one form or another through the ages. One person stealing the things of another person has been the most basic and consistently present type of crime through the ages. In modern times, we fight back against this with home security systems, but fail to use them to their biggest effect when we don't publicize them.

Most homeowners think of their domicile as though it was a bank vault. The security system is designed to make it hard for thieves to break into the home and steal the valuable goods. This isn't exactly how these systems work nor is it how they should be used. A home security system will not stop somebody from physically kicking in a door or busting in a window. So, how does it work?

The modern home security system runs primarily on the deterrent theory. When someone breaks in, the system is triggered. This triggering results in loud noises and notification to the security company or police. The idea is to create such a fuss as to draw attention to the home that the thief does not want and which will cause them to leave.

For a security system to deter a thief, however, the thief has to know it is there. This is why it is really very important that homeowners put up the security company stickers and signs around the exterior of the home. Consider a home with this paraphernalia and one without it. If you were a thief, which one would you go after? Burglars usually aren't the sharpest tool in the tool box, but even they will go for the home with no indication of security systems.

When it comes to protecting your home, the key is to give criminals every reason to pass on choosing it as a target. Making it clear that you use a security system is one key way to do just that.