People looking to reduce the risks of having their homes broken into can have an alarm installed -- or they can just get to know their neighbours better.

According to home security experts, people usually install alarms when they have concerns about property crime or fears for personal safety. Home security systems can protect property when homeowners are away and provide peace of mind for personal safety when they're at home.

But according to police, simply getting to know one's neighbours can be just as effective.

"The biggest benefit of getting to know your neighbours is that they can watch out for you," says Sgt. Grant Hamilton of the Victoria Police Department. "They usually can tell when there are strangers about -- and know when things are amiss."

He says people should still ensure they have taken the usual precautions around the house, such as installing secure latches on ground-floor windows and motion-sensor lights to illuminate the grounds.

Insurance companies agree. They give policy holders a 10 per cent discount on their home insurance premiums if they belong to a local Block Watch program -- the same discount they offer a client if they install a monitored alarm in their residence.

"The majority of break-in claims insurers are seeing happen during daylight hours," says Eric Hartley, owner of Bill Hartley Insurance Services in Victoria. "Few happen at night when the occupants are at home."

He says an alarm can offer peace of mind for occupants who may be home alone and fear home invasions. Some alarm units have a panic button that sounds the alarm and summons help.

"It's about personal peace," he says.

The downside is the greater volume of false alarms that are generated, which taxes police resources.

"Ninety-five per cent of the time, false alarms are caused by an error on the part of the customer," says Kevin Price, vice-president of Price's Alarms. "I am just as guilty."

But while annoying, he says an alarm is still superior to just depending on the neighbours. He cites one example where a moving truck pulled up and cleaned out the contents of an elderly woman's house. No alarm was raised because neighbours thought the men were legitimate workers and assumed the neighbour was moving. Neighbours can't be expected to be always on guard 24/7, and can't see a break-in committed at the rear of a house either.

He says with monitored systems, such as those offered by his company, an alarm will trigger a phone call to the residence. If unanswered, police or a security guard will be dispatched to check for signs of entry.

Thieves are opportunistic, looking for homes that look vulnerable. But while offenders look for weaknesses, they themselves feel discomfort before they commit a crime, such as burglary. Their fear is to be caught.

Active deterrents, such as alarms, should be the second level of defence, say some designers. The first level of defence should be a physical environment that reduces opportunities for crime. Homes should be properly lit so that intruders don't have a place to hide. Landscape designers usually plant smaller plants that give an unobstructed view of the house from the street. This allows neighbours and people walking along the street to be able to spot suspicious activity. Trimming bushes and increasing lighting will not solve the crime problem in a neighbourhood, but it makes an individual house a less likely target.

"Questions about security don't usually come up in the design of a home. The sense is that locks are for honest people," says Keith Baker, principal of KB Design, who designs custom residential homes in Victoria. "But having a design that discourages crime is just part of good old common sense."

He says wiring for motion sensors and other security system components are relatively easy to incorporate when constructing a new home.

With new wireless systems, even retrofitting an existing house is no longer as time-consuming as in the past. Lighting for alcoves and doors is a given and windows on the ground level can be fitted with laminated glass, which resists shattering, for greater security without compromising esthetics.

"You can have security without broadcasting the fact." he says.

The wise homeowner should also include their vehicle parked in front of their residence when thinking of security, suggests Hamilton of the Victoria police.

"The most common item taken during a vehicle break-in is the garage door opener," he says. "Thieves come back later and use it to gain entry into the house." Owners should bring them into the house at night instead.

Parrais@timescolonist.com