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key to provide access externally . This would then be improved with metallic tumbler locks in Rome .
Figure 1 : To design - can we do a basic version of this ?
Effective now ? Deadbolts and secure locks are still one of the most important factors in protecting yourself against burglary . Around 30 % of all burglaries are through an open or unlocked window or door . A home without a security system is 300 % more likely to be burgled .
ANCIENT ROME – GUARD DOGS
Domesticated since ancient times , guard dogs were used in ancient Rome to protect property . In his writings about breeds such as Laconians and Molossians , Virgil the poet said : “ Never , with them on guard , need you fear for your stalls a midnight thief .”
Effective now ? A study by the University of North Carolina surveyed 422 burglars to establish what put them off burgling a property . Only a small percentage of the offenders said they ’ d continue a burglary if there was a dog in the home .
Confusingly , the current UK legislation through the Dangerous Dogs Act means that you can be prosecuted if your dog bites a trespasser in your garden – but there is a defence if your dog bites a trespasser inside your home .
FEUDAL JAPAN – ‘ CRICKET FLOORS ’
In Japan , the Royal Pavilion at Katsura was built with a burglar-alarm system known as ‘ cricket floors ’ – creaky floorboards that emitted a musical sound and alerted the palace guards .
Effective now ? This early burglar alarm paves the way for modern day alarms , which
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are immensely effective at deterring crime . A study by Dr Simon Hakim at Temple University found that an alarm reduces the chance of burglary by 66.2 % ( if three or more precautions are taken by the homeowner ).
MEDIEVAL PERIOD – CASTLES
A castle was a fortified holding of a lord , popular throughout Europe as a direct response to the increase of raids and invasions . They consisted of a number of defence mechanisms , such as :
• Moats – Deep ditches that provided a preliminary line of defence .
• Drawbridge – An enormous gate which would only be lowered internally .
• Fortified walls – with sloped , enormous stone walls , castles were almost impossible to climb .
• Arrow slits and murder holes – areas for defenders to attack with impunity .
Effective now ? Most of us aren ’ t rich enough to afford a castle , or the multitude of guards you ’ d need to defend it . However , making your home hard to climb by removing bins near your garage and locking your windows is effective .
In the US , the ‘ Castle Doctrine ’ is the name of a law that varies by state and governs the right of a homeowner to attack an intruder to protect themselves , sometimes even with deadly force .
MODERN SECURITY SYSTEMS – ALARMS AND CCTV
Modern security systems came into being in the mid 1800 ’ s , when the first electromagnetic alarm system was created by Augustus Pope in 1853 . The rights were purchased in 1857 by Edwin
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Holmes , who set up the first electrical alarm system company .
Despite George Orwell ’ s warnings in his novel 1984 , CCTV systems have caught on after being invented as a live monitoring solution for Germany ’ s V-2 rockets in 1942 , then being promoted by American contractors Vericon in 1949 . Home CCTV was invented by Nurse Marie Van Brittan Brown in 1966 .
‘ 30 % of all burglaries are through an open or unlocked window or door ’
WHAT ’ S EFFECTIVE IN THE MODERN AGE ?
As well as being inspired by history , our new security systems are proving very effective at repelling burglars . Ultimately , these new technologies combined with older ones give us an idea of how to deter burglary .
• Alarms are a big deterrent in the U . S , with around 60 % of burglars surveyed by the University of North Carolina admitting they avoid houses with alarms in place .
• However , one in five burglars ( 20 %) reported cutting alarm wires before a burglary .
• Locking up is vital . Traditional methods of home security are the single most important aspect . Window locks , indoor lights on a timer , double door locks and external motion sensor lights were found to make a home almost 50x safer than a home without security – according to a study by the Royal Statistical Society .
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• Fitting a stronger door can be useful , as 33 % of intruders enter through the front door – either by forcing the lock or kicking it in .
• CCTV is also very useful , offering a deterrent in a similar fashion to alarms . Research by the University of Leicester found that CCTV use in Newcastle and King ’ s Lynn reduced recorded crime in the burglary and vehicle crime areas . However , it ’ s a more expensive system than most and this is reflected by the low uptake . Just 5 % of the 1,292 Which ? members surveyed by the website in a home security survey had home CCTV systems .
To defend your home , a combination of systems and common sense can prevent crime . With the right methods in place , you ’ ll be able to deter potential burglars . Take cues from history and install strong locks , lighting and experiment with guard systems such as alarms .
THE FUTURE ? CCTV is still a relatively recent technology , but it has already been challenged by personal CCTV systems available to smartphone and tablet owners . A report by futurologist Dr Ian Pearson suggested that we may soon see intelligent alarms that can communicate with one another , directional sound emitting alarms that disorientate intruders and even affordable robotic security guards . With the price of technology dropping and home CCTV systems now available for free through Android apps , the future looks bright .
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