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22% of UK Households has been burgled, claim
09/04/08
One in four
(22%) of households in the UK have been burgled - an estimated 4.85
million homes - according to a new survey by Intamac, specialists in
security monitoring solutions. (Far too general a claim in most
peple's experience, I believe. Have one in four of YOUR friends been
burgled?... Ed)
25% of all
burglaries actually occur when residents are at home, 28% when
residents are at work, and 12% when residents are on holiday. Yet
despite these figures, the research revealed that 85% of those
burgled did not have a security system installed at the time of the
break in.
Reasons for
lack of security systems in the home ranged from expense, to lack of
time to set up and a perception that systems are difficult to
install. However, following a burglary there was a huge shift in the
importance of home security and consequently, 90% of those in the
survey that had experienced a burglary made changes to their home or
lifestyle, including adding locks, lights and staying home more
after dark.
Kevin Meagher,
CEO and founder, Intamac, said: "The survey bears out what we find
amongst our customers: people want to protect their home and family,
but they perceive traditional security systems to be expensive and
inflexible. Frequently, people that have been burgled feel they need
to install additional form of security like extra locks, cameras or
lights. However, as these systems alone cannot provide comprehensive
security, people continue to feel unsafe. It was no surprise that
the survey showed a full 28% of people moved home in response to
being burgled."
Intamac's
technology delivers significant benefits to existing security
products by networking them via the internet. Its Home Manager
service provides a user friendly web based account that allows users
to monitor, update, manage and control devices such as alarm
systems, IP Cameras and environmental sensors.
Many existing
alarm panels are 'bells only' siren systems. However, the Intamac
platform provides fully automated messaging in response to alarm and
alert conditions, sending voice or text messages and e-mail
notifications to users and a list of their nominated contacts. This
means that users can take the appropriate course of action in a
timely manner.
"The need for
affordable, flexible and comprehensive security solutions for the
home represents a huge opportunity for the security market in the
UK; an opportunity that is already being realised by our blue chip
partners. Intamac provides - and helps our partners such as BT and
Cisco Linksys to provide - real protection, not just against
burglary but also fire, flood, or power failure. The options are
endless," concluded Meagher.
Intamac's
turnkey solution allows corporate partners to easily and quickly
come to market with innovative service offerings for their
customers. Intamac provides a complete product and service offering
to its partners that they can then, in turn, offer to their
customers. The company provides full product, service, back-office
support systems and infrastructure - plus an online billing service
- which B2B partners can simply pick up and re-brand.
Nick Gibson, editor
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