The average burglar is essentially lazy. This means that when an intruder intent on breaking into your home and stealing your valuable possessions looks it over, they're looking for an easy target. The harder you make it for them to force entry, the less interested they will be in your stuff. Most burglars spend around 2-3 minutes breaking into a home and about 5 minutes inside before making their exit. Speed and simplicity are essential for this type of criminal activity.
There are psychological barriers that deter a burglar from even thinking about targeting your home. One of the most effective threats an intruder can encounter is a home security sign planted on your lawn or attached to the wall near your entrance, announcing the presence of security equipment on premises. Window decals have the same effect, although they're not always quite as visible as a lawn sign.
A burglary with any smarts at all knows a home being protected by state-of-the-art technology and a professional monitoring company will give them a lot more trouble than they bargained for. They're more likely to pass by your home than to attempt to force entry.
