Man Arrested for Stealing Home Security System in St. Louis, MO

I frequently post about the stupid burglars that think they are perilous in the face of a good security system.  This time around, however, the burglar was simply trying to provide himself with peace of mind.  I came across this news article in which a man has been accused of robbing a Wal-Mart in St. Louis, Missouri.  The irony of the situation is that he is accused of taking home security equipment. He allegedly made off with a video security system, two wireless home monitoring kits and a GPS unit.

The gentleman was caught on store surveillance footage taking the merchandise when loss prevention personnel called the Sheriff’s Office to report a suspected theft when empty packages were found in the store.

Even better, the burglar was caught when he returned to the scene of the crime a week after the robbery.

"Personnel at Wal-Mart called police when Graham came into the store April 27. When deputies arrived, Graham was leaving the store in a yellow Ford Mustang and deputies stopped him for a minor traffic violation."

After being apprehended into police custody, he was charged with burglary with bail set at $80,000 – a very expensive price for a little peace of mind.

Do Your Homework

While Graham was attempting at Do-It-Yourself approach for his home security system, I can assure you, FrontPoint has you covered. Doing your homework on home security companies can be an exhausting, and often times frustrating, process. What does home automation actually mean? What is the difference between a wireless and a cellular system? Is a “free” system offer actually free? In Graham’s case, he took the term “free” a bit too literally.

Had Graham done his homework, he would have known that not all home security systems are created equal. It is important to understand the benefits and drawbacks of traditional vs. wireless alarm systems.  Traditional systems typically transmit signals through land-line telephone wire or a cable wire.  These are both easily severed in the event of a home intrusion, which renders your alarm system helpless.  Wireless alarm systems utilize cellular monitoring, which communicates signals through airwaves, leaving no line to be cut by a burglar.

Earlier this month, we put together a list of what to look for in a home security system: sensors, controls and monitoring. Peace of mind is a priority when shopping for an alarm company and ensuring these three components work together flawlessly will help provide the greatest peace of mind of all – protection

Lesson Learned

Researching the right alarm company for you is a personal and critical choice. Knowing that your valuables and loved ones protected can put your mind at ease.  However, the best way to get them protected is by using a professional alarm service, not creating a “free” Do-It-Yourself system.