There’s good news for Floridians as the number of robberies decreased by 7.7% between 2016 and 2017, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Despite this reduction, residents across South Florida are still coming face to face with burglars attempting to break into their homes. Most recently, Michelle Huynh, from Plantation, had no choice other than to call the police when two men attempted to break into her home.
A callous act
Following the attempted break-in on August 24, Plantation Police have released the call made by Huynh as she hid in the bathroom. In the call she told the 9-1-1 operator that she was home alone and could see a man at the window. Two men, including John Page, a serial burglar, who has allegedly played a role in at least four other burglaries in the area, were arrested at the scene.
So, how can homeowners in South Florida protect themselves in their own homes from such callous acts?
Protecting yourself & your home
Speaking of the burglaries in the area, Huynh’s neighbor, Dianne Bergeron, said: “It’s supposed to be a secure street. I don’t know what’s going on lately. I guess people have nothing to do but try to rob from other people.” Thankfully, there are steps residents can take to protect themselves from thieves such as Page and his accomplice. Florida law states that a firearm may be kept in an individual’s home. Such an implement can be used to protect life, personal property and home. Therefore, it can be worth investing in a firearm to protect yourself in the event of a similar incident occurring.
Utilize security systems
The FBI reports that the average monetary loss per burglary is $2,316. However, too often the true cost of such a crime is emotional. During Huynh’s call to 911, she told the operator how scared she was. Therefore, investing in a state-of-the-art security system in order to deter burglars and make yourself feel safe in your own home is wise.
The Understanding Decisions to Burglarize from the Offender’s Perspective study asked burglars what would deter them from breaking into a house. 83% stated that they would look for the presence of an alarm, while, 60% said if there was one, they’d choose a different target.
While the number of burglaries in South Florida are declining, there are still thousands happening each year. Therefore, residents in South Florida should take action to protect themselves, including using firearms and security systems.
