Clued up to need for home security
LOCAL business owners have seen an increase in demand for home security systems with Townsville residents installing advanced technologies to protect themselves and their properties.
Mysterton resident Justine Baulch said she had recently installed a custom alarm system with motion detectors to protect herself and her three-year-old daughter.
“A lot of my friends have been broken into while they’ve been asleep and they have small children which worries me,” Ms Baulch said.
“The neighbours have been broken into a few times and someone tried to jump our fence at one stage.
“I feel a lot safer when I’m in the house and I like being able to check on it when I’m not there through the app.”
Owner of local business ADA Prime Security, Amedeo Dinardo, said his Alert Guard Security System featured alerts, invisible motion detectors and the ability for people to monitor their properties from a smartphone.
“This system we sell is not available anywhere else in Australia and is custom-designed to reduce the crime wave in Townsville,” he said.
“Demand is high for all types of security in Townsville. People will try buying cheap cameras as starters with the idea of giving the footage to police as evidence and that’s great but it’s even better to do that and also prevent them from taking anything.”
The system costs $375 to be installed along with a weekly payment of $45 over 24 months.
Mr Dinardo said his last four installations were in Mysterton, Riverside Annandale and Kelso.
Kirwan Police Station officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Jason Brosnan said a combination of security systems was most effective but CCTV footage was helpful for police in solving cases.
“The most effective system is CCTV with alarms that you can dial in with your phone so you can see what’s happening,” he said. Ridge,
“If someone breaks in and there is no evidence the possibility of police being able to solve it reduces to almost zero.”
Sen-sgt Brosnan also said people needed to be more vigilant with home security going into summer.
“We’ve noticed that there’s an increase in property-related offences in the warmer months,” he said.
“As we are going into October, November and December people tend to have their airconditioners on with all their doors and windows shut up so it’s harder to hear things going on outside.
“Now is the time for people to be reviewing their home security.”
Owner of Advance Smart Homes in Hermit Park Michael Rizos said he had seen an increase in people investing in home security.
“I’ve definitely seen more people buying camera systems over the last few years,” Mr Rizos said.
“I had one client come in recently in his mid 70s and he had a break-in where a guy had thrown a can at him and split his head open.
“I think people are very aware of all the break-andenters as well as the car stealing that’s been going on around Townsville.”