MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - So far this year, thieves have broken into more than 5,300 Memphis homes. Security experts say if you're not doing one certain thing, you're begging burglars to come in.
With around 760 home burglaries committed in Memphis each month, that averages to 25 homes a day.
That means "business is up," says Eric Meyers with Mautz Security Systems in Bartlett. "If you don't have an alarm system you're living in a fantasy world," he says.
He says without one, "they know where to go for the easy targets."
Lieutenant Joey Andello with the Memphis Police Department's Burglary Unit says burglars look for things that indicate no one may be home, such as, "a combination of seeing the newspapers, the mail in the mailbox and the porch light on… a lot of burglars are opportunists."
Meyers says that's why homeowners should take the opportunity to get a security system - a "real" security system.
"When you say a security system is two doors and a motion sensor, that is not a security system… the thieves know when they see the signs from national firms that the only thing that's protected are the doors and a motion sensor," Meyers says. "a proper security system covers your first floor, covers all doors and windows on the first floor."
According to Andello you can make sure you're covered if you use your alarm, but he understands that doesn't always work.
"If someone wants something bad enough, no matter how many deterrents you take, they're gonna do it."
Police admit there's no way to ensure your home is never broken into but having an alarm does help.
