Is the Kansas City area a safe place to live? How can homeowners, renters, and business owners better protect themselves from the threats they face while living in Kansas City? Here’s everything you need to know about the best Kansas City security cameras.
Do You Need Security Cameras In Kansas City?
Kansas City spans two states: Kansas and Missouri. Kansas City, Kansas, has a population of 152,958 people, and Kansas City, Missouri, has a population of 491,918 people. The two parts of the Kansas City area are drastically different. One has a violent crime rate that is 318 percent higher than the national average, while the other has a violent crime rate that is 78 percent higher.
Kansas City, Missouri, has an extremely high crime rate, compared to the national average. The national average violent crime rate is 382 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The national violent crime rate can be broken down into specific crimes: murder, rape, robbery, and assault. The national crime rates for murder, rape, robbery, and assault are:
- National Murder Rate: 5 murders per 100,000
- National Rape Rate: 43 rapes per 100,000
- National Robbery Rate: 86 robberies per 100,000
- National Assault Rate: 247 assaults per 100,000
The national average property crime rate is 2,362 property crimes per 100,000 people. The property crime rates for burglary, theft, and car theft are:
- National Burglary Rate: 376 burglaries per 100,000
- National Theft Rate: 1,595 thefts per 100,000
- National Car Theft: 229 car thefts per 100,000
Now that we know the crime rates for the nation as a whole, we can compare the crime rates of Kansas City. If an area has a higher crime rate than the national average, it is considered more dangerous than average. If the area has a lower crime rate than the national average, it is less dangerous.
Kansas City has a violent crime rate of 1,596, which is significantly higher than the national average. The crime rate for murder, rape, robbery, and assault in Kansas City are:
- Kansas City Murder Rate: 28 murders per 100,000
- Kansas City Rape Rate: 82 rapes per 100,000
- Kansas City Robbery Rate: 333 robberies per 100,000
- Kansas City Assault Rate: 1,153 assaults per 100,000
Essentially, a person is five times more likely to be murdered in Kansas City, compared to the national average. A person is also five times more likely to be assaulted in Kansas City. According to the raw numbers, Kansas City is more dangerous than average. Now, let’s look at property crime in Kansas City.
The property crime rate in Kansas City is 4,352, which is double the national average. The property crime rates for burglary, theft, and car theft in Kansas City are:
- Kansas City Burglary Rate: 759 burglaries per 100,000
- Kansas City Theft Rate: 2,727 thefts per 100,000
- Kansas City Car Theft: 866 car thefts per 100,000
While in Kansas City, a person is twice as likely to experience burglary or theft, and three times more likely to experience car theft.
Do you need a security system while living in Kansas City? The answer is yes! Home security professionals highly recommend using a security system while living in a large city. Large cities—such as Kansas City, New York City, and Las Angelos—are more likely to experience high rates of serious crime. For example, a person living in Kansas City has a 1 in 16 chance of experiencing either violent crime or property crime.
A security camera can help homeowners and renters protect their homes, families, and belongings. According to a study conducted by North Carolina University at Charlotte, home security systems deter over 60 percent of burglars. The study specifically noted that “increased signs of security” were huge deterrents to burglars of all ages and demographic backgrounds. Increased signs of security include “alarm signs, alarms, dogs inside, and outdoor cameras or other surveillance equipment.”
Having security cameras in and around your home can help deter criminals. Homes with home security cameras are less likely to be targeted for vandalism, theft, and home invasion. Additionally, renters in Kansas City are more likely to be targeted than homeowners, meaning that it’s especially important for renters to install a security system.
Once you know that you need a security camera to protect your home, you need to know what features you should look for while scoping out Kansas City security cameras.
What You Need to Know About Home Security in Kansas City
Kansas City offers a wide variety of high-quality security cameras meant to protect the residents of the city. These cameras vary in size, price, and brand. Video surveillance systems are essential, but with so many options, how do homeowners know which type of system to get for their homes?
In this article, we’ve collected everything a homeowner needs to know about security systems in Kansas City. Here are five important features needed in a Kansas security system:
1. Smart Surveillance
One of the most important features a Kansas City homeowner can have in their security system is smart surveillance. Your home security system needs to be “smart.” A smart system means that it can monitor itself. Your security system knows when something is wrong and can watch for suspicious activity. Most importantly, if there is suspicious activity, your video surveillance system will send you an update.
People use home security systems to watch over their homes while they are away. This means that if the system isn’t “smart,” the alarm won’t be able to tell the homeowner that the alarm was triggered. Having a smart security camera means that you have a security system that will alert you when an intruder triggers the alarm.
2. DIY Wireless Installation
According to a Zillow study, nearly 50 percent of residents in Kansas City are renters. Renting a home, rather than buying a home, is becoming more and more popular among more transient generations. However, renters are significantly more likely to be burglarized than homeowners. Since homeowners are more likely to install a home security system than renters, renters are the more likely target for burglaries. In fact, some studies claim that homes without security systems are 300 percent more likely to be targeted by a burglar than homes with a security system.
So, what does this mean for a high-rent city such as Kansas City? This means that renters in Kansas City are significantly more likely to become a target of a break-in. However, many renters are unable to install wired security systems because their landlords won’t allow it. This is where wireless security systems become essential. A wireless security system grants the same benefits and features as a hardwired system, just without the hassle of wires. Wireless security systems are renter-friendly, meaning that renters can install the system without worrying about angering a landlord.
For homeowners, wireless systems are simply more convenient than hardwired. A wireless security system is portable, customizable, and more efficient. Whether you are a homeowner or renter, a wireless security system is the best choice.
3. Remote Access
Remote access is one of the most important features for homeowners and renters in Kansas City. The term “remote access” means that the security system owner can access all data from a remote location (from work, school, or on vacation). Remote access gives homeowners and renters complete control and power over their homes. Remote access works by connecting the smart security system to an app on the user’s phone. When the user opens the app, they can view live video surveillance footage and check the alarms. If an intruder triggers an alarm, the app will immediately alert the user. Remote access ensures that the user is always in control and up to date.
4. Professional Monitoring
For homeowners and renters in Kansas City, professional monitoring is crucial. Even if your system has remote access, it’s unreasonable to think that you will always have your phone on your person. What happens if an alarm is triggered in your home, and you’re not able to see the notification? This is why it’s important to have a security system with professional monitoring.
Professional monitoring means a home security company is watching over your home for you. If an intruder triggers the alarm, the alarm company will call for help. To ensure that the alarm wasn’t a false alarm, most security system companies will first contact the homeowner. If the homeowner doesn’t pick up the phone, the alarm company immediately contacts the police department. With professional monitoring, the police should be at your house before the intruder leaves the scene.
5. Customizable System
Not every home is the same, especially in Kansas City. Homeowners and renters have different needs, and there is no one-system-fits-all type of security. Because of this, homeowners and renters should use customizable systems. A customizable system allows you to pick and choose what you want. There are no mandatory parts. This ensures that the system is molded to fit what you need.
Best Home Security Cameras In Kansas City
Once you know what you need in a security camera, you can find the best surveillance system to meet your needs. The best option for homeowners in Kansas City is Cove Security. Cove offers DIY security systems that are easy to customize and easy to install.
Cove’s professional high quality security cameras offer remote viewing and professional monitoring. Homeowners can rest easy knowing that their homes are always protected with Cove’s indoor security cameras. Cove also offers a business security system with alarm monitoring, ensuring that business owners in Kansas City are equally protected. Cove has lower rates of false alarms, higher quality cameras, and better monitoring.
Homeowners can pair Cove’s indoor camera with other important security home automation. Cove also offers motion sensors, door and window alarms, a central station, and glass break sensors. Cove believes that homeowners should be protected from every angle, which is why they protect the homeowner from every possible entrance.
How to Protect Your Home in Kansas City
To give your home the best protection available, you should always install a home security system. However, there are other security tips and tricks you can use to fully protect your home. Here are the best security tips tailored to Kansas City residents.
1. Lock Your Doors
One of the smartest things a homeowner in Kansas City can do is to lock their doors. Surprisingly, a high percentage of burglars break into the house by walking in through the front door, with no breaking-in required. This is because homeowners leave their doors unlocked when they leave the house, underestimating their likelihood of becoming a victim of burglary. Some burglars will “case” a neighborhood, watching for homeowners who leave their front doors unlocked. Homes with unlocked doors are the first target for burglaries.
Some burglars have been known to walk through a neighborhood dressed as a survey taker. They go from one house to another and knock on each door. When someone answers the door, the burglar might ask a series of random questions. If no one answers, the burglar might try the door handle. If the door isn’t locked, the burglar will waltz inside.
No matter where you live, you should always lock your doors. This is especially important in Kansas City since the burglary rates are already double the national average. However, just because the crime rate is high, doesn’t mean you can’t live safely.
2. Leave the Radio On
Burglars try to avoid occupied homes. If someone is home during the burglary, the odds of being caught increases drastically. To determine whether someone is home or not, burglars look for the following things:
- An empty driveway. If there are no cars in the driveway, there’s a chance that no one is home.
- Dark windows at night. For burglars who prefer to target homes in the evening, they will look for dark windows. If no one is home, there will be no lights on.
- Drawn blinds. When people leave their homes, most will draw the blinds. Burglars also prefer homes with drawn blinds because no one will be able to see them rummaging through the house after they break-in.
To give the impression that you are home, even when you’re not, you should try to leave a car in the driveway and leave on a light at night. Another great way to give the impression that you are home is to leave the radio on. Most burglars will try a different target if they hear someone listening to music or talking inside.
3. Start a Neighborhood Watch
A neighborhood watch program is one of the most beneficial things you can do to protect your home in Kansas City. According to the National Neighborhood Watch, “A neighborhood watch program is a group of people living in the same area who want to make their neighborhood safer by working together and in conjunction with local law enforcement to reduce crime and improve their quality of life.” Neighborhood watch programs are started by the people who live in the community. It’s simply a group of people who want to feel safe in their area.
The official National Neighborhood Watch website notes that these programs should hold regular meetings, assign leaders, and work closely with their local police detectives. Those in the neighborhood should bring concerns to the neighborhood watch, and the neighborhood leaders should report those concerns to the police. Having a relationship with the police department is essential to the neighborhood watch. Every business owner, homeowner, and renter in the area should bond together to make their neighborhood safer and more secure.
4. Get a Dog
An Idaho news station asked 86 burglars how they broke into homes and what factors deterred them from targeting a home. One specific question was, “Did pets in the home, like a dog, make you think twice?” One convicted burglar responded, “Dogs are a deal breaker for me. Big breeds, home protectors are the best to keep people out.” Large dogs terrify most burglars, since you never know how a dog is going to react to a stranger on its property.
Small dogs didn’t deter many burglars. In fact, only big breeds seemed to deter burglars from targeting a home. Having a bigger dog can help keep your home and family safe. However, if you’re considering getting a dog to protect your home, you will need to prepare for hours of training with the dog. Guard dogs need to go through intense training courses to make the dog aggressive towards threats, but kind towards children and family members. Never attempt to train a guard dog on your own unless you have experience training guard dog breeds.
Additionally, before committing to getting a dog, you will need to prepare yourself for the responsibility of owning a dog. Never get a dog for the sole purpose of protection. You should also want a dog for companionship.
5. Put Up Home Security Signs
Home security signs (if you own a home security system) are an important tool to utilize. Home security signs tell potential burglars that your home is protected from the inside out. Without a home security sign in front of your home, burglars might still be targeting your home. A huge part of having a home security system is telling burglars that you have it. Since most of the system can’t be seen from the outside, it’s important to put the sign in the front yard and put stickers in the windows.