THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: What can we possibly do if a person strolls into our home and goes berserk, even launching a physical assault on us? The truth is, there is nothing much that can be done under such circumstances. The best thing that can be done is to make sure that we don’t let in potentially dangerous intruders, possibly with a well-designed home security system. The brutal attack on a family in Pettah in broad daylight on Sunday may force the city residents to think seriously about home security systems.
However, those associated with home security systems say that a sudden spurt in the sales is the last thing they would expect. "I think it has got to do with the lifestyles. People generally do not want their residence to be monitored,’’ says Ashok Madhavan Nair, a system integrator based in the city.
Still, new home owners do value safety in their homes. A basic security system comprising a burglar alarm, door sensors and glass break sensors are usually installed in newly built homes of late. In case of a housebreak, the sensors will automatically send messages to the phone numbers fed inside the sensors. The cost of a basic security system starts at Rs 20,000.
Even integrated systems equipped with Internet monitoring are now available. Under this system, every single door of the house can be viewed as a homepage on the computer screen.
The most highly advanced security systems could offer graphic images of the architectural plan of the house. Even when you are away, this system will operate in such a way that a human presence is felt inside. Events like lighting a lamp or switching on a TV can be triggered from faraway places just to give a feel that the house is not empty.
Such highly advanced systems will cost well over Rs 1 lakh. However, experts say that it is not the cost that refrains people from installing security systems.
They attribute the nature to extreme confidence and an inflexibly attuned way of living.
Murali, who runs a similar shop in the city, also does not anticipate a boom in the home security business, despite the recent attack. He says that such incidents have been happening for many years, but they have not been enough to kick-start a mass movement for home security devices.
“It is mostly businessmen who opt for home security systems and they are few and far between in the city to ensure brisk business for me,’’ he says.