Two prominent security firms in New Providence have seen a marked increase in home alarm system sales in the last six months.

 Craig Cates, proprietor of Security Systems International (SSI), and Leron Williams, owner of Pro-Tech Security & Alarms Services, said in separate interviews they believe the increase in business is a direct result of the fear of crime.

SSI has experienced a 30 percent rise over last year and Pro-Tech has seen a 20 percent increase.

Cates said more and more Bahamians, even those in the lower-income bracket, are concerned about their safety and have been purchasing security devices, but it is still "reactionary".

"Usually when a police division comes on television and starts talking about crime, for example in the southwest...it starts to make people conscience of the need for protection, and that prompts a reactionary fear," Cates said.

"It trends usually by articles in the paper, by the police providing warnings or by friends and other neighbors having either been burglarized or having installed an alarm.

 "That is when we usually get the call 'please come now and see what you can do to my home.

Although it hasn't been broken into I want to protect it immediately'."

Williams said far too many people do not make security a priority until they become victims of crime.

He said everyone needs to understand that burglar bars are not enough to keep criminals out of a house.

He said basic home alarm systems deter criminals, but can be much more effective when combined with closed circuit television cameras.

"One actually helps you with perimeter protection and the other one helps you to identify who was trying to make the attempted break in," Williams said.

"Sometimes it only takes about five or 10 minutes for someone to get into your house and you can lose thousands of dollars worth of items.

 "What we find is that people rationalize that and realize that alarms are now affordable."

Cates said until the unemployment problem is addressed and the economy fully rebounds, criminal activity, particularly armed robberies, crimes against property and commercial crimes will persist.

 "You have got some people out there who are desperate, and now that we've gone through the cycle of all that rain a few weeks ago where some people have lost everything they own, that desperation is now setting in," Cates said.

Last year, on average SSI installed two to three systems per day. It now averages four to five systems per day.

"That's pretty significant for a population our size if you think about it, and that is why I say there is a consciousness now of protecting one's assets and property," Cates said.

 While Cates and Williams said crimes against property and other serious crimes appear to be on the rise, the most recent statistics reflect a downward trend. Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade reported in April that crime decreased by 13 percent between January 1 and April 14, compared to the same period last year.

As it relates to crimes against property, every category recorded a decrease except for shopbreaking.

Burglary was down 28 percent; housebreaking was down 26 percent; stealing was down four percent; theft from vehicles was down 21 percent and stolen vehicle matters were down 13 percent.

 In contrast, shopbreaking increased by 10 percent. There were 233 cases reported up to April 14 last year, compared to the 256 recorded up to that point this year. But the headlines continue to be dominated by incidents of violent crimes against the person and property.

 Both owners insist that just the presence of some form of security system acts as a deterrent and can minimize losses and save lives. Both companies offer closed circuit television and time sensitive check-ins. SSI has more than 6,000 clients.

 According to Cates, around 60 percent is residential and 40 percent is commercial. Williams reported a similar breakdown of Pro-Tech's client base.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian