Although many retailers are seeing a significant drop in sales as Americans try to control their spending in this uncertain economy, manufacturers of home security and residential safes are witnessing an increase in sales activities. Many homeowners are citing the fear of increased burglary and burglary as the reason for buying a safe. Additionally, news of bank failures is prompting many Americans to consider storing funds within their homes.
Fearing the worst in economic collapse, consumers are ignoring the FDIC insurance provided by most banks and keeping their cash at home. Many safe retailers are experiencing sales increases of 50 percent, and some as much as 300 to 400 percent. However, manufacturers caution that safes are not always theft-proof.
Many safes may advertise that they are fireproof, but a thief can simply put them aside to access the contents. Consumers are encouraged to do their research before purchasing a safe for storing cash, jewelry, valuables, and weapons.
Even when compared to the scare of 2000 and September 11, retailers say this season’s business dwarfs previous crises. Home security systems companies are also seeing sales increases of up to 20 percent this season.
Consumers fear that with the unemployment rate rising, vacations around the corner, and outdated credit extensions, some will resort to a worst-case scenario and attempt to steal valuables and cash from others. Even those who buy a quality safe should consider installing a home security system.
If the wrong people are paying attention to what your family has been up to, the knowledge of a new safe delivered to your home sets off many alarms in the mind of the wrongdoer. Now they know that you are keeping valuables at home and they can try to break into the computer when you are away or steal the entire safe.
Families who keep guns in their homes to protect themselves are urged to exercise more caution. Even buying a safe rated firearm to keep children and others away from guns is not a foolproof precaution. Those who obtain weapons for home protection should remember that weapons do not keep thieves away when they are not at home.
Installing a quality home security system with 24/7 monitoring protects you equally when you are at home or away. Burglaries, fires and carbon monoxide can be monitored by a third party, who will dispatch the proper authorities in the event that an alarm goes off when you are not at home.
Safes can provide an additional measure of protection for your valuables, but consumers are urged never to accept them as a substitute for proper control of their property. Many systems and service plans can be purchased and subscribed for for much less than the cost of a quality safe.
Before withdrawing all funds from a banking institution, consumers are encouraged to inquire about the status of FDIC insurance and how it affects their accounts. Most will be fully protected in the custody of the bank, although clients have the right to inquire about their levels of protection and exposure.