Home Security Reality Check -- December Property Crime Rundown in Texas

When you live in your house for a few years, and don't hear so much as the rustle of a leaf after you go to bed, it can be a little too easy to get complacent about home security. There are many safe neighborhoods in Texas -- but there are also bad things happening to good people all the time! Today we take a quick look at a segment of what's been happening on the crime front in Houston, and why Houston home security companies are urging people to be more cautious than ever.

Man suspected of sexually assaulting and robbing two women inside their homes

These two Houston cases have brought home the awful fact that sometimes a burglary doesn't just mean insurance paperwork to fill out and a fee … sometimes it means very real danger to your person. Two similar attacks have occurred in southwest Houston in November and December.

Several businesses hit by burglar

In the Rivers-Oaks area, police detained a suspect that had broken into around 6 businesses, it was believed. The businesses included a shoe repair shop, restaurants and a car service company. The alleged offender was found walking with a laptop it was believed was taken from one of the businesses the same morning -- police were alerted to the crime spree by security system alarms going off in the area.

Children's Toys Stolen

The Children's Center in Galveston was burgled early in December. Thieves took six sacks of toys from the premises which was not fitted with a burglar alarm. The toys were destined for 35 foster children, and it is thought to be someone who wanted the toys for their own children that stole them. Police replaced the toys.

Multiple house and apartment burglaries

Spotcrime.com lists an enormous number of break-ins and burglaries to houses and apartments in Houston over the December period, well into the hundreds. Security systems could have prevented many of these crimes, helping either catch serial offenders, or simply deterring burglars from going any further.

What Macaulay Culkin Taught Us About Security Systems

It may not be the most realistic film available today (but then again, what Hollywood movie has more than a passing resemblance to reality?) … but Home Alone certainly taught us that having burglars in your house can be hilarious. We aren’t advocating the actual use of any of these home security techniques … hopefully your common sense will prevent you entertaining the idea! It does provide a very entertaining, child's-eye view of home security, however.

1. Tar on the stairs, ornaments on the floor

After pouring adhesive tar all over the stairs, Kevin in "Home Alone" places broken Christmas ornaments all over the floor -- yeowch! Unless you wear a tinfoil hat, this method probably doesn’t appeal to you … but maybe you should keep a bucket of tar by the stairs just in case!

2. Heated door knobs

In the film, Macaulay Culkin heats the doorknobs from the inside, so that the Wet Bandits can't open them from the outside. This burns the emblem from the door knob into Daniel Stern's hand, provoking some hilarious screams that would probably be less funny if they were your own!

3. Paint cans on ropes

From the top of the stairs, in a gag with a very Nintendo sort of feel, Kevin drops paint cans which swing into the perfectly aligned faces of the Wet Bandits. Unfortunately this home security tactic, less messy or potentially dangerous to yourself than the others above, is also least likely to work! You'd anticipate the cans missing at least 90% of the time.

4. Irons on ropes

Again, this only worked in the movie because good old Daniel Stern stood still and looked up. The iron imprint was very, very funny … pity it would be a fire hazard in real life!

Obviously, home security is much funnier in the movies than in real life. You are probably as likely to hurt a member of your household as any unwelcome intruder with these tricks … monitored alarm systems I think will remain the gold standard, even for the comedy lovers. They'll have to get their kicks watching Robin Williams for a while yet!