Home invasions spike alarm sales

TYLER- According to reports, with the increase in home burglaries and thefts around the area, home security is becoming a necessity from many homeowners.

The reason? Many believe the economy is forcing more people to desperate measures, even if that means burglarizing someone’s home.

Alarm companies, like Hawk Security Systems here in Tyler, are reporting an increase in sales since the economy started slowing down. They’ve seen a 25 percent increase in sales in the past six months alone, company officials said. The only time business was better in the alarm industry was immediately after the 9/11 terror attacks, experts said.

Now homeowners are concerned about the increase in crime. “Almost 20 years ago, 1 out of 80 homes were hit by crime,” Tommy Gandy with Hawk Security Service said. “But now according to the U.S. Department of Justice, 1 out of 4 homes are hit by some type of crime.”