Zebra and Mercury Insurance provide these tips about monitored home security systems.

1. A monitored home security system has 24/7 monitoring. If an alarm is triggered, you and the monitoring system are notified. This means a quick response to a problem. 
2. Several of our insurance carriers offer discounts on homeowner insurance premiums if you have a monitored home security system. According to Zebra, these discounts may be up to 10%. But you need to check with your insurance company to find out if they have discounts and how much.
3. According to Zebra, on average, a theft claim may raise insurance premiums around 20%, and theft is the second most common homeowners claim, the first being fire.
4. Home security systems are important if you live in an area with high crime statistics or high-value homes, but they provide benefits to any homeowner. 
5. For general home security tips, take a look at our Home Security Tips blog.
6. Pro Tip: A monitored home security system is for the protection it provides and secondarily for the discount. While the potential discount may not recoup the cost of the system, it is about the peace of mind it brings.
7. Call a licensed insurance agent at The Whitlock Group to confirm you have the proper homeowners insurance policies in place and whether a monitored security system would be beneficial for you.