Though home break-ins and burglaries happen every day, you never think it will happen to you. Last year, in Michigan alone, there were 19,414 reported burglaries. 12,611 of those took place at residences.
To clarify the terminology:
- Breaking and entering is the act of entering another’s property, by force or otherwise, without permission.
- Burglary is unlawfully entering a structure, such as a home or business, with the intent to commit a crime, typically theft.
- The key difference is intent: burglary involves intent to commit a felony or theft once inside.
Much to her surprise, an EPS Security customer, whom we’ll refer to as Linda, experienced a real break-in and possible burglary attempt on September 16, 2025, right here in West Michigan. Armed with an EPS Security home alarm system, here’s how the security event at her home unfolded.
The Night of the Event
It began as a normal evening. Linda, a middle-aged retiree who lives alone, had locked up her home and gone to bed. Then, in the middle of the night, her alarm system suddenly erupted.
At 11:34 p.m., the home alarm system at Linda’s home was triggered by activity near the back living room window. An automated text alert immediately went out to Linda, her son, and her son’s girlfriend, but since all three were asleep, no one responded.
Following standard procedure, an EPS Security Monitoring Center Operator began calling Linda’s emergency contact list.
Linda, listed first, didn’t answer the call; she was already awake inside the home, trying to understand what had caused the alarm.
“As I go to bed fairly early, my alarm system going off at 11:00 p.m. had me fairly rattled,” Linda explained.
The operator then reached Linda’s son, who lives nearby. He requested police dispatch, which was officially placed at 11:39 p.m. Meanwhile, his girlfriend successfully reached Linda by phone. She stayed on the line, checking to make sure Linda was safe and helping her assess the situation.
Linda couldn’t identify a clear cause. Thinking it might be a false alarm, her son later requested to cancel the police response, but officers still arrived, found no visible signs of forced entry, and cleared the scene.
Later that night, Linda looked around and inspected the property. That’s when she noticed the back living room window had been left unlocked, perhaps the reason for the triggered alarm.
The Morning After
The next morning, Linda spoke with her neighbors to see if anyone had noticed anything unusual.
“Later, I heard from one of my neighbors that one of her dogs was barking around that time of night, so they let him out. Another neighbor had (pretty grainy) camera footage of a truck idling out in the street, right in front of my home.”
The footage revealed someone had indeed approached the back window, attempting to gain entry at the exact time the alarm had sounded.
“Now I started believing someone actually tried to open a window.”
Linda promptly contacted the police again to update her original report with this new information. Reflecting on the experience, she shared:
“I am a retiree, and live alone, so I suppose I’m a fairly easy target… I’m extremely grateful for my EPS alarm system, as this could have ended differently if I didn’t have it in place.”
What To Do During A Home Break-in
Linda did the right thing by staying calm, staying inside, and letting her alarm system and EPS Security’s Monitoring Center do their job. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, here’s what security experts recommend:
- Stay quiet and avoid confrontation. Don’t attempt to confront an intruder. Move quietly to a secure room, lock the door, and remain there.
- Call 911 immediately. If you can safely do so, contact the police and provide your location, a description of the situation, and any sounds or movements you hear.
- Do not leave your home until the police arrive. Even if it seems like the intruder has left, stay put and wait for law enforcement to clear the area.
- Avoid touching doors, windows, or objects that may serve as evidence. Police will need these details for their investigation.
- Notify your alarm company. If your system was triggered, let your monitoring provider know so they can coordinate with authorities and document the incident.
A Reminder Worth Sharing
Linda’s story is a powerful reminder that home alarm systems do more than just deter criminals; they provide life-saving protection and peace of mind when it matters most. Even a single unlocked window can create an opportunity for crime, but a professionally monitored security system can make the difference between a close call and a serious loss.
EPS Security has been protecting Michigan homes for over 70 years, offering customized home security systems, 24/7 alarm monitoring, and fast emergency response through our owned-and-operated, UL-listed, and award-winning Monitoring Center.
If you’re ready to secure your home and loved ones, EPS Security can help.