HONG KONG, Sept. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Hong Kong Police's figures, the local burglary rate ranks 6th highest among all crimes in Hong Kong. Every year, value of the property lost due to burglaries tops HKD 400 million. Home safety facilities are crucial to home burglary prevention while locks play a vital role. To understand local residents' awareness of home safety as well as their habits in choosing and purchasing door locks, Yale appointed The Public Opinion Program, The University of Hong Kong (HKU POP) to conduct "Hong Kong Home Safety and Door Lock Usage Survey." The survey revealed that 97% of respondents agree that door locks are important to home safety. However, 74% of respondents spend less than one week in choosing door locks for their residences. The results uncovered that locals may not spend enough time in choosing door locks for their homes, heightening the risk of home burglaries. Moreover, 30% of the respondents have experience of leaving their homes without locking the door or gate properly, reflecting the issue of low alertness to home burglaries.
Locals Lack Alertness to Home Burglaries
Initiated by Yale, "Hong Kong Home Safety and Door Lock Usage Survey" conducted by HKU POP took place from June 20 to June 25 this year. 520 respondents aged between 25 and 55 were interviewed by phone. According to the result, 97% of respondents agree that door locks are important or even very important to home safety. However, 74% of them only spend less than one week in choosing door locks for their residences. When choosing door locks, most of the respondents (53%) regard security function as the most important factor, followed by product material and quality (37%). "Most of Hong Kong people understand that door locks are extremely important to home safety. However they spend comparatively less time in choosing and consuming door locks, which means they may lack information about the functions, materials and types of door locks before making consumption decisions. Many of them think that 'simply a lock will be enough' and have no idea whether their door locks truly suit their residences or living environments. Locks play a vital role in home safety by protecting your residence from burglaries and serving as an exit when accidents happen. Nevertheless, figures[1] revealed that locals tend to choose and purchase Christmas gifts one month in prior to Christmas. The situation raises our concern as Hong Kong people nowadays spend less time in consuming door locks that matter to their own safety," Yale Representative, Ms. Irene Yip, General Manager of ASSA ABLOY Hong Kong Limited said.
Passive in choosing door lock, 200,000 females living alone are under threat of home burglaries
Whose opinions are most influential in door lock consumption? According to the survey result, most of the male respondents (44%) think that their own opinions are most influential, while most of the female respondents (48%) think that the opinions from their family members who live in the residence are most influential. Only 22% of female respondents think that their own opinions are most influential in door lock consumption. The result revealed that local females are comparatively passive in choosing door locks. "According to the statics from Census and Statistic Department, in 2011 there are over 200 thousands of females living alone in Hong Kong. If these ladies stay passive and keep relying on others to choose the door locks for their own residences, they might put themselves in danger of home burglaries by using door locks which does not suit their residences or living environments," Yale Representative, Mr. H.F. Mak, Department Manager of Retail & Distribution, ASSA ABLOY Hong Kong Limited remarked.
Stay Alert to Home Security
Mr. King Kong Ling, Retired Senior Inspector at Hong Kong Police, is invited to share his expertise in protecting ourselves from home burglaries. "It is very important for residents to stay alert to home security. Keeping valuables at home with weaknesses in security system will attract home burglaries. To prevent home burglaries, three main areas should be covered, namely outdoor area, entrance of the buildings and inside the residences. Door locks are very important to home security while the importance of bedrooms' door locks should not be neglected as they are the last defense safeguarding your personal safety," said Mr. Ling.
Other Survey Highlights:
[1] PayPal mobile sales figures during Christmas, 2011
