Right, listen up, ya drongos and sheilas, ’cause ol’ Chopper’s got a few things to say about this whole “home security” lark. Seems like everyone and their dog’s plasterin’ cameras all over their houses these days. Flashin’ lights, beeping noises, the whole shebang. They reckon it’s gonna keep the crims away, make ’em think twice before breakin’ into your joint. Well, I’m here to tell ya somethin’ – it’s about as useful as a one-legged man in an arse-kickin’ contest.
Cameras? They ain’t no deterrent, mate. A crim worth his salt ain’t gonna give a rat’s about a couple of lenses starin’ at him. They’ll just chuck on a hoodie, a pair of sunnies, and bam – they’re invisible as far as those cameras care. I’ve seen blokes walk straight up to ’em with a big ol’ grin, give the camera the bird, and then proceed to help themselves to whatever’s inside. They know the cops ain’t gonna come tearing down the street just ’cause some camera spotted a mug in a mask. Takes weeks for anyone to even look at that footage, and by then, your stuff’s long gone.
Ya know what’s a real deterrent? Nosey neighbors. Yeah, the ones who keep stickin’ their beaks into everyone’s business. The ones who notice when somethin’ ain’t quite right. The ones who’ll actually pick up the bloody phone and give the police a call when they see a strange bloke loiterin’ around your place. It ain’t about bein’ a snitch neither. It’s about lookin’ out for your mates, your community. It’s about havin’ each other’s backs.
Remember back in my day? We didn’t have no fancy cameras. We had neighbors who knew your dog’s name, who knew when you went on holidays, and who knew when somethin’ just wasn’t kosher. They were the ones who stopped the dodgy blokes, the ones who scared off the lowlifes before they could even get close to your house. It was a bit of a two-way street, mind you. You watched out for them, and they watched out for you. If you were goin’ away, you’d give ’em a spare key to keep an eye on the place, pick up your mail… that’s how it was done.
Now, I’ll admit, sometimes those nosey biddies could be a right pain in the backside. Gettin’ their knickers in a twist over every little thing. But you know what? I’d take a busybody over a security camera any day of the week. At least they give a damn. At least they ain’t just recordin’ the whole thing while your house gets cleaned out.
And don’t even get me started on this whole “security system” business. Monthly subscriptions, alarmpanels, motion sensors… what a load of hogwash. It’s like those sheilas floggin’ diet pills and miracle creams. They promise you the world, but all they deliver is a lighter wallet and a false sense of security. Truth is, if a crim wants in, he’s gonna find a way, security system or no security system. They ain’t no match for a crowbar and a bit of determination.
But, you wanna know what the best security measure is of all? Common bloody sense. Lockin’ your doors and windows, good, old-fashioned deadbolts – that’s worth more than all the cameras and fancy alarms combined. Not leavin’ valuables in plain sight, bein’ aware of what’s goin’ on around you… that’s the good stuff. That’s the stuff that actually makes a difference.
Look, I ain’t sayin’ technology’s useless altogether. Sometimes it comes in handy. But don’t be a mug and think it’s gonna do all the work for you. Think those cameras are gonna substitute for a good, strong community? You’re dreamin’. If you wanna keep your stuff safe, and by that, I mean your family as well as your telly, then you gotta start takin’ some responsibility. Talk to your neighbours. Get to know ’em. Watch out for each other. That’s worth more than any security system the world could offer.
Remember, a camera ain’t gonna have a cuppa with ya when you’re feeling down and out. A camera ain’t gonna chuck your bins out or feed your cat while you’re on holidays. And a camera definitely ain’t gonna give the cops a kick up the backside when a crim does make a run for it. Your neighbors, though? They might just do all of that and more.
So, put the cameras down, stop fiddlin’ with those alarm panels, and go have a yarn with the folks next door. That’s how you really keep the crims at bay. Trust ol’ Chopper on this one.
