According to a report from the Wall Street Journal,"home owners worried about security while they are at work or on vacation have a range of new smartphone apps to help them remotely monitor their property and to notify them if there is a problem".
"Home owners worried about security while they are at work or on vacation have a range of new smartphone apps to help them remotely monitor their property and to notify them if there is a problem".
In the United States in 2012 there were more than 2 million burglaries, or about one every 15 seconds, according to government crime figures.
Large established companies and startups are offering apps that connect remotely to monitoring systems to help consumers keep their homes and property secure.
Viper Connect, for iPhone and Android, is an app that monitors homes and cars. The company supplies a do-it-yourself security system with motion sensors and video cameras, which can be placed around the home, and watched remotely.
"Traditionally unless a home had already been wired for security and automation, it was difficult and expensive for people to get the advantage of home security," said James Turner, vice president of product development at Viper, which is owned by Directed Electronics, in Vista, California.
Most security systems will notify the homeowners, while others like AT&T Digital Life will call the police if there is a break-in.
Smartphone owners looking for a cheaper solution can turn to apps such as Presence, a free app that lets users turn an old iOS device into a security camera that can be viewed remotely.
"It's an emerging market and I think it will catch on rapidly in the next two to five years," Turner said about security apps.
