> Physical stuff (window bars and a security door) is much, much more effective
I've lived in a couple of countries where everyone has bars on all their windows due to perceived (in some case correctly, in other cases not) crime levels. It's... not great? I'd much rather live somewhere where I don't need to live in a prison compound.
When I’m looking to move to a new area, I check out how much security the local banks have. The more there is between the customer and the bank teller, the worse the area. Comcast offices can also be a good litmus test for this. When McDonalds has bullet proof glass… you probably don’t even want to stop to eat there, let alone live there.
I don't find surveillance cameras better in that regard. I think physical security can look decent too, like wrought iron window security bars can actually look quite nice imo.
I've lived in a couple of countries where everyone has bars on all their windows due to perceived (in some case correctly, in other cases not) crime levels. It's... not great? I'd much rather live somewhere where I don't need to live in a prison compound.