Burglary protection guide
Presence simulation: how to protect your home from burglary
Burglars look for homes that seem empty. Good presence simulation makes your home look and sound lived-in – in the evening, during the holidays and especially during the day. Here is what really matters.
The key points at a glance
Light, shadows and sound make it look as if someone is at home.
Police forces and Swiss Crime Prevention (SKPPSC) recommend simulating your presence.
It only becomes convincing with movement: changing rooms, TV on and off, matching sounds.
Many burglaries happen in daytime. Then sounds deter most – everyday chores and a barking dog.
1What is presence simulation?
Presence simulation creates signs of life in an empty building: lights go on and off in different rooms, the TV flickers, shadows move behind the curtains, and you hear voices, cooking or a dog. From the outside, it looks as if someone is at home.
The simplest form is a timer switch on a lamp. A simulation only becomes truly convincing when several cues work together and keep changing – just like real life.
2Why presence simulation prevents burglaries
Most burglars want to work quickly and unseen. Before breaking in, they often check whether anyone is there: are the lights on? Can you hear anything? Is the mailbox full? A home that looks occupied is a risk for them – so they move on.
Police forces and Swiss Crime Prevention (SKPPSC) recommend simulating your presence.
Read the SKPPSC recommendation (in German) →
3What makes presence convincing: a day with KEVIN®
Real residents do not sit in the same light for hours. They leave a room and come back, switch the TV on and off again, change to normal light – and the sounds always match. This is exactly the variety KEVIN® creates:
- Morning
Kitchen light, coffee machine, radio in the background.
- Late morning
Vacuum cleaner, footsteps, dishes – typical everyday chores.
- Midday
The dog barks briefly, someone is on the phone in the living room.
- Afternoon
Someone leaves the room and comes back a little later.
- Evening
TV on: flickering screen, moving shadows, conversation.
- Late evening
TV off, normal light, tidying up in the kitchen.
- Night
Light in the bedroom, then everything goes quiet.
Thanks to AI, every day is different – no day, evening or night ever repeats.
During the day, sounds make the difference
Many burglaries happen in broad daylight, when light is hardly noticeable. Then sounds are decisive: anyone who hears vacuuming, clattering dishes, voices or a barking dog outside the door assumes someone is at home. KEVIN® plays these everyday sounds to match the time of day – deterring burglars during the day as well.
4Five features of a convincing simulation
Leaving a room, coming back, TV on and off, normal light – never at the same minute.
Only the combination looks real. Light alone quickly gives itself away.
Kitchen in the morning, chores during the day, TV in the evening, bedroom at night.
Visible from the street, audible at the door – where burglars check.
Not just on holiday: also during the day and early evening, while you work or are out.
5Timer switch, smart home or presence simulator?
Three solutions compared:
| Timer switch | Smart home | KEVIN® | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Moving shadows | – | – | ✓ |
| Matching sounds | – | ~ | ✓ |
| Automatic variety | – | ~ | ✓ |
| No installation | ✓ | – | ✓ |
| Works without Wi-Fi | ✓ | – | ✓ |
✓ yes · ~ partly · – no
6More tips for burglary protection
Presence simulation works best together with simple habits and good mechanical protection:
- Lock doors and close windows – a tilted window counts as open.
- Ask neighbours to empty your mailbox while you are away.
- Do not leave shutters closed for days.
- Do not announce your absence on social media.
- Secure doors and windows with certified locks; the police offer free advice.
7Presence simulation with KEVIN®
KEVIN® is the presence simulator from Switzerland. A single device creates light, moving silhouettes and sound – and keeps them changing convincingly all day.
- Room light, TV flicker and shadows of people
- Everyday sounds, conversations and dog barking – plus your own recordings via the app
- Schedules and geofencing: starts automatically when you leave
- No camera, no microphone, no installation – works without Wi-Fi too
8Frequently asked questions
Is a timer switch enough to protect against burglary?
A timer switch is better than nothing. Because it usually switches one lamp at fixed times and makes no sound, it is not very convincing – especially during the day.
Why are sounds so important?
During the day, light is hardly noticeable, so burglars often listen at the door. Voices, chores or a barking dog signal: someone is at home.
Does presence simulation replace an alarm system?
No. An alarm system reports a burglary; presence simulation aims to prevent it. The two complement each other, as does mechanical protection on doors and windows.
When should presence simulation run?
Whenever nobody is at home – not only during the holidays. With geofencing, KEVIN® starts automatically as soon as the last person leaves.