We investigated a solution to those who are looking to protect their homes while they're away or when it is vacant.
What we found is the answer may be as close as your neighborhood Radio Shack.
An all-inclusive device called Guardzilla is one example of motion detector cameras that can send immediate alerts and pictures to your cell phone if someone breaks in.
At $100 Guardzilla even has a siren and two-way talking capabilities to allow you to scare away or even talk directly to someone who's broken in.
Security expert Neal Custer says even an old cell phone with a free app can be a great security tool.
"One of them is a throw away phone, just a $15 phone with a camera in it and it's recording what's going on in this room."
Custer says technology is cutting into the realm of more traditional and more expensive home security providers.
"A lot of these are free, no monthly payment for an alarm monitoring company. It's gotta be cutting into their business."
None of the systems are perfect and most have mixed reviews online, but for a hundred bucks it's a cheap source of reassurance.
Some of the devices also work on cell service and have their own batteries in case the power or Wi-Fi is cut.
