Security Briefings

There’s no reason you should have to wait until an intruder is at your door before alerting the authorities.  If you live in a house where you cannot hear people or vehicles entering your driveway, an Infrared Driveway Alarm is a perfect solution.  Far from being an ordinary motion sensor, an Infrared Alarm will detect moving heat in the form of a car engine, person, or large animal (no need to worry about squirrels setting it off).  The sensors are mounted above the ground either on a post or tree trunk, and at the same height as a car engine.

There are a few things keep in mind when purchasing an IDA for your home.  First, since it is an outdoor device, make sure that it is manufactured to be resistant to weather.  Also look for an alarm that can easily be added to your existing home security system.  Your security system installer will probably be able to help you pick out one that will work for your situation. (more…)

Tuesday, August 3, 2010 may have been just another day to you, but to millions of people across the country, August 3 was the 27^th Annual National Night Out.  Sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, the event began in 1984 as a series of community outdoor and porch-light vigils.  Today, neighborhoods celebrate with block parties, games, and festivals.  Other events include cookouts, parades, flashlight walks, and more.  NNO is designed to bring together neighborhoods, businesses, and community law enforcement officials.  After all, fighting crime in your neighborhood starts with understanding what it is you’re protecting.

The National Association of Town Watch, along with the Target Corporation and law enforcement agencies, tried to include as many communities as possible by offering financial support.  As mentioned in another post, even when times are tough, security and neighborhood community are still important—perhaps even more important—when it comes to preventing crime.  When you think about it, should communities really need a reason to come together? (more…)

Despite factors pointing to economic growth in the near future, there’s no denying that the last few years have seen some of the sharpest economic downturns in history.  As customers focus on cutting all but the essentials out of their budget, home security has actually seen their sales go up.  Is this just precautionary, or is there a direct link?

Security professionals say that there has been a corresponding growth in home intrusions during these financial difficulties, and home security systems from ADT, Logitech, and other companies can help protect against such crimes.  The ability to purchase a new security system for relatively cheap can also be a deciding factor, since families are willing to make this small sacrifice for the protection of their loved ones.  A new Logitech Wireless Home Security system is only $299 for the master system and $229 for cameras, while ADT offers a Safewatch QuickConnect option for $299 with a $42.99 monitoring feel. (more…)

They’re not just some words Bruce Springsteen put in a song once.  The right lighting can stop home intruders in their tracks, particularly with homes.  While a good home security system is still recommended to protect during the day, a security lighting system can serve as the proverbial icing on the cake of your home’s security.  It makes sense: lights give the impression of someone being at home, and could deter prospective intruders before they approach. If you have cameras, better security lighting can also make it easier to see the features of prospective criminals.

There are a variety of home security lighting options available, including phosphorescent, incandescent, solar, and LED.  Motion-detection is an extra feature which can save energy and surprise intruders.  Make sure that the lights are high enough off the ground to avoid being reached by criminals, and that the light is directed at the ground.  If the lights are poorly set up, they can actually help braver criminals by increasing the glare around your home. (more…)

When your home security system connects you directly to a monitoring network, you can trust and rely on the fact that authorities will be there quickly in the case of an incident.  However, they will also appear if you don’t prevent false alarms with your system, and these unexpected visits can end up costing you much more than your time.  They will result in fines of hundreds of dollars as well, and can also tax community resources that may be needed somewhere else.

ADT lists three main causes of false alarms: user error, faulty equipment or design, and acts of nature or vandalism.  They don’t list the percentages for each one, but before you go blaming your equipment you should probably make sure you’ve followed all of the instructions first.  Make sure your family is also educated in how to use the system, and any trusted friends or relatives that may be stopping by the house on a regular basis. (more…)