It can sometimes be hard to know where we should invest our time, energy, and money. With today’s economy needs and wants are needing to be more clearly defined. A lot of people have begun to ask themselves “Are security systems really needed?”

The answer to that question depends on the level of priority you place your home and family’s safety. Do you wish to keep your home as safe as possible? Crime is one thing that will never disappear, unfortunately, so taking measures for your home security needs to be a priority. Whether you decide to use a security system to do this is up to you.

No one will know when or if their home will be robbed. Even if your home has never had problems in the past there is no guarantee that your home won’t be a target in the future. This could happen next week, next month or never.

Having a system in place for home protection is a wonderful preventative measure to keep break-ins from happening. Alarm systems reduce the chances you have of burglary happening to you. They are also handy in a lot of other ways, including warning police of break-ins, and warning you of any gas leaks or fires in the home.

alarm systems

The best option available to protect your home is to have a security alarm system. An alarm will give you added protection and is overwhelmingly the best security tool available now. It will also give you the peace of mind that your home is safe whether you are home or away.

Currently there are two systems being used with security alarms. Wired systems are the first version, and wireless systems are the second. Wired systems have cables that run through your home to connect with all the alarm sensors in your home.

Wireless systems are the superior method for alarm systems. Installing a wireless system is a lot easier than installing a wired system, and they are more reliable. Security professionals can install a wireless system within the hour, where before it use to take days.

Wireless systems also tend to be more advanced. Applications can now be used with them for added security measures. Some examples are wireless key remotes and phone applications.

Alarm systems are more reliable now than years past. There is a drastic decrease in false alarms that are happening. If you decide that an alarm system is needed for your home’s protection and family’s well-being, now is the time to get one. Alarm systems have never been so affordable.

Home security has been around for a long time. In earlier times guards were set in place to protect wealthy members of society and political leaders. Homes were also surrounded and protected by moats and tall, impenetrable walls.

Fads with home security have come and gone in America. In the times of pioneers, guns were a popular protective device to keep families safe on the prairie. Guard dogs and barbed wire fences were other safety measures that were used by business owners to keep burglars at bay.

Since the mid 1900s police officers have used video surveillance methods to watch for popular sites of criminal activities. By the 1970s that surveillance technology was on the market for businesses and wealthy homeowners to use. With the help of videocassette tapes, owners were now able to record activities with their video cameras instead of just monitor the activities.

People soon came to realize what a great asset a video camera could be as far as business and home security went. Larger businesses and banks were the first to take advantage of videos for security purposes. It eventually moved on to become a popular home security measure.

Since the 1990s security cameras have made some great advances in helping keep homes protected. Videos now have much clearer images, have back up systems in place so burglars can’t simply turn off the electricity to dismantle them, and they are made smaller so they are not as easily spotted. They even come with night vision so they can record activities that happen in the dark.

Be careful with where you place cameras, however. Certain States have laws put in place to protect individual citizen’s privacy. Check with your State and city laws before you decide to install a secret camera, like a nanny camera, so you do not have to deal with legal issues later on.

home security

Home security alarm systems were introduced as a security measures in the 1980s. This mainly consisted of a loud alarm siren that would go off if someone tried to enter your home. These alarms were only ordered through a few, specific security providers.

Now there are many security companies that you can choose from, with a wide variety of safety services. Home security systems have already grown by replacing hardwired systems with wireless systems. Security companies monitor homes 24 hours a day and alert emergency personnel when there is a break in, and there are other advances that are being made each year.

Go the extra mile when searching for a security company. There are many good security companies out there, but there are also plenty of bad ones in the mix. You can never be too careful with the company you choose with your home safety.

There are many things to watch out for when it comes to bad security companies. One of those things is customer service and how they treat their clients needs. Another warning sign is that they advertise they are using state-of-the-art technology and are in actually still using older home safety devices, such as wired systems instead of wireless systems.

Do your research before you sign up with a security company. Ask around to see what companies friends and neighbors recommend. Ask people you trust and compare the companies you are told.

home safety

Another way to find out how well a company does is by looking at their reviews. The Internet is a great place to find this kind of information out. However, understand that not all information posted may be accurate or truthful.

Some companies may try to pull scams by using false reviews. They may leave positive reviews on their own site, instead of their clients. Pretending to be their own clients can fool others in to thinking that they are a good company, while that may not actually be the case.

Also be careful about the types of reviews you read. Realize that just because there is negative comments about the company does not mean the company is automatically a bad choice. No company is perfect, and everyone has difference styles and tastes. Read the review and see if the things the person is unhappy about are things that matter to you or not.

Customer reviews are great for gauging how the company treat their clients. Experts can also give good reviews to help you guess how well established and reputable the security company is. Check out larger review sites online, such as epinions.com, for more accurate reviews.

You will be working closely with your security company. Choose your company wisely. Take advantage of others who have taken this road before you, and read their reviews to get a better feel for the company before you decide to sign with them.

Spare keys can be very useful. They can be handy in case of emergencies, such as locking yourself out of your home or needing a plumber to come fix a busted pipe while you are at work. However, for home security you do not want to keep your keys in an easy to spot place.

Hide-a-keys were a smart invention, but they are overused now. Hide-a-rocks can quickly be searched for by burglars since they are a popular device. Hiding keys in pots, above doors, and under mats are also easily spotted by thieves and risk your home security.

home security

One option available now is the lock box. This box lets you place the key in the box, and secure it with a combination lock. It is a very small box, which allows you to hide it more effectively.

Lock boxes can be made to fit one key, or up to five. There are a variety of styles and colors to choose from, which allow you to place them in different areas of your home effectively. It is best to keep them hidden if possible, instead of in an easy to see place.

Lock boxes can be mounted to your home as an additional home security measure. This can be a handy option since it ensures that a burglar can’t walk off with it and spend time trying to break it open. Wall-mounted systems can be hidden in hidden places around your property.

Lock boxes can also be designed to be electronic. Electronic key boxes allow you to change the codes after someone uses it. It also keeps track electronically every time the box is open, telling you the date and time it was used.

Key boxes have locks on them. Usually it is a combination lock, which can be handy. If you need to let someone use the key box, you can easily change the combination so they can’t use it again.

If you are worried about copies being made of your keys use bonded keys. These “do-not-duplicate” keys made it so that only you can get duplicate sets of the keys. Try a brand such as Medeco. They are more pricey, but are good home security keys.

A lot of us have been there. We start dating someone who we think is cute, funny and charming and in a short amount of time realize that our boyfriend is actually the opposite. Controlling boyfriends can be dangerous and abusive, and it is important to get out of this type of relationship while we can.

Breaking things off with a boyfriend who is controlling can be a scary prospect. This is especially true for someone who perhaps has already been physically, emotionally, or even sexually abused by a controlling boyfriend. That is why is is important to keep safety measures in place to protect you from getting hurt by him again.

The first step in breaking things off with a boyfriend is to let your friends help you and support you. Ask them to come over to your home when you decide to break things off. This will not only protect you from physical harm at the moment, but will let him know that you have a support system in place so he better not try to pull any funny business during the break up.

Once you have broken up with him, continue to have friends around. Remember home security measures. Change all of the locks he may have keys for. If he was controlling, there is a chance that he may have made copies of your keys. To be safe, change any locks with keys.

Next, if you do not already have one, install a home security alarm system. Security alarm systems monitor the activities of your home. If he does ever try to gain entrance with out your permission, your security company will be alerted immediately when the alarm system is triggered.

Other types of alarm systems can be put in place to give you an additional security level. Panic buttons can also be placed around your home. Many single women place panic buttons in their bedroom next to their bed. That way, if they are ever scared the alarm company can send in reinforcements.

Most of the time, if the boyfriend knows you are serious about breaking things off he will leave you alone. Having strong friends and influences in your life make it much harder for them to stick around. When you isolate yourself from others, that is when it is incredibly hard to keep him away from you.

If he will not leave you alone, do not try to take the matter in to your own hands. Instead, ask for the police to get involved. You can press charges and get restraining orders to keep your boyfriend from coming back to bother you.

We have written a few articles about the need for home security systems. There is a high volume of property crimes that happen every year. This trend is continuing to grow.

Because of this, there is a high demand for home security systems. Residential and business security systems are improving with newer technology. An example of this is transferring their systems over from wired systems to wireless systems.

Professional security companies are doing their best to keep up with the high volume of clients that are wanting security systems. They want to provide the best security for their clients and are offering more personalized services for their clients. In today’s economy, prices are more affordable now than ever before.

It is still important to do your research before you decide on a security company. While many security companies are sincere in their efforts to keep their clients safe, some are not. Do your research and check customer reviews before signing on with a company.

Most security companies offer more than just one home security system. Systems that are often seen are fire alarms, gas alarms, and burglar alarms in case someone breaks in to the home. Other systems include video surveillance systems, remote video monitoring, and digital video recording.

The trend in home security is to be competitive in systems as well as in pricing. This is good news for those seeking home security protection. Not only are companies adding top of the line security measures to their systems, but they are doing them at affordable prices.

Other security trends are constant monitoring of the home. Companies are offering 24 hour a day monitoring to ensure that the homes are protected. This can be good for homeowners and business owners alike.

Lastly, companies are doing their best to keep burglars from trying to enter homes and businesses. However, since there is a chance that burglars can still enter the home companies are also doing their best to get help to the home as quickly as possible. Phone calls to emergency personnel, cell phones, and even neighbors can now be made to get someone to the home quickly, which can be essential if people are at home when the break in happens.

Have you ever watched a show and thought how unrealistic it was? I am not talking about the made up vampire sitcoms, or old re-runs of family shows. I am talking about most shows total lack of home security measures.

Does this scenario sound familiar? The show opens up to one of the main characters sitting on a couch, watching TV or reading a book. Within a few moments the front door is opened by a good friend who has stopped by to visit with them.

home protection

This exchange may seem harmless, but to a trained security expert it makes me squirm a little. First of all there are thousands of people who watch the show every week who are affected by its contents. Things that are shown on that show may have a lasting appeal. Anyone remember the hundreds of women who went and got a “Rachel” cut? That’s what I am talking about.

While I understand that TV shows are meant to entertain people, it can be hard to not be somewhat saddened by the total disregard for home security on many of these episodes. Home security measures can really help keep your home or apartment safe from possible harm. While home security does not necessarily mean you have to lock down your entire home, keeping the door locked is a safety measure that should be instilled in our minds.

Lets look a little closer at a specific TV show. Lets consider the once popular sitcom Friends and see how they would handle the threat of burglary, assault, and other property and personal crimes. Think back on the show and try to remember any home security measures that Monica made for her apartment? Or even Chandler and Joey, for that matter.

The answer is, almost always nothing. The friends were constantly going in and out of each others apartments with no locks or alarm systems in place. This is pretty unbelievable for apartments in New York City, when at the time New York had a very high crime rate.

Why do shows, like Friends, choose to disregard home safety tactics? Timing. I don’t believe that the writers of the show really believe that the characters of Friends would live in an apartment with out some added security measures, especially the wound up Monica. The truth is, the sitcoms do not have enough time to waste writing about the characters locking and unlocking doors, setting on alarm systems or turning off smoke alarm systems.

Just because TV does not often show safety measures in your home does not mean you need to follow their example. Keep your home protected by contacting security professionals to install a top-of-the-line wireless security alarm, or up to date locks for your home. Utilize smart safety measures for your home and you will not be disappointed.

Home safety is important at any time of life. Just because you are living in an apartment and going to college does not mean you should forget basic home safety skills. Here are a few suggestions on ways to improve your personal and home safety while at school.

Home safety starts by following your instincts. If you do not feel right about something, or feel it is not safe, it probably isn’t. Don’t go there. There is safety in numbers, which is why dorm mates are important. Don’t go to parties or activities alone.

Be aware of possible dating scenarios that can happen. Be smart about the people you date. Be aware that alcohol and other drugs can allow you to be taken advantage of. Never leave your drink unattended because of “date rape drugs”.

home protection

If you are on a date, let a friend or roommate know. Tell them where you are planning on going, with whom, and when you are expected to come back. They could even give you a call midway through the date to check up on your safety if needs be. This is especially true on first dates.

Basic home safety knowledge are also important in apartments. Lock your doors and windows when you leave and when you go to sleep. If you have older locks, ask your landlord to replace them with a good quality lock to keep your safe.

Be careful of places where potential attackers or burglars could hide. Keep outside lights on so you can easily see outside before you open the door and walk out. Peep holes in your door are also a good idea.

Don’t get in to cars with strangers, nor offer a ride to a stranger. Keep your car door locked and the car alarm turned on when you leave it. Only park in well lit areas.

Lastly, be smart in your choice with sororities or fraternities that you join. Use good judgement. Avoid the type of groups that will expect your to do dangerous or illegal initiations.

Home burglaries, property crimes and business invasions are continuing to happen frequently. Thousands to millions of dollars are continuing to be stolen by burglars in businesses and homes around the nation. Crime statistics show that crime is still on the rise.

A lot more people are installing home security systems in their homes, and business security systems in their businesses than ever before. People have started to fight back against these home attacks. When your home is a target, having your home monitored by security professionals is an easy choice to make.

There are a variety of types of security systems that can be used to protect your home or business. Many people like what a video alarm surveillance system offers. They offer many advantages to the owner of the home or business.

It is important to use the right type of camera at your location. There are many different types of video surveillance that you can choose from. Wireless cameras, Mini spy cameras, and night vision cameras are a few examples of the cameras that can be used.

Home Safety

When you are picking out your camera take in to effect the size of the area you will be surveying and the lighting that will be available. You will need a different camera at your front entrance of your home, for example, than one you would use in a convenience store. When you have installed your video make sure to advertise that you are recording their actions.

Letting people know that they are on camera can deter them from doing criminal activities. This will not, however, guarantee that nothing bad can happen. Video surveillance systems can record their doings, but with out an alarm security system your home or business security will do little to stop them in the act.

Modern technology allows your home or business to be on alert for any break-ins. Glass break sensors can detect when a window is broken. Security systems use movement sensors to instantly activate the second someone passes in front of them.

Security professionals can meet with you to discuss ways to protect your business or home. They are best able to help you come up with a security plan. They also have the best information regarding the types of security and surveillance technology that is available.

Crime rates are rising. It is no wonder that many of us our nervous about our home security. Security systems are rising in popularity for a number of reasons.

Security systems protect both your family and your home from harm. Everyone wants their homes to be a refuge they can go to. Owning a home security system helps you achieve this.

We sometimes live with a false sense of security. Homes with out security systems will quickly find themselves targets to property crimes. Security systems give your home a much higher chance of not being burglarized, and keeps your family members out of harms way.

home protection

Concern for the safety of your family is only natural. It is understandable that many people want to protect their property. Alarm systems make this more possible.

Burglaries can happen at any time of the day. It usually happens during the day when they know you are at work or away from home. Your home can still be broken in to while you are inside, which makes you and your family vulnerable.

Having an alarm system allows your home to be safe any time of the day. Your home will be monitored by a security company at all times. This can be a good reassurance to your home security when you know that if a serious threat does arise someone will be there to alert professional emergency help.

If a burglar knows your home has a home alarm, they often stay away. If they decide to take the risk, once the alarm sounds more often than not the burglar decides to not stick around for the police. When someone breaks in to your home, an alarm also warns you of it so you can take the necessary precautions you know to get your family out of harms way.

There are a lot of benefits involved with using alarm systems. Being able to live in a secure home will allow your home to be the refuge you hope it to be. Install an alarm system today.

You can protect your home from burglary and home invasion in a variety of ways. The best way is to use a working security system. Security systems have a lot of parts that connect with each other and work with one another.

Security systems use the home protection tools such as home alarm systems, smoke and heat detectors, and gas detectors. Security systems also have an alarm system known as a glass break detector. The alarm listens for the sound that shattered glass makes to alert you of a break in.

Glass detectors can also be called audio discriminators. They tune in to the specific sound frequency that glass makes. When the glass breaks, the specific sound frequency is heard by the alarm and it goes off.

Security systems use glass break detectors as an additional security measure. They work well with motion detector alarm systems. You can use glass break monitors near windows and glass doors.

glass break detector

Glass detectors can be put in different areas of your home. It is best to place them in an area with a lot of windows, since they cover a 35 foot radius. Living rooms are a popular choice to place them.

Two types of glass break detectors can usually be found. Single technology is the alarm that listens for any sign of glass breaking. Duel technology also listens for breaking glass, but also listens for the point of impact on glass before it shatters.

Single technology listens specifically for splintering wood and breaking glass. If the sound of glass breaking happens, the alarm goes off and your company is alerted immediately. The drawback with this type of system is that any breaking glass can set the alarm off, even if someone shatters a cup in the kitchen.

Duel technology takes the system one step further to reduce the chances of false alarms going off. They listen for a thud, or point of impact, against the glass before it breaks. This makes it easier for the alarm to know whether someone is trying to break in to your home with a crowbar, for example, and the sound of wine glasses hitting one another.

Home security alarm systems are a great security measure for any women. Women who live alone especially have an important need for sound home security. Safety in numbers is not just a popular saying. Single women are targets to unruly characters.

Single women need to take home security very seriously. She will need to take steps to increase her home security by making herself less of a target. For different methods that can be used to give off the facade that you are not alone in your home, refer to our previous article regarding home security for women who live alone.

The world wide web allows anyone around the world to access your information. That is why women should be extra careful about the information they list online. Never list your phone numbers or address on the Internet.

Self defense classes can be another good option. They can come in handy in case you are attacked and need to protect yourself. They also teach you great safety principles to keep you from being a victim in the first place.

burglar alarm

It is important to never give out personal information to anyone you have met online. Online dating and chatting can be very dangerous. If you do decide to take the risk and meet them, be sure you meet up somewhere public where a lot of other people will be.

When you go to meet with someone you have met online ask one of your friends to tag along with you. Also, have another family member or friend call you at least once during your date to check up on you. The phone call will let your date know that someone else knows where you are, who you were with, and when you were planning on getting home.

If you know of other women who are living alone, watch out for each other. Having a buddy system adds extra safety. If you are going out for a run, run together, etc.

Professional security measures such as alarm systems will go a long way to keep your home safe. Using extra safety precautions will not only help you make smart choices with your home security, but also your personal safety as well. Be sure to use other security measures around your home, such as strong locks, outdoor lighting, and alarm systems.

Gas detector alarm systems do a great job with protecting your family and home from harm. Gas leaks can cause very dangerous situations. They are a danger to your home, and especially to all the family members in the home.

Gas leaks can be fatal if not caught quick enough. Natural gas is nearly impossible to detect. It naturally is odorless, and there is no way to tell if a gas leak has occurred.

home protection

To help protect against incidents happening, gas companies put a strong smell in their gas so individuals can recognize there is a gas leak. While this has helped many people, smell alone is not a good enough protection against every situation. Other safety precautions should be taken to ensure your safety in case of a leak.

Gas detectors can be bought with a home alarm system, or separately. In either instance, be sure to only have a skilled electrician or security professional install it. You want to make sure that it is installed properly.

Gas detector alarm systems have different levels of sensitivity to gas leaks. The alarms use lower explosive limit, or LEL, to decide the level of the alarm’s sensitivity to gas. The higher the LEL, the less sensitive the alarm will be.

Normally the more sensitive the alarm the better. However, if you do not want the alarm to go off every time you light a match then it is best to find one with the right degree of sensitivity. Place the detector near your gas lines where they need to be the most sensitive.

If the alarm does go off, leave your home immediately. Do not risk sticking around your home. Let your security company take care of calling for help if the gas detector alarm system goes off.

Take safety precautions with your home by installing a working gas detector alarm system. A gas leak is very dangerous. It can be lethal if breathed in by family members, and is a serious concern to your home since it can cause a fire to start, or even an explosion. Take precautions now to keep your home and family safe.

Home security needs to be a priority for your family and your home. It can keep you safe against vandalism, burglary, and other crimes. Homes are major targets to this type of crime, so advertising your home security measures can be very beneficial.

A way to advertise that you have a security alarm system is to use yard signs. Yard signs are a security measure you can take to alert potential thieves that your home is installed with a home security system. Yard signs are a good way to advertise your system, since they can be placed in easy to see spots.

Security signs can be a good asset to your home security. They are the first thing a thief will see when they case out your home. Security signs can quickly convince a thief to choose another home – one without a home security alarm.

Home protection

Security yard signs do a good job with warding off thieves and burglars. They do such a good job, in fact, that some people choose to put security signs on their lawn with out actually owning an alarm system. They bank on the fact that an intruder would rather skip their house rather than risk getting caught if an alarm goes off when they break in to the home.

Home alarm systems have been proven to scare off potential thieves. However, home security alarms are irreplaceable when it comes to home safety. Security alarms protect your home 24 hours a day and alert emergency personnel in case of break ins, while a yard sign cannot.

It is essential for the security sins to be placed in the right spot. They are there to advertise your alarm system. Don’t place them in hard to see spots, or they will be in-effective.

Good places to put your yard signs are at all the exterior doors, flower beds, and on your garage door. Of course you can place larger yard signs on your front lawn, though this could be too tacky for some people. It is a good idea to place a sign by your front gate or curb next to your driveway when you have longer or winding driveways.

Be careful what type of security sign you put in your front lawn. If it is not a real one, it will do the opposite of what you are hoping. Thieves can quickly identify fake signs, so make sure you use the ones your security company provides with your system so they are credible.

So you’ve decided to buy an alarm system. If statistics are anything close to correct, you’ve made a wise decision. As far as home protection goes, there’s really nothing better out there than a security system to give you peace of mind. Now that you’ve found an alarm company, designed a security system for your home, and had the equipment installed, it’s important to go over some ideas that can make using and maintaining your security system as easy as possible.

Choosing a password for your security system is both essential and, according to some, an art. Choose a password that’s easy for everyone in your immediate family to remember but hard enough for an intruder to figure out. Once you’ve chosen a password, make sure all your family members know it, and make sure anyone else with access to your home knows it as well. They’ll need it if your alarm is ever triggered.

Once you’ve chosen a password for your alarm, it’s time to make sure your alarm settings are customized to what you and your family need and want. This includes making sure your entry and exit delays are up to snuff. You don’t want to your security system sounding off if you’re not fleet of foot.

home protection

An important part to owning a home security system is maintaining the security equipment. If you decided to purchase a wireless alarm, maintenance is a relatively easy task. You won’t need to replace the batteries on the individual sensors for a number of years, but you need to make sure you test your security system monthly to make sure that it’s working.

Buying a security system is only half the battle. Maintaining your security system and making sure your alarm system is working how you want it, when you want it to is just as important. Taking additional steps with your home security system means you’ll have great home protection for years to come.

Making the decision to purchase an alarm system is a good one. In fact, more and more people across America are choosing to purchase and install monitored home security systems. Security systems themselves are becoming more affordable while home security technology is advancing. While alarms have advanced from simple wired sirens to fully integrated solutions (both wired and unwired) that are becoming more and more adept at home protection.

Buying and installing a home security system is only one step to protecting your home. Every home security company whether they sell you the equipment, or in some cases give you the equipment for free, will also give you some handy materials that can keep your home safer in addition to your new home security system. The home security yard sign and decals that your security company includes with every home alarm are worth their weight in gold.

home protection

Home security yard signs and window decals are not only free, they’re extremely valuable when protecting your home. Sure, having a home security system with great monitoring is probably the ultimate protection for your home, often the value of home security can be measured in the small details.

Make sure you place your alarm yard sign in your yard where it is easily visible to any would-be intruder. Many home security companies now include lighted yard signs with each alarm. Lighted yard signs are usually powered by a solar energy so you never have to replace batteries or worry about upkeep. Also make sure you place your window decals on the lower level windows where intruders can have easy access to your home.

Yard signs and window decals are a great edition to any home security system. Properly placed, they can boost your home protection and make sure you get your money’s worth out of your home security system.

Home security has come a long way over the last several years. At their advent, home security systems were nothing more than wired sirens that would alert homeowners. Later, monitored security systems (alarms attached to a monitoring station) started giving homeowners more peace of mind. Alarms also became wireless years later, giving homeowners the freedom to install alarms in their homes without having to drill holes in walls and run wires through the home.

Recently, two-way voice technology became a reliable option for homeowners. Two-way voice technology meant that monitoring stations didn’t have to contact homeowners via a telephone call in the event of an emergency. Monitoring stations could now listen in and communicate directly with homeowners if an alarm was triggered.

The most advanced home security systems now feature cellular technology. Home security systems that come with cellular technology run off cellular signals instead of having to rely and land lines in the case of an emergency. Now it doesn’t matter if your landlines are cut during a burglary. Cellular technology has taken home security along with home protection to a whole new level.

Not only has home security technology increased over the last several years, but the monitoring that comes with each alarm has improved as well. Alarm monitoring used to be an expensive affair, but now homeowners purchasing an alarm system can get great monitoring for just a little over a dollar a day. This means that their homes are being monitored 24/7 by professionals.

Now alarm companies have combined two-way voice technology as well as cellular technology into a single, wireless alarm system. Homeowners now don’t have to choose which features they want with their home security systems. They can have them all in one—a wireless home security system equipped with two-way voice and cellular technology—all monitored for an affordable price.

Women who live by themselves are very vulnerable. They can easily become the victims of stalking, robberies, and even rape. It is essential for these women that live by themselves to take proper precautions for their safety.

Single women should take extra steps to make themselves less of a target to these types of crimes. It is important that they make it hard for any criminals to enter their home. Physical barriers and alarm systems are a few safety measures they can take for their home’s security.

Home security starts with making smart decisions. A woman living in an apartment on the bottom floor, for example, will be much more of target than one on the top floor. Criminals are more likely to be heard on an upper story and can break in easier on the bottom floor.

women & home security

New locks should be installed in all windows and doors. If you have a sliding glass door you can keep it secure by placing a stick in the track so that no one from the outside can open the door. Deadbolt locking systems need to be installed on all entrance doors.

It is also a good idea to keep your curtains drawn so you don’t draw the attention of outsiders. If you don’t like having your curtains drawn, try using tinted windows instead. That way you can easily see outside your windows, but people outside cannot easily see you.

Home security alarm systems are the best home safety measure you can take. Security systems are essential if you want to prevent intruders from breaking in to your home easily. Home security systems not only prevent crimes from happening, but they also alert emergency personnel immediately if someone does decide to enter your home.

Home security system accessories can come in handy for single women. There can be panic buttons placed around key points of your home. This can be a very nice feature to keep you safe from home invasion or sexual assault.

There are other needed steps that a single women should do to keep herself from being targeted by criminals. It is important to be educated on safety measures and to make it appear that they are not by themselves in their apartment. Don’t take unneeded risks. Talk to a security company today.

When you leave your home on vacation there are many worries that crop up about the safety of your home while you are away. Uninhabited homes are higher targets for burglaries and vandalism. Vacationing can be a little intimidating in regards to your home’s protection, but leaving a vacation home you don’t stay in often can be even more nerve-wracking.

One option to keep track of the security and home protection of your vacation home is to install video surveillance cameras. Surveillance cameras can be installed inside and outside your home. There are three main surveillance cameras: hardwired system, stand alone, and Wireless IP cameras.

home surveillance

Hardwired systems use wires to communicate with different devices to record the coming and goings of your vacation home. These recordings can be saved on a DVR for you to view the next time you visit your vacation home. They can also use the Internet to transmit videos for you to monitor through the convenience of your home computer or laptop.

Hardwired systems can be programmed to record 100% of the time you are away. If recording the videos on a DVR, however, it is important to replace the videos often so that the recordings on the DVR don’t record over a previously used video. Sending the videos through the Internet can be a nice, convenient option, but some people choose to use a DVR to cut on Internet cost.

Stand alone cameras are usually stuck in a specific area of your home. They are usually set with motion activated cameras so they only record when their motion sensor goes off. Recordings are usually placed on the camera’s SD card, though they can also be programmed to record on a DVR.

Wireless IP cameras use IP Internet networks for monitoring. They rely on a high speed Internet. The Internet connection provides a live feed option. Many people enjoy the option of knowing that their home was still safe as they were watching the video.

The IP network relies on both indoor and outdoor windows for surveillance. Videos aren’t specifically limited, but can be placed anywhere around theproperty. Wireless IP cameras can be set to go off on a timer, or through motion sensors.

Don’t let fear about your vacation home’s safety ruin your day. Vacation home protection is achievable. Speak with a professional security company to learn what security options are available for your home.

It can be hard to take security seriously if we have never witnessed a crime. We can live in a false sense of security for a long time. This will quickly change, however, when we come home one night to find our place ransacked and thrashed because of a burglary.

Home safety should be a priority, even if you haven’t personally been taken advantage by a thief. There is no formula to expect which home will be targeted next. There are many ways to protect your home to prevent a burglary from happening, so take matters in to your own hands now to make sure you don’t become the next victim of a burglar.

apartment home security

Preventing home invasion can be done in a variety of ways, but the ultimate way is to install a good alarm system. A security alarm system can keep your home protected at all times of the day. It will alert personnel if your home does get broken in to, and local police can be on the scene in such a short time that thieves will have a hard time getting away with many valuables, if any.

If you live in an apartment, security can be a little hard to figure out. Since you don’t own the property you have no way of keeping track of everyone who has access to your building. Crime and burglary can happen relatively easy in apartment complexes because people don’t tend to question the comings and goings of individuals as much as people would in a neighborhood.

The best option to keep your family and properties safe is with an alarm system. A lot of people understand the need for an alarm system, but choose not to get them. The two main complaints seem to stem from the concern that a security alarm will cost too much, or be too much of a hassle to install.

The truth is that alarm systems now come with wireless systems. This makes installation very easy to do, and will not take up a lot of your time. Wireless systems are a perfect solution for apartments because of their convenience and reliability.

Many security companies will also cater the security system to meet your needs. If you don’t have the need of a full blown home security alarm system, they may offer your a beginning starter kits. These starter kits usually consist of a few motion sensor alarms that work great for apartments with only on door entrance and a few windows.Starter kits can be upgraded when your finances and circumstances allow.

Wireless systems are easy to install in apartments, and they are also just as easy to uninstall. Another perk is that many security companies don’t charge a moving fee when moving wireless systems. This can be an advantage for clients who want the benefit of home security, but are unsure how permanent their residence will be.

Home security needs to encompass every part connected to your home, not just the main establishment. A lot of people don’t realize that burglars also enter garages and basements to steal items, just as often as they do the main floors of your home. Basement security should be considered a part of your home security.

Basements are usually dark and a little bit scary, but thieves thrive on this type of environment. Basements can be easy to access, and are not rooms that are often inhabited. Just because a room is not used doesn’t mean other people won’t find use of it.

basement home security

All windows that are used for your basement need to be secured. Replace all older window models. A lot of older basement windows will be flimsy, making them easy for a thief to break.

Fit every window with a window lock. Locks need to be placed on the inside of a sturdy window frame. Be sure to teach your children how to undo all window locks in case of an emergency, like a fire.

An alarm system needs to incorporate your basement. Be sure that there are window alarms on your basement windows as well. An alarm system only works to alert you where their sensors are actually placed.

Deter burglars from choosing your basement or home by alerting them of your working alarm system. Place window decals on your basement windows in case they don’t see the ones on the main story windows. Yard signs are another way to advertise that you have an alarm system.

Make it harder for thieves to reach the basement by including barrier methods on the outside of your home. Thieves will think twice of crawling through thorny rosebushes or cacti plants. Don’t try to use trees or tall bushes as a barrier method, because thieves are likely to use them to hide behind.

Protect every area of your home. Remember that your basement needs to be secured just as much as any other room of your home. Your home security will depend on it.

Your children’s safety is always a main priority. It is important to let your children branch out and gain more independence as they age, but safety should always be considered. Their safety should never be neglected.

The choice to allow children to stay home on their own is a difficult one. The age is different for each parent. Once the choice has been made, however, it is still equally important to provide adequate security solutions for your child since he will no longer be chaperoned.

Children and home protection

An awesome choice for leaving your children alone is to install a home security alarm system. It provides great protection and is a great preventative measure to keep burglars at bay. More and more families are installing home security alarm systems in their home each year because of their safety features.

When you are not able to physically be home with your child, and alarm system is. Security systems monitor your home 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your child is constantly being monitored and watched.

Professional security companies can help you know the best security system to use. Find a company that is family friendly. It is important that they work with the fact that you have children, instead of against it.

All older children should know how to use the alarm system. Your professional security company should take the time to explain to all of your family how to properly access the system. Emergencies can happen at any time, so it is important that all members be prepared ahead of time and know how to properly use the alarm system.

You can protect your children further by installing other security measures. Be sure that your home has fire and smoke detectors in place in case of a fire. Another great idea is to install a carbon monoxide detector in case of gas leaks.

Children should also be taught safety rules. Remind them the tale-tell information, such as proper behavior that strangers and acquaintances should have towards them, or to always check the peephole before opening the door. These things may seem mundane to you, but they are important to your children’s safety.

Security systems are needed now more than any other time in history. Homes in particular are getting hounded a lot with property crimes and burglaries. Our society is constantly being attacked by crime and security risks.

Security systems can help you reach your hope for home safety. Everyone hopes for a home that is safe to raise a family. While this goal can be achieved, there are still many things that need to be done in order for this to happen.

Statistically, 4 homes get broken in to somewhere in America every minute. People are still in need of good home security. If you aren’t prepared for a burglary you are risking your home, valuables, and family’s safety.

home security

Some burglars choose to creep in to a home during the night. This can be a serious threat to your family if your family is already asleep at the time. Burglaries happen most often during the day, but there are still times when night-time burglaries happen.

If someone does try to break in to your home, an alarm system is activated and they will most likely make a run for it. Security alarm systems really help out during nighttime burglaries. More often than not alarm systems frighten burglars away.

An alarm gives you more advanced time to wake up and react to a home invasion, so you can get to your children before a thief does. Your home is constantly being monitored by your security company in case of moments like these. If an alarm goes off, it will alert you of a break in so you can be aware of the intruder, and the alarm will also notify your security company and the local police of the intruder that entered your property.

Feeling secure can take a long time to come back if you are a victim of a burglary or home invasion. Families that have experienced home invasion live in fear of it happening again. A security system can prevent families from having these negative feelings.

There are great advantages for installing security systems in your home. Less families would be at risk if they simply took this one tip of security advice. Breaking and entering is still happening a lot, and it is mostly to homes that are not fitted with security systems.

Technology seems to be advancing quickly. This technology comes in handy with home security. One such technology is being able to lock your home with out having to have a key.

Awkward moments constantly happen when trying to juggle items in our arms and trying to find our keys and unlock doors. We’ve all experienced struggling moments trying to gain entrance to our homes, only to not find our keys right away because our hands are full or the keys are lost inside a bag. Being able to lock your home without having to find a key can be very advantageous.

A biometric technology makes it possible to lock homes and unlock homes with out the use of a key. You don’t even need to remember a password. You simply swipe your finger, getting your fingerprint scanned, and then the lock releases if it is the right fingerprint.

Biometric home security is relatively easy to install. Most systems replace the dead-bolt security lock system that is already on your door. They also have the advantage of not needing wiring done, since they normally operate with AA batteries.

The biometric system normally uses the first person who scans their fingerprint as the administrator of the system. The administrator has the capability to decide who else can be added to the system, such as a spouse, children, family, and trusted friends. All changes to this home security locking system need to be cleared by the administrator first.

Another advantage of the home security biometric system is that it cannot be copied or passed along, the way a key would. This system only allows approved fingerprint entrance in to the home. A fingerprint is unique to everyone, and cannot be duplicated the way a key could be by a locksmith.

After a fingerprint is scanned and the person is added to the system, the administrator can determine the access amount he or she can have inside the home. The biometric system can mark a user’s access as always, never, or limited. Limited access will ask for specific dates that are set, and times, that they can have access to the home.

Home security is very important for every home. A biometric system is just one way to protect your home and the convenience. There is also back-up suggestions for the system, such as allowing multiple fingers to be scanned in in case of injury, or having a back-up key available in case the system is down for a little while.

keyless locks for home protection

Valentine’s Day is a wonderful holiday. It is a time to show your love to a significant other, usually through a loving gift. Instead of choosing to give her the usual flowers and candy this holiday, consider getting her a more unique Valentine’s Day gift.

Try choosing a gift that really shows how much you care about them. Giving a gift of home safety or security can really show how much you care about them. It is a touching thought that you would like to keep them safe from harm.

Your gift receiver will definitely know how much you care by thinking about their safety with their gift. The gift of home safety is a unique idea that your significant other will benefit from. Show that you care about their personal safety by choosing to give the gift of safety this Valentine’s Day.

love home protection

You can sign your lady friend up for some self-defense classes. Show her that you want her to stay safe while she’s not with you. This is a considerate gift that shows that her safety is a priority to you.

If you don’t already have one, present your loved one with a home security alarm system. They are more affordable now than ever, and can be a wonderful gift option. Instead of splurging on a dinner and 2 hour movie, improve your home security that will keep her safe for years to come.

Home security alarm systems are a great option for everyone. They work in homes, apartments, or businesses. A home security alarm system is a gift that keeps on giving with home safety.

Another great option, if you already have an alarm system in place, is to get an alarm system accessory. They can be a great security gift to keep your personal and home safety in check. Buy your wife a phone accessory so she can monitor the kids while she’s out running errands, or buy your husband a medical pendant if he has medical conditions.

A carbon monoxide detector is another thoughtful gift. Carbon monoxide can be lethal, so it is important to take precautions. A carbon monoxide detector works similar to a smoke detector. It receives a signal if there are any gas leaks in your home and the alarm goes off to let you know of the problem before it is too late.

Home security uses a lot of different security measures to keep your home its safest. It does not rely on only one thing. A home security fence is just one of many security measures you can take to keep your home safer.

A home security electric fence is used in all places of the world. It can be a very reliable security measure. It works well to keep intruders out of the home.

The electric fence can be a good choice for security. It has many different uses. The most popular use is to prevent burglars and intruders from entering your home.

It is an effective tool. It works very well with stone walls that are placed all the way around your home. That way it is a double threat because the intruder has to deal with climbing your stone wall, as well as receiving instant electric shocks at the same time.

Home security electric fences should not be used in neighborhoods. There is a risk that the fence may cause harm to a local resident. Security fences are best for homes that are not in close proximity to other homes.

Electric fences are also good at protecting people from other sources of harm. People that break in and steal items from your home are not the only possible threat you might have. There is still a chance that intruders will want to inflict harm on your family as well, so an electric fence protects against that as well.

electric fence home protection

Electric fences are also used to keep animals from wandering on to your property. This security measure is usually to keep your family members and safe from larger, wild animals such as bears or moose. For this reason it is usually used for homes and cabins located near forests.

Remember, if you do decide to use an electric fence, to place signs around warning of the electric fence. There is a lot of danger with electrical fences. Protect yourself and others by advertising the danger involved along the fence and walls, and make sure all signs can easily be seen and read.

We often hear of the many things that are done to child-proof a home. Responsible parents child-proof their home to keep their children safe from potential dangers inside the home. The safety of children need to be a priority for parents.

The same hold true for pet-owners. Pets are also a very important part of the family and should be taken care of in safety measures as well. Pet-proofing your home is also important to keep pets from harm from inside your home.

Pet Protection

Pet-proofing your home does not need to take up a lot of your time or energy. Start with something small, such as picking up items off the floor. Pets like to chew on things, so keeping smaller items off the floor can reduce choking hazards for your pet.

Research which plants are poisonous for pets to ingest. Some examples that many pet-owners need to be aware of are poinsettias during the winter time, daffodils, or geraniums. All of these plants can harm your animal if ingested, so don’t keep these plants where animals might eat them.

As mentioned before, animals like to chew and lick things. Because of this, it is important to cover all electrical outlets and chords. If an animal decides to lick or chew on these items it has the possibility of severely harming them.

Also, installing a reliable home alarm system can add an extra home safety measure. Home safety is a priority for your family and can keep your pet safe as well. Be careful when choosing your alarm system, however, to make sure that your pet won’t set off the alarm when it is turned on.

Many of the older systems have a reputation for false alarms happening because of house pets, but newer systems have advanced to factor in pets. Motion sensors can now be equipped to detect the different between pets and humans who may break in the home. Security systems are a good idea to keep your pets safe if someone tries to break in to your home.

Take extra home safety measures to keep your pets and family safe. These simple home safety tips can keep your pet healthy and safe. Start pet-proofing your home today to keep your pets secure inside your home.

Older members of society have a need to be very careful while they are living alone. Their older age tends to make them a higher target to burglars. Elderly members of society can use the extra protection and security that comes with a home security system.

Home security systems provide the ultimate safety measure for older people. Many of the older generation tend to have a hard time with technology, however. Because of this, it is important for older people to find a customer friendly security company that will take the time to show them how to properly use the system.

Home Security for the Elderly

Home security alarm systems use technology to keep the home safe, but they can be catered towards the needs of older people as well. As people age there is a much higher chance of injuries happening. A security alarm system can be very beneficial in case of any serious slips or falls.

The reason is because security companies monitor your home 24 hours a day. If an older person falls and hurt themselves they can get help through their alarm company. Older people have a higher chance of having strokes and heart attacks as well, and may need immediate emergency attention in these cases.

Many alarm companies offer hand held accessories that elderly people can use to alert the security company of any emergencies. If an accident does happen all the older person needs to do is press a button on their key-chain or cell phone. That button will send a signal to the security company, who can take emergency action to get help to their home.

Home security alarm systems are good to keep the elderly safe too. Many thieves feel that elderly people are easy targets for burglary. The reason is that older people can’t give a lot of physical resistance to break-ins.

Security systems keep older people from being taken advantage of. Security alarm decals can be placed around their property to advertise that their home is guarded by an alarm. Most burglars, if they know an alarm is in place, won’t want to deal with that form of protection.

If the alarm does go off because of a break in, their security alarm company will be alerted immediately. If the company can’t immediately get in contact with the owners, local police will be alerted of the break in. Elderly people can also choose to have their children or neighbors alerted if an alarm goes off so they can get quickly to the scene in case of an emergency.

Home security and safety should be a priority of your life. Don’t let essential safety measures hang up your home safety. Here are some places to start on your goal for better home safety.

1. Have a working security alarm system. Installing a security alarm system will substantially cut down the risk of break-ins with your home. If you already have an alarm system, be sure to activate your alarm before you go to sleep at night, or any time you leave the property.

2. All external doors need to be secured. Outside doors shouldn’t be flimsy, but made out of sturdy materials so they aren’t a risk to your home safety. Doors that are reinforced and have peep holes are also another good security choice.

3. Lock your doors. Lock every entrance to your home, or garage. The garage door, and a door that is connected to the home from the garage, should have strong security locks installed and be very sturdy doors.

4. Keep all lawn mowers, rototillers, or other expensive gardening equipment locked out of sight. Motorbikes and bicycles should also be secured away. Anything that is left outside has the potential of being stolen, so be careful what you leave lying around outside.

5. Spare keys should not be easy to find. The point is to protect your home, but also have a way to get inside your home in case you lock yourself out or if you have an emergency. Instead of leaving them under your doormat, try leaving them with a trusted neighbor.

6. Up-to-date inventories are important in case of accidents. Keep an inventory with digital photos of your possessions. You can place these photos on a CD and keep the CD in a home safe or security deposit box for safe keeping.

7. It is hard to be prepared for emergencies. Home safety begins with taking extra precautions, so practice an emergency escape plan with your family. Children can really benefit from a run through of emergency escape plans in case of fires or earthquakes.

Bump proofing your home is an important part of keeping up with your home security. Lock bumping is a lock picking method that has grown in popularity. Burglars use this type of home invasion technique to gain access to your home.

Lock bumping is a technique of putting a key blank, or bump key, almost all the way in to the door’s lock. Using a hammer or object to tap the key, they bump the key just enough to get the pins inside the lock to move. While they do this, they turn the key and are able to turn the lock the rest of the way to unlock the door.

Older cylinder locks are the targets of this type of method. Outdated locks have always been more susceptible to other types of entry methods, but continue to be used by many Americans still. Older cylinder locks aren’t developed with “bump proof” technology that newer lock models are.

If you would like a high level of home security, call a locksmith. Locksmiths can increase your home security by offering you different bump proof locks that they have available. Locksmiths can even remove older locks and install the newer versions to make sure that the lock is put on properly.

Qualified locksmiths will have the best locks available. Most newer model locks are made with bump proof technology, but it is important to double check before buying the lock. You can also ask your locksmith about electronic entry system possibilities.

Lock bumping is not the only thing you have to worry about with home security with your locks. It can be very beneficial to leave a spare key with a trusted friend or family member. However, there is always the risk that copies of your keys can be made by these employers or friends with intentions of taking advantage of you.

To avoid risking your home security you can invest in a restricted key system. Restricted keys don’t allow anyone to make a copy of your key. Only your locksmith can make a duplicate key, so you will always know how many copies of your keys are made.

It is important to improve your home security with new locks. If your existing lock system is decades old, replace it. Don’t hesitate to call your local locksmith today for lock options that are available at a location near you.

While the popular saying “Your home is your castle” is true in many respects, you should not have to pay and arm and a leg to keep it that way. Adding security to your home should not cost you thousands of dollars. Most security companies offer great home security at a very affordable price.

An experienced thief will know the best places of your home to find your valuables. Take a moment and think of where you hide your valuables. A good question to consider would be if you had an extra hundred dollars lying around, where would you put it?

home security protection

If you are like the majority of the Nation, your answer would be “somewhere in my bedroom.” Most people find that placing valuables in their bedroom is the most convenient option. Most valuables lay easily accessible in dresser drawers, on night stands, under their bed, and in jewelry boxes.

The most common place to hide valuables, however, are in between mattresses and in closets. Home burglars are very aware of these hiding places. Burglars usually choose to search your room first to find these easy steals.

If you often put your valuable items in your room, consider other places to hide them. You can try putting items in less conspicuous places, such as hallways or your kitchen. They both are high traffic areas, and offer a wide area to put valuables.

If you need a place to store important items consider buying a fireproof safe. Safes are great for protection against burglaries because the thief often won’t want to spend time trying to remove it or break in to it. Fireproof safes are also a good investment in case of a fire or natural disaster.

If you choose to buy a safe, you will want to choose the right size and style for your valuables. For reference, see our previous article about fireproof safes. It will also tell you the best place to store your safe.

You can also add extra security measures for home safety. Home security alarms, video surveillance, and joining Neighborhood watch are just some extra safety measures. Choose what works best for your home’s security and is in your budget.

Home security alarms work to warn criminals that your home has security measures so they will leave your home alone. But what happens when a criminal decides to test the waters? What is they choose to be bold and break in to your home?

While every security company is different, most companies will be alerted immediately of the alarm going off. Good security companies offer 24 hour a day monitoring. That way your home and family will be protected any time of the day.

Protect your home from theives

Monitoring your home allows an extra sense of security to a homeowner. If an alarm does go off the security company should make direct contact with the homeowner within moments. There usually is a personal identification code that you must give the security company to make sure that you are who you say you are. If you need help, they will send it immediately.

Wireless systems
offer your home protection against power outages. If a burglar decides to disable your phone lines or power, cell phone guards are a good investment. It will allow your security company to get in contact with you, and assess the situation, quickly.

While these details may seem like a lot, they are easy ways to keep your home as well protected as it can be. Alarm systems offer door and window alarms that are placed around the main entrances of your home. There are also motion detectors set through out the home, and can be set to compensate the motion of family pets so you you don’t get false-alarms.

There are other ways a security alarm can protect your home. Carbon monoxide, smoke, and heat sensor’s can keep your family safe from possible non-human dangers that may come up in your home. If you live in colder regions there are also freeze sensors that can be installed in your home to warn you of potential frozen pipes.

There are also other security accessories that are available to you. Hand accessories, such as a keychain touchpad, can be very handy when trying to control your alarm system. There are even security phone applications available now for smart cell phones so you are able to control your security system and monitor your home with your cell phone.

Security systems work well at protecting your home. They provide safety from invasion, as well as keeping your family safe from accidents or power outages. If you don’t already have a security system in place, have a professional come out to your home to assess your security needs today.

When one things of a suburb, one thinks of neighborhood get-togethers, kids playing out in the front yard, pool parties, and less busy lifestyles than ones in the city. Suburbia settings tend to leave one feeling very safe, but appearances can be deceiving. Crime still happens often in suburbs, and home security needs to continue to stay a top priority.

A lot of people don’t take extra precautions, such as locking their doors, because they feel it is not necessary. While a crime may not have happened yet, there is no guarantee that your home won’t be struck next. Take precautions now so you don’t come home one day after work to find many of your valuables missing, and with it your sense of security.

Suburban settings can offer security advantages. Suburbans are likely to have neighborhoods that work together as a community. Neighbors in suburbs actually know each other, so they are more likely to ask if they notice someone taking items from your home than a neighbor in the city who would not know if the criminal was you or not.

However, regardless of the neighborhood relationships, suburban areas are still targeted by criminals. Suburban areas have homes that are further apart, which criminals like. The further apart homes are located, the easier it is for robbers.

City life does not allow a lot of privacy. Most jobs require quick, reckless jobs because they can easily be spotted. Most city residents share walls with someone else, so thieves are more likely to be heard by a neighbor while they thump around the apartment looking for valuables and a quick escape.

Most experts will concur that the best protection your home can have against home invasion is installing a home security alarm system. Home alarm systems ward off invaders, and go off in case someone does try to enter your home. Emergency personnel are notified immediately and the thief more likely than not will make a hasty retreat.

Security alarm systems are an important safeguard, but there are many other ways to protect your home and family from harm. Home alarm systems use state of the art equipment and sensors to keep your home protected, but there are things that should be done to keep your family protected while outside your home. Keep a look out for anything out of the ordinary, such as loitering cars or people around your property, and alert your neighbors so they are aware of it as well.

You also need to take the time to teach your children from an early age basic safety tips. Many children are taught not to talk to strangers, but they should also be taught acceptable behavior that acquaintances should have towards them. Talking to them about such things may seem like common sense to you, but many sad circumstances can arise when warning signs or simple safety rules are not followed. Teaching your children to get permission from you first is a good first step to family safety, whether that be to play outside so you can keep an eye out on them, or before they leave to go anywhere with an acquaintance or friend.

If you watch the news, the world seems to be an even more dangerous place to live than it was even five years ago. Home protection needs to be a priority to keep our families and homes safe from harm. We should take as many precautions as we can.

The key to a well protected home is your home alarm system. Home invasion is continuing to rise in crime rates. Home alarm systems are the best security measure you can take to keep your home from getting ransacked.

Alarm systems are very valuable in security measures. They keep your home safe 24 hours a day. As long as your home alarm system is turned on, your home will be protected – both when you are in the home and when you are not.

Home alarms are monitored 24 hours a day by your security alarm company. If the alarm gets turned on, the security company will instantly be alerted. The company will make all the important phone calls to emergency personnel so you don’t have to worry about doing the calling yourself.

Alarm systems are now updated into wireless systems. They are a wonderful advancement from the hardwired systems. Wireless systems are a much more popular choice than their predecessor.

Wireless systems are easy to install, and easy for consumers to use. They also have advantages that wired systems don’t have. Wireless systems can’t have their wires cut to disable the alarm, and they also have a battery backup system in place.

Battery backup systems are nice in case of emergencies. If the power goes out, or if a natural disaster happens, the batteries are automatically turned on. Power outages, sadly, usually add increased crime rates so having your alarm still working is a definite advantage.

Review the security of your home and decide whether an alarm system would be a good choice for you. Don’t neglect the need for a safe home. You won’t be disappointed by taking extra security measures. The only disappointment you may have is that you hadn’t done so earlier.

Unfortunately, not every apartment complex comes with enough parking spaces to accommodate all the tenants vehicles. It’s easy to recognize ways to keep your home safe, but what about your car when you have to park it in the street? Here are some tips for limiting the opportunity of your car being a target or car theft.

1. Lock up: It may seem like an obvious tip, but surprisingly many people forget to do this. Don’t walk away from your vehicle without making sure that it is completely locked and all windows are closed and secure. Even if you are only “running in for a minute”, never leave your car without locking it first.

2. Set your car alarm: Not all car alarms turn on automatically. Some cars require you to switch on a switch, sometimes located underneath the steering wheel. Key-less entry remotes sometimes also require you to press the lock button more than once to set the alarm.

3. Park in Well lit areas: It is much easier for a car thief to be spotted attempting to break in to a car where others can see your car. Try parking in an area that is light, such as under a lamppost or near stop lights. Where you park your car will dramatically lower your chance of a break-in.

4. Use physical deterrents: Steering wheel locks make it impossible for a thief to leave with your car, even if they are able to get it to start. Having a lock on the steering wheel works similar to the way a safety gate works. It is a physical deterrent to discourage people from trying to break in to your car.

5. Remove your valuables: Don’t leave your valuables in your car, especially where someone can see them. Remove the temptation that visible valuables can be for a car thief. It is also a good idea to not leave valuables in your car, even if they aren’t visible, in case your car does get broken in to.

6. Parallel Park: Thieves might try to roll your vehicle away to a more secluded area where they can start your car. Parking between two other cars can make it hard for a thief to do this unnoticed. Parallel parking is a good deterrent to car thieves.

7. Leave a spare key with a neighbor or friend: If you have more than one car, or if you need to leave for a business trip, it might be a good idea to leave the spare keys with someone you trust. Weather can be unpredictable, and sometimes cars on the street may need to be moved for snow plow removal. In case you can’t make it home, a neighbor or friend can move the car for you so you don’t have to worry about getting your car towed.

If you are thinking about installing a barbed wire fence along your property, consider your other options first. Home security is very important, and you will want to take action to make your home more secure. That is why it is important to cover all your options, such as comparing whether barbed wire fences or security alarms will keep criminals at bay best.

Installing a barbed wire fence can cause potential legal issues. You can be liable for any injuries sustained by your fence. Serious legal ramifications can happen if someone gets injured because of your fence.

Security alarm systems, on the other hand, are not harmful. They aren’t a risky investment. Security alarms are family friendly, so you don’t need to worry about legal issues because no one can get injured because of it.

Barbed wire fences aren’t usually used for security. They are usually installed to prevent livestock from escaping. Only very rarely are they used for residential security, and even then only as a temporary solution in the most dangerous places.

Security alarms are better for home protection. Barbed wire fences are easy to spot to ward off criminals, but security alarm systems can also be advertised to deter criminals. One way is through signs and decals.

Security alarms can also be monitored, while a barbed wire fence can’t. If your home does get broken in to, emergency personnel will be instantly notified. A barbed wire fence can’t add that type of protection once it gets bi-passed.

Barbed wire is also hard to install. Because it can cause serious injury, it needs to be carefully placed and with a lot of precaution. Security alarms, however, are now wireless so they are very easy to install.

Choosing a security alarm system over barbed wire fencing is the best choice. It is less dangerous, easier to install, and can alert authorities if there is a break in. If you would like more information on choosing the right security system for your home you can find that article here.

Bodyguards can be used for personal protection, or as security guards for your home security. Some of these bodyguards have become well known for their bravery or because of their Hollywood Star clients.Here is our top list of popular bodyguards, found both in reality and entertainment.

1. John Creasy- The movie “Man on Fire” made this bodyguard famous. Creasy, played by Denzel Washington, is an ex-CIA officer who reluctantly agrees to bodyguard a young girl. When the girl is kidnapped, Creasy shows off his skills by tracking down the culprits and doing his best to get the girl home in one piece.

2. Michael Clarke Duncan – One of Hollywood’s tallest and well-built actors, Duncan worked as a bouncer for Chicago clubs before he made it big. Now this bodyguard has been nominated for an Oscar and has appeared in a number of movies. With his size, it is no wonder that someone would choose him to work as a bodyguard.

3. Avi Korein – The owner of Screen International Security Services. Korein began his career as a bodyguard working as a bouncer. He has since went on to establish a successful bodyguard service for many Hollywood stars in L.A.

4. Mr. T – “I pity the fool”. Mr. T. is a very recognizable public figure. It may be surprising to know that this man once was a bodyguard for Muhammad Ali, Michael Jackson, Bruce Lee, and Diana Ross before he made it famous.

5.”Big Coco” – Big Coco’s real name is Cory Smith. Big Coco has been made famous by protecting some of Hollywood’s big star clients. These clients include the likes of “Prince”, Gladys Knight, and Natalie Cole.

6. The Imperial Royal Guard – Who can forget the elite guard of the Star Wars Universe? The Imperial Royal Guard were charged with the protection of Emperor Palpatine. The dark villain was almost never seen without being accompanied by these red-hooded body guards. While they have no speaking roles in the movies, their presence definitely made an impact for many Star Wars fans and continuing works of fiction.

Elijah Shaw Protection

7. Elijah Shaw- Elijiah Shaw has been made famous through his Bodyguard agency. He is the CEO of Icon Services Corporation who work for many famous Hollywood stars and recording artists. Shaw initiated the ISC Safety Net Program, a program that provides free bodyguard services for domestic abuse victims.

Bodyguards do a great job protecting people. They work as a protective and preventative security measure to keep people safe. If you are interested in hiring a bodyguard here are some tips to help you find the right one for you.

Begin your search by looking for bodyguard agencies. While individuals do provide bodyguard services, agencies will usually have more options and have actual professionals to choose from. An Agency’s business relies on how well their employees do, so you are also more often to find the best types of bodyguards there.

Home Protection

Government agencies can also provide bodyguards. Check with your local government agencies to see if they have any retired, veteran officers who are interested in working as a bodyguard. Government organizations can be an excellent source of bodyguards because the bodyguards are also trained in combat, and are now retired from the government.

Contact the agencies you have narrowed down. If you are able, the best way to contact them is in person so you can see how efficient the agency runs. If you don’t have the privilege of going in person you can also contact them by phone or many of them allow you to through emails or questionnaires.

Find out what their customer’s are saying about their service. Before you hire them ask them for a reference list that you can contact. If you know of anyone who has used the company for bodyguard protection ask them whether they recommend going with them.

You can also find customer reviews online. Simply put in the bodyguard agency’s name in the search engine of your choice and there may be customer review websites that discuss the pros and cons of the company. If you notice a trend of bad reviews you may want to reconsider your choice.

Ask them a lot of questions when you contact them. Find out as much information you can about the training they’ve received and why they feel they are qualified as a bodyguard. You can also ask the company how the bodyguards are chosen, and what other special skills their employees have.

Consider hiring a bodyguard if you believe your family or home need more protection. Start with a broad search of companies and narrow your choices down once you interview with them. You will be able to find a good bodyguard before you know it.

Our personal safety and happiness depend on the level of security we feel both within and outside the home. We’ve all experienced those tense moments of fear, wondering if that sound we heard in the kitchen at 2:00AM was really the cat, or something else? To get that needed sense of ease all of us need to even function, you might consider upping the levels of security in your home and personal life.

A bodyguard might be the option you are looking for. They are so much more than just a security guard. Though you might not have thought about hiring a bodyguard before, here are some reasons why you might start giving it some serious consideration.

1. They receive training in tactical, combat, firearms, and even first aid. If you’re ever in a jam, having someone like this with you could really save your life. Safety tactics are a bodyguard’s specialty.

2. Part of a bodyguard’s job description is to know the best paths to take you and your family on to keep you safe. Bodyguards always have their eye on safety routes. The good ones will even let you know which parts of town you should avoid.

3. Bodyguards keep you safe from burglars. They prevent opportunists from taking advantage of you. Physical harm isn’t the only thing that bodyguards protect you from.

4. The versatility of talents that bodyguards have might be a real asset to you in more ways than you realize. Some may act as a driver or butler while also doubling as your guardian. Bodyguards can fill two needs at once should they choose.

Body Guard Security

5. They will monitor not only the security of your home, but your vehicle, as well. They can see faults or potential weak spots in your security. Some exits or entrances of your home may require additional video surveillance, and the bodyguard will be able to tell you which ones.

As you can tell, there are many reasons why a bodyguard might come in handy. To keep you safe from any danger, though, make sure you use more than just one form of security protection. While locks are a must in your home, your home will be less a target of burglary if you have a home security system, as well. The same holds true with bodyguards. Taking additional precautions, like putting bullet-proof glass in your car, will also help a bodyguard’s success.

Bodyguards have helped to protect others from harm for ages. They have been proven to provide great personal and home security to clients throughout the World’s history. Here are a few well known bodyguard organizations that have played an important role in history.

Body Guard Protection

Praetorian Guard: Some of the oldest bodyguards in history, the Praetorian guard served as personal bodyguards to Rome’s Emperors. They eventually became ruthless and corrupt a few centuries after they were created. Emperor Constantine put an end to their role as bodyguards in 300 AD.

United States Secret Service

Schutzstaffel: The SS were members that protected Adolf Hitler during his reign. It started as an 8 man bodyguard team sworn to protect the fuhrer, and at the height of Nazi Germany expanded to nearly 1 million members. This “Shield Squadron” were responsible for almost all the heinous crimes that occurred by Germans during World War II.

National Security Guard (NSG): Known as the bodyguards of India. These guards protect the VIPS from potential harm, but also rescue hostages and handle other threats. They are often referred to as the “Black Cats” because of their black uniforms they wear.

Special Republican Guard (SRG): The SRG were Saddam Husein’s personal bodyguards. These guard members were responsible for crushing any form of rebellion that rose against the President of Saudi Arabia. The bodyguards were hand picked and usually came from clans that were loyal to Hussein’s regime, and were disbanded in May 2003.

Swiss Guard: Created in 1480, the Swiss Guard were used as bodyguards to King Louis XI. They have continued to guard European courts since then. At the present the Swiss Guard are personal body guards to the Pope and other important Vatican officials.

Royalty, Specialist, and Diplomatic Protection Departments: Guards who specialize in protecting diplomats, royalty, and other high ranking officials in the United Kingdom. Each department has specific people that they are designed to protect, including the Prime Ministers and other political families. Royalty protection includes guarding royal buildings for added home protection, as well as guarding the personal members of the Royal family.

Many people pay a lot of money for a professional bodyguard to help add to their family and home security. You cannot replace the feeling that safety and security brings. A bodyguard or security guard is meant to add another level of protection for the person they are protecting.

A bodyguard is usually used to protect high profiled people who are more likely to have threats on their safety or life. The bodyguard is hired to keep their client safe from assassination attempts, assault, kidnapping, stalking, etc. Most people who have to fear from these types of threats are those who are famous, wealthy, or politically connected.

Home Security

Important public figures usually require more than one bodyguards. They can find these individuals from bodyguard agencies, security agencies, or even police forces. Political leaders may also have bodyguards chosen from their Country’s military.

When we think about bodyguards we usually think of the dramatic films we have seen. Most bodyguards will see some form of action during their job, but on the day to day basis most bodyguards aren’t assaulted with anything too exciting. Their normal daily routines consist of planning safety routes, searching rooms before bringing their client inside, doing background checks, and being a personal escort when their client needs to be out and about.

Bodyguards can work alone, but more often than not they work together as a team. Each team member in a team will usually have a specific role in the team to keep their client properly secure.

Bodyguards may or may not be armed, depending on what the State laws are regarding safeguarding measures. If a bodyguard isn’t allowed to carry a lethal weapon, other forms of protection can be used. Some popular choices are pepper spray and a taser.

Bodyguards are trained depending on the agency they come from. A lot of bodyguards are specifically trained, while others receive their training in a more round about fashion. Agency bodyguards are usually trained in firearm tactics, combat, first aid, and their specified field.

Just like outdoor lighting adds an extra level to outdoor home security, a bodyguard is an extra measure of protection for personal and family security. Bodyguards work best when they are added with other security measures. This is why most public officials also are protected with bullet-proof cars and other security measures.

Safety precautions need to be taken when a gun is stored in your home. Guns can be very dangerous, especially for younger children who don’t know what they can do. Take extra precautions to reduce the risk of injury or death by your firearm being shot.

It is important to keep your firearms stored and locked away. There are plenty of options to store your guns. Find one that meets the approved guidelines and that is in the price range you are hoping for.

Gun home safety

Don’t pull the trigger on firearms. Again, always assume the firearm is loaded. Never point the muzzle toward anyone and always place the safety on.

Disassemble your gun if you can before you store it. That way you can keep the parts separated and there is even less chance of a gun being loaded and shot. Ammunition can also be stored in a separate location than your firearm for the same reason.

There are locks you can actually place on your gun for protection.
Locks usually need to be secured around the trigger guard. If locks are removed by force they usually ruin the gun, making it unusable.

Locks do not always work, however. Locks are meant to add to safety precautions. Locks make it hard to fire a gun, but sometimes they can malfunction and a gun can still be loaded and shot with the locked trigger.

Educate your children on gun safety. Explain to them why they shouldn’t ever handle a gun, especially without being properly trained first. Children need to be supervised very closely whenever the gun is not stored and locked away.

Your home and yard are not the only places that require safety measures to be performed. Garages can also serve as a place to cause injuries if safety precautions are not taken. Your car door, in particular, is an important piece of equipment that should be given extra safety attention.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has stated that 4 children, on average, are killed every year by garage doors. It is necessary to properly take care of your garage door. Don’t risk injuries by not having a safe car door.

Car doors can harm, or even kill children by crushing them if they are not properly maintained. Garage car doors are the heaviest and largest doors you own. It is no wonder that injuries can happen quickly.

To avoid harm by your garage door, be sure that it can open and close correctly. Garage door openers are a very important and necessary safety tool against garage doors crushing children. Be sure that your door correctly reverses when it senses something before it touches the ground, by placing a piece of wood underneath it to test it out.

Garage doors can also pinch fingers. Most garage doors can quickly be opened with automatic door openers, to help children’s fingers from being pinched quickly. There are also garage doors that are designed to push fingers out of the way when the door hits the ground to avoid pinches.

Heavy springs are used to open and close garage doors. These springs won’t last forever, and will eventually wear down and snap. This break can cause serious injury to those inside the garage, or even cause damage to garage equipment or your cars.

To avoid harm or damage from a broken spring, take preventative measures before it breaks. When your garage door is closed you can thread a wire through the spring and tie it until it is secured. That way, if the spring does break it won’t fly across the garage, but will stay on the secured wire.

Garage doors can be a dangerous piece of equipment if not properly maintained. Be sure to take the time to inspect it every few months to make sure it is working properly. If you find any problems with it, correct them as soon as possible.

Wintertime usually requires heating up your home. Almost all heating equipment will require extra care and maintenance in order to keep your home safe from accidents or fires. Here are some helpful tips to keep your home safe and secure during the wintertime.

Be careful with space heaters. Space heaters are a main concern with home fires. Be sure that you place your space heater at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn, such as furniture, window drapes, or even people.

Turn off your space heater when little children are around, or after you leave the room. Pets or children will need to be supervised while a space heater is in use. A space heater can cause severe burns or a fire if tipped over while it is still turned on.

Fireplaces and stoves need maintenance work done on a regular basis so they don’t become a bigger fire hazard. Be certain to have your fireplace checked annually for any safety repairs that may need to be done. Be sure that all children are supervised when a fireplace or stove is in use.

Smoke alarms are great safety tools. They should be placed in every level of your home. Check your smoke alarm batteries every few months to make sure they are properly charged.

Some heating equipment, such as stoves, ovens, and furnaces, require gas to function. Be sure to take extra precautions against Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Most professional security companies now carry Carbon Monoxide alarm detectors that go off in case of a gas leak.

Always use the proper heating equipment correctly. For example, don’t use an oven to heat up your home. Instead, use your heater or furnace to get that job done.

Always think ahead. Natural disasters or power outages can happen unexpectedly. Be prepared for emergencies by stocking up on supplies and blankets to keep yourself warm and safe.

Accidents can happen quickly. The best way to protect yourself is to follow basic safety guidelines. Here are some yard safety tips to remind you of.

Always follow directions. Directions are there to help you best know how to work the equipment or products carefully and safely. It is a good idea to keep the instruction manual handy in case you run into any hang ups or questions.

If you haven’t used the yard equipment before, take time to know how to use it safely. Ask the salesperson you bought it from any questions you may have on how to use the equipment. He or she may provide specific tips to safely use the piece of equipment.

Ask for assistance if you find that you need help. Asking for help is a good precaution to take so you don’t get harmed trying to accomplish your job. If a project is too big for you, or proves to be too dangerous, don’t try to do it on your own.

If you know you have a project that will take up a lot of time, don’t try to accomplish it when you are busy. Take your time on outdoor projects. Schedule enough time for you to work on your outdoor projects safely.

If you are working on a more dangerous job, be especially cautious. Gauge what the danger level will be before you start your job. For example, you would need to be more cautious with sawing a 2×4 than you would mowing your lawn.

Save the cell phone call to your mom until after your job is done. Don’t multitask during more difficult jobs. More dangerous jobs will require a higher level of concentration.

Being cautious is your best defense against getting hurt while you are outside. Again, accidents can always happen, but you will be much more successful in yard safety if you follow simple yard safety guidelines. It is more important to be safe with your chores rather than getting them done quickly and sloppily.

Pool safety is usually on the top of the priority list for most pool owners. Pool fences are the safest equipment for keeping unchaperoned children from harm. There are other pool safety measures that can be performed for pool security, but the fence is the most universal protection.

If you are considering a pool fence there are certain advantages that they can perform. The first and foremost reason to install a swimming fence is as a safety precaution. A fence will prevent children from tripping, falling, or drowning in the swimming pool.

Home security with pool safety

A swimming fence also is nice even if you don’t have small children yourself. If you ever entertain families it will keep your guest’s smaller children from coming to any harm. Having a fence helps with any liability you may have if any child accidentally wanders near your swimming pool.

Installing a pool fence also gives you the advantage if you ever choose to sell your home. The type of fence you choose will determine whether the installation will be easy or harder to install. Some fences will require professionals to install, while others you can do yourself.

There are a lot of different options to choose from with pool fences. It is a good idea to choose a fence that is tall enough that younger children can’t climb over. Your fence can be made as fancy or simple as you would like.

You may need to install a pool fence by law. Some States actually require you to place a fence around your pool. Not installing a pool fence may result in a fine, so check with your City and State regulations.

Having a pool in your yard comes with certain responsibilities. Your pool fence is an extra security measure for the protection of those that might be harmed otherwise. Find the perfect pool fence for you to keep those around you safe.

Pool gates are meant to keep people out of your pool, but you should also take other precautions for pool safety. A pool fence won’t guarantee that no one will get inside your pool. Check out our previous article about pool safety for some extra tips about pool safety.

The safety of your children should be a priority. If you own a swimming pool, it can be a very dangerous place for younger children to be around. Here are some security tips in regards to pool safety.

Never leave children alone. Accidents can happen quickly. Having an adult there to supervise children at all times is the biggest prevention against drowning.

Know CPR. CPR is the best skill you can have if a child does have an accident in the swimming pool. Learning CPR is a useful skill, especially with drownings.

Most young children that drown do so because they wander around the yard and accidentally fall in. This is why a pool fence is so important. Pool fences separate your pool from the rest of your yard so younger children won’t come to harm accidentally.

The pool fence needs to be tall enough that younger children can’t climb over it or sneak through. A good height for a pool fence is 4 feet high, and should be placed along all the sides of the pool. The latch on the entrance gate should be placed high enough that younger children can’t reach it.

Use approved life vests for children who need them. Don’t try to use air-filled puff sleeves or cuffs instead of an actual life vest. Pool toys and swimming sleeves aren’t good safety substitutes for safety vests.

Running on wet cement should be avoided. Children often slip and hurt themselves. Supervise your children and be sure that they walk carefully to lessen the chance of them slipping and hurting themselves.

When the pool is not in use, continue to take safety measures. Be sure that the gate is closed properly and the latch is set or locked. You also can purchase a pool cover, though they should never be used in place of a pool gate.

The best way to protect yourself and your home from harm is take precautions to prevent grease fires from starting. Grease fires are known for happening quickly and spreading just as fast. They can spread even faster when people don’t know how to put them out correctly.

Most oil is not meant to be cooked at really high temperatures. Heat up all oil slowly. Oil has the possibility for bursting in to flames if heated too quickly at too high a temperature.

Grease fire without home protection

Be careful that your working area is clear before you heat your oil. Be sure that everything is moved out of the way before cooking with oil. If something is placed too close to a stovetop it can start a fire, which then can be made worse when it ignites with the grease in the pan.

Don’t dump food into oil that is already hot. Place food into oil slowly and carefully. Heated oil splatters enough on its own, so plopping food right in can cause more spurts of oil and can cause burns.

Accidents can happen quickly, especially with oil. Don’t ever leave heating oil unattended. Even leaving the kitchen for a moment can result in a dangerous situation.

If you use a deep fryer, don’t place the chord in a place where it can be snagged. You wouldn’t want the contents of the fryer to spill out on to items or people. Be careful where you place the chord.

Make preparations in case a grease fire does happen. Oven mitts and the correct sized lid for your pan should always be out when cooking with oil. If a grease fire does start, the oven mitts will protect your hands and the lid will stop the fire from getting worse.

Be sure that it is the proper sized lid. The lid is meant to squall the fire because it won’t have oxygen for the fire to continue. Once the lid is over the fire, you can use your oven mitts to turn off the burner. Don’t try to turn it off before this.

The safety of your home and family should be a main priority in your life. Being prepared for fires can help protect your family from harm in case a fire does break out. Now is the perfect time to plan a fire escape plan.

Remember that practice makes perfect. Let children know the best exits for every room in your home and regularly remind them. A fire can engulf your home in only a few short moments, so make sure everyone in the home knows the quickest and safest ways to exit the home.

Teach more than one exit for your fire escape. It is important to have different ways you can escape in case one exit is blocked by the fire. For example, you can teach your family the best way is to exit through the front and back doors, but if that exit is cut off to use a window.
Help them know the best way to exit a window. Actually take the time to unlock the windows and show younger children how to unhook window screens. This will help them know exactly what steps need to be performed in case of an emergency, and they will be able to make a quicker exit.

Ladders that you may use for a fire escape should be approved by the UL, or Underwriters Laboratory. That means they are up to date with safety standards. Most apartments buildings are required by law to provide fire escapes from upper stories.

Be sure that everyone in the home knows that if a fire does break out in your home it is best to leave the home quickly. Don’t waste your precious moments trying to remove valuables from your home. If a fire can’t be put out by a fire extinguisher then leave your home without delay.

Owning a fire-proof safe may be a good choice if you are worried about items getting ruined by a fire. Safes are becoming more and more popular the last few years. You can also store pictures and copies of documents with your 72 hour kit that you can grab quickly on your way out.

When teaching your family how to escape during a fire make sure to designate a special meeting place outside your home. Children will need to stay close by so you know their location. It is also a good idea to teach younger children not to be afraid of firefighters.

It is easily understood why a security alarm system for your home is so important. But what what other security measures should be used? What are other things you can do to make your home less appealing to burglars?

Having a yard with a clear view from the street is a great place to start. A home with a clear view is harder to break in to than one that is covered with bushes and trees. Here are some ideas of ways to keep security in mind in regards to the landscape of your home.

Try to keep trees away from your home, especially if you have more than one story. When trees are close to your home thieves can use them as make-shift ladders. If you already have trees near your home, keep it well trimmed so burglars would be able to be spotted if they do try to hide or use the tree.

Be sure that your lawn is mowed regularly. A lawn that is not kept up will be a red flag to others that you may not be home. Keep your home from catching people’s eyes by having your lawn mowed regularly, especially when you are away on business trips or vacation.

Trim all your brushes and shrubs. You shouldn’t let your shrubs grow taller than 2 to 3 feet. Larger bushes may be beautiful to look at, but they also provide hiding spots for thieves.

If you are determined to have bushes consider planting thorny bushes near the entrances of your home. Thorny bushes may be a helpful deterrent against thieves choosing to hide there. No thief wants rose shrubs stuck in their sides.

Keep your home easily viewed by neighbors and those passing by. Don’t close off your home with a line of trees. This may be a beautiful way of gaining privacy, but thieves often take advantages of homes like this because neighbors can’t see them breaking in to your home.

Outdoor lighting is also a great security measure. Motion lighting, in particular, is a good choice for security. It allows you to know the instant something moves near your home, and also saves you money on your electricity bills.

Burglars don’t like unwanted attention. That is why it is so important to keep your home both being and appearing safe to deter burglars. Having secure windows make it much harder for burglars to have access to your home.

This article focuses on window safety. To begin, search all the windows of your home and check how easy they are to lock or open. This helps you understand how easily a potential burglar will be able to gain entry in to your home.

Once you have searched your home, write down any improvements you should make in regards to your window. If you have older locks it is a good idea to replace the original locks. Newer locks are more reliable and will be able to secure your window better.

Windows should have locks on them to keep burglars out. Windows are made out of glass that can break, however, regardless of a lock. While most burglars would rather avoid breaking a window, there is no guarantee breaking a window won’t happen during a burglary.

As mentioned before, burglars don’t like attention. The sound of breaking glass tends to travel, so neighbors and people passing by are more likely to notice a break in. For this reason most burglars try to avoid breaking windows during a robbery.

If you are worried about someone breaking your window you can install high security glass or polycarbonate. That way burglars would be unable to break through the window. Regardless of the type of glass you have with your window, be sure that your window is properly locked for the security of your home.

You could also choose to install bars outside your home’s windows. Bars are good for warding off potential thieves, and keep burglars from easily gaining entry to your home. However, bars aren’t the safest form of security since they prove to be unsafe during fires and other emergencies.

Every home shouldn’t rely on a sole security measure. While having locks on windows, or doors for that matter, are great investments for security they will be that much more effective with another security measure, such as a home security alarm system. One can never be too safe when it comes to the protection of one’s home and family.

Having a good lock on a window or door is very important for home security. While not every burglar will enter your home the same way, a good lock will help against all types of burglars. A sturdy lock stop thieves in their tracks, and deter professionals from continuing their assault against your home.

Most burglaries happen either because entrance wasn’t locked or the lock was flimsy enough that the burglar was able to force their way inside. Even the most sturdy of locks can be kicked in if they are not installed properly. Take the time to make sure that your doors and windows have sturdy, and properly installed locks.

The best type of lock for the entrances of your home are deadbolts. They need to be placed in sturdy, solid wood or metal doors. Be sure that they are installed at least three inches inside your door so they are the most effective.

If you notice you don’t have the most sturdy lock, there are some steps you can take to rectify the situation. You can replace the lock with a newer model, or strengthen it to help the performance of your lock. If you notice a flimsy lock in your door you can replace the metal plate that is mounted in the door jamb.

You can also strengthen the lock by replacing the screws of your lock. Take out tiny screws and replace them with longer ones. They should be at least 3 inches long to provide the most resistance.

Professional thieves have more advanced equipment than simply using their leg to kick down a door. They use special equipment to undo the bolts of your door and use special tools to pick your lock. So you may be wondering, are there locks that work best against professional thieves?

It may be surprising, but electronic locks have proven to be just as effective as normal deadbolt locks. And normal deadbolts can be installed for half the price. Unfortunately only very advanced, high security locks hold up against advanced professional assaults.

For this reason, it is important to do more for your home security than simply fortifying the locks of your home. Take extra security measures for the protection of your home. Having a working, well monitored security alarm system will add to the safety of your home.

It’s easy to pay attention to home security during the summer months. Homeowners who own alarm systems pay close attention to their home security, most likely because vacations beckon and they’re away from home more often. Although the winter weather may discourage many people, it doesn’t discourage would-be burglars who understand that many people disregard home security in the winter months.

It’s important to understand that most burglars spend sixty seconds or less in a home once they’ve entered it. So maintaining your alarm system during the winter months is a must. It’s also important to take the same additional steps during the winter months to protect your home just like you would in the summer.

If you live in an area with heavy snow fall, it’s important to shovel your driveway so it doesn’t look like you’re away from home. If you’re heading out of town, make sure there’s someone who can shovel your driveway for you. Just like collecting your paper and mail gives the appearance of an occupied house, pesky snow shoveling can have the same effect.

If you decide to buy a home security system during the winter months, make sure any equipment you purchase with your alarm is built to stand the rigors of cold weather, especially the alarm equipment that’s going to be installed outside as well as any door or window contacts for your alarm that are placed close to the elements.

Investing in a home security system is a good idea any time of the year. Alarms not only protect your home from burglaries, they can protect your family against medical and fire emergencies as well. While it’s easier to overlook the advantages of home security systems during the winter months, alarms are just as valuable during the cold as they are in the heat.

It can be hard to choose the right security company. Making a poor choice can affect the safety of your family and home. Take the time to research various security companies ahead of time so you choose the perfect company to suit your needs.

To help you decide what type of services you may need have someone come to your home to asses your security needs. Most professional security companies will do this free of charge, though you can also pay for an outside company to asses your security needs as well. They will be able to tell you what areas of your home need more security.

Once you know the type of security you need, compile a list of security companies in your area. Don’t simply choose the first company that has the system you want. It’s best to compare the strengths and weaknesses of each company before deciding on one.

Know which security systems are best. If you know which equipment is currently on the top of the line you are less likely to go with a company that has outdated, older systems. This is another reason why comparing companies is such a good idea.

For example, currently the best alarm systems you will find are wireless systems. Wireless systems are reliable and easy to install and are also safer than wired systems because burglars don’t have wires to cut. If a company is still installing wired systems it is a red flag that they may not have the most security technology.

Make sure the company has good customer service. Ask neighbors and friend what security companies they use and if they are happy with them. You can also look up consumer reviews online.

Check that the security company
is properly licensed, and their technicians are properly trained. Make sure the company has the proper qualifications. It’s also important that your alarm company has advanced equipment and continue to add new technology to their systems.

The safety of your home and family depends on how reliable your security company is. That is why it is so important to research the company before you sign with them. Don’t risk your safety by randomly choosing an alarm company.

Ask anyone what they like most about their security system and you’ll likely get the typical responses—the alarm panel, the medical pendant, or the remote access control. Sometimes people might enjoy the burglary coverage or the way their security system makes them feel safe when they’re away from home.

Perhaps one of the most underrated facets of home security is the fire protection it provides. Sometimes alarm dealers have to remind or even convince homeowners that fire protection is available for their security systems. While many argue that a complete home security system protects their home from external forces, many alarm experts say that’s a misconception. The best alarm system for your home is one that protects your home from internal catastrophes as well as external.

The smoke detectors available with your home security system aren’t your run-of-the-mill store-bought smoke detectors you can get at your local convenience store. Home security providers offer a brand of smoke detectors called monitored heat and smoke detectors and here’s how they work with your alarm.

A monitored heat and smoke detector is connected to your alarm’s control panel and is monitored just like the rest of your alarm system by your monitoring station. If smoke or unusually high temperature is detected, a signal is sent from your alarm to your monitoring station and the fire department is dispatched whether you’re home or away, awake or asleep.

When you understand how a monitored heat and smoke detector works, it becomes and integral piece of your home security system. Not only can a monitored heat and smoke detector coupled with an effective security system save your home and your life, it can save you some cash as well. Many homeowners insurance companies who already give substantial discounts to customers with home security systems, are willing to give greater discounts if those home security systems come with monitored heat and smoke detectors.

There isn’t just one type of burglar that you will need to protect your home from. No burglars will be exactly alike, but they normally can be categorized in to four different types. The typical burglars are opportunists, destroyers, prowlers, and professionals.

Opportunists are thieves that are usually pretty lazy. They prefer to steal with out much thought and do it at the spur of the moment. If they see an opportunity they go for it.

If your home has an open door, this type of burglar will take advantage of that. They don’t like complexity. A lot of shoplifters are this type of thief.

Destroyers are similar to opportunists, but they usually aren’t quite as lazy. Usual destroyers are the types that break through glass windows of cars and homes when they see something that they like. The most common tool a destroyer uses is a jacket wrapped tightly around his arm that he will use to break a window.

Prowlers stake out their targets. Once they break inside they stay around. They take their time and use tools to gain entrance to homes more than they do breaking inside.

Prowlers tend to go from room to room looking for valuables. They don’t mind making a mess of your home. Prowlers can work in teams, quickly moving valuables from your home to their running car.

Professionals usually enter homes for specific items. They know more specifics about your schedules, and your neighbors schedules, so they know the best time to enter your home. Professional thieves usually have informants in insurance agencies so they know which homes have certain valuables, and they conceive ways to get what they want.

No matter what type of burglar may attack your home, having a security system in place will be a great asset to your home’s safety. A good alarm system will help deter against any type of burglar. Look in to better home security today and you will be helping protect your home and family for the future.

It can be hard to know which security systems suit your needs best. There are a lot of security systems to choose from. It is important that you find one that will both protect your home and is easy for you to manage.

Many people are afraid to look in to security systems for their home because of budget constraints. They feel that they wouldn’t be able to afford a good system. However, many security systems are very affordable, even for people on a budget.

Burglars go for homes that look insecure. They look for homes that are easy targets. Homes that have no security system in place are much more likely to be broken in to then those that do.

Using an alarm system can be an inexpensive security option for your home. It is important for security companies to have affordable alarm systems, especially during these economic times. There is no better time to get alarm systems than right now.

Take the time to consider your options. What security companies do your friends use? Do they have any suggestions or referrals for you to look in to?

Compare security companies. See how much their alarm systems cost and what their systems entail. By shopping around you will be able to find a company that best fits your security needs and which ones you can afford.

Look for security companies that provide monitoring 24 hours a day. Find a company that is well established in the area. Find a company that is continuing to advance with the times, such as using wireless systems instead of wired systems.

The most important thing to remember when choosing the right security system is that you are doing this to protect your home and family. You don’t need to buy the most expensive security systems, but you should be able to find a very affordable alarm system that will still alert your security company or other emergency personnel immediately if it is triggered. Having a simple security system can still be a great and effective way of keeping burglars away from your home.

In these hard economic times it can be hard to know where to place your money. Even with a small budget, however, there are still a lot of things you can do to enhance the security of your home. There are many basic, and often free, home security measures you can take to keep your home safe.

Don’t let your budget stop you from protecting your home. There are many inexpensive things you can do now to add to the level of security of your home. Here are a few suggestions you can do for home security on a budget.

Don’t forget to lock your doors or windows. Make it a habit now to check your doors and windows every time you leave your home. Even the best locks are not going to work if you leave your doors and windows unlocked.

Keep your shrubs and bushes under control. Make it a priority to keep your yard well taken care of. Burglars like using shrubs and trees to hide behind so they can’t be seen by passing motorist or pedestrians.

Turn on the lights. Burglars don’t want to be seen breaking in to your home. Having good outdoor lighting during the night can be a great deterrent for burglars.

Put your items away. Don’t leave your items all around your lawn or unlocked. Thieves like to use tool sheds to use ladders or other tools to break in to your home.

Don’t forget to lock your garage. Thieves are opportunists. If your home is well protected, that won’t stop them from trying to find something in your garage they can steal.

Look in to getting a simple alarm system. Most alarm systems are made to be very affordable, even for people on a budget. They can be a great asset for the protection of your home, possessions, and family.

Most criminals will access your home at two main entry points. They will enter through your home’s doors or windows. There are rare occasions when they might enter another way, but on almost all occasions a burglar will enter through these two options.

The majority of burglars choose to enter through the front door. It is important to have a strong and sturdy front door, made out of solid wood or metal. Burglars can force their way through a front door by kicking it in, so having a sturdy a door will help against that.

Your front door should also be fitted with a peephole and a secure lock. The best locking system is a deadbolt. A deadbolt should be at least three inches deep to be the most secure.

Thieves also use a lot of first floor windows. This can happen a lot of times due to windows being left open and unlocked. Even though most thieves break in to first floor windows, there is still a chance they will choose a second story window.

Keep your windows locked. If your window uses latches, and not locks, you can use inexpensive wooden dowels or sticks to stop the window from sliding open for the outside. Home security systems also have glass break detectors to alert you of anyone breaking your window to gain entrance inside your home.

Don’t forget your backdoor as an entrance point as well. Many thieves will take advantage of fence and shrub cover that a backyard provides. It is important for you to take precautions for backyard entrance, such as installing motion detecting lights.

An alarm system can protect both your doors and windows. Wireless transmitters can be easily placed around your home. If anyone enters through your windows or doors the alarm will be activated immediately.

Some thieves will enter your home through your garage. Never leave your garage door open, even if you are only going to be away for a few, short moments. Burglars can steal things from your garage, or try to break in through the side door to the home. Make sure that your garage door is secure and also has a deadbolt.

Burglaries can happen at any time of day. But what time is a burglar more likely to strike? Day or night?

The answer may surprise some people. Most studies show that burglaries tend to happen more during the day. There are a few reasons why this could be.

Burglars aren’t as noticed during the daytime. At night, when they are breaking in to someone’s home, they can easily be spotted because of outdoor lighting. During the day time when someone is opening a window to creep inside it won’t draw as much attention as it would if they were doing it during the night.

That is why outside lighting is such a deterrent for criminals. They don’t want to have unwanted attention when trying to sneak in to a home. Outside lighting around your home at night time makes it impossible for criminals to hide behind darkness.

Most crimes happen during the hours of 7 and 10 in the morning. Most burglars will wait outside your home until you leave for work or school. They want to be sure that they are alone when they break in to the home.

Many people feel that the reason so many daytime burglaries happen is because daytime offers the most opportunity. Avoid daytime burglaries by making sure that your doors and windows are always locked, even while you are home. Be sure to close your curtains and draperies so a thief won’t see something they think is worth stealing.

While the majority of research shows that daytime burglaries happen the most, there are a few studies that lean towards more night-time burglaries than daytime. Many thieves prefer the dark when the home does not have any outside lighting. Many thieves watch for these types of homes and they can easily break in to them while they occupants are away, with little fear of neighbors seeing them.

Even though the research has been contradicting, they all come to the same conclusion. Burglary can take place at any time of day. It is important to keep your family, home, and belongings safe by remembering to turn on your alarm system and other security measures.

It has been proven that having your establishment appear to be secure can be a great deterrent to burglars. However, security equipment can add up very quickly and may not be an option for smaller businesses or many homeowners. This is one reason why many people are now choosing to use fake security cameras instead of real security cameras.

Real security cameras serve a dual purpose. They work to monitor your property and can record any happenings that go on. They also are there to make your establishment appear to be secure, and warn off criminals that your establishment is not going to be an easy target.

Fake security cameras are not able to monitor your property, but they can be used to make your home or business appear to be secure. Most fake cameras will have the same make and model as real cameras. It simply just isn’t turned on.

There are a lot of different cameras that you can use. Before you decide, however, you should determine how close people will be to the actual camera. Some cameras will work great under close scrutiny, while other cameras will only appear real from a distance.

The most important thing with fake security cameras is to find a model that looks realistic. There are many fake cameras that are exact replicas of brand name cameras. They even have some cameras that have a flashing LED light, which is operated by battery.

Be sure to follow the same guidelines as a real security camera would. If you are using a camera that would need a cord, be sure to have a cord plugged in to a power source. If you are using a heavier camera, use sturdy brackets to secure it in to the wall like you would if it had the actual weight a recording camera would have.

You can also warn people that you have a camera placed in your establishment. You can highlight the fact by placing a sign that states that they are being recorded. Implying that you are recording their movements will deter most criminals from stealing.

If your establishment needs to be monitored with real security cameras, there is also the option of using a combination of real and fake cameras. This can be the best solution for your security needs. You will still be able to monitor your key hot spots, such as your entrance, but make your perimeter look more secure.

Outdoor lighting can be an easy step you can take to deter burglars from prowling around your home. It’s important to keep your home looking well protected. Outdoor lighting can be a great asset in guarding your home against break-ins.

Burglars usually go for homes that have poor lighting. They use the cover of darkness to find the best entrance to the home. The reason is because if they stay in the dark they have little worry of being spotted by neighbors or people on the street.

Outdoor security lights are meant to deter burglars because they don’t have the option of hiding in the dark. If they choose to move around your home while it is lit there is a much higher chance of them being spotted. They will also have a shorter amount of time to gain entry inside your home because they can be seen very easily, so they also have a higher chance of giving up and leaving.

There are a few different options available for outdoor security lights. You have the option of having outdoor lights that are always turned on, or ones that are on a timer or motion sensor. It really depends on the type of lighting you wish to have.

While having outdoor lighting turned on from dusk until dawn will keep your outside yard well lit, it can also soon add up on your electricity bill. Motion sensors are a much more cost effective solution. Motion sensors turn on outdoor lighting only when something moves by it, so they aren’t turned on all night long.

Motion lights are activated when someone steps with in a certain radius. They can be adjusted so that only larger things set them off. This can be very helpful if your property has smaller animals.

Motion sensors are good for security. The lights can detect a potential intruder by turning on when they get close to the sensor. They also serve to alert you if someone is prowling around your home.

Outdoor lighting can be a great asset to keep out intruders. They can also be convenient because of their additional benefits. Motion lighting, in particular, are very convenient – especially when you have unexpected family or friends stop by and need to find their way in the dark.

If a fire breaks out in your home, your best safeguard you can have is having a fire extinguisher close by. Fire extinguishers are very effective at putting out fires. For the safety of your home, be sure to have a fire extinguisher on hand.

Though it would be better to never have to use them at all, there simply is no way of knowing when a fire will happen. Fire extinguishers should be placed around your home where they can be reached quickly. You don’t want to fight your way up stairs to use a fire extinguisher for a fire that is in your garage.

It is recommended to have at least one fire extinguisher on each floor. While you don’t necessarily need to have a fire extinguisher in every room, it’s important to have one close by. The most important areas to focus on are the kitchen, workshop, basement, garage and near any sleeping areas in your home.

Choosing the right fire extinguisher for your home can take a little thought. There are different extinguishers that are meant to treat specific fires. For example, certain extinguishers are meant to put out fires caused by gases and liquids, and it wouldn’t be able to put out a fire caused by electricity.

Many fire extinguishers are designed to work against a variety of fire types. It might be tempting to buy a large extinguisher that can be used against all the different fire types, but be smart in your choices. If you have children at home, even a well rated fire extinguisher will be useless if it is too big for the child to use properly.

It’s also important to know that many fire extinguishers contain highly corrosive chemicals, which can cause a lot of damage to electronic equipment. Also, any extinguishers with the dry chemical halon are being phased out presently, because of concerns that is is harming the ozone layer. The best fire extinguisher is one that uses non-corrosive chemicals.

Fire extinguishers need to be mounted correctly so they can be grabbed quickly. While they should be handy in case of a fire, do not place them too close to potential fire locations. Do not place them close to stoves or trashcans or a place where a fire may actually prevent you from getting to the extinguisher.

Fire extinguishers will work best when a fire is just starting. The longer you wait to put out the fire, the less chance one fire extinguisher will be able to put the fire out. Be prepared by reading the instructions ahead of time, so you won’t have to worry about that if a fire does break out.

A home security inspection can help you know how secure your home actually is. It can give you the peace of mind that comes from having a safe home. Just about anyone can benefit from a home security inspection.

Home security inspections shouldn’t take up a lot of time, and should be relatively inexpensive. The results from having inspections help improve the safety of your home and your family. An inspection should be able to tell you the likelihood of a break in, and give you ideas on how to improve your security.

The best security inspections look at your home and property as a whole. They will then assess any areas of your home that are under-protected. They will scrutinize your windows and doors and any other entryways that a burglar may take.

The entryways will be the areas that will be focused on the most, but they won’t be the only areas that will be checked. Other areas that should be examined are garages, your property and landscape. They should also check and see how well your outdoor lighting is.

These areas normally present the most problems for home security. When your home is inspected they normally will give you a few suggestions for areas that need improvement for home security.  They will help you understand why the suggestions are necessary, and what you can do to correct the problem.

You may be surprised with how secure your home already is. Most inspections will likely tell you things that only slightly need to be changed. They will give you steps and checklists of things you can do to make your home look less appealing to burglars.

Many security companies offer free services for home inspections. Be sure to find a company that has a good reputation and are honest in their dealings, so that you don’t have to worry about them simply trying to use the inspection for their own business needs. Some police departments also offer free home security inspections.

You can also choose to do a security inspection through a third party service, though there usually is a fee involved. There is also the option of performing the inspection yourself. Find a checklist of security needs for homeowners and see how well your home does. Even though this can be done, there really is no substitute for having a professional come and look at your home.

The safety of your family is a needed priority in your life. Smaller children can be especially difficult to keep track of. A baby gate can be a wonderful investment to a parent because they will know exactly where their child is and be able to keep them out of unsafe conditions around the home.

Most baby gates use a self-locking latch mechanism. The locks are childproof, but should be easily opened by adults. They are a great alternative to a playpen, which babies quickly outgrow.

Stationary baby gates are great for keeping small children in one location. It is semi-permanent and is meant to stay in one spot, such as at doorways or stairwells. They are mounted into the actual wall, and can be removed once the child gets older.

Stationary baby gates can be found in a lot of different colors and styles. They can be made out of wood or out of metal. It can be designed to fit with the design of your home or your personal style.

Stationary baby gates are meant to be placed in the wall for a while. When your children outgrow the gate they can be removed easily by unscrewing it from the wall. A drawback is that they do leave screw holes in your home, so it is good to keep that in mind when deciding on your baby gate.

If you would rather have a baby gate that is not permanent they have those types of gates too. They use pressure instead of screws to keep the gate shut. These types of baby gates usually need to be used in a doorway.

Baby gates on the go are not recommended to use in between soft or hollow wall constructions. They wedge themselves into the empty space and can leave big holes in the wall if not placed in the right spot. They shouldn’t be placed in between stairways.

Baby gates are great for keeping your children safe. Many of them can be found for a very affordable price. Use a baby gate to keep your children safe from harm.

No matter where you live or your circumstances, a home security system is a great investment for any home. There are different products that are available to monitor your home. Motion detectors are a great resource security companies use to monitor the safety of your home and property.

Motion detectors are non-invasive. They can work great with even the most traditional of alarm systems. They can also be good on their own, such as lighting up the outside of your home.

Motion detectors have an electronic chip that sends out infrared light signals. This lens does not actually monitor movement, but it does monitor temperature. When something warm passes the chip with in a certain range, a quick change in energy happens and it goes off.

Motion detectors can work as an alarm. When someone moves in your home, the motion sensor’s alarm will go off. It can be controlled by the homeowner to prevent false alarms from happening, such as the movement of a family pet.

Motion sensors can be installed where ever you feel extra safety is needed. Some good places are skylights, bedroom windows, garage doors, and front and back doors. They should be placed at all possible entrances to your home.

Motion sensors can also be used to light up dark areas of your home or property. They are most often used on porches and driveways, though they can be used in basements and attics as well. Light sensors can be great for lighting the way for friends or family that come to visit after dark, and alert you if any unwanted guests try to go that way too.

Motion sensors are great investments for home security. They are also a good investment for money savings. Motion lighting runs on a time delay, so you don’t have to worry about turning on switches and they will go off on their own with out wasting electricity by having a light on all night long.

The best use for motion sensors is to use a combination of the two functions. Having a good light source to scare away intruders is good, and having a backup alarm in case they continue inside is even better. Both will help keep your home a safer place.

Sometimes it is hard to know where to start with home security. Most people understand that choosing an alarm system will be very beneficial for your home. But what other things should be done to keep your home safe?

While there are many things that can be done to protect your home, sometimes having a checklist can help you find your way. Here are some of our ideas to make your home safer. Remember, most burglars choose homes that look like easy targets, so the key is to make your home appear secure.

All exterior doors need to have locks. Install a deadbolt if you don’t already have one, and make sure it has at least 3 inch screws. A deadbolt should be installed at all access points of your home, including sliding doors.

Your doors should be solid wood or metal. If you have hollow wooden doors, replace them. They are too easy to penetrate and should only be used on doors inside the home.

Reinforce your door frames so they can’t be kicked in. Be sure to have strong locks for your garage so burglars can’t break inside and steal anything from inside. Keep all of your tools locked up so burglars can’t use them to break inside your home.

Don’t close yourself off from your neighbors. It’s natural for you to want privacy by allowing your trees and shrubs to block off your home from people on the street. The problem is that burglars often use these as hiding places, so set up your yard so you can clearly see around your property.

Make sure that your inventory of your home is up to date. It is a good precaution to take in case a burglar does make it inside your home. This information will help you know quickly what is missing so you can share it with your home insurance company and the police.

Finally, don’t forget to have a well-lit yard. Outdoor lighting should be placed at all the entrances to your home. You can use photosensitive lighting that will work as soon as it get dark, or motion detecting lights that can be triggered.

It is a proven fact that criminals don’t like the risk involved with breaking into a home that has a home alarm system. If they know that the home has a security system in place they will normally avoid that home. That is why security decals are so important.

Decals are meant to show the public that your home has a home alarm system. They are there to advertise that your home is not an easy target. Decals are a preventative measure to warn burglars to find another home to break in to.

Decals are normally not very large, but they should be easily seen. The security message, with your security company’s logo and name, is usually printed on the front of the decal. Decals are very similar to stickers, and should be peeled off and placed on a window or clear surface.

There are obvious benefits for using decals around your home. Decals don’t require any maintenance or electricity. They can also be placed anywhere with little worry to them compromising the integrity of your alarm system or home.

Decals normally come as part of your alarm system package. They are meant to be an additional safeguard to your home, so they also should be included with the other home security equipment you receive with your system. Remember to ask your security company about decals when signing up with them.

Sometimes people choose to get security decals with out the alarm system. Decals can be cheap and are easier to install than most safety measures. The only way a burglar can find out if the advertising is false is by taking the risk and breaking in the home. This is something most criminals would rather not do.

Even though decals can work as an extra measure to warn off burglars, it is most effective when working with an existing alarm system. Don’t design your own decal. Unprofessional decals are easy to notice and won’t fool any burglars lurking around your property.

When placing decals around your home be sure that they are at all your home’s entrances. They should be seen easily, especially from a distance. Don’t forget to place the decals on the top floor as well as the bottom floor.

There is more to home safety than simply having a good alarm system. A security system is a good place to start, but there are other things that should be done to enhance the safety of your home. It’s important to have good security for your property outside your home as well as inside.

By having outdoor safety measures you will be able to make it harder for burglars. Most criminals want to go to homes that show very little risk. Setting up your home on the outside will help make your home look less welcome to burglars.

One tip for outdoor safety is to make sure you have your lights turned on once it gets dark. A well lit yard makes it hard for a criminal to come to your door or window with out being spotted. You can set up your lights so that they are motion detected.

Keep your lawn and shrubs well taken care of. You want to make sure that the entrances and windows of your home can easily be seen from a distance. Be sure to trim your shrubs and tree so that burglars can’t hide behind them.

Have someone take care of your lawn while you are away for an extended period of time. A criminal can quickly see if your yard is not getting taken care of. Make arrangements for your lawn to be mowed so it doesn’t look like you are away.

You can also set up outside security cameras. Security cameras can easily be seen to deter burglars, or camouflaged so they won’t know they are being recorded. Cameras can be very handy when a break-in does happen.

A security gate at the beginning of your property can also be useful for outdoor security. Security gates are another warning to burglars that your home is not an easy target. They can also be nice because you will know who everyone is that visits you because they can’t automatically gain access.

Good security is vital when trying to keep your family and home safe. Home security systems inside your home are great for protecting your family. Outdoor home security is just an extra step you can take for your home’s security.

It is exciting to finally own a home. In between decisions on wall paint color and landscaping it is important to consider the different options that are available for the protection of your home. Home security is not something you should neglect.

There are many different things you can do to protect your home. Home owners insurance is a good start. Most mortgage loans actually require you to have a home insurance policy, so make sure you find one that meets your needs.

Another way to safeguard your home is to install a home security system. It is the best preventative measure you can take against burglaries. One of the most important things to remember when you are choosing a security company is to make sure that they come with a monitoring center.

Find a security company that has a monitoring center in your town or a nearby location. The best companies are ones that offer 24 hour monitoring services. This will allow your home to be watched no matter what time of day.

Find a security system that has a emergency power backup. A power outage should not hinder your home security. Having a battery backup linked with your system will ensure your home’s protection at all times.

Make sure that you use your security systems decals and yard signs. Most burglars will avoid a home that they know has an alarm system in place. Advertise that your home is protected by placing window decals and yard signs around your home.

Find a security system that offers more than just alarm protection for your home. Many of the best security companies also have other devices in place in case of other emergency situations. Find a company that monitors smoke, fire, and carbon monoxide.

Research different home security companies as soon as you close on your home. Well established companies should be able to be found easily on the Internet or found locally. Ask around the neighborhood you are moving in to to get some recommendations on where to start.

Home security gates can be a great improvement to the security measures already in place for your home. They work great with existing alarm systems, and can be very beneficial. Normally these gates are used as an added security measure, but they can also add to the value of your home.

Home security gates are investments worth taking. Having a security gate can give you peace of mind that you know who exactly is in your property. You take charge and identify whom you want near your home.

A gate is not only needed for security. They can also accent your home nicely. Customize your gate with your families initials or other beautiful designs that you think will go well with your home and property.

Security gates work best if installed by a professional security company. These companies can be found online or you can choose one of your local vendors. The security company should be able to tell you more details about specific gate systems.

Some gates can be controlled by a remote control. This is a good option if you don’t want to spend the time and energy in installing an electric grid underneath the ground. There are other types of gates out there, so the hardest part is finding the right style for you.

Many gates use a keypad so you can enter your own personal code key. This type of gate also can come with cameras and two-way communication keypads. This can be helpful when you have a guest or visitor that you aren’t expecting.

Cameras installed with gates are a good investment as well. They can track anyone who tries to enter your property unwanted. Cameras are also useful for when you are away from long periods of time, so you can easily check the activities of the gate while you were gone.

No security gate will last forever. Its important to maintain your gate with routine checkups at least once a year. This is a small price to pay for those who want the added protection for their loved ones.

Criminals usually look for homes that are easy and quick targets. Most break-ins can be avoided by making your home a harder target. By following a few safety guidelines and forming some good habits, you will be protecting yourself better from potential break-ins.

Establish the habit of keeping your shrubs properly trimmed. Thieves use shrubs often when trying to gain access inside homes by hiding behind them. Be sure that your shrubs are trimmed so you can see outside into your yard at all times.

Establish the habit of locking all your items away into your garage or storage shed when you a through with them. Don’t let your items lay around unguarded. Ladders and other tools that are left out can easily be used by burglars to gain access into your home.

Establish the habit of checking your alarm system constantly. Check it every time before you leave your home and before you go to bed at night. A lot of break-ins happen because the system is not properly checked or turned on.

Establish the habit of locking all of your doors and windows. Be sure to lock your upstairs windows because burglars can still gain access to your home through them. Remember to lock your doors while you are away as well as when you are at home.

Establish the habit of using your front door’s peephole. It is a great tool for you to use to be sure you know who is at your door. If you don’t know who is at your door, use your door chain and never gain them access into your home.

Get into the habit of updating your home’s security system software. Updating your system will help it run smoothly. It also can improve performance and also help avoid breakdowns of components.

There are other great habits that can help protect your home. Start with these ones and once these habits are well established branch out to incorporate other ones. Your efforts will help bring added security to your home.

Traveling during the Holidays is a common occurrence. Traveling can take up a lot of your time, especially when traveling a long distance. Here are a few safety tips to remember on your trip.

Don’t travel alone. Traveling with more than one person is always the safest. If you don’t have a choice in the matter, don’t advertise that you are traveling by yourself.

Look for rest stops or gas stations that are well lit. The lighter the area, the less likely you are to be taken by surprise. Criminals don’t like hanging out at spots where they can easily be spotted.

Carry pepper spray. Pepper spray is not lethal, like a gun would be, but it can still get you out of a sticky situation if something does arise. If you would like that kind of extra precaution, pepper spray may be a good choice for you.

Have a partner stay up with you during night drives. Many accidents that happen because of a driver falling asleep are because the driver is the only one in the car awake. By assigning a partner to stay up with the driver, you are ensuring that falling asleep at the wheel is not an option.

If you don’t have the option of having someone help you stay awake while you drive, make sure you bring plenty of activities to help you stay awake. Eating sunflower seeds while listening to catchy Christmas music can be a good activity. Find something that helps keep your mind focused so you don’t get tired and hypnotized by the road.

Always carry a cell phone. If you don’t personally own a cell phone, borrow one. Even a cell phone that doesn’t currently have a plan can make 911 emergency phone calls.

Quick texts and phone calls are easy enough and is a good safeguard. Alerting your family of your whereabouts every few hours can really help if you have car trouble or other emergencies, and will keep them informed of any delays that may happen so they don’t worry.

Adding a security camera to your home or business can be a great asset. A security camera can add another level of safety to help with the security of your home. Cameras come in a variety of fashions and sizes.

Security cameras can easily be installed directly in to your home. Many alarm companies will know best where to place the cameras. Most systems allow for multiple cameras to be connected through out your property and connect to one main monitor for viewing.

Security cameras can be a great protection to you and your family. They can be placed outside your home to view your property, and also inside your home. Cameras can serve you in more than one way.

By having a security camera in service, many criminals will shy away from entering your property. Most criminals choose houses that would be easy to rob. Simply installing a camera may deter most criminals from breaking and entering.

Cameras do more than just ward off burglars, however. They also can record the happenings of your home, which can be a great asset. If a burglar does decide to take the risk of entering your home, the recordings off of your camera will be able to help police identify the culprit.

Security cameras also work great for monitoring purposes inside your home. For example, many parents choose to use cameras as an extra precaution when their children are being watched by outside help. Most States require that you make those around you aware that a camera is recording things inside your home.

If your Nanny knows she is being watched, it is more probable that she will behave herself. Some parents feel this added protection is necessary when someone else is watching their children. It is important to them that they know what goes on in their home while they are away.

Cameras can also be used to monitor older children who are left at home alone. Parents can check in on them from time to time. Cameras can also help parents monitor their children’s activities while the children are outside playing and the parents are inside making dinner.

Holidays are great times for family and friends to meet together and share in the spirit of thanksgiving and service. However, for many people, holidays also are a time for crime. It has statistically been shown that holidays bring with it an increase in crime rate.

Most police officers will agree that Thanksgiving and Christmas are the worst times for fraud crimes. Criminal activity normally starts to increase the week of Thanksgiving, peaks during mid-December, and dies down the month of January.

Be careful of your surroundings over the holidays. It doesn’t take a lot of thought or effort to steal credit card or bank account information now-a-days. Thanks to current technology, it is possible more than ever to steal someone else’s personal information and identity.

Take steps to protect yourself this season. Keep your card face down when it is out of your wallet, and put it away once it is scanned. You never know if the person standing behind you in line is thumbing your credit card information into their phone, or taking pictures of it for future use.

Another way to keep your personal information protected is to keep all potential information out of the trash. Shred all personal information before throwing it away. You also never know who will be digging through you trash looking for their next victim.

Many critics feel that the spike in criminal activity will be worse the next few years. The reason is because of the economy. Many people have been laid off or have seen a decrease in work loads, and statistically that means that less and less ethical choices are going to be made.

Protect your home from break-ins as well. An increase in break-ins also happens during the holidays.  Alert your alarm company so they know they need to watch your home more carefully while you are away.

Holidays are great times that people look forward to every year. However, for many criminals this also is a popular time. Be careful this season so you don’t become one of their victims.

When shopping around for homeowners insurance, it is important to know what you will be getting when you buy a homeowner insurance policy. There are always a variety of policies for you to choose from. Find one that works best for your home.

There are different ways to find homeowners insurance. Some people prefer to use reliable websites to view online quotes. Others decide to use local insurance agents.

Whatever you decide to do, be certain that you understand what your personal policy covers. A homeowners policy normally is meant to be an added measure of security. Its there to protect the homeowner against certain issues arise.

Most insurance policies will specifically mention certain perils or exclusions that are in your policy. Ask your agent or insurance company if any of these exceptions apply. They should be able to tell you exactly what your policy covers.

Most homeowners insurance policies can be divided into two important parts. One part is specifically for property protection, while the other is about liability protection. These areas are important to the protection of your home.

Property protection with homeowners insurance usually covers details of your home, garages or storage sheds. It will cover your home and personal property, as well as details of compensations that may be needed in case certain circumstances arise. You can normally receive additional coverage by adding endorsements to your policy.

Endorsements are used when you wish to add something to your policy. They can normally be added for an additional cost, and provide a little extra protection to your home. An example of an endorsement you can add to your home would be extra help rebuilding your home if something happened to it.

Also watch out for additional property coverage. Many homeowners insurance policies provide additional coverage for things such as removing debris off of your land. This additional coverage can be handy in case of theft, illegal use of credit cards, a collapse of your building, or other similar perils.

Liability coverage would include personal liability and medical payments. Personal liability covers you against any claims made against you due to accidents or injuries that happen on your property. Medical payments are meant to help pay expenses for those that are accidentally injured on your property regardless of whose fault it was.

Christmas wouldn’t feel like Christmas without the special treat of a beautifully decorated Christmas tree. If you are like millions of other Americans around the country, then getting a real tree is a priority. If that is your case, there are certain safeguards you should take to prevent a fire from happening.

When Christmas tree fires occur they often spread fast. As a result they can cause serious injuries and inflict intense damage to the home. Christmas tree fires have been the cause of over $13 million in property damage.

The cause of most Christmas tree fires is usually because of shorts in electrical lights or open flames. Keep matches or open flames away from the tree. Dry Christmas trees can be a major problem if not carefully watched.
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When a Christmas tree is not properly taken care of and watered it can become a huge fire hazard. The Building and Fire Research Laboratory of the National Institute of Standards and technology have researched what happens when fire reaches a dry tree.  The video on their website shows how quickly a Christmas tree fire can happen and spread.

According to their research it only takes three seconds to set the tree completely on fire. Within 40 seconds the entire room is erupted in deadly flames and harsh toxic smoke. It’s no wonder why 1 out of every 22 Christmas tree fires ended with death as compared to the average fire where its 1 death per 75 fires.

Thankfully the statistics show that Christmas trees that do catch on fire are a very small portion of the amount of live Christmas trees that are sold. The best way to prevent a fire from happening is to keep your tree properly watered. A well-hydrated tree has a great chance of not being able to catch on fire, even when it is intentionally lit.

Even if you have a well-hydrated tree it is important to remember a few basic principles. When you put on Christmas lights to decorate your tree, follow the instructions and don’t use too many. Never use worn light bulbs or candles.

Place the tree at least three feet away from any other heat source. Keep your tree away from a fireplace. Keep it out of direct contact with sunlight to avoid unnecessary water loss.

Normally when we think of safes in a home we think of wealthy people or safes being hidden behind paintings. The truth is a safe is a good investment that many homeowners are using more and more frequently. Safes are a good security investment for a home.

Safes are not just a safety measure against burglars. They are also great for disasters that may strike your home, such as a flood or fire. They make it possible for a homeowner to protect certain key items in case of a disaster, instead of losing everything.

Safes come in a variety of styles and sizes. Safes can come with digital keypad locks, padlocks, key locks, or combination locks. Some safes can even use some of these lock styles together for added security.

It’s important to find a safe that works well for you. Although some safes may be less susceptible to a forced entry than others, it’s important to be able for you to easily access it yourself. If you are barring your own entrance to the safe, you probably won’t be continually placing important documents, articles and possessions there.

When deciding on a safe consider what items you will want to place in the safe. Whether its placing family heirlooms inside or emergency cash, keep a list to see how big your safe needs to be. You’ll want to know the dimensions of your safe before you can decide on where you want the safe to be located.

Smaller safes are easier to hide; yet a larger safe is harder for thieves to move out of a home. Decide what security measures you already have in place when deciding on the right safe for you. If your home already has a home alarm system in place, an intruder would have little time to deal with breaking into a safe so you may want to bolt the safe down so they wouldn’t be tempted to hoist the safe out with them.

Place a safe in a convenient place. Obviously you don’t want it to be somewhere where everyone will see it, but they can work well in closets, bedrooms, dens, and workshops or garages. If you decide to place a safe in a space that is not heated, it’s a good idea to use a dehumidifier of some type to keep the items inside safe.

Safes can easily be made fireproof and waterproof. This is a very important feature when trying to secure your valuables from harm. Many people have lost everything in fires or floods, so this is a great way to keep your special items safe.

No one wants to worry about crimes happening during the holidays. Yet, it is a real threat that can be intensified during the holidays. Here are some safety tips to remember this holiday season.

Be careful whom you share your holiday traveling plans with. Although it may be tempting to share your upcoming visit with your son’s family in Alaska when your cashier asks you about your holiday plans at the checkout counter, its best to leave traveling plans out of it. You never know who will overhear you and use it against you.

Don’t place spare keys in well-known places. If you have placed it under the welcome rug or a hide-a-rock on the front step then you should re-think your hiding place. If you can easily find it then so would a perfect stranger.

Be careful with your answering machine message. You shouldn’t leave a message explaining that you are away for the holiday. Instead, leave the traveling plans out of it and simply leave a festive greeting wishing the caller a happy holiday.

Alert your alarm company of your holiday plans. Let them know how long you will be gone and your expected day of return. Give them emergency contact information and a way to get a hold of you in case of an emergency.

Don’t put an ad out for a house sitter. If you can’t find a family member or friend to house sit for you, find a professional house-sitting service. Putting an ad in the classifieds will make your home a target for potential thieves.

When you do find a house sitter, keep them up to speed. Give them photographs of any people that may be coming to your home so they can easily recognize those who belong and those who don’t. If you have any changes for your plans alert them as soon as possible so they have as much information as they can.

Don’t forget the normal details that are helpful to keep your home look lived in. Set your Christmas lights on a timer so they continue to go off during the night. Ask a neighbor or friend to pickup your papers and mail, and arrange for someone to mow your lawn.

Homeowners in the market for a new home security system may just find that the array of products and services offered by local and national home security dealers are daunting if not overwhelming. Years ago home security systems were not much more than a siren wired to your doors and windows. Now, thanks in part to growing demand, need, and technologies, home alarm systems have grown in leaps and bounds.

Take that large living room for example. The open space, the large or numerous windows and perhaps even multiple entryways used to be a nightmare for the home security professional. There simply was no adequate way to cover all that space with an alarm. Security professionals simply had to make due with the alarm equipment they had available.

New home security technology makes struggling with space or convenience a thing of the past. Now you can use a motion detector to cover that large room. How about a glass break sensor to cover all those windows? Top all that off with a well-placed monitored heat and smoke detector and you’ve got a home security system that will leave that room, and your entire home for that matter, covered.

Glass break sensors, motion detectors, monitored heat and smoke detectors—these components are just the tip of the home security iceberg. Alarm companies are constantly developing products that can make your home safer while being more convenient at the same time.

Home security doesn’t mean booby trapping your house, and it doesn’t mean putting up a guarded wall around your property. Home security, no matter what type of alarm equipment you use, is simply giving you the most convenient peace of mind for those vulnerable areas to give you the home protection and home security you need through a fancy high-tech home alarm.

Flier for our 2009 Annual Food Drive

Contact your manager for various team meeting spots or Meet at the Provo Building at 1:00 to collect food.  The Provo Building address is 549 East 1860 South Provo Utah 84606

We will meet back at the new building at 7:00 to unload food have treats and mingle. The new building address is 1261 South 820 East  American Fork

Our Goal is 40,000 Pounds of food this year!

Click on the flier below to see a larger version:

With dozens of home security companies to choose from, it can be hard to decide which one to use. Home security systems are helpful for families who want their home and possession to be safe from possible harm. When deciding on which home security company to go with there are certain things to consider.

Find a reputable company that has a good, long history with good security and customer service. Ask family and friends what companies they like, and look for signs and stickers in your neighborhood. It’s a good idea to do business with a company that is well established in your area.

Companies that offer 24 hour a day monitoring are important. It can give you a lot of relief knowing that no matter what time you have someone watching out for the safety of your home. If the alarm is triggered the company will be able to assist you, whether that be by double checking with you at your home or calling the police.

Trusted security companies will send representatives to your home, rather than dealing with everything over the phone. They should be able to customize the security system to fit your needs. Find a company that will add extra protection to your home in case you want more than just the average home security system installed.

Find a company that offers a good warranty for their products, installation and service. Don’t choose an alarm company that won’t back up their products with a good guarantee. When you meet or talk to the company, ask what their warranty policy is.

Find a company that will help you and your family become comfortable with the new system. They should include training for everyone in the family on how to properly navigate the new system they’ve installed. If a company spends time helping you feel comfortable with the system that is a good guarantee that they will continue to show good customer service.

Some companies will relocated your home alarm system for free. This is a really good option, especially if you end up having to move sometime down the road. See if there is a company that will remove and reinstall your system free of charge as long as you continue to pay for the remote monitoring.

There will never be a completely perfect home security company, but you are more likely to have a good experience if you find companies that have these qualities. When you decide on a company you also have the opportunity to check with the Better Business Bureau to see if they have ever had any major complaints filed against them. When it comes to the security of your home and family, taking extra steps to find the right company for you is worth it.

There are currently a lot of different security systems that are available for homeowners. With so many choices, it can be hard to decide which system to go with. Especially when there are new gadgets come out on the market in short periods of time.

When choosing a home security system it is important to find one that is a step ahead of its competitors. You should find a system that will do a quality job with protecting your home, while still being affordable. Recently, most would agree that the best systems available are wireless home security systems.

Wireless systems are the most commonly used. They are a good choice to go with. They are easy to move and install, and are very convenient systems for both the homeowners and the installers.

Wireless systems don’t require the many wires that hardwired systems have. They don’t require drilling, which allows for a clean and orderly appearance. Wireless alarms and wireless motion detectors are popular choices with security products.

Wireless alarm systems are the most commonly used security devices. They use manual controls to set alarms for homes. The best alarm systems are connected directly to emergency personnel, so if the alarm is set off there is no need for you or your monitoring company to make a phone call.

Wireless motion detector are also common. They are a good security measure, and can be set up to work inside your home, at doorways, or even outside. Many homes are already being installed with light motion detectors because they are such a popular choice.

Wireless cameras are sometimes used in security systems. Since most alarm systems, especially those that use a combination of an alarm with a motion detector, are designed so well, cameras are becoming less and less popular. Cameras are commonly used for surveillance purposes.

Wireless security systems are easily able to work together. Ask your home security company what packages they have available. They should have customizations that will combine the different safety products so you are able to find what suits your safety needs best.

The Neighborhood Watch Program was organized in hopes of lowering the exponentially high crime rate across the nation. The Department of Justice enlisted the help of average citizens to work together with the city police department to aid citizens in their community. Since its start, the Neighborhood Watch has become one of the most effective instruments of fighting crime in our communities.

Having neighbors watching out for each other turned out to be a great crime prevention tool. Neighbors know more about what is going on in their own communities than police officers would, and can quickly spot who does and does not belong. Neighbors are also in the best position to report when violations do happen, and will want to continue to keep the environment safe for children and family members.

Because of its effectiveness, Neighborhood Watch Programs have continued to be a popular choice. It is free and easy to start if there isn’t one already set up in your neighborhood. With a few, quick, simple steps you can start a Neighborhood Watch Program and start fighting crime in your community.

First, start by talking to your neighbors. See if they are interested in the program. If they are interested you can contact your city police department, who will refer you to the officers in charge of Neighborhood Watch Programs.

Most police departments have a Community Relations Officer (CRO) or Police Service Officer (PSO) that deal directly with community safety. These officers will be able to help you with details that you may need, and discuss specific crimes and disorder problems you will need to inform your neighbors about. Once you have all the information you need, you are ready to start and set up your first neighborhood meeting.

At this first meeting you will be able to compile a membership list that contains names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses of all involved. You will also be able to develop an area map with the home addresses, and decide how far you want the neighborhood boundaries to be. It may be a good idea to start collecting money for Neighborhood Watch signs so they can be posted.

You will also be able to organize your objectives as a group to split up your responsibilities among the group members. One member may volunteer to be a spokesperson, while another may be assigned from the group to organize crime prevention activities. It is important to work closely with the police department when deciding on your objectives.

While you don’t necessarily need frequent meetings after things are organized, it is a good idea to have everyone in Neighborhood Watch meet at least once a year. You should continue to update and distribute information on any problems in the area. The main point with keeping a Neighborhood Watch group active is to have frequent communication with the members, and keep them interested in maintaining the safety of their homes.

No one wants to move to a neighborhood where crime and burglary are a normal activity. When moving your family you have more to consider than just how many rooms the house will have. You have to consider the community and the safety it provides.

The neighborhood that you decide to live in can dictate the way you spend your time. Are you going to be able to walk to the park with your children? Are your kids going to be attending good schools? Will you feel safe having your children outside playing?

The first step you can do in securing a safe neighborhood is investigating the crime rate in the area. There are websites available online to check the crime data from your neighborhood, according to zip codes. You can also ask a police officer some general information about the safety of certain neighborhoods in the area.

Use your Realtor. A good Realtor will be familiar with the neighborhoods you are looking in to. They should be able to provide information about the strengths and weaknesses of the neighborhoods you are looking at.

Get in your car and explore the neighborhood yourselves. Drive during the day and at night to see what areas appeal to you. Do this several different times to see what activities are going on in that part of the city.

There are online databases now that allow you to search for sex offenders in the area. Many of these websites allow users to see how close the sex offenders live, or work, to neighborhoods and schools. These websites are a free service and provide good information.

Speak to the neighbors in the neighborhood you are looking into. Residents can often have more information than the general statistics websites provide. They may be able to tell you more specific information to help you in your neighborhood search and tell you which streets may be a little more risky.

Find a neighborhood that is in a good school district. Several websites provide school reports, ratings, and standardized test scores for schools in your area. You can even set up a time to visit the schools and take a tour with your children.

It’s an age old debate. Are dogs or alarm systems better for the protection of your family and home? Which one is more beneficial?

Dogs can be a wonderful asset to a family. Dogs have been protecting families for a long time. As far as safety goes, they are very aware of their environment and can instantly alert owners of trouble with some quick barks.

Even with all of these benefits, however, it is usually agreed that even a simple security alarm is far safer than using a dog for security. Dogs come with a lot of risks, and may not be able to provide the protection you are hoping for with your home. Alarm systems in the long run are less expensive and continue to provide better protection.

People who like guard dogs argue that dogs instantly alert owners of any break ins. Yet alarm systems alert police or monitoring security as soon as there is a break in. There is also a risk to your dog when you are gone, since burglars often steal or even kill watch dogs.

Alarm systems have provided other benefits than just protecting against burglary and theft. Most alarm systems can provide your home protection against fire. They can also measure levels of dangerous gases, such as Carbon Monoxide.

Alarm systems are much safer for family, especially children. Security dogs can be very well trained, but even the best trained dogs can be unpredictable. Statistics show that those that have been attacked by dogs used for security are predominantly children. No one wants that on their conscience, even those that don’t have children.

There is also the issue of your dog actually attacking a burglar. If a thief is bit and brought to the hospital, they can sue. This can cause a lot of headaches, heartache, and even financial ruin.

It’s agreed that dogs can be a great asset to a family. However, keeping a guard dog is not worth the risk. For home security, an alarm system will do a much better job with protecting your home and your family.

Forbes recently came out with a list of the top most dangerous cities in America. Forbes used various violent crime statistics and evaluated cities that had more than 500,000 residents. The crime categories that they used to define crime was murder and non-negligent manslaughter, robbery, forcible rape, and aggravated assault.

On the top of their list was the city of Detroit. The reason they stated for such a high rate of crime was because of small gang territorial wars that were happening. Detroit has had a long history of being a city with more violence.

Other cities that were on the list were Memphis, Tenn., Miami, Fla, Last Vegas, Nev, and Stockton, Cali. All of the top ten most dangerous cities had a common occurrence. They all were cities that the Department of Justice labeled as transit points for Mexican drug cartels.

Drug cartels are illegal, criminal organizations whose sole purpose is to distribute and regulate the trafficking of drugs. A lot of drug cartels have made their territory in Mexico and have waged war with each other and the government. More than 10,000 Mexican citizens have lost their lives because of drug related crime and violence.

This violence has made its way across the border into America. Drug gangs continue to show violent turf wars with one another. Places like Stockton, California have seen a major increase in crime rate because it has become a popular transit point along the freeway from Mexico to Seattle.

President Obama has made curbing Mexico’s violent drug war an urgent issue. In April he met with Mexican President Felipe Calderon to discuss ways to stop the cartels and any Americans who are helping. President Obama authorized federal officials to take any assets that any drug cartels have hidden in the United States, causing a major stumbling block to gangs and Americans who smuggle the drugs, laundered money, or weapons for the cartels.

The issues with Mexican drug wars have increased in the past few years, but the rise in crime in many of these cities has been around for forty years or more. Detroit and Las Vegas both fell victim to industrial and housing booms. Detroit fell victim to rapid suburban growth that caused abandonment, and Las Vegas homeowners were left with worthless properties and expensive mortgages.

These cities that are struggling with crime rate because crime fighting resources haven’t been made available to them. With the current economic recession the United States is in, funds for fighting crime are usually one of the first to be cut. Currently there seems to be little sign of improvement with these violent cities.

Buying a home security system today, like most purchases, comes chalk full of choices. The home security industry has grown by leaps and bounds over recent years and security technology has grown with it. Just deciding what type of system to purchase—cellular back up, wireless, hard-wired, two-way voice—can be an extremely daunting task.

Once you decide what type of alarm you want, you’ll have to determine the equipment you want installed in your home. Though most home security companies offer standard alarm packages with an allotted amount of equipment included, most will let you swap different components in and out so you can customize the perfect alarm that fits both your home and your family.

If you’re thinking about purchasing a home security system through either a local alarm or a national alarm dealer, understand that customizing your home alarm system is a big part of the process. No house is the same, so no security system should be the same either.

The first step to designing your alarm system is making sure that individual door sensors protect the main entryways to your home. After you’ve covered the main entryways, decide where you’ll get the most bang for your buck. Motion detectors, glass break sensors, and monitored smoke detectors are a great way to complete your security system.

However you decide to build your home security system, make sure you cover your home in a way that’s going to protect your home without cramping your lifestyle. There are a lot of options to choose from if you decide to purchase and alarm, so be sure to ask your local alarm company or home security provider what monitoring and equipment packages available and make sure they help you select the components that help protect you and your family.

A lot of people believe that living inside a gated community brings added benefits of protection and security. These communities are meant to keep crime out, but do gated communities actually have less crime like they want us to believe? Is it actually safer for them to live there?

Gated communities have patrol guards, security codes, and gates to keep unwanted visitors out. While all of these things are there to add protection to homeowners, is there actually less crime rate than other outside communities? The answer is yes, there is less crime rate. But it is only lower by a little bit, not as much as they would have you believe.

Most data out there indicates that the long-term crime rate of gated communities is only a little lower than the crime rate outside. The basic trend with gated communities is that the crime rate is very low for the first year its established, but then it rises to just marginally less than the rest of the community after that. They feel this is caused because burglars don’t like going to areas that are unfamiliar but they slowly make their way into these communities and crime rate goes higher.

Most critics of gated communities feel that residents are given a sense of false security. The appeal of gated communities is safety. But many argue that they are not as safe as they advertise.

For example, gated communities have their own security patrols that watch the area. Critics worry, however, that these security guards aren’t going to really provide the ultimate protection if a burglar or criminal is inside the gates, because most guards are only receiving a salary slightly above minimum wage. The security of these gated communities will only be as good as the people who patrol it.

There has also been an issue with emergency vehicles getting inside gated communities to provide emergency assistance. With so many communities being built with gates, more security codes are being used making it hard on emergency personnel to gain entrance in a timely fashion. It also is harder for ambulances and Fire engines to gain entrance because of the usual narrow gate entrances.

Lastly, a lot of people feel secure in the fact that you have to have an access code to be given entrance inside. But many unmanned gates have codes that have been given out to countless individuals who not live inside the gates. There is really no way of guaranteeing that the pizza delivery boy hasn’t given the code out to anyone else.

Whether critics are accurate in their belief that gated communities aren’t as safe as they advertise, gated communities have continued to be more and more popular. People may not know that neighborhood watch programs have shown to be just as effective as gated communities. And the bonus of neighborhood watch is it is free.

1. Wireless Systems – Secure your home without the added wires that require a lot of time installing. Wireless home security systems send information to the master alarm control panel to keep your home secure at all times. Wireless systems are safe because burglars won’t be able to get past the system simply by cutting alarm wires.

2. Smoke and Heat Detectors – Add another level of safety to your home, especially when it is combined with the wireless home alarm system. Smoke detectors indicate when there is a fire, but they also automatically notify the monitoring security company and fire company if needed. Look for a model that uses rechargeable and standard size batteries to keep your costs lower with maintaining it.

3. Monitoring Services – Monitoring services will keep your level of security high. They are also a good convenience to have in keeping your home safe. Most complete systems will have buttons to notify emergency personnel and monitoring companies that have live customer support.

4. Master Control Panel – This device is essential to any home security alarm system. It will be installed on a wall close to an entrance for quick and easy access. The panel is what receives all the information from all the other products and sends that information along to the monitoring company.

5. Back-Up Power Supply – Its important to have a back-up in case of a power outages. Find an alarm that will still be operational even when your power is not turned off. This can be done through the help of batteries.

6. Yard signs and window decals – Advertise that your home has protection. Recent studies show that the most effective deterrent to burglars is the knowledge that the home was protected with an alarm system. Post a sign in your yard and in your windows to protect your home.

7. Key Pads - Magnetic Alarm Sensors on windows and doors decrease the chance of a burglar entering undetected, and are important for security alarm systems to work. Security measures are increased when they are combined with motion detectors that are installed. The best motion detectors and key pads will ignore movement from pets so the alarm isn’t set off accidentally.

8. Talking Devices- These devices are used as a two way communication between you and your alarm monitoring center. These devices can alert your alarm company of any problems without having to pick up your phone. Talking devices help decrease false alarms from happening.

Platinum Protection is one Americas fastest growing Home Security Sales Companies. Security System News reports that has sold 55,000 accounts in the second summer with an additional 25,000 in its first summer. Platinum Protection plans on continuing this trend year over year. below is the story as reported on Security System News:

PROVO, Utah–Platinum Protection, one of the summer sales model companies based here, reported selling 55,000 accounts in its second summer, 25,000 more accounts than last summer. The company plans to get bigger and sell more accounts each year, but this year it’s “dialing in on quality,” said Jake Nielson, head of corporate communications for Platinum.

In addition to its charitable efforts (see accompanying story this page), “our goal is to continue to improve the customer experience and we start with the sales rep; we spend a lot of time with the guys teaching them how to sell ethically,” said Jared Hallows, CEO of Platinum.

Platinum became a GE dealer this year and is also partnered with alarm.com and Monitronics. Those partnerships “added new features and flexibility to our offerings.” One of GE’s largest dealers, Platinum in October received a “Homeland Security Award” from GE Security.

The company is developing new internal programs including a new service scheduling system “that allows us to get technicians out to a customer’s house quickly using GPS coordinates,” Hallows said. “We’re also developing a license and permitting database to help customers get permits in a timely manner.” This program, which will include data from all the cities, counties and municipalities in which Platinum does business, is expected to be in place by the summer of 2009.

“We’re looking at our back-end support-breaking down the processes and figuring out what worked and what didn’t and we work on improving the process,” Hallows said.

Hallows said he didn’t have an account volume sales goal for 2009. “What we’re going to do is improve quality, have qualified sales reps who make money [and] make sure our customers are taken care of, and we have every thing in place to support them.”

Click here for the story on SecuritySystemNews.com

Platinum Protection took their door to door sales team and spent an entire day to gather food for the local food bank. They were able to break a record with the amount food gathered. Platinum Protection was able to collect over 34,00 pounds of food. Platinum Protection is concerned about the community and continues to show it through projects like this. Below is the actual story from Security Systems News:

Those summer model alarm companies are sure competitive. The photo above is a moving van full of donated non-perishable food items that Platinum Protection donated to the Community Action Food Bank in Utah County and the Utah Food Bank in Salt Lake County last weekend.
Platinum had 400 employees hit the streets on Dec. 12 for a food drive, and their efforts “broke the record for the largest one-day, door-to-door corporate food drive, bringing in a grand total of 34,000 pounds of food,” according to this press release that they sent me this morning.

From the release: “ We have broken the record the last two years as the fastest growing alarm company in the history of our industry by knocking doors,” said Jeremy Pixton, a co-owner of Platinum Protection. “This time the record we wanted to break was giving back to those that are in need and doing it by knocking doors. We felt this was a good opportunity to teach our employees the value of giving back.”

A few weeks ago, I wrote a story about summer-model companies expanding their philanthropic deeds and public relations efforts. In that story I reported that Apx Alarm “had made the largest donation in history to the Utah Community Action Service Services Food Bank.”

This is the kind of competition I can appreciate, and I’m pretty sure that Apx will up the ante again. I’m thinking Josh Houser’s going to call me this afternoon to let me know what Apx is doing next.

How about you non-summer sales model companies? Let me know what you’re doing along these lines as well.

Click here for the story on Security SystemNews

On Security Systems News, ADT chief legal officer David Bleisch presented a challenge to eztablish a “Door Knocking Code of Ethics“. Jeremy Pixton of Platinum Protection says that a code of ethics is “long overdue”. A code of ethics would makes sure that the numerous Home Security companies would follow rules and regulations to ensure customers get professional and honest service from Home Security sales personel. Below is the actual story from Security Systems News:

NEWSWIRE
Fans abound for ‘Door-knocking Code of Ethics’
By Martha Entwistle

IRVING, Texas—ADT chief legal officer David Bleisch’s call last week for a ‘door-knocking code of ethics’ struck a chord with some who believe a code would be beneficial.

Jeremy Pixton, owner of Platinum Protection, one of the larger summer-model security companies called the idea “long overdue.”

“Ultimately every company in our industry has the same goal to satisfy our customers while protecting their homes and families. But unfortunately the door-to-door industry is riddled with stories about sales reps who don’t share the same goal,” Pixton said. “Even though Platinum has focused on training our sales reps to sell ethically, adopting an industry-wide code of ethics can only help us achieve more, and we would love to help however we can.”

The NBFAA last April updated its code of ethics (find it here), which addresses sales presentations and employee training in a general way, but does not talk specifically about door-to-door sales. NBFAA president Mike Miller called Bleisch’s idea “a powerful suggestion.” He added: “the NBFAA would like to help where it can … to help bring a solution [to the problems associated with door-to-door sales] to the industry,” said Mike Miller, president of the NBFAA.

Miller said that enforcement of a code of ethics is not something within the purview of the NBFAA, but said another entity, such as a coalition of companies, may be able to address compliance with a code of ethics.

Bleish’s suggestion came about as the ADT chief legal officer David Bleisch has filed against several door-to-door salespeople who ADT says used deceptive sales tactics. See the full story here.  Monitronics, which is also suing several door-to-door sales people, also indicated its support for a code of ethics.

Link to story on securitysystemsnews.com

Reuters.com discussed how Platinum Protection used its salesforce, not to sell Home Security Systems, but to gather for for the food bank. Over 400 representitives of Platinum Protection went out and gathered food for the local food bank during the Holiday season. Platinum Protection was able to collect over 34,000 pounds of food which was a record for the most food collected over a 24 hour period.

Below is the actual story featured on Reuters.com

PROVO, Utah--(Business Wire)--
Friday night, nearly 400 representatives from www.PlatinumProtect.com
[Platinum Protection] canvassed the Wasatch Front, but not to sell security
systems. This time, they were using their skills to gather food for local food
banks. 

“We have broken the record the last two years as the  fastest growing alarm company in the history of our industry by knocking doors,” said Jeremy Pixton, a co-owner of Platinum Protection. “This time the record we wanted to break was
giving back to those that are in need and doing it by knocking doors. We felt
this was a good opportunity to teach our employees the value of giving back.” 

Friday night’s effort broke the record for the largest one-day, door-to-door
corporate food drive, bringing in a grand total of 34,000 pounds of food. 

The donations will go to the  Community Action Food Bank in Utah County and the
Utah Food Bank in Salt Lake County. 

“We are so grateful to Platinum for their hard work last weekend,” said Myla
Dutton, Executive Director of Community Action Services and Food Bank, the food
bank serving Utah, Summit and Wasatch Counties. “We hope to see more businesses
get involved this way in the future.” 

Sales representatives, technicians and corporate employees from Platinum
Protection all participated in the event. They went door to door in Salt Lake,
Utah and Cache Counties thanking the community for their past donations and
providing another opportunity to give. 

They loaded all the food donations into trucks and trailers and then met up at
 Thanksgiving Point in Lehi. From there, the workers took the food to the food
banks. 

“It was a great opportunity for the company to do some service,” said Andres
Sosa, a Platinum employee who participated in the food drive. “It just blew my
mind to see the amount of food we brought in. It was also great to see how many
people were willing to donate.”

Link to story on reuters.com

For many, cellular technology comes down to options. Cellular technology simply offers more of them to any alarm owner over a basic home security system. Not only does each alarm cellular backup unit provide more affordability when attached to a home alarm, it provides the homeowner with more options when it comes to usability and flexibility when dealing with the alarm.

The advent of iPhone and Blackberry applications has revolutionized the way home security works. Applications not only bring more bells and whistles to an already useful product, they’re changing the way that alarm systems actually function, and alarm cellular technology has made it all possible.

Now, thanks to cellular technology, those people with a home security system have the ability to arm and disarm their alarms from anywhere, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Home security users can now use video monitoring with their alarms to watch their kids come home from school, see what doors have been opened, and who’s been coming and going.

When considering whether to add cellular backup to an existing security system, homeowners should think about how they use their system. Homeowners considering cellular backup must understand that home security should enhance their lifestyle, not cripple it. Frequent travelers might enjoy remote access to the security system while those who don’t get out as much may not appreciate the feature fully. However, despite the choices that cellular technology brings to the alarm industry and homeowners alike, it is safe to say that cellular technology is an all around safer choice for any homeowner.

Whether you’re considering purchasing a home security system online, in a store, or directly from a dealer, make sure the system your buying comes with cellular technology. Most homeowners who don’t see the technology as a need before they purchase the alarm system usually regret the decision down the road.

Normally when you hear the words “Panic Room” a movie starring Jodie Foster comes to mind. But what is a panic room in actuality? Why do people get them and what function do they serve?

Panic rooms actually aren’t designed with the general public in mind. Panic rooms, commonly known as safe rooms, are designed for high profile or wealthy individuals and their families. Because of this a lot of panic room manufacturers do not disclose a lot of detailed information or specifics of what panic rooms entail.

Panic rooms often serve more than one purpose. Many panic rooms are made in response to risks that individuals may face with kidnapping or terrorist attacks. It serves as an added protection against these attacks, and give high profiled individuals another level of security.

Panic rooms have a lot of different safety features. Walls can be reinforced with hefty material to shield off invaders who are attacking. They also are designed to keep their occupants from being found if possible, so it serves as a hidden room in many respects.

Panic rooms are usually fitted with high tech equipment. Surveillance equipment from inside the panic rooms are usually connected to cameras around the home to provide the occupants inside the opportunity to see the events that are happening outside the room. Panic rooms can also be linked to home security systems, so that once the room is opened an alarm will alert the police or other security agents of any trouble.

Most panic rooms are only meant to be used for a short period of time. Other than hostage situations, panic rooms are only used for a few hours or less. Many panic rooms are designed with only short stays in mind.

In recent years, however, panic rooms have been used for more than just safeguards against home invaders. A lot of people use panic rooms to keep their valuables safe from prying eyes and hands. They are great places to store rare trinkets, original artwork, precious books, and other valuable collections.

Panic rooms are also becoming popular because of their reinforcement capabilities. With the current trend of weather related catastrophes around the world, many people are using panic rooms to protect their families against tornadoes or hurricane winds that might attack their home. Many panic rooms are made with weather-resistant materials and are reinforced with steel and concrete for added protection.

Vacations are meant to be a break from the worries and stress of everyday life. No one wants to worry about leaving their home when they are supposed to be vacationing. While it is true that an empty home is more vulnerable for burglary, there are steps you can take to protect your home when you are on vacation.

If you are going to be away for an extended period of time make certain to have your newspaper and mail stopped, or at the very least picked up by a neighbor or friend on a regular basis. Lock all your doors and windows before you leave for your trip. Double check all upstairs windows or ones you don’t often think of checking.

You can ask a friend to house sit for you. If you don’t want someone to house sit you could ask a neighbor to keep an eye out on your home. Make certain whoever is watching your home has an extra key to your home and knows where the main water line shut-off switches are located in case a pipe breaks.

Let your alarm company know that you are going on vacation. If you don’t already have an alarm system installed in your home, this would be a good time to look in to it. Security systems are an added preventative and protective measure for when you are gone for several days at a time.

If you have valuables you are nervous about, you may protect them best by finding them a new, temporary home while you are away. As an added precaution you can place all your valuable papers, jewelry and other important items in a safe deposit box for safe keeping. Or if you have a trusted family member or friend, have them store them at their home for a few days while you are away.

If you will be vacationing during the winter months there are some good things to remember before you leave. Make certain you don’t allow your home to get lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Opening your cabinet doors will help uninsulated pipes under sinks receive more heat from your home and prevent plumbing leaks due to frozen pipes.

The key to keeping burglars at bay is to make your home look occupied. Leave a car in the driveway or ask a neighbor to park their car in front of your home. Keep some lights turned on in your home. If you have lights that have timers, set them to go off at random times during the night to deter burglars.

Don’t close all of your blinds to your windows when you leave. Blinds that are closed all the time, even during normal daytime hours, are dead giveaways that you aren’t at home. You should also ask someone to come and mow your lawn while you are gone.

The safety of your home and family is very important. You can protect your home, family, and possessions with some easy, basic home iimprovements. Here are some suggestions of how to improve your home’s safety.

Install new locks on your windows and doors. Many older locks are not very strong and should be replaced. If your windows, especially second story windows, do not have locks on them make certain to add some. Make certain all doors to the outside have dead bolts.

Trim your hedges so they do not block your view of your yard. Make certain that none of your doors or windows have anything in front of them. You want to make certain that all exit and entry points are clear and visible.

Install motion or heat-sensing flood lights in your front or back yards. This will get rid of shadows where burglars can hide. You can also choose to put lights on timers so that they switch on and off at regular times.

Ask a trusted neighbor or friend to collect your mail or newspapers when you are gone on vacation. Park your car in the driveway to give your place a lived-in appearance. You want to make it appear like your home is still occupied.

Install a self-charging smoke detector. These alarms recharge themselves every time a light is turned on, so you won’t have to worry about replacing a dead battery. Keep a fire extinguisher handy, and make certain that everyone in the home knows where it is and how to use it.

Join your neighborhood watch, or start one yourself. It is 100% free. Sometimes a neighborhood watch sign can be enough to convince a prowler to find another area.

There are many other precautions you can take to safeguard your home, such as installing a security system to protect your home or updating your homeowners insurance. Replace any flimsy outside doors with solid wood or steel doors. And For fun you could even post a “Beware of Dog” sign, though we don’t promise it will actually scare anyone away.

Platinum Protect Presents the Third Annual Hallow-Funk-A-Ween.

*********** || Lawrences M.O.M.M. Productions || DJ DAN || RockStarShows || ***********

****************************( HALLOWFUNKAWEEN-III )**************************

The BIGGEST HALLOWEEN COSTUME DANCE PARTY in UTAH!!!
FRIDAY OCT. 23rd!!! FRIDAY OCT. 23rd!!!

In collaboration with: PLATINUM SECURITY!!!

Along with:
NEFF Clothing………………M6 Marketing……………..Wilhelmina UTG Modeling
Throwdown…………………SpoonMe………………….KikWorldWide
SkullCandy………………….Taylor Audio………………Sammy’s Cafe
Rockwell…………………….Costa Vida………………..UTAH THUNDER AF1
Vooray!!…………………….THE SCREAM ASYLUM!!!

HUGE HUGE HALLOWEEN COSTUME PARTY!! 3rd Annual!!! Biggest and best!!

*THE BEST SPECIAL GUEST DJ’s/VJ’s and ENTERTAINERS ALIVE!!
*THE BIGGEST PRO DJ/VJ IN THE NATION, DJ MIKE RELM!!!
*THE BEST MUSIC YOU’VE EVER HEARD!

________________________________/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\________________________________
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ——->> DJ MIKE RELM!!! <<——- ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
********************************\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/********************************

…SEE HIM DO HIS THING…THE SICKEST VJ MUSIC VIDEO MIXING YOU’VE EVER SEEN!
…ON 12 PROJECTOR SCREENS!!! YES, 12 PROJECTOR SCREENS!!!

In case you’ve lived in a cave…Check him out!!!:
Charlie bit my finger remix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVLcw_QpJKc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3SDz51OQJk&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i56XeM0-b8Y&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jhu1f0xrDc&feature=fvsr

*OVER 5000 IN ATTENDANCE!
*HUGE VEGAS LASER LIGHT SHOW!!
*BRAND NEW VENUE!! THE RAIL! SICKEST VENUE IN UTAH!!
*THE SWEETEST VENUE SET UP YOU’LL EVER SEE!!
*FOR A GOOD CAUSE!! Benefiting KikworldWide!
**BE SURE TO RSVP TO MAKE SURE YOU GET IN!!!**

LOCATION: THE RAIL!!! BRAND NEW VEGAS STYLE VENUE!! 235 N 500 W is Salt Lake City. Just north of the Gateway Shopping Complex.

INVITE EVERYONE AND HELP SUPPORT THIS AWESOME CAUSE!

18 and up ONLY. WE WILL ID!!

If you’re interested in sponsoring/being a part of this event contact Lawrence at nano2727@gmail.com.

!!!HEY GUYS, THIS IS THE BEST HAUNTED HOUSE IN UTAH COUNTY!!!
*************___THE SCREAM ASYLUM___****************

*Guaranteed to make you SCREAM ! ! ! !
*Oct 1st – Oct 31st
*Daily 7pm to 10pm, Open until 12am on Weekends, Closed Sundays
*CHECK OUT THEIR VIDEO BELOW!!!

Located in Downtown Provo, 600 S. Unversity Ave. Google Maps: http://tiny.cc/Scream_Asylum_Map

Website: http://www.thescreamasylum.com/

Walk into a call center anywhere and you will notice similarities and differences. Rows of computers, phone conversations, cubicles, and the usual hustle and bustle that comes with the demanding, fast-paced environment. But Platinum Protection, a Utah-based home security company wants you to notice the differences as well.

Platinum Protection employees work in a home security industry that provides alarm systems for residential homes across the United States. Because home burglaries, fires, and medical emergency are time sensitive issues and sensitive issues in general, the customer service team must possess an extra measure of care and support to provide the home protection their customers are looking for.

Customer service, for Platinum Protection, begins with the customer in a very real way. Once a customer purchases a home security system from Platinum Protection, he/she is connected immediately to an organizational system of customer support specialists who verify whether each customer is satisfied with his/her alarm, whether the security system’s components were each installed properly, and whether each customer feels safer from burglaries as well as fire and medical emergencies.

Providing customers with the service they need so they feel like their home security system is providing the protection and safety they want gives customer service employees at Platinum Protection a lot of satisfaction.

Dealing with customers in an industry where emergency response to home invasions combined with medical and fire responses actually involve life and death situations gives the customer service team at Platinum Protection a different approach to the way communicate with their customers. From handling billing issues, to responding to alarm situations, Platinum Protection employees learn very quickly that a lot could be at stake every time the phone rings so they learn to respond appropriately and treat each customer the way they should be treated—with the care their company’s product provides.

Home security has come a long way over the past few years. Simple burglar alarms that once had to be hard wired into homes gave way to more advanced security systems with fire protection and medical protection. Now the recent advent of wireless technology has given iPhone application developers a new platform to make security services more convenient than ever.

Applications like Platinum Protection’s ‘Platinum Interactive’ available on the iPhone and Blackberry actually let users control their alarm systems from anywhere. Being able to arm and disarm their home security systems, monitor different doors and windows, and receive real-time video updates via home video monitoring gives users a completely new and totally unique way to keep up with their homes from their phones.

Platinum Interactive is the latest iPhone application that is making every day life a little more convenient. By installing the application and using it with a security alarm, platinum interactive users can be at home from just about anywhere. From the touch of a button, Platinum Interactive gives its users the ability to check up on loved ones, are and disarm their security system, and actually view their home through live video monitoring.

Companies are jumping on the iPhone application bandwagon left and right, and in the home security industry, there’s reason to believe that these applications not only mark the wave of the future, they actually allow companies like Platinum Protection to expand their businesses in a way they never thought possible.

If iPhone applications are marking the next big trend in the technology community, Platinum Interactive is going to be the next big thing in the home security industry. It’s an application that works hand in hand with home security systems to provide ease of use for its users. Platinum Protection views this new application a both user-friendly and essential for anyone who owns a home security system.

Platinum Protection appears in the Salt Lake Tribune on Sept. 7th, 2009. Platinum Protection has an iPhone app that allows for home owners to set their home security system anywhere with their Blackberry or Apple iPhone. Whether someone is out of town, or leaving on vacation, their home can be protected with Platinum Interactive.

In Utah, we have an app for that

By: Tom Harvey

Want an idea for a really good prank? Get Pranktionary on your iPhone. Want to play a 4,000-year-old Chinese board game? SmartGo is the application for you. Need to keep track of those bodily function to help you get pregnant? Lady Biz might be your app.

From the silly to the just fun to the serious, Utah companies are contributing to the tens of thousands of apps for iPhones. The apps, both free and for purchase, are those little icons on the screen that when activated allow you to do all sorts of things, many using the Internet or the iPhone’s built-in GPS unit.

A year later, Apple said there were more than 65,000 apps available to consumers in 77 countries and that 1.5 billion had been downloaded.

Utah entrepreneurs appear to be leaping on the bandwagon and producing apps left and right, for themselves and on behalf of other companies. Some are even making a full-time living developing them.

That’s because the apps for the iPhone have radically changed the dynamics of the mobile phone industry, said Andrew Buffmire, founder of the Utah-based startup company SignalSet and a veteran of the wireless industry. He served on the development team of Sprint PCS.

“What the iPhone has done is broken the traditional allocation of revenue between the carriers and the device providers,” said Buffmire. “What Apple was able to do was take a more significant margin than any other supplier of a device. And it’s because of the interface and the application layer and the elegance of the device itself.”

Apple also greatly streamlined the development process for applications by opening up its computing platform to developers, giving them access to sell them easily on iTunes and offering them 70 percent of the revenues.

The explosive growth of iPhone apps — with other smart phone companies now starting to catch up — underlies a major technological trend. That is, the growing use of cell phones because of their power and ability to connect to the Internet from nearly anywhere, which has led to their adoption as a primary computing tool. They literally have taken over tasks once performed only on desktops, all the while opening themselves up to many other uses.

Steven Moon said he was struck by the iPhone when it came out in June 2007 because of its ability to act as a phone, connect to the Internet and play music, movies and games.

“I saw it as game-changing,” said Moon, a computer programmer who founded Clever Coding in Springville, to make iPhone apps. “I don’t know if 10 years from now the market will be dominated by Apple … but I do think the convergence of everything on one device really is the future. … I do believe passionately it is the future.”

Clever Coding has released games that include MicroKart and Paper Pilot, as well as Young Words, the latter designed to help build children’s vocabularies. It’s main business, however, is writing apps for other companies.

Avantar Inc. of Provo believes it has some of the most popular nationwide apps and also might have the most popular of Utah-made apps. It offers Yellow Pages, AirYell, and Showtimes, which search for local businesses or services and local movie information using GPS.

“We are nearing 3 million downloads and deliver nearly 8 million local monthly searches per month to our iPhone, iPod and iTouch app users,” said CEO Adrian Ochoa.

The Farmington company iTransact, which offers credit card transaction processing, has an app that allows a merchant to make a credit card charge through an iPhone.

The operator of a fruit stand beside the highway, a candymaker with a convention booth or an author on a book-signing tour who wants to make credit card sales are examples of those who would use the iTransact app, said Vice President Matt Sumsion.

“It’s just crazy who’s doing it,” he said. “A little company that sells rainbow snows … they sell their icies on the street and they want to take credit cards. I have a men’s fashion designer who goes to the high-end homes of his clients … and he needs a way when he drops off a pair of $500 shoes to take that client’s credit card.”

These days, if you’re at the office or the store, you also can be notified on your iPhone when a door opens in your house. Platinum Protection, a Provo-based home security-system provider, has launched an app that not only connects you but can tell even you if you left open your garage door.

“You can see what’s happened at the house,” said Chance Allred, a partner at Platinum Protection. “It’ll show a history of each time a door or window was opened or closed, each time somebody turned the alarm on or off. It’ll show if the power went out. You can hook a camera to it so you can actually see what’s happening in the house.”

The opportunities to develop iPhone applications for other companies is spawning a number of enterprises and causing some people to leave their jobs to launch their own businesses.

Timothy Boyd, a co-founder of Appigo Inc. of Orem, said he and partner Calvin Gaisford started working in their spare time and released two apps.

“After seeing our first month of sales on the iTunes App Store, we discovered that not only did our apps sell well, but that we could form a company and do this as our full-time work,” Boyd said. “Last month, just a year later, we moved from our virtual offices at home into offices in Orem.”

But the huge explosion of applications at the App Store also has meant that it gets harder to compete, and more difficult for a consumer to find a desired app.

Zagg Inc., a South Salt Lake company known for its Invisible Shield that protects the screens of mobile devices, recently opened an office in Provo, in part because it wants to branch out into the apps business and create a Web site to find apps. But it also will be making new hardware devices and software to go along with devices such as the iPhone.

“We, like many others, are betting this is where things are going,” said Brian Packer, vice president of marketing, adding that the company also would with others, such as the BlackBerry, Palm and Windows- and Android-based devices.

“We know this is where things are at, this is where the growth is happening,” said Packer.

Zagg’s Web site, being tested at appspace.com, is aimed at helping users sort through the thousands of applications flooding the market.

AppReview of Provo has an app by the same name and a Web site, appreview.com, that enables users to get reviews and other information on apps.

tharvey@sltrib.com

Platinum Protection is one of the fastest growing home security companies in America. In 2009 sales increased over 20% in pre-season sales and expected the summer sales to be the show the same trends. Security Systems News on their site discuss Platinum Protection’s progress. Below is the actual story from SecuritySystemNews.com.

Platinum Pumped for 2009
Pre-season numbers, customer survey bode well for summer
By Martha Entwistle, managing editor

representatives,” according to Allred, asked customers to rate Platinum employees on several categories, including their professionalism and knowledge.

Click here for the story on securitysystemnews.com

Security Systems News discusses the first year projections of Platinum Protection. Chance Allred is quoted as forecasting 20,000 accounts sold in the first summer. Below is the actual article from Security Systems News:

Platinum Hits the Ground Running
By Martha Entwistle, managing editor

OREM, Utah–A newcomer to the summer model alarm companies, Platinum Protection opened its doors in October 2006 and turned heads this fall after generating 30,000 accounts in its first year in business.

According to Chance Allred, one of the six principals in the company, this number is record-breaking for a first-year company. The company had set its sights on selling 20,000 accounts in its first year, with 16 offices across the country. Allred said Platinum produced an office average of “1,900 accounts in just over four months. The Houston office installed the most systems, generating 4,263 accounts over the summer. Monitronics provides third-party monitoring and has purchased a portion of the accounts.

So how’d they do it? Although the company is new, the six principals are experienced veterans, and, according to Allred, represent some of the top performers to have worked at other summer model alarm companies. Allred, Jared Hallows, Jeremy Pixton, and Keith Dyer all came from ApxAlarm, the largest summer-model company. Jacob Pruitt and Derrick Schutz were at Utah-based Pinnacle Protection.

Allred said the principals have taken what they’ve learned in terms of training and management and structuring a pay scale elsewhere and improved on it when they founded Platinum Protection. They’ve also integrated the IT systems with Monitronics’ billing and payroll system.

Mike Haislip, president and CEO of Monitronics, said in an email interview that his company has “worked with many of the major summer dealers since 2003. Platinum pulled off a major feat this year by going from zero units last year to having by far the most productive first year in the history of summer programs.” More importantly, he said, “they did it with class and integrity. They were great to work with and we expect even bigger things from them in the future.”

Next summer, Allred expects “to do over 60,000 accounts at a minimum because we have the most talented people in the industry.” A total of 307 reps and 16 managers finished the season.

The average rep pulled down $32,000 for the summer, while a manager made about $200,000. Three reps who sold 300 accounts over the 100 days of the summer made $170,000 for the summer.

With those kinds of results, “Many college students start out doing this as a summer job and then decide to turn it into a career,” Allred said.

Preparing for next summer, Allred said, “we’re beefing up our call center, our IT, customer service and all other operations by hiring, training and improving each department to provide customers and other employees with a first-class experience.”

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