Archive for June, 2007

Home Security Trouble for British Pensioners

Thursday, June 21st, 2007

It looks like there’s trouble in the UK concerning its British pensioners. Pensioners seem to be be very vulnerable targets for burglary crimes and break-ins because they cannot afford the home security costs available. As a result, they’re putting their safety on line. Majority of the general population of British pensioners don’t even have basic home security measures to deter burglaries and break-ins.

Many pensioners realize the danger of not having home security measures. They know that they are vulnerable against the threat of burglary, break-ins, and violence. It’s just that they can’t afford the cost of installing security.

Surely, this problem can be addressed by a couple of solutions. It’s doubtful that companies will reduce home security costs. But there are other options. Asking for help and cooperation from the neighborhood helps. Keep every door and window locked always when not in use. Someone should also check to make sure everything is fine once in a while. Basic home security measures and devices may not be options for some, but it helps to deter burglary when you apply home security habits, like turning on the lights, cutting and trimming bushes, and keeping valuables out of sight.

False Alarms Putting Home Security At Risk

Wednesday, June 20th, 2007

A recent incident in Florida wherein a man was found dead at home with the alarm system going on for 45 minutes spurred up questions as to whether home security systems will indeed be an effective way to transmit help signals to the authorities.

The authorities and home security companies do not place home security systems at fault. Both organizations have teamed up to decrease the number of false alarms to stay focused on real emergencies.

False alarms have been deemed a waste of effort, energy, and time for the authorities. We can’t blame them. There could be a real accident happening somewhere while the officials are taking a look at an emergency call from a home or establishment that turned out to be a false alarm.

Home security companies and the police department have arranged a certain process to verify if an alarm is valid or false. Home security companies are required to make a second phone call to the customer before the monitoring company sends the police and other authorities. This does not apply to fire alarms, panic attacks, or duress calls. The monitoring company will send help immediately in these cases.

If no one answers the phone call that the home security company made, they call the police department to make an inspection.

Home security companies have no control whatsoever on how fast the officials will be able to make it to the home or establishment in question.

There are a couple of causes for false alarms. Mostly, it’s due to human error. There are residents and homeowners who are not properly trained on how to activate and deactivate their home security systems. An hour of training and orientation should be able to fix this problem.

The weather can also trip the alarm system, though this is very rare.

Buyers and customers of home security systems (and their family) should be well-oriented on how to use alarm systems. Some home security companies now try to make sure that their customers avoid making false alarms.

Home Security Trends

Tuesday, June 19th, 2007

June is the National Burglary Prevention Month, and it’s no wonder as summer is the peak season of burglaries and break-ins.

In response to the need of security and home safety, innovations and home security technology have been made to be within reach of the residents and homeowners. Today most families and even young people living in apartments and condos are investing in home security systems.

The low prices of many home security devices are also a help to residents and homeowners. Many are able to afford at least even sensors, detectors, timers, or other simple devices to help deter burglaries and break-ins. Installation services are available to help with installing home security devices, like smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

A telephone line is traditionally required for the monitoring home security systems. Nowadays, cellular backup transmitters help to transmit signals to your monitoring company when the phone lines are cut. These transmitting devices usually have an additional monitoring fee.

While cellular backup transmitters are more commonly used today, that’s not to say that radio transmitters aren’t being used anymore. They are still used as backup transmitters by some, using radio frequencies to transmit signals to the monitoring company.

There is also an increase of requests in installing security cameras and surveillance. Cameras have been a very great help with front door security. There have also been a lot of cases wherein burglars and thieves were apprehended because they were caught on tape.

Home Security Options for the Summer

Monday, June 18th, 2007

The best tactic to deter burglars from targeting your home is to make it look like there’s always somebody in your home and having eyes watching over it every minute every second. A monitoring home security system is the best option for superior home security.

But not all of us can afford a monitored home alarm system. If this is the case, then all you got to do is stick to the basics.

Make sure all windows and doors are locked always, even when you’re somewhere around the house. Some burglars can just reach over your an open window in the next room and snatch whatever valuable they can find within reach.

An appliance timer is also extremely helpful when no one’s home. They can help in making it look like someone’s really home. Make sure to time your appliances in a way that someone is really moving around the house.

Don’t leave your keys under mats or pots. Give it to a neighbor or trusted friend. Don’t stop your mail. There are burglars that watch out for houses that the mailman skips due to stopped mails. It’s better to have your neighbor pick your mail. Don’t make it obvious to outsiders that you’re leaving for a long trip, too. Shut the garage doors and don’t show your luggages openly.

FindaProperty.com Home Security Tips

Monday, June 18th, 2007

All throughout this summer, experts in home businesses, real estates, and home security are concerned about avoiding home burglaries.

FindaProperty.com is an online UK site where you can shop for a home an look for home improvements and designs. With Halifax Home Insurance as their source, they give the following tips to help residents and homeowners deter burglaries and be smart about keeping their home safe:

• Doors and windows should be locked when the house is empty. Six per cent of homeowners admitted they did not lock the door when leaving their house, rising to 37 per cent when they were at home.

• A wide open window is like issuing an invitation to an opportunistic burglar.

• When going away for a longer period of time leave your keys with someone trusted so they can open and close the curtains and turn on lights regularly, making your house look occupied.

• Keep valuables out of sight from prying eyes. Thieves are not beyond simply looking through windows to locate car keys, and will notice that plasma screen packaging lying next to your dustbin. Blinds are effective in making it harder to peer into properties.

• Security lights should be positioned high and out of reach to avoid being tampered with or repositioned.

• If you have a burglar alarm you should use it. That means switching it on at night and also paying attention should anything set it, or one of your neighbour’s alarms, off.

• While trees and hedges can provide cover for thieves, fences, high walls and gates can be a challenge to scale and make it harder for burglars to beat a hasty retreat.

• Burglars reported being wary of dogs, often fearing the attention from their bark more than their bite. Even a sign warning of dogs can be an effectual deterrent.

Videocomm MXR-5842C Wireless Camera

Friday, June 15th, 2007

Surveillance Video has been providing professional service on all video surveillance systems, home security cameras, and security camera systems for over 35 years. Recently, they have brought out their newest innovation, the MXR-5842C wireless camera.

Videocomm MXR-5842C wireless cameraAt a small size of 1.4″ x 2.9″ x 2.2″, it is ideal for covert applications and has a pinhole lens that takes pictures. The camera emits wireless transmissions at 5.8 GHz, so there will be no problem with frequency interferences from 2.4 GHz devices. It can also send videos from locations that are actually difficult to reach, and it is ideal for places a battery source is available, like offices, warehouses, and other enclosed places. The MXR-5842C camera can also be used as a nanny camera or a floater camera.

You can contact Surveillance Video for your orders or some more information at 1-800-955-5201. You can also look them up on their website, www.surveillance-video.com

Not Enough Home Security

Thursday, June 14th, 2007

A report named The Modus Operandi of a Burglar was created by the collaboration of criminologist Martin Gill and Halifax Home Insurance back in UK, and it showed just how residents can be careless in securing their homes.

In the report, burglars were interviewed and they say that breaking into homes is not really always necessary for them to do since there are many homes wherein doors and windows are open. The Halifax survey revealed that 65% of the homeowners confessed that they leave their doors and windows open. There are also some homes that have home security systems that aren’t activated.

Burglars shouldn’t be underestimated. Despite what people may think, burglary is a professional crime and is done by very inventive people. Burglars break into homes and can work ways on how to get in if they’re really determined to break into a home. They learn how to disable security systems, how to force open doors and windows, and even refine impersonation skills to get close to homeowners and steal their valuables.

There are, of course, still many ways to deter burglary. Devices like CCTV and cameras can prove to be very helpful. Secured and locked doors and windows can stall burglars and if they might leave if they still cannot get the door or window open. Installing home security systems that are connected to the police station or a home security company is also recommended. Other security measures like restricted access and dogs are also great deterrents.