In protecting a child’s possessions from theft, loss, and damage as he or she takes off for university, parents are urged to see if their home insurance policies can cover their child’s possessions as they are away from home. Insurance is generally not in the checklist of most parents, but the theft of their child’s possessions can be a problem.

Just recently, students from Kansas University experienced a break-in and two laptops were stolen. Not only was there a violation of the students’ privacy, the theft of the laptops was a blow to the students who needed them for their academics.

All parents should check the contents of their insurance and see if it covers the possessions of their child as they go to their selected universities. If there is none, they can inquire with the home insurance company and ask for additional insurance to protect their child’s possessions.

From My Finances UK:

Top ten items students plan to take to university:

1. Mobile phone (93 per cent)
2. iPod/MP3/MP4 player (74 per cent)
3. Laptop/computer (63 per cent
4. USB/memory stick (63 per cent)
5. Jewellery (49 per cent)
6. Television (47 per cent)
7. Camera (45 per cent)
8. DVD player/recorder (39 per cent)
9. Designer clothes (38 per cent)
10. Hi-fi (34 per cent)

Intent on making their community a safe place for bicycle owners, Aylesbury, UK, had cycle security sessions as part of their Community Safety partnership’s cycle security month.

The events were focused on helping the residents avoid bicycle thefts from happening in their own properties. Trained officers were available to offer tips and information on cycling, cycle security, and some additional advice on property marking and home security.

4 key tips on cycle security were given out to bicycle owners, as was stated by The Bucks Herald:

A dumber version of Bonnie & Clyde suspected of selling drugs on the Boston Common targeted the wrong victim for a rip-off yesterday morning: an undercover BPD cop.

The suspects, Cheryl Tucker, 37, and Darryl Noles, 42, allegedly approached a cop who was standing near Park Street Station around 7:15 a.m. and whispered, “Give me your money. I’ll get your drugs.” The cop handed over folded bills - but Tucker allegedly took off into a nearby McDonald’s and did not return with any narcotics as Noles waited with the undercover Boston police officer.

A surveillance team working with the narcotics undercovers watched Tucker go into McDonald’s “without speaking to or interacting with anyone,” according to a BPD report.
When she came outside, Noles joined her and the two began to walk off with Tucker telling the undercover cop, “Someone will bring them outside.”

The cop followed the couple and asked for his money back and Tucker allegedly replied: “Get the (expletive) away from me.” BPD officers then surrounded the duo, pulled out their badges, and arrested them. Both were charged with unarmed robbery.

In 2005, the Herald ran a series on the startling open-air drug use on Boston Common, including an incident in which a heroin addict shot dope and died in front of a photographer. Boston police spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll said that department has undertaken a massive anti-drug initiative on the park in an attempt to squelch the trade.

Source Crime 101 by: Michele McPhee

There have been reports of many home burglaries in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Tulsan police have discovered that burglars and thieves have a new simple tactic up their sleeves: disarming the home security system.

The burglars first see to it that no one is home by knocking on the doors. When they’re sure that the house is empty of its residents, they go around the property to find the electric box and cut the wires. The power is cut and your home security system is disarmed, leaving your home free to be ripped off of valuables.

The police department are advising everyone to take extra precautions and backup security plans. A battery back up that lasts for more at least 4 hours and a cell phone back up are a great help. And, as usual, always lock the doors, windows, garage, and sheds. Keep your home well lit, and don’t leave anything outside your home that will potentially help a burglar or thief enter your home.

Postini , the global leader in on-demand communications security, compliance and productivity solutions for email, instant messaging and the web, today announced that the recent spam explosion, which Postini reported in November, continues to grow at unprecedented levels.

Postini’s Top Five 2007 Communications Security and Compliance Predictions

As we move into 2007, the continued growth in level and new types of spam attacks along with growing business concerns over communications compliance, security and productivity usher in a new era of predictions from Postini.

* Email will be under unprecedented attack in 2007, so stopping spam and keeping email productive will be a front burner issue for business executives. Companies without state-of-the-art protection from spam, viruses, phishing and other attacks will be in danger of losing the use of their email systems as viable business tools.
* 2007 will be an explosive year for communications compliance initiatives. Email, instant messages and web content such as blogs are all legally discoverable documents that must be retained and produced on demand. Government, industry and legal mandates such as the newly enacted federal rules for civil procedure and the Graham-Leach Bliley Act will likely cause many businesses to re-think how they store, archive, discover and produce electronic communications.
* Companies will face a variety of government and industry requirements to secure electronic communications with their clients and business partners to protect privacy and confidential information. As such, Postini expects that 2007 will see an uptake in the use of encryption designed to ensure messages are protected from eavesdropping, theft and tampering. Protection of private consumer information will also become more regulated and businesses will want to take steps to ensure they comply with this mandate.
* Globalization, the growth of high-speed networks and the limited scope of international law enforcement will drive an escalated threat environment for all forms of electronic communication in 2007. More personal computers will be deployed and connected to always-on, high-speed networks, enabling bot-nets to grow dramatically. The international and distributed nature of criminal attacks that span multiple country borders make legal enforcement difficult. Money will remain the primary motivation for spammers, and attacks will continue to become more sophisticated.
* Web 2.0 is already driving the web to become a two-way communications medium just like email and instant messaging. Blogs, podcasts, community sites and chat forums are allowing employees to communicate in new and productive ways, but today these communications are unmanaged and unprotected, leading to considerable business risk. In 2007, companies will need to ensure the security and compliance of their web 2.0 initiatives just like any other channel of communications.

Domestic violence victims don’t usually win in court and have their way for a safe life with their family. They face imminent danger at any time.

The AWARE program was created for the purpose of protecting these victims from the danger and violence they had once experienced. Sponsored by ADT, the program donates and offers installation of electronic security systems for free in the homes of domestic violence victims who are threatened by the possible dangers that might happen again.

ADT has stated that there are qualifications to be in the program. To have a security system installed, the victims must have a restraining order against the attacker. At the very least, the victims must have attempted to get one. They must also agree to testify in court if the attacker was arrested as a result of the security system.

The main security device of the AWARE program is an alarm pendant that the victim can carry with her always. She can just press the button when an attack comes. The pendant will automatically send a signal to ADT, which will then notify the authorities.

It is estimated that around 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by a partner each year. While the AWARE program doesn’t entirely solve all the victim’s fear and problems, it can at least give them some comfort and peace of mind.

Following the brutal home invasion at Cheshire, citizens and homeowners are being advised to be more careful than ever, especially in securing their home. Lots of experts are now more critical when it comes to home security, too.

Jim Severine, for example, the Chief of Security at Select Key Holder’s Home Surveillance, voiced out many specific reminders in home security and safety:

““Understandably, this incident that authorities are calling isolated has caused panic. Precautions that can be taken include; properly securing the house each night, windows and doors locked and if there is a security system, be sure to arm it, placing the motion sensors on, in the lower level, where most burglars gain access. Nearly 45% of CT. home’s burglarized last year had systems that were not activated and July & August see the most burglaries according to FBI statistics” said James Severine.

Other advice includes; Illuminating the exterior perimeters at night, place motion sensors near doors, close the curtains and blinds, leave a television flickering, and advertising that you have home security through window decals and signage, are all ways to detour a home invasion and burglary. Mr. Severine concluded; “Keep a cell phone, licensed weapon and pepper spray near your bed, out of reach of children.”“

Jim Severine’s also gave out reminders to homeowners and residents about activating their home security systems and making sure they are not fooled by intruders:

“1. Arm Security System doors while at home at all times day & Night.

2. Arm Security System Doors and activate motion sensors before going to bed.

3. Approximately 44% of CT. Homes burglarized in 2006 had systems that were not activated.

4. According to FBI statistics, July & August see most home burglaries.

3. TV/Radio flickering at night gives impression house is occuppied 4. Have a telephone code with friends and neighbors to alert them that there is a home invasion or intruder 4. Lock windows, pull shades, advertise alarm system in windows and front lawn, strong locks on doors, reinforced strike plates, reinforced window devices.

5. Have a plan in the event of a home invasion.

6. Don’t be fooled by someone posing as a legitimate representative from gas or electric company.“

Read the whole report on Jim Severine’s Home Security Tips here.