Posts Tagged ‘theft’
Custom Alarm Systems
April 2, 2011 | 
Author Every home or place of work could use a custom alarm system for that extra step in security and safety. These systems are great for not only deterring people from theft and vandalism, but they are also very helpful in case of emergency. Many studies have shown that homes with alarm devices are less likely to be broken into because when you get one installed into your home, you put up signs and other warnings that your home is armed with state of the art security. These systems can range from something that will alert the authorities when a window or door is intruded, or can be as advanced as having an entire security system installed with cameras and motion detectors throughout your property.
When you get a custom alarm system installed, the first thing you want to do is to put up signs that your home is protected. More than likely if a potential intruder sees that your home is really protected, it will deter them from entering the home. This is especially helpful when you are not at your home. Intruders prey on houses and properties that aren’t protected by an alarm system at all. Just a simple warning that your home is protected is almost as good as having the alarm system itself.
Posted in Security | 
Tags: art security, Auto, carbon monoxide detectors, custom features, Draft, emergency, everything, extra step, home, home intruders, motion detectors, state, theft, work | 
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Alarm Systems for Townhomes
Most people don’t even think to install an alarm system inside their town home because of the way they are set up so close to other houses, people figure no one would be brash enough to break in. This is absolutely not true, and having an alarm system in any type of home you live in is a good idea. What can make a town home prone to theft is the fact that there are so many houses in such a small area. Thieves can easily steak out a house and figure out what the schedule is of a tenant. Everyone should have his or her town house protected just as if it were a traditional home.
A good thing about having a town house is that you will have less entry points in your home. This means that when installing the system, it will be easier to make sure every window and door is hooked up to your alarm device. After the system is installed, a small sign will be placed in the front of your property, and small stickers will be placed on every window you have in your home as a warning to people that plan on breaking into your home.
Posted in Security | Tags: alarm system, Auto, Draft, emergency button, extra security, home, homeowner, homeowner insurance, house, idea, medical entities, panic button, theft, way | No Comments »
Alarm Systems for Vacation Homes
One of the best ways to protect an investment such as a vacation home is to be sure to have a state of the art alarm system installed. The thing about your second home, or vacation home, is that you are not there all that often throughout each year. This leaves your house vulnerable to vandalism, break-ins, and theft. Because you cannot be there all the time to make sure nothing bad is happening to your vacation home, it would be in your best interest to have a highly sophisticated alarm system installed that is directly linked to contact not only you but authorities as well when a problem arises.
An alarm system is usually hooked up to activate when any area of the house is broken into. This means that sensors are hooked up to all of your doors and windows that can be potentially broken into. Once any of these areas are compromised, this is when your alarm system will sound. Normally your security company will install a very loud horn in the attic of the home, and have the service of contacting authorities when the alarm goes off. When you have your system installed in your home, you will want to have small decals applied to all of your doors and windows so that everyone will know that your home is protected. This works as the best deterrent for potential theft because a thief will not want to set off any alarms.
Other good benefits from an alarm system are many safety features while you are visiting your vacation home. You can have emergency push buttons setup around your house that can contact the police at just the push of a button. You can also have special buttons installed for other types of emergencies, such as a fire, or if someone has been seriously injured inside the home. Another great feature that many people get is carbon monoxide detectors. Because you cannot see or smell carbon monoxide, and it is highly dangerous, many people have decided to put detectors in their homes so that it will always be detected fast without anyone getting hurt.
You can have your security company that installed your alarm system in your vacation home check the functionality of it routinely as much as you like. This is a good idea because you are simply not at your second home as much as you would like to be. An alarm system would not do you any good if there was a problem with it, so make sure your company consistently checks to make sure it is functioning properly is just as beneficial as have the alarm system itself.
Posted in Security | Tags: art, art alarm system, Auto, carbon monoxide detectors, doors and windows, Draft, home, house, loud horn, problem, push buttons, sophisticated alarm, state, theft | No Comments »
Why Would I Need a Locking Mailbox?
We all love getting mail – cards, letters, and packages for birthdays and holidays. The mailbox, especially the rural mailbox, is an iconic symbol that practically begs to be in a Norman Rockwell painting.
Unfortunately, we live in times that require more protection than those boxes afford. We now live in an era where we must keep track of all our receipts, bills and statements, and destroy them when we no longer need them. We watch our credit card and bank statements to make sure there has not been unauthorized activity. There are even companies that will help you get back on track if your identity is stolen.
The weak link in this is your mailbox. If your mailbox cannot be secured, anyone can take out mail you’ve put out for the mailman, or any mail the mailman has put in for you. This is now a big criminal industry; nearly half a million people a year have their identity stolen through mail theft each year. It happens primarily in residential neighborhoods, but urban and rural areas are hit as well.
There are several things to consider when buying a locking mailbox. First, make sure it is United States Postal Service approved. If it does not meet USPS guidelines, the mail will not be delivered. Second, make sure the locking mailbox is large enough for your needs. If you get a lot of catalogs, magazines or small parcels, you will need a bigger box. Third, get a security mailbox that will actually protect your mail. There are many mailboxes being marketed that DO lock, but like the lock on a girl’s first diary, will not keep out anyone who is really trying to get into it. This pertains to the materials used to construct the mailbox as well.
You should look at the purchase of a locking mailbox as an investment in protecting your personal life and financial identity; chances are that a locking mailbox costing ten dollars more than a regular one is not going to have the heavy-duty construction or type of lock to deter any but the most casual attempts to gain entry.
Security mailboxes are available in many styles and shapes, singly or multiple, different thicknesses of metal, types of locks, and method of box assembly (i.e. spot weld, full weld, or riveting). They can even be mounted on wall or freestanding on posts.
Most of the better locking mailboxes have been tested for various types of vandalism and attack, and the results are available for you by contacting the manufacturer. Mailbox baseball is common in residential and rural neighborhoods, less common, but not unheard of, are cherry bombs and blasting caps; this in addition to the ones trying to get into the box for your mail. Most common in this area is prying with screwdriver or chisel. Security mailboxes of heavy gauge steel, full welding, and locks designed especially for this purpose can reduce all these problems to practically nothing. Buying well the first time means there won’t need to be a second, and possibly prevent the stress and aggravation of recovering from identity theft.
Posted in Security | Tags: Auto, Draft, heavy duty construction, locking mailbox, mail, mail cards, mail theft, mailman, protection, security mailbox, symbol, theft, united states postal service, weld | No Comments »