Posts Tagged ‘security’

Exterior Security Lighting For Your Home Or Business

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

It is quite natural that we all want to keep our homes and businesses safe and well looked after, but there are many ways in which this can be accomplished. The cheapest and most cost effective way is exterior security lighting

It truly is a no brainer, poor lighting can make a home or business a much more attractive target than the house next door because it has less adequate exterior security lighting. Prowlers look for dimly lit points of entry into buildings that appear to contain riches, so when you are designing the security system for your home or business you should try to think like a thief.

Look at your buildings from the outside, or look at someone else’s first and ask yourself, how you would get in there if you had to. Pretend that you forgot your keys or that there is a serious problem in your property. How would you get in? This is where chummy gets in and you must find out how to obstruct his every move.

Ten years ago, I lived in a bungalow alone with my small, knee-high dog and armed robbers hit me in my home, in spite of the fact that I had a reasonable home security system. Do not let it happen to you. My mistake was that I had inadequate exterior security lighting.

They had cut my phone line during the day and because I used a cell phone for most of my calls, I did not notice. Also my dog was sick, but I did not appreciate that she had been poisoned too. At eleven o’clock at night there was a ring on the front door and I opened it, thinking that it was a neighbour in trouble.

A man charged in and over-powered me and the rest was not nice. However, the whole regrettable issue could have been avoided, if I had thought like them..

I was in the habit of drawing the curtains when I got home, so I did not see that they had removed the lamps from my exterior security lighting too.

My advice is to check your exterior security lighting every night when you get home and keep the bushes or shrubs cut low around your front and back doors. Make sure that your exterior security lighting is working every evening and make sure that you can see who is ringing your door bell.

Supply your garden and your doors with plenty of light. Let them be on motion sensors and check who is at your door from a side window that looks out onto the front door. I had a beautiful frosted glass pane in my front door, but that is no use. I could not recognize anyone through it.

Get a panic button fitted by your doors, a big one, so that if you are surprised you can lash out and still hit it and above all make your next door neighbours conscious that if your external siren sounds, that you are in trouble and that you need assistance straight away. If you are not in trouble, you can always say sorry later.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with home security systems comparison. If you are interested in Security Systems For Home Use, please click through to our site.

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Alarm Company Tips

Friday, May 7th, 2010

For many home owners picking the right home security system and monitoring company is extremely important. It is important to get the right information before making a decision on which company to go with as well as to make sure that the company will provide the services that will fit your particular needs.

Here are a few questions that should first be answered when making a decision for what company and specific service to use.

1: What type of security is currently at my home?
Many people move into a house that has a complete functioning system with full perimeter coverage. Most of the home builders over the past five years have been providing prewired alarm systems to their customers. If a system was built in with a house it will almost always come with all the doors and window wired into the system, providing full perimeter coverage. There are alarm companies who will not use an existing alarm system but will but a wireless system in that will only cover the doors and a motion detector for the windows rather than utilizing the window contacts.

2: What specific needs does your house hold have?
Every house hold and home is different so it is important to understand what is specifically needed for your particular situation. It is important to know up front if the system has the ability to monitor for fire and medical as well as police dispatch. If your home is not utilizing a land phone line it is important to know if the system has an option for cellular monitoring.

3: What is required by your insurance company and city?
Many home owners will get an insurance discount for having a monitored alarm system. It is important to find out what requirements your insurance company will have to obtain this discount before choosing an alarm company. It is also important to check with the city police department to see if they require an alarm permit. If you have a false alarm without a permit many cities will charge a false alarm fee that can cost 100’s of dollars.

For more information about Home Security Alarm Companies. Stop by the Smith Security site where you can find out all about Atlanta Home Security and we may be able to help.

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Do You Have Security Problems In Your Home Or Business?

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

Security is an essential aspect of life, but then it always has been. It is normal for parents to try their best to take care of their families and it is normal and even a legal requirement for an employer to ensure the safety of his or her staff. Part of the way we carry out these tasks is to defend the environment in which we live and work – our homes and our offices or other places of work.

A good security system for our homes and businesses is often an electronic system. Windows and doors – ie possible entry points – will be monitored by sensors. In order to maintain an operational security system, it is necessary to use a regularly changed password system. In a home the keypad will usually be numeric only, but you should change the password at least every month and possibly even every week.

For example, if you have teenage children or older, they will be bringing friends back. These friends will be able to see you child entering the password. This can be even more serious if the person is a boyfriend or girlfriend who subsequently gets dumped.

Similarly in an office or other place of work, it is a good idea to have pass cards that can be canceled if the employee leaves the company. A lot of damage is caused every year to material goods by disgruntled ex-employees and old boy- and girlfriends.

You can assist passers-by and police by leaving some light on inside your building. Frequent passers-by, neighbours and police will get used to seeing lights on, so if a burglar switches them off, they will become suspicious.

Burglars do not like light. Similarly, do not let bushes, shrubs or trees hide possible entry points. Keep them cut back so that people can see any doubtful activity. You would be astonished how many people just sit in their windows all day watching.

Outdoor security lighting is an excellent way of deterring intruders at night. Install a few solar garden lights that are activated by passive infra red motion sensors and they will be inexpensive to run. The good thing about them is that they do not announce their presence to the would be intruder, but they will catch him or her in a floodlight when he enters your property.

Another tip is to nail carpet gripper just under the top edge on the inside of your garden fence. Anyone trying to haul himself up over your fence will have a very horrible surprise and leave DNA for the police.

If your business or home has an open door policy in order to allow clients or your kids to walk in, install doorbells or chimes that are triggered by under carpet sensors, door sensors or PIR’s, so that employees or family can not be caught by surprise. It is very useful, because if your busy secretary doubles as a meeter of walk-in clients, it will guarantee that she does not miss anybody or keeps anybody waiting.

Owen Jones, the author of this writer, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with home security systems comparison. If you are interested in Security Systems For Home Use, please click through to our site.

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Safekeeping Your Property through Home Security Camera System

Sunday, May 2nd, 2010

Did it ever occur to you how nice it would be just to know what is taking place in your home while you are out? Are you worried that the newly hired housekeeper and nanny are not doing a good job? Perhaps, you are fearful that your home may be subjected to a burglary and theft. It is natural that you will feel these apprehensions what with the increasing number of home breaking and entering recorded recently. So if you want to provide your family and property excellent protection, then think about setting up a home security camera system in your property now.

The home security camera system is an important element of home security. This element has the capacity to provide visual monitoring of a certain area whether at home or the immediate premises of your home. Aside from that, it has contributed to the thwarting of burglaries and theft. Security providers say that cameras cheaper compared to the rates of a technologically enhanced security system. Those who have used a home security system claim that it has been thorough and effective in providing security and protection.

Criminals or intruders would not want to be seen breaking and entering once they discover cameras swarming a certain property. This is precisely the reason why homeowners resort to setting up a home security camera system in their area.

When people speak of security cameras, what usually comes to mind is a large metal camera attached to entrances and corners of a certain edifice. Somewhat, it is correct but there are a whole other types and features to choose from. You can even attach it in your computer or television so viewing becomes more accessible.

There are various types of camera system for sale in the market. You can select from a wide variety and is sure to find a camera system that will suit your different needs and purposes. You can set it up whether you are inside or outside the premises.

If you choose subtlety and secrecy, then you can opt for a hidden security camera. Such kinds are created to be so small, that you can attach it anywhere you want, even to toys. A good example of hidden camera is the nanny cameras.

If you want to create fear and intimidation to the burglars, then you can chose to set up camera- like devices that are large enough to be seen. These do not necessarily have to work as they are placed there merely to scare the burglars away.

Night vision cameras are a great choice if you are after ensuring utmost surveillance of your area especially during nighttime. Because of its night vision functionality, this type of camera tends to be a bit more costly than the others.

There are even wireless cameras and those that are built with the ability to send alerts to you and the proper authorities once it detects intruders coming in. This functions through a computer based system.

Setting up a home security camera system is one way of ensuring protection for your family and property. Yes, choosing can be such a daunting task but taking into consideration individual needs and budget, you can always find one that will suit your interests the best.

Picking the perfect wireless home alarm can be quite hard. Read more guide articles and reviews on wireless home alarms to help yourself obtain the perfect system.

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The Many Facets of Wireless Home Alarms

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

Wireless home alarms have been revolutionized to come in many different aspects. They used to be mere door alarms that alert a homeowner once it senses forced and unauthorized access. But now, look at how far they have come. Many other forms are coming out in the market. Their thoroughness now encompasses even care giving. Being run by batteries is how most of these alarms are powered. They are used because they are deemed to safeguard the owner and the home he lives in.

Door or window alarms come in double connections. One part is connected to the door or window and the other is attached to its frame. Once there will be forced entries, the magnetic affinity is broken thus triggering off the siren or alarm. These types are suitable for every window or door type may it be glass, wood or metal. Residential, small business firms, warehouses and care-giving facilities make use of this.

Motion detectors work similarly to a door alarm, except that it comes in sole piece. Once activated, it gives off infrared that serves as an invisible barrier. Once someone comes in to penetrate or go out of the premises, it sounds off to warn the owners. This type has been proven useful in care-giving aspects as well.

Video Phones is one essential feature for security too. Cameras are strategically placed in various places to continuously monitor the vicinity. If anybody wants to go in, the owner can choose to see who they are and even communicate with them. This facilitates a wide coverage for the owner and he is given the chance to refuse or let a visitor in. The cameras are converged through a central station inside the house.

There are also security cameras that are battery powered and uses infrared technology to offer surveillance of your home and making sure that the things it sees are permanently hardwired into its memory. Such a technology has contributed to the arrest of intruders trying to get through your property.

Driveways and garages can be monitored through an alarm too. Through the use of a wireless program, the homeowner can receive warning each time there is a movement in his yard, cars coming close in the garage, kids going near the pool, and people about to gain entry by the front door. Each alert can be assigned a particular zone so when it alarms you can be aware specifically what caused the alarm.

Another great thing about this wireless home alarms is that it gives a shrill noise that can be piercing to the human ears. Approximately 120 decibels of sound is delivered comparable to that of a rock concert, and if the burglar will hear it, he will naturally cower and try to run away. Truly you will be surprised at how come the technology of wireless home alarms has reached. Furthermore, the extent of the security offered has been made pretty much extensive. Do not wait too long. Look for a specific application that can serve useful for you and your home and set it up right away.

Avoid getting a useless and unworthy wireless home alarm. Read reviews and guides on wireless home alarms before purchasing one.

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