Why Your Home Security System Needs a Backup

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

home security system backup

Not too long ago, the only option you had for a home security system was one that was hard-wired to your telephone line. This means your alarm system would use the phone line to send out burglary, carbon monoxide and fire signals to your security company — but what do you do if something happens to your phone line?

A phone line can be easily disabled by heavy winds, flooding, winter storms or an earthquake — not to mention by a burglar cutting the outside line that goes into your home. A break-in could occur through the front door or a window and the alarm will sound, however neither your security company nor law enforcement will get the signal.

That’s why it’s critical for you to have backup alarm communications between you and your security company to protect your family as well as your property. Multiple communication channels will give you peace of mind that your security system will be up and running and able to send an alarm signal when you need help.

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Local Police and American Alarm Working Together to Educate

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

As we move toward a time where safety emergencies are becoming more prevalent, preparing for these events is becoming more important. Coming off the heels of the Boston Marathon bombings, American Alarm teamed with Winchester, MA law enforcement to review precautionary measures that can be taken to help prevent and handle these situations.

LibraryOn Friday, May 17, 2013, American Alarm and the Winchester Police and Fire departments assisted in training the employees at the Winchester library how to react to emergency situations. Among the topics covered were missing children, aggressive and inappropriate behavior of patrons, unattended bags, sexual predators, employee roles and how to better utilize the previously installed security systems.

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Keep your Business Safe and Protected from Premise Liability

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

If you own a business, you know that it’s just not possible to protect everyone’s safety all the time. You also know that for your business to survive and thrive, you have to do everything possible to protect your customers, tenants and employees, as well as reduce the risk of liability on your premises — including installing a business alarm system.

Premise LiabiltyWithout the right security measures in place, if someone gets hurt on your property and sues you, not only will you suffer financial loss, your reputation will also suffer.

There are any number of reasons business owners can be liable for injuries suffered on their premises. For example, if someone slips and falls on wet floors, down stairs, or on ice and snow you neglected to clear off a walkway or driveway — you may be held responsible for any of these injuries.

So what’s a business owner do to to reduce the risk of premises liability?

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How Online Crime Data Helps Police and Residents

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

online crime data

Regular folks no longer have to wait for the morning paper or 10 o’clock news to gain access to crime data for their neighborhoods and towns.

Why? Police departments depend on information, and putting data in the hands of “regular” folks – online and for free – can help solve crimes faster while creating a safer community.

For instance, the 40,000-resident city of Billerica, Mass. – located 20 miles northwest of Boston – publishes daily logs of crimes, residential break ins and other police calls (e.g. checking on an elderly neighbor). This data give residents a look at the police activity by partial address and date.

For example, take a look at the two charts below for 2012 Crime Data for Billerica.

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Seven Simple Steps to Prevent Identity Theft at Home

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Imagine someone assuming your identity without you even knowing. It’s called identity theft and according to the Federal Trade Commission, it’s the fastest growing crime in the United States.

Just this month, a 36-year-old Boston man was arrested for allegedly using stolen identities in multiple schemes- including the purchase of high end electronics, and using an illegal credit card encoder to make fake credit cards. Tens of thousands of dollars were stolen.

Watch the video below as we outline seven simple steps to prevent identity theft at home so YOU don’t become a victim:

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How Social Media is Changing Law Enforcement Strategy and Tactics

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

social media and law enforcementIn a society where almost every cell phone out there also has a camera attached to it — and in a world where the ability to upload those photos from a mobile device instantly to social media is increasingly commonplace — there is no question that law enforcement has had to sit up and take notice concerning the impact of this type of technology. One of the more complex questions has been whether to consider social media as a resource or a hindrance during the course of police work.

Consider the pro-social media as law enforcement tool argument, which sees the vast repository of Internet users as potential sources of crucial information about specific crimes. Releasing photos of suspects online in an effort to ‘crowd-source’ their location, or asking the public to submit photos and tips using the web or Twitter would seem to be a useful strategy for federal and local law officers working a case.

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