False Alarms: What Unnecessary Responses Really Cost

False Alarms: What Unnecessary Responses Really CostOn July 25 at 7:06 a.m., police officers in Georgetown, MA, responded to a home burglar alarm system on Seale Street; upon arrival, they discovered it was a false alarm. At 9:46, another alarm went off on Baldpate Road; and again upon arrival, police found the building secure.

According to Georgetown Wicked Local’s Police Incident Log — each day, officers deal with an average of two false alarms, eating up valuable time and resources. But what’s the real cost of this unnecessary response?

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Electrical Safety Tips for Homeowners

Electrical Safety Tips for HomeownersWhen it comes to the damage done by electrical fires every year, the numbers are staggering.

Each year, U.S. fire departments respond to an estimated 25,900 home electrical fires. These fires cause an estimated 280 deaths, 1,125 injuries, and $1.1 billion in property loss.

In fact, homeowners lose more money every year as a result of electrical fires than nonelectrical fires, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. You can even lose your entire home – or worse – because of a bad electrical fire.

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Five-Finger Felons: How to Stop the Shoplift

Five-Finger Felons: How to Stop the ShopliftIn 2013, Boston police responded to over 8,000 complaints of property crime, according to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report (UCR). This equates to over 20 incidents per day and doesn’t indicate how many of these reported crimes led to arrests. What’s more, statistics can’t account for shoplifting and other property crimes that go unreported or unnoticed.

It’s no surprise that small businesses are feeling the pinch with profit margins slimming and high-value items disappearing thanks to five-finger discounts. How can you stop the shoplift?

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5 Security Tips for New Homeowners

5 Security Tips for New HomeownersYou’ve just moved into your dream home and you can’t believe how much work you have to do. There’s unpacking, rearranging furniture, putting up curtains, cleaning, grocery shopping – the list is endless.

It can be so overwhelming that you might forget all about ensuring your family and your new home are safe and secure. Burglars are paying attention and they’re well aware how distracted new homeowners can be right after move-in day.

Here are five tips to keep the burglars at bay and your home and your loved ones safe and sound.

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6 Tips for a Safe and Fun Family Road Trip

5 Tips for a Safe and Fun Family Road TripYou and your family have been mapping out your route for months. Now you’ve packed your suitcases, set your home security alarm, and you’re ready to hit the open road.

Before you and your family set off, here are six tips to ensure you and your family have a safe and fun-filled trip. Read more

New Boston Surveillance Surfaces: Who Watches the Watchers?

New Boston Surveillance Surfaces Who Watches the WatchersBoston is getting a next generation closed-circuit television (CCTV) network to help monitor for public threats. As noted by a recent Daily Caller article, the system designed by Texas-based Behavioral Recognition Systems (BRS) will feature a kind of artificial intelligence (AI) which allows it to “recognize, learn and permanently register abnormal behavior.”

While the system has real potential, it also comes with risk: Who’s watching these watchers?

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Why You Should Think Like a Burglar

Why You Should Think Like a BurglarWhen you’ve decided to set up your new home security system, you’ll also need to take the time to actually think like a burglar. In other words, if you were a burglar, where would you target and why? The mentality of a burglar is one of exploitation and knowing where to target at the right time.

We recently published an article about the mindset of a thief from a business security perspective, and wanted to switch gears and focus on home security. Taking the time to protect your home cannot be underestimated; it is your most prized possession and placing it in this type of jeopardy is not worth the risk.

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