From Windham, New Hampshire to Newton, Massachusetts to Brockton, Massachusetts to Providence, Rhode Island there isn’t a community that hasn’t been affected.

The statistics on home invasion can by pretty scary. Criminals know that owners of traditional targets like convenience stores are protecting their properties with burglar alarms and video surveillance so they’ve switched to targeting homes.

With that in mind here are some tips to help you protect your home and your family:

• Be sure to look all the doors and windows in your home and garage – and keep them locked at all times;
• Install peepholes in your front and back doors – and use them – to ensure you know your visitor before you open any door;
• Install deadbolts on all your doors. Don’t depend on chain locks because the bad guy can easily kick your doors open;
• Keep the shades on your windows closed at night. A criminal can gather a lot of information about how vulnerable your home is if he can see inside it;
• Never make it obvious that you’re home alone. Keep extra lights on. Use a television or radio to create the illusion that there are other people in the house;
• Install security devices such as burglar alarm systems and home video surveillance systems;
• Discuss your home security practices with your family. If you educate your family about the risks of home invasions and ensure they follow certain home security practices, you’ll greatly reduce the risk of a home invasion.

Safety statistics paint a sobering picture when it comes to illustrating the role that fire systems play in saving lives. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) publishes an extensive amount of data for the public concerning the effect that a properly working fire detection system can have on keeping residents and employees safe in the event of a fire.

One of the most shocking statistics provided by the NFPA is that more than 60% of all fire deaths in the United States occur in buildings where smoke detectors – the simplest, and least expensive of fire safety devices – aren’t installed or aren’t working properly. In fact, almost 40% of home fire deaths are directly attributable to the lack of smoke detectors.

If you have non monitored detectors, dead or missing batteries play a huge role in these preventable tragedies. It’s imperative that you don’t ignore the warning signals from your smoke detector that its battery is failing. As many as 20% of American homes are currently unprotected because of non-functioning smoke detectors. It’s well worth checking the status of your own unit(s) to make sure you don’t become a statistic.

Integrated smoke alarms, such as those that are included as part of a monitored home security system or business security system, will send a signal to your monitoring company to notify the fire department in case of a fire. It is important to have your system checked once a year to make sure it is working properly. Some companies offer this service free of charge to monitored customers.

It’s clear that a functional smoke alarm system is one of the most effective ways to protect your loved ones from the perils of a fire in the home. Installing a monitored home smoke and fire alarm system to complement your existing burglar alarm system is an even better solution for ensuring total safety and peace of mind.

Unfortunately, there are a number of so-called professional home and business security companies out there that misrepresent their actual licensing and certifications, and whose employees pose as legitimate, authorized burglar alarm installation technicians when the reality is quite different.

Before you hire an individual or company to assist you with your purchase and installation of a home security system or a business alarm system it’s important to check your local laws to ensure that everything is being done by the book.

Some states are quite specific about regulating who exactly is authorized to run this type of business – and quite rightly, given what’s at stake when it comes to electronically protecting your loved ones and your property.

In Massachusetts, for example, anyone who wants to legally install a security system must have an S-license.  An S-license is required (in addition to an electrical license) to sell most home burglar and business security equipment – as well as service and install it. Massachusetts also takes things a step further in order to protect citizens by requiring that all employees of a company run by an S-license holder undergo criminal background checks and hold Certificates of Clearance before they can start work.

How can you protect yourself against unscrupulous freelance contractors or fly-by-night security companies looking to make a quick buck? The answer is easy: ask for proof of certification and licensing from your state before getting a quote or having a representative visit your home. If the person you’re speaking to balks or stalls at this request, then you have the answer you need, as a true security systems professional wouldn’t hesitate to list his extensive qualifications.

It can be tempting to save cash on home expenses, especially if you’re already dealing with the typically high costs associated with a new home. However, it’s important to resist the temptation to cut corners when it comes to the security of your family and property. Unlicensed technicians might promise you a good deal upfront, but the first time your burglar alarm system fails to alert you of a break-in or other issue you could find yourself instantly regretting that you didn’t hire a recognized, legitimate security professional.

An empty house can be a tempting target for burglars, so we’ve put together a quick and concise checklist of the top five security tips that can help you keep your property safe in your absence.

1. Ditch the hidden house keys. Most people keep spare keys hidden somewhere handy outside their homes just in case they lock themselves out. Some people even write their alarm codes on pieces of paper and hide them for visitors to use. Even the best home security system and door locks can’t keep out a thief who has the keys – and codes – to the castle. Before you leave for vacation be sure to collect any hidden keys (and the paper copy of your alarm code) and store them somewhere safe inside the house until you return.
2. Keep the lawn mowed and the pile of mail small. One of the key aspects of reducing the chance that your home will be a target for burglars is to give the impression that you haven’t actually gone anywhere at all. An unruly lawn and a stack of mail or newspapers are clear indications to thieves that no one is around. Ask a neighbor or a friend to pick up your mail for you while you’re gone, and suspend your newspaper delivery. If you’re taking a longer trip you might want to consider having a landscaping service mow your lawn at least once.
3. Use timers. In keeping with the same “lived-in” theme, it’s a good idea to install a few timers around your house that can turn radios, lights and televisions on and off to simulate your normal habits at night. If a bad guy passing by sees a light on and hears the sounds of voices coming from your home, he’s far less likely to scope it out as a potential robbery target. However, a dark and quiet house is only inviting disaster.
4. Don’t advertise your vacation. We know you’re excited about your upcoming trip, but other than friends and family there’s no reason to spread the word that you’re going to be out of town. This doesn’t just imply that you should keep a tight lip around strangers – it also means not recording an outgoing voice mail message that lets callers know exactly how long you’ll be gone, or that you’ve left at all. And don’t let all your Facebook friends know you’ll be away. Don’t tweet the news, either. You can tell everyone all about your trip when you get back.
5. Call your home alarm system provider. You should definitely tell the people at your home alarm system company that you’re going on vacation. Let them know you’ll be away from your property for a specific period of time and if there will be anyone going into the home while you are away. This information will help the operators respond to any signals received from your home while you are away.

In the alarm business there are a number of active, high-profile organizations that publish guidelines and best operating practices and reward companies that go above and beyond the minimum required to ensure the safety and protection of their customers.

The Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA) is responsible for awarding the top security industry certification, the Five Diamond Certification. In order to be considered for Five Diamond status, a company must ensure that each of its central station operators passes one of two important CSAA training courses as well as demonstrate a complete understanding of national fire codes and security standards.

On top of these requirements, Five Diamond Certification demands that central stations exhibit the utmost in cooperation with local law enforcement and public safety personnel as well as make use of the very latest equipment. Less than 100 centers across the country can boast Five Diamond Certifications.

Another important industry certification to look for when shopping for a burglar alarm system provider is the Underwriters Laboratories (U.L.) Certification. U.L. is a not-for-profit group that focuses on product safety. Achieving U.L. Certification requires top-level technical resources that ensure 100% reliability for alarm monitoring. Underwriters Laboratories field reps frequently perform unannounced spot checks on monitoring centers to ensure they maintain the highest possible standards when it comes to customer safety.

In addition to these important certifications, it can also be helpful to examine a security company’s affiliation with industry associations. For example, the Security Network of America (SNA) only accepts applications from U.L.-listed companies – companies that have demonstrated stability, participate in moving security practices and technologies forward and hold fast to established ethical standards. The CSAA is also extremely selective in terms of its membership.

Top-tier industry certifications – such as the Five Diamond and U.L. certifications held by American Alarm – are important criteria when selecting a home security system or business alarm system provider. Holding these types of certifications let you know that the company you’re considering is capable of meeting some of the highest standards in the world when it comes to providing reliable, state-of-the-art service.

Keeping up with alarm system maintenance is easy, and it’s key to reducing the number of false alarms related to problems with equipment. Let’s take a look at some of the key aspects of ensuring the safe and continual operation of your security or fire monitoring system.

Inspecting Your System

It’s not possible to simply eyeball the various components of your home security system or fire alarm system to determine whether they’re in proper working order. Camera lenses, motion, smoke and fire sensors need to be free of any dust or dirt that might interfere with their operation. Batteries should be checked at least every six months for signs of corrosion or indications that they need to be replaced. However, many of the problems that can plague an alarm system are impossible to detect with a basic visual fire alarm inspection or security system inspection.

Testing

In fact, the best way to discover whether your security or fire alarm system is in need of maintenance is to have it professionally tested. Licensed System Technicians are capable of inspecting beyond the individual components of a given system to validate each aspect of its functionality. They are also intimately familiar with the design specifications of each of the sensors used in your system and can test their calibrations and determine their effectiveness.

It’s also important to determine whether your system integrates properly with the monitoring network that connects it to your dispatch. Professional fire alarm technicians are capable of coordinating with local fire departments in order to ensure that your fire detection equipment sends the correct inputs to their own systems.

How Often?

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) provides detailed information regarding system testing intervals – broken down for various types of equipment – based on the NFPA 72 Code. Your insurance company or the legal requirements associated with the type of business you operate might also influence how often you must test your fire alarm system. There is no standard, across-the-board guideline for testing intervals, which means you need to be aware of what’s required by law as well as what kind of testing schedule offers your place of business or home the best level of protection. An alarm testing professional can help you out in both of these important areas.

Testing intervals for burglar alarm systems also vary. Some manufacturers recommend weekly testing, but this might not mesh with the operational realities of your business or represent a convenient schedule at home. Testing every six months represents the outside of what would be considered prudent for a security system.

As your fire or burglar alarm system ages you should consider testing on an accelerated basis. An alarm setup that is between 10 and 15 years old is more at risk of developing faults than one that has been installed more recently. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of safety simply because your system has always passed its tests with flying colors. Staying vigilant and maintaining a responsible testing schedule is a key aspect of protecting your family, assets and business from harm.

American Alarm and Communications, Inc. programs the systems they install to send a test signal to make sure the system is communicating properly with the central station. Wellness inspections are also offered to monitored residential customers once per year free of charge. Commercial customers take advantage of the many inspection services that are offered including regular maintenance and fire testing and inspections. If you are interested in learning more about these services please contact American Alarm at 781-641-2000.

When it comes to security and electronically protecting your family from harm, crime is not the only thing you need to worry about.  Fire and even carbon monoxide poisoning are also concerns. If you have aging parents who may have moved into your home, they too, have special security needs. You need to think of home security as a continuum, and work with an alarm monitoring company that understands that your needs change as your life changes.

Many homeowners wait to think about buying an alarm system after they’ve been the victim of crime. Wouldn’t it be better to have that piece of mind before an incident occurs? That’s why security professionals agree that home security should be a proactive and not a reactive process.

Here are four very good reasons to consider installing a home security system, no matter what stage of life you’re in:

1. To Avoid Confrontation – Coming home and finding an intruder in your home can be a frightening experience. Waking up to one can be even more traumatic, and potentially life-threatening. Chances are, whether you’re home or not, when the alarm sounds an intruder will make a hasty retreat.

2. Deterrence Factor – Independent university studies have shown that alarms, especially monitored alarms, do deter crime. Most home security companies provide you with decals to place on your windows as well as yard signs advertising that your home is protected by the system. In most cases, when a criminal sees those signs, he’s far less likely to attempt a break in.

3. Fire and Other Protection – Another key benefit of a security system is to provide multiple layers of protection, including fire, medical rescue, and police.

4. To Minimize Losses Incurred – If someone does break into your home and it’s alarmed, chances are he’s not going to stick around long enough to grab much.

Once you install an alarm system, don’t be lulled into thinking that the same system will always provide for all of your needs. The fact is your security needs change as your life changes. So be sure you upgrade or modify your home security system to keep pace with life-changing events.

You need to inform your alarm monitoring company if any of these changes take place in your home:

• If you add an authorized user to the system
• When you welcome a new pet into your family
• When you go on vacation, or will be away for any extended period of time
• If you do any kind of home remodeling
• If you change your phone service or Internet provider

You can improve your overall safety by working hand-in-hand with an alarm company that understands that total home security is an ever-changing and moving target

“Since January, we’ve had 53 burglaries. At the same time last year, we had 41,” said Sgt. Scott Pettingill, Dover Police Department, in a recent interview with WMUR 9 New Hampshire. “We’ve seen an increase particularly in daytime residential burglaries.”

What’s true in New Hampshire is true throughout the region. Police believe that much of the increase in break-ins is due to wide spread addiction to prescription drugs. Police officials have said that many of the burglaries are perpetrated by drug addicts looking to fund their habits.

According to police, an alarm system, along with video surveillance, is excellent for home security and break-in prevention. A monitored alarm system provides peace of mind to homeowners, especially while they’re on vacation. Police departments remind consumers that there are a wide variety of alarm systems and alarm monitoring companies in the marketplace. They suggest that you look for a company with a long standing professional reputation and knows the region.

Law enforcement officials also remind homeowners to be sure to activate their alarms. An alarm system can’t do you any good, if you don’t remember to set it.

In addition to an alarm system, The National Crime Prevention Council offers a security checklist to help homeowners understand how to minimize the chance of break-ins. Some of the items included on the checklist are:

• Lock all outside doors and windows before you leave the house – even if it’s only for a little while – and before going to bed;
• Reinforce the windows and glass doors near entranceways to prevent them from shattering;
• Be sure to leave lights on when you go out. When you go on vacation, or if you’ll be away from home for any extended length of time, use automatic timers to turn lights on in the evening and off during the day;
• Always check to be sure your garage door is closed and locked;
• If you’re going to be away, arrange for your local post office to hold your mail until your return, or ask a trusted friend or neighbor to take it in. The same for newspaper and magazine deliveries;
• Don’t let your lawn become overgrown while you’re away. Arrange to have someone cut your grass if you’re going to be out of town for a while;
• Your exterior doors should be metal, or hardwood, and they all should have deadbolt locks;
• You need to have adequate exterior lighting; floodlights with motion-detectors are highly recommended;
• Trim trees and shrubs so that they can’t be used as hiding places for intruders.

Most importantly, police ask all residents to be good neighbors and be vigilant. They say the most important thing you can do to reduce break-ins in your neighborhood is to call the police to report a crime or any suspicious activity.

The problem is that many major distributors and alarm monitoring companies have built-in dialer delays that prevent signals from being sent to the central station for up to four minutes after the alarm is tripped in the home.

Why? Because their systems are prone to false alarms and their distant monitoring centers can’t handle the volume. They delay transmission of an alarm signal to give the homeowner a chance to respond and correct the false alarm. This is not true security.

If there is a fire or someone is breaking into your home, seconds count when it comes to both the safety of your family and the protection of your belongings.

After that blog post, we received some great feedback from people who were unsure if American Alarm incorporated a dialer delay into its burglar alarm systems.

The fact is, we do not and will not use equipment with built-in dialer delays. The reason we posted this information was to inform our customers as well as others reading our blog that there are some companies that do this.

Our commitment to our customers has always been to provide the fastest possible response to alarm signals. We have the lowest documented response to priority signals, which is currently at 24 seconds or less. This is key in the event of a fire or intrusion at your home or business.

Please keep the questions and comments coming!

So a four-minute delay in your home security monitoring system is more than enough time to allow an intruder to disable an alarm, so that the signal never reaches the central station at all. In fact, most intruders may not even need the extra time disabling the alarm will give them. According to law enforcement officials, most intruders spend less than five minutes in your home once they get inside. With a system that has a built-in delay, the burglar can be in and gone – before the alarm is even called in.

According to the alarm companies that use such delays, the rationale is to keep their central monitoring stations from being overwhelmed by multiple alarms, and also to give homeowners more time to shut off their alarms and minimize false alarms. That could be true but, at the same time, these delays could give you a “false” sense of security.

So what can you do to make sure your all-in-one home alarm system is providing you all the protection it should? Work with an alarm monitoring company that does not use such delays, is confident in its ability to handle all monitoring situations, and works with homeowners to minimize false alarms without putting them in jeopardy.

An alarm system that is quick respond, without any delays, is your best protection when seconds count. But remember, even such a system is only effective once a break-in or attempted break-in triggers the alarm. Law enforcement officials agree that a home security alarm should be considered only a part of your overall home security.

You should also take the following steps to make your home unappealing to burglars and as physically fortified against a break-in as possible.

• Keep doors and ground-floor windows locked.
• Do not display obvious signs of wealth, cash or jewelry openly in the house.
• Use timers on lights and televisions to make it less obvious when people are not at home.
• Keep your landscaping prim and proper; thieves like to hide in overgrown shrubbery.
• Don’t give burglars a dark place to lurk; use path lighting and motion-detecting floodlights so crooks will have nowhere to hide.
• Have a video surveillance system in place, with cameras in plain sight.

American Alarm and Communications has never used a dialer delay in the systems we install. Our commitment to our customers has always been and will continue to be to provide the fastest possible response to alarm signals.