How to Protect your Business from Scrap Metal Theft

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

One of the fastest growing crimes in the United States is scrap metal theft. Thieves looking for a fast buck are stealing copper, aluminum, nickel, stainless steel and scrap iron from any number of businesses.

Business Security: Prevent Scrap Metal TheftFor example, in February a Nashua, New Hampshire man was charged with stealing a scrap-metal bin containing 20,000 pounds of scrap metal from a recycling company, according to an article in the New Hampshire Union Leader — and police believe the alleged thief is also involved with the thefts of scrap metal bins from other locations.

Even more recently, police in Charlton, Mass. arrested two men they allege stole scrap metal from a railroad year, according to the Telegram & Gazette.

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Summer Safety Tips

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Summer is here (finally) and that means spending more time outside enjoying pool parties, outdoor barbecues, fireworks and all kinds of fun activities — it shouldn’t mean treating burns, bandaging cuts, icing bruises, or trips to the emergency room.

summer safety
Follow our summer safety tips below to help you and your family have a fun and safe summer:

1. Don’t let the heat spoil your fun in the sun.
Drink lots of water and don’t work or play too hard in the hot weather. Take some breaks in the shade or inside your home.

2. Protect yourself from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Limit exposure to the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when UV rays are most powerful. Wear sunglasses that block 100% of UV rays. Wraparound frames work best because they protect your eyes and the sensitive area around them. Wear hats with wide brims and slather on the sunscreen — SPF 15 or higher.

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Five Tips to Protect Your Pool and Keep Loved Ones Safe

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

It’s summertime, which means more and more families will be out enjoying the warm weather and playing in pools. And while the water can be a lot of fun, it can also be dangerous.

According to the Center for Disease Control, in the United States about 10 people die in accidental drownings every day; two of those people, on average, are age 14 or younger.

So before you invite your friends and family over for a quick swim this summer, consider these simple tips to help protect your pool and keep loved ones safe.

Watch the video for our Five Summer Pool Safety Tips:

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Prepare Your Business for Natural Disasters

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Can your business survive a major fire or other natural disaster?

Business Security: Prepare Your Business for Natural Disasters

Unfortunately many companies never open for business again after a hurricane, tornado, fire, flood or other weather-related catastrophe shuts them down — but that doesn’t have to happen to your business.

The key is putting a disaster recovery plan in place – and reviewing it once a year – to protect your employees, customers, your physical assets and your investments.

Here are some tips to help you get started with keeping your business secure in a disaster situation:

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Selling Your House? Follow these Home Security Tips

/1 Comment/by American Alarm Blogging Team

The last thing you want to worry about when you put your home up for sale is whether some thief is going to rip you off while you’re showing your home.

Home Security Tips for Selling your HouseAlthough protecting your home and your valuables is something that you have to consider when you list your home for sale, there are some common-sense steps you can take to keep from being burglarized when you put it on the market.

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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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