“Spring is the time of plans and projects.” – Leo Tolstoy, “Anna Karenina”
Since spring is just around the corner, many people are planning to build new homes or renovate their current homes – projects that involve a lot of time, not to mention money, and maybe even a few tears.
However, “a home under construction or renovation is more vulnerable to damage or destruction than at any other time in a home’s history,” according to the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies. “Improperly stored work rags may combust, newly installed plumbing can leak, and intruders might vandalize your vacant home” and that’s just for starters. Read more →
How to Prevent Smoking-related Fires in the Home
/by American Alarm Blogging TeamYou’ve probably heard the stories about people who have fallen asleep with a lit cigarette in their hand and woken up to a house on fire — or who have been pulled out of the charred remains of their home by a fire crew. Those aren’t tall tales: each year, the U.S. Fire Administration documents close to 1,000 cases of individuals killed in home fires started by cigarettes.
Recently, a Westfield, Massachusetts woman was killed by cigarette smoking near a home oxygen system. The fire not only took her life, but caused significant damage to the downtown apartment complex. While smoking should NEVER take place near highly flammable materials such as oxygen systems, fires often still occur in homes without obvious risks.
Aside from quitting smoking, there are a few ways you can try to reduce the chances that you will ever have to deal with a home fire caused by a lit cigarette. Read more →
Business Security: Common Ploys Used by Shoplifters
/by American Alarm Blogging TeamThe fact is that every year businesses lose tens of billions of dollars to shoplifting, and if you’re retailer you’re all too well aware of that painful fact.
For example, just recently police in Dedham, Mass. were called to a local supermarket by the store’s loss prevention employee who witnessed a woman putting items in her purse and in her cart. Then she tried to leave the store without paying for the merchandise.
Although it’s not possible for you to completely do away with shoplifting, there are ways to prevent shoplifters from taking advantage of a five-finger discount. Read more →
Home Security: Protect Your Car While It’s Parked in Your Driveway
/by American Alarm Blogging TeamIf you think your car is safe parked in your own driveway – think again.
Recently, a man in Waltham, Massachusetts was arrested for allegedly trying to steal another car and its contents, according to the Waltham Patch.
Police arrested the man after they caught him fiddling around under the dashboard of a car while it was parked in the driveway of a home — and this car was allegedly not his only target. Waltham Police Sgt. Joseph Guigno credits “good old fashioned police work” in apprehending this man — but what steps could have been taken to catch this criminal sooner?
Read more →
Home Security: Stay Safe while Cooking
/by American Alarm Blogging TeamCooking is one of the more dangerous activities that we regularly take part in inside our homes without ever really thinking about it from a risk perspective. Objectively, it seems obvious: anytime you deal with an open flame, or a hot surface, you are creating a situation where a fire or serious burns could occur.
Even if you think you’re careful in the kitchen, young children in your house often aren’t quite as safety-minded as you are when it comes to interacting with the various appliances and utensils used in the modern home.
Fortunately, it’s easy to stay safe while cooking. Let’s look at a few tips that can prevent injury while making dinner: Read more →
Home Security: Safety Tips while On Vacation
/by American Alarm Blogging TeamSpring vacation is just around the corner, and keeping your home safe and secure is a full-time job no matter how far away your travels might take you. Just because you are on vacation doesn’t mean that local thieves and burglars have also decided to take some time off — in fact, a significant number of houses are targeted because their owners are out of the area and they have been marked as an easy score.
Don’t worry — there are a number of ways you can make your home a less appealing choice for burglars even when you can’t be around. Let’s take a look at a few easy ways to keep thieves from ruining your relaxed state of mind after you’ve come home from vacation.
Below we outline our top 3 tips to keep your home safe while on vacation:
Read more →
Preserving Home Security – and Sanity – During Renovations
/2 Comments/by American Alarm Blogging Team“Spring is the time of plans and projects.” – Leo Tolstoy, “Anna Karenina”
Since spring is just around the corner, many people are planning to build new homes or renovate their current homes – projects that involve a lot of time, not to mention money, and maybe even a few tears.
However, “a home under construction or renovation is more vulnerable to damage or destruction than at any other time in a home’s history,” according to the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies. “Improperly stored work rags may combust, newly installed plumbing can leak, and intruders might vandalize your vacant home” and that’s just for starters. Read more →
Home Security Tips: Protect Your Home from Mother Nature’s Wrath
/1 Comment/by American Alarm Blogging TeamThis winter it seems that Mother Nature is one unhappy mama, to paraphrase Sudbury, Mass. real estate agent Gabrielle Daniels.
With snowstorms on top of blizzards followed by days when the mercury hits spring-like temps, it’s no wonder she’s a bit cranky. Not to mention it’s only February.
Because we understand just how frustrating – albeit beautiful – winter in New England can be, we’d like to share some tips from Daniels and others to help you keep your home and your family cozy and warm, not to mention safe, from Mother Nature’s mood swings. Read more →
New England Winter Heating Dangers
/1 Comment/by American Alarm Blogging TeamNow that we’re right in the middle of the winter heating season, you have to be sure you’re heating your home or business with safety in mind.
Each year the Massachusetts Office of Public Safety has a Keep Warm, Keep Safe This Winter campaign to remind people about the dangers of winter heating.
It’s no wonder the office considers this campaign a yearly necessity since heating has been the source of over 14,000 fires the last five years and it’s the number two reason for Massachusetts home fires, according to Mass.gov. Read more →
Home Security: What Your Burglar Won’t Tell You
/1 Comment/by American Alarm Blogging TeamBurglaries in the US have increased from 2010 to 2011, according to an FBI preliminary report issued in June 2012.
One of the more obvious ways to deter a potential thief is by installing a home security system.
In the past few years publications like Reader’s Digest and news outlets in various US cities like Stoughton, Mass. have taken us inside the mind of a burglar, compiling tips to give us more insight into other ways to thwart would-be thieves. Read more →
Hotel Security: Safety Tips You May Not Know
/2 Comments/by American Alarm Blogging TeamSo if you’re one of the lucky ones going down to New Orleans to cheer on your team in the Super Bowl, or just traveling with the family, choosing a hotel is serious business. This is not the time to be lazy about safety.
So before you fall into your cozy hotel room bed, take heed of these safety tips from the Independent Traveler and Detective Kevin Coffey, founder of Corporate Travel Safety. Read more →