Posts

Holiday Home Security and Safety Series: Thanksgiving Away-from-Home Safety

/6 Comments/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Crime doesn’t take a break for the holidays, so a holiday safety plan is essential.

In fact, statistics show most burglaries are residential (73.4% of all burglaries in 2019, according to the FBI), and incidences of these crimes spike during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. The fact that people are away from home, coupled with a struggling economy and the desire for money for holiday shopping, contribute to the increase in property crimes.
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5 Safety Precautions Your Condo Association Should Have

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

A condo can be a great alternative to a single-family home. They are generally more affordable and less maintenance. However, living near so many people can pose safety risks. It is important to talk with your condo association about their emergency preparedness.

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When You Should Change Your Door Locks

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

When You Should Change Your Door LocksAlthough the best way to protect your family and your valuables is by installing a home security system, changing the locks on your doors is also an important safety measure that you shouldn’t overlook.

If you’re like most people, you probably haven’t given much thought to getting new or at least re-keying the existing locks.

That doesn’t mean you have to change your door locks on a regular basis the way you have to change the batteries in your smoke detectors. Rather, there are certain times when you should consider replacing or re-keying the locks on your doors, including:

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The 6 Worst Places To Hide Your Valuables

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

The 6 Worst Places To Hide Your ValuablesContrary to popular opinion, hiding your family jewels or other valuables in unusual places won’t keep the bad guys from stealing them—but it might make it a little more difficult.

You can be sure if a burglar breaks into your home, he’s going to tear it apart trying to find all your valuable items. However, he’s probably not too keen on spending a whole lot of time ransacking the place.

The longer it takes, the greater the chance he’s going to be caught. So don’t make it easy by hiding your money or your expensive items in the spots where he’ll look first.

Here are the six worst places to hide your valuables:

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Your House Has Been Broken Into—Now What?

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Your House Has Been Broken Into—Now What?Your home should be the safest place for you and your family. Having a burglar break into your home is extremely traumatic and devastating. You feel anxious, violated, and unsafe. Not only do you have to deal with theft as well as property damage, there’s the added stress of being a victim of crime.

Here are five steps to take to help you and your loved one deal with the aftermath of a break-in as well as help you avoid being victimized again in the future.

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Buyer Beware: Door-to-Door Security Salespeople

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Alarm SalespersonThey’re called “door knockers”—salespeople going door to door using aggressive sales pitches and fraudulent claims—hoping you’ll buy one of their security systems.

They’re pros, but if you know what to look for, you can spot them a mile away. Watch our video below (or read the transcript) for 5 ways to prevent falling victim to fraudulent door-to-door security salespeople.

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Tips to Burglar-Proof Your Windows

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Tips to Burglar-Proof Your WindowsYou may not be aware of this, but one of the most overlooked aspects to home security is your home’s windows. Burglars can break the glass or pry the windows open to get into your home. Additionally, they can even lift some sliding windows right out of their tracks—even if they’re locked.

If you’ve already invested in a home security system to keep your family and your belongings safe, you may not have considered shoring up the windows to keep the bad guys out.

One way to do that is by having your home security system provider install perimeter sensors on the windows. If you want to keep you windows open, your provider can install specialized sensors in the window screens. That way you can keep the windows open, without disabling your home security system.

Here are five other tips to help you burglar-proof your windows:

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Do You Have a Family Emergency Evacuation Plan?

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Do You Have a Family Emergency Evacuation Plan?Do your loved ones know what to do if a fire breaks out in your home in the middle of the night? What if there’s a hurricane or Nor’easter and your family members aren’t all together in one location? Does everyone in your family know what to do in these different emergency situations? How to contact each other? How to get back together? Who to call? Where to meet?

While a home fire alarm system is the best defense against protecting your family in the event of a fire, you also need an emergency plan to ensure your family is safe and secure during a disaster.

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Boston Mayor Pushes for New Crime-Fighting Technology

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Boston Mayor Pushes for New Crime-Fighting Technology Over the last 10 years, Boston has amassed an inventory of 336 unsolved murders. Now, Mayor Martin J. Walsh, District Attorney Daniel F. Conley, and high-ranking members of the Boston police department are promising change: what’s in store to make the city safer?

According to the Boston Herald, one initiative is the creation of a community advisory group which will partner community leaders with police to help address crime in specific neighborhoods. Taking this idea a step further is the privately-operated StreetSafe Boston which looks for ways to assist troubled youth at risk of becoming repeat offenders in adulthood.

There’s a clear mandate here to create a more community-minded Boston, one that focuses on neighborhoods rallying together behind disenfranchised youth to take back control of their streets and help limit crime through accountability and understanding — but that’s just the beginning.

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5 Security Tips for New Homeowners

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

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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