Posts

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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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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How to Prevent the Theft of Copper from Your Home

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

How to Prevent the Theft of Copper from Your HomeLast year, a man in Abington, Mass. was arrested and charged with numerous crimes including, including possession of burglary tools and receiving stolen property. The 33-year-old man was also suspected of being involved in a string of thefts of copper from vacant and foreclosed homes in the area, according to The Patriot Ledger.

When police officers stopped the man in East Bridgewater, Mass. for driving without an inspection sticker, they discovered five pieces of copper each five feet long as well as pipe cutters, wire cutters, a flashlight, a headlamp, a hack saw and gloves.

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Gun Violence Goes Under the Microscope in New Research

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Gun Violence Goes Under the Microscope in New ResearchInvolved in a serious car accident? There are state and federal databases to record what happened, how many people were injured and government money spent to discover new ways to prevent high-risk collisions.

Had a problem with gun violence? Until recently, there was virtually no federal funding for a similar system, and patients admitted to local ERs essentially vanished from sight. In large part, this was due to fear that a database of gun-related injuries was just gun control in disguise, thanks to an executive order from President Obama, money has started flowing from the CDC to state agencies interested in expanding their national reporting system. The hope? That a better understanding of why and how gun violence occurs will help limit the amount.

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National Crime Rates Down, But Police Spending Up: Is This “New Math”?

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

National Crime Rates Down, But Police Spending UpAccording to the statistics, violent crime rates are down across the United States, and in cities like Providence, Rhode Island, rates have been dropping for the past six years. Meanwhile, studies find that overall police spending is up and municipalities are fighting to keep budgets in line. Is this the “new math?”

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Arrest Numbers Up for West Hartford Police, Who Say Crime is “Cyclical”

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Arrest Numbers Up for West Hartford Police, Who Say Crime is “Cyclical” West Hartford police have been busy according to the Courant. Since June 2014, they’ve arrested 21 burglars, many responsible for more than one property crime. Police Chief Tracy Groves credits a hard-working police force but says “the biggest component of this is the residents of West Hartford keeping an eye out,” which covers everything from walking in on crimes in progress to installing home security systems.

He also warns, however, that “crime is cyclical” — is it possible for New England homeowners to get out of the circle?

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7 Tips to Reduce Home Security System False Alarms

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

7 Tips to Reduce Home Security System False AlarmsHaving a home security system helps you ensure the safety and security of your family and your property. Knowing that your security company is on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week, gives you much-needed peace of mind.

However, repeated false alarms that lead to nuisance emergency dispatches are not only irritating, they drain public safety resources and erode the confidence police and fire officials have in a security company.

False alarms can also cost you big bucks. Most municipalities – such as Paxton, Mass. – will fine citizens hundreds of dollars to “encourage alarm users to maintain the operational reliability of their alarm systems to reduce and eliminate false alarm dispatch requests made by installed alarm systems.”

Here are seven tips to help prevent false alarms so you can save law enforcement resources as well as your money:

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Battery Crimes? Video Surveillance Captures Criminal

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Battery Crimes? Video Surveillance Captures CriminalIt was a beautiful August day in New Haven, sunny and breezy, with walkers and cyclists out enjoying the weather. In one neighborhood a man was looking for more than good exercise — after checking to see if anyone is watching, he pedaled onto the front yard of a home and started to poke around.

According to WFSB, he was after car batteries, hot items on the scrap metal that sell at 40 cents a pound or more thanks to the precious metals inside.

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The Dangers of a DIY Home Security System

/6 Comments/by American Alarm Blogging Team

pros-and-cons-of-diy-home-security-systems

Some homeowners looking to install home security systems may be thinking about doing the job themselves to save money.

Although a do-it-yourself security system sounds great, installing your own security systems could compromise your family’s safety.

For one thing, if you’re not a security professional, you might very well install your alarm system incorrectly. Connect one small wire the wrong way and your family and your property won’t be protected.

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Home Fire System: Avoid Fall Fire Dangers

/2 Comments/by American Alarm Blogging Team

House FireWe all know that installing smoke detectors in your home fire system is the number one way to prevent fatalities during a fire in your home. That’s why it’s critical to change the batteries in your smoke detector twice a year — at the same time you set your clocks to either “spring forward” or “fall back.”

This year daylight savings time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3. So when you get ready to turn your clocks back an hour, remember to replace the batteries in your smoke detector — as well as your carbon monoxide detector. If you have a monitored fire alarm system make sure you call to have it tested at least once a year. American Alarm is one company that offers free annual wellness inspections to monitored residential customers for this purpose.

Here are a few less obvious steps you can take to reduce the risk of fire in your home.

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