Personal Safety Apps for Your Mobile Device

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Personal Safety Apps for Your Mobile DeviceThe best way to protect yourself, your family and your home is with a home security system. However, how do you minimize the chances of becoming a victim of violent crime when you’re alone and away from home?

The fact is if you own a mobile device, you’re never truly alone. If you’re worried about your safety when you’re out alone late at night, or you have to walk through a high crime neighborhood, there are a number of personal safety apps to help you stay safe.

Here are three of those personal safety apps:

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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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New Boston Surveillance Surfaces: Who Watches the Watchers?

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

New Boston Surveillance Surfaces Who Watches the WatchersBoston is getting a next generation closed-circuit television (CCTV) network to help monitor for public threats. As noted by a recent Daily Caller article, the system designed by Texas-based Behavioral Recognition Systems (BRS) will feature a kind of artificial intelligence (AI) which allows it to “recognize, learn and permanently register abnormal behavior.”

While the system has real potential, it also comes with risk: Who’s watching these watchers?

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Business Security Trends for 2014

/1 Comment/by American Alarm Blogging Team

american-alarm-business-security-trendsThe business security system market will show strong growth in 2014, driven by access management and video, according to James Cook, sales manager for American Alarm.

The Boston Marathon bombings demonstrated the importance of video cameras, as we mention in a recent blog post. Investigators used video from a number of businesses in the Copley Square area to identify Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who are suspected of the bombings.

The need to manage access to buildings via video surveillance systems and alarm systems that include enhanced access control is being driven in large part by the school shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut as well as other schools across the country, Cook says.

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Home Security Trends for 2014

/1 Comment/by American Alarm Blogging Team

american-alarm-home-security-trendsWhen it comes to what’s in store for the home security system market for 2014, the buzzword is still “traditional,” according to James Cook, sales manager at American Alarm.

“We’re selling more traditional home security systems, not the other stuff and that’s what’s generating our growth,” Cook says. “Although I expect that things like full home automation and other add-ons will continue to grow a little bit after people get more comfortable with technology.”

Cook says that while some homeowners may like the add-ons including mobile apps and remote monitoring, the main reasons they invest in home security and alarm systems are to prevent burglaries and fires.

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American Alarm: Working Hard to Keep Your Family and Your Home Safe

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Everything we at American Alarm do is about security – and life safety is our laser focus. Virtually every day at American Alarm, we’re saving someone’s life or preserving their property with our home security and business security alarm systems and services.

There aren’t many industries where you can have that impact every single day.

We invite you to watch this video and listen to our president, Wells Sampson, tell you about American Alarm in his own words.

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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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Did Ex-Patriot Fumble the Home Security Ball?

/3 Comments/by American Alarm Blogging Team

On August 31, some 300 teenagers allegedly broke into – and totally trashed – the upstate New York home owned by former New England Patriot Brian Holloway.

Holloway told NEWS10 ABC he was in Florida when he heard about the break-in from his son, who had seen notifications about the bash on social media.

Police called to the scene, said they found the yard full of cars and about 300 teens trying to run away. Investigators documented the damage, including broken windows, spray painted walls, and urine soaked carpets.

A break-in is right at the top of the list of homeowner’s worst nightmares. Imagine you arrive home from a vacation to find your home in utter chaos – your belongings strewn across the floors and your valuables missing. You’re scared and angry. You don’t feel safe in your home any longer – and maybe you never will feel that sense of security again.

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Homeowners: Beware of Unlicensed Security Companies

/1 Comment/by American Alarm Blogging Team

beware unlicensed security companiesControlling the safety of your home has never been easier. With a simple click from your smartphone or tablet, you can open windows, unlock doors, even start your car — but before you hire a home security company to protect your valuables, you should first do some research.

A recent letter from the Massachusetts Systems Contractors Association warns consumers about the dangers of hiring unlicensed companies to secure your home.

It said security companies in the state are required to be licensed by the State Board of Electrical Examiners and have a public safety license to protect you from people who may have a criminal background and to ensure their system effectively works in an emergency situation.
Watch our video below for this and important tips to consider when selecting your home security company:

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Sun is Setting on 2G Cellular Security Systems

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

sun setting

It’s a fact: AT&T has called for 2G cellular networks to go away by Jan. 1, 2017. That means alarm companies must swap out security systems that use 2G networks to ensure the safety of their customers.

About three million cellular alarm system communicators currently use the 2G spectrum with about 80% to 90% of those provided by AT&T, according to Alarm System Report.

Many other service providers are also setting their own schedules so they can use the new bandwidth to increase capacity for 3G/4G services to handle the increased data use. Read more →