A front door to a house with Halloween decorations, a reminder of Halloween home security

Three Halloween Home Security Risks for 2021

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

A front door to a house with Halloween decorations, a reminder of Halloween home securityHalloween, the holiday of candy, costumes, and…crime? Halloween home security should be an autumn priority.

Unfortunately Halloween sits well above the national daily average in terms of residential insurance claims for both property damage (17% higher) and theft (60% higher). Add to that an increase in violent crime of 50% on Halloween night, and it’s safe to say that this holiday truly earns its spooky reputation. 

While there may be risks associated with this fun-but-frightening holiday, there are also ways to stay safe. You just have to know what to prepare for. Keep the following Halloween home security risks in mind to ensure that the only thing you need to be scared of this October 31st is the latest creature feature on TV.

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Flammable materials, workplace fire safety

Workplace Fire Safety: 6 Common Hazards and How to Avoid Them

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

An average of 52 fires occur every day in the workplace. 2019 alone produced nearly 19,000 workplace fires, resulting in $744 million in property damage. While it may not be possible to eliminate every potential fire hazard, there are still plenty of workplace fire safety practices you can implement to protect your workers, your office, and the financial health of your company.

Let’s tackle some of the most common workplace fire culprits and how to avoid them in your business.

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Fire extinguisher and smoke alarm, fire safety

Fire Safety Week: Home Fire Safety Checklist

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Fire extinguisher and smoke alarm, fire safetyOctober 3rd through October 9th is Fire Safety Week. To celebrate, we’ve created a handy list you can use to fire-proof your home. These actionable fire safety tips may save your home from becoming one of the nearly 500,000 structures that catch fire in America each year.

Print this list and keep it on your fridge or in another convenient location to remind you of what to do to protect your home from a harmful fire.

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Professional technician installing home security camera, related to the topic of professional vs DIY security camera installation

Professional vs DIY Security Cameras

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Professional technician installing home security camera, related to the topic of professional vs DIY security camera installationIt’s been shown that the presence of a security camera or alarm system on your property will deter up to 60% of burglars. If you want to install a security system, you have the option of going the DIY home security route or hiring a professional security company to install your system for you. 

There are upsides and downsides to each strategy—the important thing is to choose the option that best aligns with your safety goals. Let’s take a look at the benefits and drawbacks of each option.

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School entrance sign, school security

School Administrators: Can You Answer These 3 Important School Security Questions?

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

School entrance sign, school security

School security and safety is a top priority for parents. They want to know that their children are secure no matter where they are on campus. In order to ensure that this is the case, parents may approach you and other school administrators to question the school’s security protocols and practices. When they do, are you ready to answer them?

The following three questions are likely to be common points of inquiry from parents. If you are a school administrator, it’s imperative that you are able to respond to these questions when and if they arise.

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Image of someone using a car remote / keyless entry to unlock a car

How Your Car’s Keyless Entry System Makes Auto Theft Easier Than Ever

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Image of someone using a car remote / keyless entry to unlock a car2020 brought 873,080 car thefts—the highest number in a decade. The previous few years leading up to 2020 actually saw a decrease in car thefts before this 9.2% upward jump. The reason? Keyless entry systems and push-button ignitions.

These technological advancements have at once made our lives more convenient and our cars more at risk for theft. This is due to a combination of readily-available technology found on popular online shopping mega-sites and our very own key fobs, which provide for easy access and quick getaways.

Problems with Spare Key Fobs

Gone are the days of slow, manual hotwiring practices. Now, all a car thief has to do is spot a spare key fob in your cup holder to gain instant access to your car. This is because most keyless entry systems won’t completely lock if your key fob is still in your vehicle. That means anyone can walk up, open the door, and drive away.

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Image of front door open, signifying home burglary, home security risk

Home Security Myths: Debunked

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Image of front door open, signifying home burglary, home security riskWhen it comes to home security, it’s important to take action based on facts. While the movies may have taught us all about how burglars operate, the truth is quite different. Let’s debunk some popular home security myths to ensure that you are prepared for the real security risks that exist in the world today. 

MYTH #1: Most burglaries occur at night

FACT: The majority of residential robberies occur during the day

The middle of the night might seem like the most opportune time for a home invasion. However, the truth is that 51% of robbers break into homes between 10am and 3pm. This is because burglars want to enter homes they’re sure will be empty. In order to avoid a daytime break in, install a quality home security system with accompanying video surveillance and backup communications.

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An image of a city with lines illustrating the concept of mesh networks

Mesh Networks and Smart Home Security: What You Need to Know

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

It used to be that your WIFI was your own unless you specified otherwise. Yet, with the entry of mesh networks, users can’t always be sure that their internet connection is private. Smart doorbells, virtual AI assistants and other smart home devices are increasingly connected via communal WIFI rather than independent routers. These mesh networks are especially growing in popularity with big tech companies who wish to integrate large numbers of smart home devices into one massive network that they say will increase connectivity and reliability.

If you’re concerned about mesh networks, what they are, how they work, and if they’re right for you, read on to learn more. 

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Cannabis plants growing in cannabis company growing facility

American Alarm Is a Powerful Security Partner for MA Cannabis Companies

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Cannabis plants growing in cannabis company growing facilityMany first-time cannabis company owners don’t realize that you need a security company on board before you even hire your building contractor or secure your funding. Security is highly regulated in the cannabis industry. Unlike other industries where you can tailor your security to your budget, in cannabis you must tailor your budget to security.

The Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) requires a certain number of devices based on multiple (sometimes vague) aspects of your business. These devices can include, but are not limited to:

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Watch Out for These Common Scams Against the Elderly

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Fraud continues to impact people of every age, yet those over the age of 60 report more financial loss than any other portion of the population. Elders between the ages of 60-65 report an average loss of $500 per successful fraud attempt. That number increases right along with age. Those 80 and older lose an average of $1500 per fraudulent attack.

If you are a member of our elderly population—or if you have a loved one who is—be aware of the following common scams. Each one affects seniors 60+ at a higher rate than any other age group. Once you know how the scam works, you’ll be far less likely to fall victim to it.

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