Security You Can Trust
Welcome to American Alarms’ business and home security page for Cambridge, Massachusetts. This informational page provides important crime data along with additional information for those living in or considering moving to Cambridge.
According to the FBI Crime Database for Massachusetts’ 279 cities and towns, Cambridge was ranked 32nd in “Most Property Damage per 100,000” in 2013 improving from 30th in 2012. It was 99th for “Most Burglaries per 100,000” improving from 91st in 2012.
Based in New England since 1971, we’ve worked in the Cambridge area for decades. We know the landscape and we have good relationships with local police and fire officials. Our team of employees (200 strong and growing) live in the communities we serve, this means our customers are our neighbors.
Colonists first settled in Cambridge in 1630, under the name Newtowne, and six years later in 1636, it was incorporated. After the town had begun to grow with new infrastructure in town, including Harvard University, the oldest university in the country, the town changed its name to Cambridge, a testament to the University of Cambridge in England; and in 1846, Cambridge became incorporated as a city.
In 1630, a convoy of eleven ships sailed from England to settle in the newly established Mass Bay Colony. Among the eleven ships were 700 passengers led by future Governor, John Winthrop, whose mission was to create a new more devoted Puritan church. John Winthrop led a group of these colonists, who found refuge in present day Cambridge.
After only six years the settlement grew and had a town meetinghouse, a school, a marketplace and a college. After the original growth, Cambridge grew modestly as a agricultural village, with most of its yield being sold to Boston which was only eight miles away. By the time of the Revolutionary War, most residents of Cambridge lived toward the city center. George Washington arrived in Cambridge in 1775 to take command of troops during the Boston Siege. Using the Vassal-Craigie-Longfellow House as headquarters, George Washington drove British forces out of Boston to their ships in the harbor.
The early nineteenth saw rapid growth in the town. Bridges were built that connected Cambridge to Boston, allowing for even shorter travel distances. With the new trade routes open, new residents came to town and what were previously marshes, became residential and industrial developments; this increased traffic led Cambridge to become a city in 1846. Among the most common industries in the city were city and furniture manufacturers. By 1920, these developments led Cambridge to become one of the premier industry cities in New England, claiming a population of over 120,000 people.
Today, Cambridge isn’t the same industrious town that it once was. With a population just over 90,000, the main draws to the town are retail, technology and research companies and secondary education institutions.
Among the many tourist sites in Cambridge are the many museums and architecture in the town. Among the museums are the Harvard Art Museum and the Harvard Museum of Natural History. The Harvard Art Museum is owned by Harvard University, and is home to over 250,000 pieces of art ranging from all cultures of the world. The Harvard Museum of Natural History is also owned by Harvard University, but it displays the natural world, and the variety of life forms on earth. Among other recreation areas, Harvard Square is a popular tourist and retail district of Cambridge. There are many locally owned retailers as well as public art and structures.
Ben and Casey Affleck are two famous brothers who are both prominent in the entertainment business. The brothers moved to Cambridge at a young age and were raised in the city, where they would both attend Cambridge Rindge and Latin School. Ben ahs starred in movies such as Good Will Hunting, Armageddon, The Town and most recently he will play Batman in the film Batman Vs. Superman. Casey has acted in the movies Good Will Hunting, the Ocean’s Eleven series, and Gone Baby Gone.
Edward Estlin Cummings, otherwise known as E.E. Cummings was a famous poet who was born and raised in Cambridge and later attended Harvard University. From an early age, Cummings displayed a serious interest in writing and poetry and would write poetry every day. Cummings would go on to have a very successful career and would write all forms of literature. His most notable works were The Enormous Room, Tulips and Chimneys and the poem, [i carry your heart with me(i carry it in].
Matt Damon is an actor that was born and raised in Cambridge. Although two years younger than Ben Affleck, Damon also attended Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, where he would become friends with Affleck. After high school, Damon would attend Harvard University for over three years before he left school to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming an actor. Damon first achieved fame after his performance in Good Will Hunting a movie in which he was the lead role and wrote the screenplay for. Since then Damon has starred in movies such as Saving Private Ryan, the Jason Bourne series, The Departed and The Talented Mr. Ripley.
American Alarm installed an integrated home security system in a fairly large home in Cambridge. The design included a home security system and fire alarm. The home security system allows for complete freedom of movement for the occupants and at the same time provides complete security should any opening be breached.
One of the key components of this system was the design of the fire alarm system. This residence has a home theatre installed in one of its upper levels. Our Integrated Systems Designer noticed that this would be an issue if there were ever a fire. How would the customer hear the fire alarm? To solve this problem a strobe light was installed inside the theatre to turn on if the fire alarm were tripped. No matter how loud a movie is playing this customer will notified and able to get to safety.
Cambridge, MA, United States
Sales: 781-859-2400
Security Command Center:
781-859-2700
FAX: 781-648-0199
Technical Support: 781-859-2600
Accounting: 781-859-2500
Human Resources: 781-859-2300
Advanced Signal: 781-963-2024
Auburn Office: 508-753-1322
Electronic Alarms, RI: 401-737-2221
Manchester, NH Office: 603-627-2002
Wallingford, CT Office (Monitor Controls): 203-269-3591
Weymouth Office (Atlas Alarm): 781-337-8866