How Secure is Your Home?

By Michael Russell

I thought my house was secure. I had a UPVC double glazed front door with bolts that shot out into both the door jamb and the lintel, when it was locked. All the windows locked and on the ground floor, there were few through which an adult could climb. The back door was brand new, double glazed and a great fit.

It was my habit, when going out in the evening, to draw curtains and turn on lights, to give an appearance that the house was occupied. However, one May evening at about 8pm, when I was on my way out to dinner with friends, it was still bright daylight. I tossed up as to which would be more of a giveaway that the house was empty - drawn curtains and lights on in daylight or no lights once it turned dark. I decided that the former would look more odd - I was wrong.

When I got home at 1am, I noticed that the side gate was open. I thought that was odd, but went on to open the front door. It felt draughty in the hall. It was - the back door was wide open. The thieves had jemmied the new door from its frame. Judging by the marks on the frame, they had had to make several attempts but the neighbours hadn't heard a thing.
I was lucky in a way. The thieves had only stolen small, portable valuables - and darn cheek, a pillowcase to take them away in. The TV, video recorder and stereo remained untouched. There was no damage, or cupboards and drawers emptied out. They seems to have gone straight for where the valuables were. Curious, I thought.

Actually, not so curious. I had had workmen in and out of the house in the preceding weeks, while I had a small extension to my kitchen built. I had given them a key because I couldn't take that much time off work to supervise them. They had been alone in the house for hours on end and could easily have had a good look round to see what was worth stealing, in order to pass the information on, if not to do the deed themselves.

I learnt a couple of things from this incident. If you have to let a stranger have keys to your house, make quite sure that there's nothing of any value on view and secondly, your neighbours are probably too engrossed in their own business to pay any attention to what's going on next door.

When the insurance money came through, I did two things. I bought a small safe. It probably wasn't sturdy enough to put off a real professional burglar, but bolted to the floor, it was quite adequate to deter a casual thief. Secondly, I installed an alarm system. It wasn't attached to a monitoring service but it was VERY noisy. With sensors and tremblers on all the downstairs doors and windows, no intruder was going to get in again without making a huge racket and hopefully, alerting half the street!

Take a look at your own home security - it might not be as effective as you think.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Home Security
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Types Of Home Security

By Michael Russell

Let me start off by saying that my home has been robbed. I was at work and got a call from my wife asking me if I had taken the VCR to be repaired. I knew right away that we had been robbed. That was the last time as we have since had a home security system installed.

What I didn't know is, there are different types of security systems and not all security systems are created equally.

Let me start with the type that I have personally. Mine is a monitoring system which is attached to an alarm built into your doors and windows. The more areas in your house you have the alarms installed in, the more expensive the installation, unless the monitoring company has a special offer. In our case we got free installation of alarms on 2 doors and 1 window. Anything beyond that we had to pay for. Fortunately we felt that that was all we needed so we went with it.

The way the system works is very simple. You have an alarm control box which they install by your front door or wherever you designate then to install it. You are then instructed to program a code into the alarm. This is to do 2 things. First, to actually be able to set the alarm. Second to be able to turn off the alarm when entering the house. The alarm goes off based on one of two things, whichever it detects first. The first is the actual opening of the door or window. The second, is a motion sensor installed above the box which sets off the alarm if it detects motion in the house. That is in case somebody bypasses the trigger on the doors and windows. The motion sensor is a backup. The way the alarm detects if the door is open is because a device is installed inside your door. Once connection is broken with the panel across from the door the alarm goes off. If entering the house normally with a key you have 60 seconds to enter the bypass code before the alarm goes into its second stage and blasts out a sound that could deafen the people across the street. At this time an alarm also goes out to the monitoring company who call you up on the phone. If they get no answer or the person who answers does not know the security password, which you give to the company upon signing up, they send the police over.

That is pretty much the way an indoor monitoring alarm system works.

Now, you can get one of these alarms to install yourself and it will go off if someone enters the house who doesn't know the bypass code but without a monitoring service it's just a loud noise and may or may not be enough to scare off the intruder. Considering monitoring is relatively cheap, it doesn't make sense not to get a monitoring service.

But security systems don't end there. There are also outdoor security systems where if an intruder approaches the grounds, flood lights will first come on and then upon passing a certain point without entering in a code into the outdoor device, an alarm will go off before the intruder even enters the house. Needless to say, these systems are much more expensive.

Then of course you have security monitoring systems, closed circuit TV, and wireless intercom systems. While these can be used for your home, especially if you have a mansion, they are mostly used for businesses.

Let's not forget smoke and fire sensors that, when set off by smoke or fire, will also send a signal to the monitoring service who then calls the fire department.

In addition to all of that, there are also the common sense things you can do yourself like get solid wood or metal doors with strong deadbolt locks. Windows can be secured with key locks. Double hung windows can be secured by nailing the top and bottom together. You might also want to consider iron grates or grilles for your windows.

Other things you can do to secure your home is place signs on your lawn indicating that your home is protected by such and such a service or device. Also a beware of dog sign, whether you have one or not, can't hurt.

Yes, there are many ways to protect your home. You don't have to be a victim like I was.

Michael RussellYour Independent guide to Home Security
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The Benefits of Home Security Cameras

By Damian Sofsian

Think carefully before you run out to your local electronics supplier and purchase a home security camera system. Just as with terrorist protection and thievery protection systems, home systems require you to plan out your system before you go shopping. The simplest systems are set up at the front door so you can see who is standing there when the doorbell rings. They provide the comfort that comes in viewing the person or persons who are knocking at your door before you open it and let them in.

If necessary, there are two-way audio systems, as well as video, that allow you to ask the people questions, such as producing identification by holding up badges or identification cards to the cameras for your inspection. So your first decision is, should I include two-way audio along with the camera at my front door? Next you would ask, should I have the camera connected to a recording device or is the simple ability to view people enough? One entrance, one system and already there are questions that need to be addressed. For the simplest of home security cameras you can purchase a kit that would include the features you need.

The next question you have to ask before you purchase a system is, do I want a home security camera at any other entrances or possible entrances to my home? There are systems that install a camera in your driveway or in your garage, wherever you normally park and exit from your car. Some of these offer motion detection on/off switches also connected to lighting systems so as soon as you drive up, the camera and lights all turn on simultaneously. You can be comforted by the thought that if anybody is lurking nearby to grab you or your car as you exit the vehicle, the automatic lighting system and visible camera will most likely scare them off the minute it turns on.

Another factor to consider before you purchase a home security camera system is the power source. Where is the nearest power source for the cameras, monitors and switches you’ll need for the system to operate properly? There are battery-operated systems, but the maintenance involved in keeping the batteries fresh can be time consuming. Locate your nearest power source and compare it to the location or locations you need for your cameras and other equipment and build from there.

Security Cameras Info provides detailed information about home, wireless, hidden, fake, and wholesale security cameras, as well as outdoor, remote, business, and other security camera systems. Security Cameras Info is the sister site of Metal Detectors Web.
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Alarms - Which Home Alarm System is Right for You?

By Michael Russell

Alarm systems come in a variety of forms to fit individual needs. They can be very simple or extremely complex. No matter what type of system is chosen, a posted sign in a window, yard or on a door is often a deterrent to a would-be burglar who might otherwise attempt entrance to your home.

Most home alarm systems are set off by any number of triggers: doors or windows are opened; glass is broken; motion is detected by sensors; or pressure pads are activated. The form of the alarm can be a bell, siren or flashing strobe alerting you that an intruder may be present. This noise or light alone will often frighten the intruder away. Alarm systems are attributed to 74.3% of unsuccessful burglaries due to the burglar being frightened away.

Some alarm systems are hooked into a surveillance system which can be local or at a security company. These cameras are on-duty around the clock to protect you, your family and your belongings. Many of these systems are made so that you can access the cameras remotely using another computer. This way you can visually monitor your premises even while you are away.

Most systems come with motion detectors. These detectors can be indoor and/or outdoor.

These detectors trigger a switch when motion is sensed. The detectors can trigger an audible alarm, lights or video surveillance cameras. One particular detector is a glass break detector.

This detector is triggered by the sound of smashing glass and is most advantageous if your property is at a distance from any surrounding neighbors, if you are gone from home for long periods of time or have areas such as glass doors that are particularly vulnerable to break-ins.

Pressure-activated pads are activated when a particular area on the floor is stepped on. These are generally placed near doors or windows that are likely entry points into the home.

Alarm systems work optimally when programmed to reset themselves within one to two minutes. In that time, the burglar should have been frightened away and your home security system will not become an annoyance to nearby neighbors. They should also be placed so that they are not routinely activated by normal daily happenings. Otherwise, people nearby will tend to ignore them.

So, what type of alarm system should you purchase for your home? Here are some factors to consider:

1. How close are your neighbors? If your closest neighbors are a great distance away, a home security system is a must. This will insure that someone is contacted about a security issue and can react accordingly.

2. Are portions of your home hidden from the view of others? Even if you have close neighbors, there may be parts of your house that are hidden from their view. These vulnerable areas need extra protection. This could include window bars, glass block windows or other security measures that would thwart a would-be burglar.

3. How much do you want to spend? Home security systems have a very wide price range. You can purchase a very elaborate, specialized system, but a more basic, low budget system is extremely effective in deterring crime. Even if your budget is limited, you can still protect your home very effectively.

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Increase Your Home Security With Wireless Security Cameras

By Jim Johnson

Wireless security cameras are becoming extremely popular as an integral part of many home security systems these days. One of the main reasons is their ease of installation. They can also be used for many practical purposes including keeping an eye on your nanny or babysitter when you are away, making sure kids behave when you are not at home, monitoring the security both inside and outside your home at all times, and more.

As mentioned, one of the best features about wireless security cameras is that they can be easily installed almost anywhere. Because there are no wires to run through walls and from floor to floor most of the hard work of installing video surveillance cameras at home has been eliminated. Essentially, you just find a discreet spot for the camera that will provide you with a good view of the area you want to see and then mount it there.

The images from the wireless camera can be transmitted to be displayed on any appropriate monitor, including your computer screen or on your TV, by a receiver that is connected to the viewing device. With the right equipment you can even have several wireless security cameras connected to a single receiver that allows you to shuffle through all of the camera images to constantly monitor what is going on. In fact, if your TV has a picture-in-picture feature you may also be able to view the camera images in the small screen while you watch your favorite TV shows.

There are also software products available that can take remote monitoring to a new level. They enable you to be able to log into your home computer from any internet connection and view the camera video at home whenever you want. So you no longer have to be physically present to keep an eye on things at home.

The other major benefit of most wireless camera systems is that they are very inexpensive. In fact, it may surprise you to see how little such a system can cost. And because of their ease of installation and use, most likely you won't need anyone else to install it for you either, again saving on the total cost of the wireless system.

So why not investigate the idea of installing a wireless security camera system in your home? It's easy, affordable, and very effective for many home surveillance uses.

Jim Johnson is a successful author and publisher on consumer related matters. You can find out more about wireless home security and wireless home security systems by visiting our Home Security website.
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Home Security Tips To Help Protect Your Children

By Jim Johnson

For those with children at home, keeping them safe and well-protected is of the utmost priority. There are so many dangers in the modern world that can harm children because they simply aren't aware of them yet. But as parents we need to be aware of these dangers and take steps to increase the security for our children and create a safe and happy environment for them to grow up. Here are some areas where home security measures can help protect your children:

* Many homes are susceptible to fire damage, gas leaks, high carbon monoxide levels and more. Over the years many people have died right in their own homes from these kind of real dangers. In fact, the numbers of fatalities can be staggering, but you just don't hear as much about them because they are not considered sensational enough to be in the news very often.

Very simple steps can be taken to minimize these dangers though. For instance, simply installing fire and smoke alarms throughout the home can be extremely vauable in case of a fire.

Carbon monoxide and natural gas detectors are also very inexpensive pieces of equipment that can be installed throughout the home to alert you when gas levels are getting too high, and give you the time to get everyone in the home to safety. It's a simple and affordable way to increase your peace of mind. Be sure however not only to install these detectors and monitors, but also to keep the batteries in each unit fresh and up to date as well.

* Installation of a home security system that monitors all entry and exit spots of the home can be a great way to help increase home security and prevent crimes that could potentially harm your children. You can also get wireless home security camera systems that can allow you to monitor your children even when you are away at work, or when babysitters or nannies are watching your children. With these devices in place you can help make sure that your children are not mistreated.

* Participation in neighborhood watch programs is a way to increase the security of your home and family considerably. These kind of cooperative efforts by a group of local neighbors is a red flag to criminals and others with bad intentions, that tells them that your area is not a good place to hang around if they don't want to be caught by law enforcement. By placing signs in a prominent place in the yard of each of the members of the watch program, you can send a clear message that all outsiders are under immediate scrutiny when they enter your area, and that can have an immediate impact on the criminal activity in a neighborhood.

* If you have a swimming pool at home be sure to protect your children from drowning by installing a fence or barrier to keep them out when they are small, and perhaps even alarms that sound a loud noise when the water is disturbed in the case of someone accidentally falling in.

These are all simple, inexpensive, and yet very effective ways to help improve home security for all of your family and especially your children.

Jim Johnson is a successful author and publisher on consumer related matters. You can find out more about wireless home security and wireless home security systems by visiting our Home Security website.
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Top Ten House Alarm and Home Security Devices

By Boyd Norwood

A man’s home is his castle, as the saying goes. But homes today don’t normally feature ramparts, drawbridges, moats and six-foot thick stone walls to keep out unwanted visitors. Today, a house alarm, and preferably a managed home security system, is needed to ensure your home’s security. Not only does installing a home security system improve the safety of your family and possessions, but it can also decrease your home insurance costs. The Top Ten House Alarm and Home Security Devices list highlights ten devices and features of home security systems that can make your house a safer place.

The Top Ten

10. Talking Devices help you to understand the status of your home and monitoring as well as program the system. Some security systems feature talking master control panels, key pads or remotes. The talking feature may not result in great conversation, but it will help you understand your system a little better.

9. Some home alarm systems include extras like Key Fobs and Remotes to control the system at a distance. Somewhat similar to a car’s key fob, home security key fobs include buttons to activate and deactivate the house alarm system. Some even include a “panic” button that activates the house alarm and alerts the proper authorities in the event of an emergency.

Remote controls are similar and often larger. The features of remotes vary greatly and can include a full key pad, a talking feature and a panic button as well.

8. Yard Signs and House or Window Decals advertise your home’s protection. The Greenwich Study of Residential Security found that homes without alarms were 2.7 to 3.5 times more likely to be burglarized, and that the most effective deterrent was the alarm monitoring company’s yard sign (SIA Research Update, Security Industry Association, October 2001). Some choose to post the signs to deter possible break-ins without actually installing a home alarm system. While this effort will lower the odds of an attempted burglary, a yard sign alone cannot fully protect your home.

7. A Back-Up Power Supply is important in maintaining home security even during a power outage, when the risk of break-ins and looting is increased. Your home alarm should be effective even when your power is not. The easiest to maintain back-up power supplies use standard size batteries. Look for a model that uses rechargeable batteries to lower your maintenance costs.

6. Smoke Detectors add another layer of protection to your home, especially when they are integrated into the home alarm system. Not only do smoke detectors indicate a fire and give you time to escape safely, but when included in a home security package, they automatically notify the managing company and the fire department. Some systems even integrate the power supply to the smoke detectors. That means you don’t have to change the batteries ever!

5. Wireless Systems protect your home without adding extra cords to trip over or extensive installation of in-wall cords. In wireless house alarm systems, each sensor or keypad communicates with the master control panel via radio frequencies or existing wiring in your home. A burglar will never be able to disarm the system by snipping the wires. This ensures the system is fully integrated and monitoring all parts of your home without using up your outlets or creating an obstacle course of wires for you.

4. Extra Key Pads are also important. Exterior mounted key pads can provide secure keyless entry to your family. Some systems also offer remote control key pads which are lightweight and portable. A home alarm system that features a security code with a key pad increases the security of your home. A monitored system can also lock down entry after several repeated, failed attempts at entry which indicate a possible break-in attempt.

3. Key pads may not always be enough to keep burglars out. Sensors on Windows and Doors reduce the risk of a burglar entering undetected and are a key part of a home alarm system. Motion Detectors within the home also increase the level of security. The most sophisticated motion detectors include a feature to ignore pets’ movement to avoid constantly setting the alarm off inadvertently.

2. Installation, Monitoring, and Repair Services increase not only the level of safety but the convenience of keeping your home safe. A house alarm alone cannot notify the police or fire department in the event of an emergency. The most complete systems include buttons to notify police departments, fire departments and medical help instantly. Another advantage offered by the best monitoring companies is live customer support and full service installation and repair of the system by employees who have been background checked, licensed and drug tested to ensure your safety. Finally, some companies even offer relocation services to keep you secure even when you move.

1. The classic Master Control Panel is vital to any home alarm system. The central hub of the system, the control panel is usually wall-mounted in an easily accessible place. The panel receives information from all other sensors and key pads, computes it, and transmits relevant information to the monitoring company. If you choose to arm the system from the panel when you leave the house, the master control panel also receives the disarm code when you return home. Some can even be disarmed by telephone!

Of course, this list is not comprehensive, and the needs of every home and homeowner are different. For more tips on choosing the right home alarm system and features to protect your house, I recommend visiting alarmoneinc.com.

About the Author: Boyd Norwood is a web content specialist for . For more information on house alarm and home security systems, please visit alarmoneinc.com.
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Home Security Tips For Your Personal Safety

By Jim Johnson

The subject of home security is very important and should be given plenty of advance thought regardless of whether you live in an apartment or house that you own. You want to be sure that your possessions and personal safety are well protected at all times. All of the best home security measures in the world cannot help you after a crime has been committed. They can only be of use to help prevent the crime in the first place. So here are some simple ways to help increase your own personal safety:

* Install a home security system that can monitor all of the entry and exit areas of your home and sound a loud alarm if someone breaks in. If you happen to live in an apartment where you are not allowed to run wires through the walls, you can get a wireless home security system instead that will still do the job and has the advantage of being able to be removed and taken with you when you find a new place to live. Because of being wireless, these kind of security systems can also be very easy to install by the average person and they are inexpensive as well.

* Get a watchdog that will bark when someone they don't know approaches the home. It doesn't even have to be a big or ferocious dog at all, just one that makes noise when it feels threatened by a stranger. This one simple tip can be incredibly effective in protecting your personal safety as most criminals that have bad intentions do not want to have to deal with the loud noise and attention that a vocal dog can cause. They would rather choose an easier target instead.

* If you have valuables that are very expensive, it may be wise not to keep them at home at all. You can rent a safety deposit box in a bank instead for such high dollar or high value items. For other valuables you may want to consider a home safe as this lessens the possibility that a burglar can get at your valuables quickly and leave undetected. Speed and stealth are very important to home burglars and anything that you can do to slow them down improves your chances of protecting your valuable items.

* Lastly, always keep home security in mind. The best home security system won't help you if you forget to turn it on. Likewise, you are only inviting trouble if you forget to lock your doors and windows at night. Hiding a key in close proximity to your front door is a way to allow intruders easy access to your home. So just try to think about home security as much as possible and make it part of your routine to actually use the home security equipment that you have, and practice safe home security measures as part of your daily life.

If you plan in advance for increasing your personal safety and then carry out your plans on a daily basis you will greatly improve your chances of keeping both you and your possessions safe and protected.

Jim Johnson is a successful author and publisher on consumer related matters. You can find out more about wireless home security and wireless home security systems by visiting our Home Security website.
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Protect Your Home With A Wireless Home Security System

By Jim Johnson

We all want to make sure that our homes and families are well protected and safe. So it's no surprise that home security equipment has become increasingly popular as consumers learn more about the options that are available to them. In fact, today's home security systems employ features that only existed in very expensive security systems in the past. Thanks to ever improving technology, many sophisticated security systems are now well within the reach of the average homeowner.

For instance, most home security systems in the past needed to be installed by a professional because of all the wires that had to be run through the walls and floors of the house. So the cost of the security system itself was only part of the total expense, and when adding both the cost of the system itself and the installation together, it could get very expensive. This prohibited many homeowners from installing the kind of home security system that they really wanted.

But wireless technology has dramatically change all of that. The wave of products for the wireless home computer networking field has had an impact on home security as well, and now there are several high quality wireless home security systems on the market that can actually be set up and installed by the homeowner themselves. These wireless systems also have the advantage that they can be removed easily and taken to a different home and installed there without much hassle or fuss. Hard-wired systems on the other hand can be transferred to a new home too, but you have to pay for another installation at the new location, since all of the wires have to be run through the walls in the new home.

Most wireless security systems come with a central receiver that can be connected to any number of wireless sensors that are placed on doors and windows to monitor it's respective area and then notify the receiver when it's particular entry or exit spot is opened. If the alarm is activated while you are away, it begins a countdown to sounding the alarm if the system is not deactivated in the meantime by the homeowner returning home. These security systems can also be connected to outside monitoring services that can help provide another layer of protection and security as well.

More sophisticated wireless security systems allow you to also include wireless cameras that can monitor any area both inside and outside the home at all times. You can even get infrared cameras that can see images in the dark, and be activated by motion sensors.

In the field of wireless home security there are so many choices now available that just weren't there a few years ago. So why not see for yourself how inexpensive and easy it can be to set one up in your home too?

Jim Johnson is a successful author and publisher on consumer related matters. You can find out more about wireless home security and wireless home security systems by visiting our Home Security website.
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