A Chicago Judge’s Mother and Husband were shot by angry litigant, and she has become an advocate for judges having home security systems installed. “We just didn’t do it,” she said. She said judges must make up their minds that “for the sake of my family, for the sake of myself, I just have to do it.”

The overall lesson of this story is how important a home security system can be. Generally, the larger your house the more expensive the security system, but it is still a measure that can prevent a lifetime of regret. Judges, who have taken great monetary sacrifices, are entitled to federally funded protection because they are in harms way by the nature of their job. I just hope that the other 30% take Lefkow’s advice and get a home security system really soon.

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“Our business numbers are up,” said Mark Thompson, of Smith-Thompson Security. “There’s a certain sense of urgency.”

Two recent studies show alarm systems do more than just alert authorities.

“We used to joke about the yard sign being out front as being deterrent,” Thompson said. “We do believe, at this point, it very well may be.”

Neighborhoods with an increase in alarm systems also saw a reduction in crime, according to a study at Rutgers University.

A different student at Temple University found that alarms reduce the chance of a break-in by two-thirds.

“If you’re going to get an alarm, put the stickers in the window, put the sign in the yard where it can actually be seen from the street,” said Todd Dearing, of Grapevine police.

The Trimmier family said their security system buys them an extra peace of mind.

“With the economy how it is, we decided we probably need to go ahead and activate the alarm system we’ve had for six years and start getting it monitored,” homeowner Janelle Trimmier said.
The systems are also becoming more popular because they’re now more affordable. An average system can be installed for between $300 and $1,000.

In addition, thanks to wireless technology, alarm systems no longer require wires to be run through a home.
republished from NBC Story on July 22, 2009

Keep a look out for more security technology updates coming soon on our blog. We are always on the cutting edge of the security industry, and we take pride in this. It is always a good idea to call us if you are interested in learning about how we can improve your home security. One customer of ours dramatically improved their safety by adding a medical alert feature to their security system in a mobile home in San Diego.

A Home Invasion is usually just a “breaking and entering” but, as you hear in the news, it can sometimes lead to a murder. The vast majority of the time, a home invasion is just a burglary or it is often called a “hot burglary” because a family is home. It is proven that a home security system will deter the majority of burglars before they happen, so this is the first step.

The article below gives invaluable information on home invasions and burglaries, and outlines 4 ways to plan for the worst.

Planning for the Worst: a Home Invasion

Home Security System Companies

If you personally are looking into burglar alarm systems, what are some things you should be keeping in mind for your selection? How do you know which one is the best for you, and what features do you need? The answer will be different for everyone, because everyone has a different home, and different security needs. So, why would security companies even offer a generic $99 security system? Because this is a foot-in-the-door technique. Unless you live in a 100 squarefoot studio apartment, the $99 system will need expensive add-ons. Most ADT and Brinks customers end up paying hundreds or thousands, because they do need more security equipment than the $99 system offers.

You will be best served by avoiding the too-large and too-small security businesses. ADT and Brinks have notoriously horrible service, where they take too long to fix any problems, and their equipment has a high faulty rate. Because they are so large, they end up subcontracting the installation of your system to a smaller company that may or may not have the necessary experience, and usually install the least expensive equipment they can get away with. The subcontractor install security with a focus on trying to increase their margin, because ADT has a very domineering subcontracting agreement, which doesn’t leave the subcontractor with very much room for profit. Therefore, the subcontractor has to decide to either work for less than minimum wage, or cut corners on the installation.

So, who should you trust to install your home security system? The sweet spot is right in the middle. Try to find a company that is not too big, and not too small. They should have their own, in-house installation crews for quality control. The number of years in business tells a story about how a companies security installation methods work. In such a high liability industry, where the worst case scenario is failed security and burglary. Therefore, a company that has been around for a while is trustworthy. Price should definitely come into play, but you should try to compare apples to apples between different companies, and ask questions until you completely understand what you are getting.

Home security and fire alarm

A home security alarm will alert you when a thief has broken into your house. But first you’ll need to find a company to install your home security system. In addition, they will need to continue maintenance, tests, and cleaning. If home security alarms are dusty, it can cause the alarm to go off. Modern security systems should be convenient as well as reliable. You can purchase alarms nowadays that have remote controls for home security, which will make it easy for you to test the devices weekly.

In addition to burglar alarms, it is smart to install smoke detectors in your home. smoke detectors are components of fire alarms will help you ward off carbon monoxide. You should use your manual and follow instructions when using your new alarm. In addition, you will need to continue maintenance, tests, and cleaning.

Fires and carbon monoxide are crimes committed by negligence around the world, yet many criminals will start house fires in attempt to gain something. Sometimes the fire is started out of contempt, or retaliation. In addition, gang members will sometimes start fire to earn “street cred.”

Add a deadbolt to your entry doors, and put up sensor lights outside of your home. The lights will automatically click on when someone steps on your doorstep. In addition, add outside lighting to help keep away prowlers.

Iron bars placed in front of the windows are a common site in the inner city, which has the good guys living behind bars while the bad guys are prowling the streets. Alarm devices, using sensors to cover their windows, doors, glass break and motion detectors, will alarm a sound when an intruder has breached the security system. The loud noise not only wakes up the homeowner, but it also takes away the element of surprise and anonymity from the intruder. But most importantly, the burglar alarm notifies the police, and the thief knows this. So, an intelligently designed security system is the best defense against home intruders.

Once the alarm signal is sent to the central station, they take predetermined actions based on a protocol made by the customer. For example, the protocol might be to call the business owner first, the VP second, and then call the police if they are both inaccessible. A common protocol for a home security system is to call the homeowners cellular and home, and to only take action when directed. This prevents false alarms, but can be dangerous if the homeowner is not always around their cellular.

The entire transaction is recorded by the central station, so in case there are any issues with the following of the protocol.

Specifically, a house with a burglar alarm system installed is less likely to be burglarized. The study also found that a neighborhood with more houses with security systems installed is targeted less by burglars. One of main reasons the study attributes lower burglary rates to homes with security systems is the availability of higher technology equipment in home alarm systems. In recent years, security equipment that was only in the price range of commercial security applications a few years ago.

Of course it is common sense that if a burglar sees a house with a security system sign, they are going to burglarize their neighbor with no security. However, this study looks at several areas that go beyond common sense, and dives into the probabilities of burglary in certain neighborhoods. If you would like to view the full report, click here.