Security and Alarm Systems Blog

By using sites like Facebook or Twitter you may be leaving yourself open to burglary due to the personal information you may be sharing. This finding is supported by a report from insurance company Legal & General warns. Anyone who goes on Facebook or Twitter and posts a vacation or even just a dinner, is leaving themselves open to a burglary. This is because they are advertising that their home will be vacant. If a user’s first and last name can be found on a social networking website, then they are susceptible to burglary because of the ease of using the internet to track down the person’s address. Applying a little bit of common sense to what people post, a burglar can estimate the better homes to burglarize. For example, if a person’s tweets always have them going to expensive restaurants, then their home may be a larger target for burglars.

Here are some tips to prevent burglary from a social networking site. First, make all of your accounts private, and only let trusted friends and family have access to your site. If a friend starts behaving erratic, or they betray your trust, do not be afraid to un-invite them from your posts. The most important preventative measure you can take is to have a security system that is well designed, and to use it. There are many security system installation companies that do not install an air tight system, in order to assure the sale or increase their profit. Another great tip is to be careful of what you advertise. For example, do not post that you will be going on a vacation, be out of town for a weekend, etc.

In many communities in San Diego, Irvine, Los Angeles, Riverside and Temecula a security system can prevent a burglary. These cities are all great places to work and live, and the social networking websites are very popular in these cities.

Preventing burglary can be as simple as locking your doors and windows, yet 14% don’t have window locks and 18% of people don’t even have proper door locks.Homes are frequently targeted by burglars over the summer holidays and households with no security are 10 times more likely to be burgled than those with only simple (or no) security measures. Progressive Technology has a wealth of home San Diego home security products to help deter burglars from entering and burglarizing your home.

Just having an alarm system may reduce your chance of a break-in, according to recent studies.
With the economy still faltering, police expect to see more home burglaries. And alarm companies report plenty of customers.

“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

Would-be home intruders look for weak points in a home. The most common areas of entry are doors and windows, especially if they are unsecured. A California home with locked windows and doors is instantly unattractive to a thief or burglar. Heavy window screens were thought to discourage regular and mobile home intruders, and while those without tools might think twice about trying to undo these devices, a burglar equipped with a simple set of metal shears can cut through even the most heavy duty screens quite easily. If a criminal is determined (and usually desperate) they will find their way in.

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.