Some people believe that crime can be tied to a person’s zodiac or astrological sign.

For fun, law enforcement officers in Canada crunched the data on which zodiac signs had the most arrests.  Here is the top five:

1. Aries – March 21 to April 19
2. Libra – September 23 to October 22
3. Virgo – August 23 to September 22
4. Leo – July 23 to August 22
5. Pisces – February 19 to March 20

You can see the complete list of zodiac signs and their connection to crime here.

However, other “astrological experts” may disagree with this list.  Some say that Cancers (June 21 to July 22) are the most-booked criminals.

Astrological sites such as AstroStar.com and other sites claim Cancers are the most dangerous.  They say this is according to the FBI.  However, we could not find this information anywhere on the FBI website.

Other interesting information on AstroStar.com and other astrological sites includes:

• Taurus (April 20 to May 20) are sometimes involved in money laundering.  Surprisingly, Bernie Madoff, mastermind of the billion-dollar Ponzi scheme, was born on April 29.

• Sagittarius (November 22 to December 21) are sometimes involved in robberies.  Famous bank robber John Dillinger was not a Sagittarius.  However, bank robber George Baby Face Nelson was.  He was born on November 27.

• Capricorns (December 22 to January 19) supposedly get into organized crime.  Famous crime boss Al Capone was born on January 17.

So should you be worried about people born in March committing a crime at your home?

Probably not.  From the looks of it, just about every month has some sort of criminal activity in it.

If you want to protect your home, stop staring at the stars and call a professional like Hue & Cry Security Systems.

We can help you protect your home or business.  We’ve been helping businesses, homeowners and contractors in Northern California and Oregon for more than 25 years.  To get help today, call 1-800-762-3196 or visit www.HueAndCry.com.

In many cities, home security false alarms can cost you fines in the hundreds of dollars.  That’s because false alarms take police and emergency responders away from real emergences and other life threatening situations.

Common causes of false alarms include: user error, unlocked windows, hanging objects such as decorations, children, repairmen and pets.

If you want to prevent false alarms we recommend following the tips below.

1. Have Your Alarm Serviced – It’s very important to have your alarm serviced at least once a year.  This will help to make sure that everything is properly working.
2. Read Your Owner’s Manual – Be sure to thoroughly read your alarm’s owner’s manual.  This will help you understand all of the features in your alarm system.  The better you know your system, the less likely you’ll have a false alarm.
3. Keep an Eye on Your Pets – When you set your alarm, make sure your pets don’t have access to areas in your home where motion detectors are installed.  They could easily trigger the alarm.
4. Clean Motion Detectors – You’ll want to keep your motion detectors clean.  Dust as well as hanging objects could sound a false alarm.
5. Change Back-Up Battery – At least once a year, you’ll want to change the back-up battery on your home security alarm system.
6. Remember the Code – You would be amazed how many people forget their alarm code.  Everyone that has a key to your home should memorize the alarm code.
7. Test Your Alarm – Practice turning off your alarm.  This will help you master your alarm system.  Be sure to call the central monitoring station to let them know you’ll be practicing.
8. Make Sure Windows are Locked – An unlocked window that is accidently opened by a family member can easily trigger the alarm.
9. Stay in Contact with Monitoring Station – If you’re doing some remodeling, stay in touch with your monitoring station.

If your security system should go off because of a false alarm, remember to stay calm throughout the process.  Do not leave your home.  Wait until you have heard from the monitoring station.  Be prepared to give them your unique passcode.

At Hue & Cry Security Systems, we have been helping families in Northern California and Oregon secure their homes for more than 25 years.

We understand that false alarms sometimes happen.  If your installed and maintained Hue & Cry Security Systems burglar security alarm system causes a false alarm, we’ll pay any false alarm fines caused by our installed and properly maintained systems!

To learn more about our home security systems, call us today at 1-800-762-3196.

When it comes to your home and business security needs, here are some important reasons that you should buy local. 

1. Better Service – With a local alarm company, you get better service.  It’s because a local alarm company is part of your community.  They aren’t worried about selling alarms in some state far across the country.  They’re more interested in providing the best service possible in their own backyard.

2. Local Job Growth – The people installing your alarm as well as the high-level managers and owners live in your community.  That means more jobs for the local economy.  Considering the high unemployment rate, the best way to grow jobs in your area is by buying local.

3. Keep Money In Community – When you buy from large, national alarm companies, that money leaves your community.  When you buy local, the money stays in your community.  This helps to create more jobs and improve your quality of life in your town.

4. Great Prices – Local businesses such as alarm companies help to stimulate competition.  More competition means better prices for you.  Without local businesses, you’ll have to pay more for security monitoring, home security alarms and other security services.  No national company should have a monopoly over any security services.

5. Investment In Community – When you buy from a local alarm company, the taxes the company pays stay in your community.  Additionally, any charitable contributions the company makes are going to be in your community.  According to Sustainable Connections, non-profit organizations receive an average 250 percent more support from local businesses when compared to large national companies.

6. Environment Sustainability – Whether you’re buying locally grown produce or working with a local alarm company, you’re improving the environment.  Buying local reduces automobile and use, which improves air quality in your community.

7. Enhances Character of Community – Local businesses are one of many things that make a community unique.  When you buy from national chains, your community starts to look like every other city in America.  The local businesses are what give a community its unique flavor.

What Makes A Business Local?

There are many of businesses that claim to be local.  However, many are not.  Here are three important factors that make a business local.

• First Factor: The business is headquartered in the region where you live.
• Second Factor: A majority of the employees live in or around your community.
• Third Factor: The business is privately held.

These factors will help you determine if the business is a true local business.

Finding Local Businesses

At Hue & Cry Security Systems, we’re a family owned business that focuses on serving families and businesses in Northern California and Oregon.

To find listings of local businesses in your community, visit:

• Local San Francisco Shopping List

• Sacramento Local Business Directory

• Anderson, California Local Businesses

• Medford, Oregon Chamber of Commerce Businesses

All of these resources are great places to find other local businesses in the communities that we serve.

For questions on how we can help you with your security needs, give us a call today at 1-800-762-3196 or visit the Hue & Cry Security Systems Contact Page.

Victims say these con artists are posing as door-to-door salespeople or representatives of existing alarm companies.  The scammers convince people to pay for “upgrades” to their services.

These often expensive upgrades are actually simply a transfer of an account to the scammer’s company and results in huge undisclosed fees.

If you are suspicious that someone may be attempting to scam you, calmly collect their information and contact your local law enforcement office as soon as possible.

How to Spot a Scam Artist

Not all door-to-door salespeople are scammers and it’s important that you can tell the difference between a legitimate representative of your alarm company and a phony.

Here is how you can tell the difference:

• A legitimate company will call you for an appointment, not walk door-to-door.

• Ask For A License – All alarm company employees are required by law to have an Alarm Company Employee (ACE) license. This means that they have undergone a complete Department of Justice background check, fingerprint scan, and are required to follow a strict set of operating procedures. If you are approached by someone that does not have their license with them, it’s a good bet that they are a scammer.

• Research Their Company – If you are buying a new system or transferring your alarm monitoring, research the company the salesperson works for before buying anything. Check out their website and make sure that they are legitimate. Never be pressured into buying an alarm system or monitoring without first doing the proper research.

• Examine The Salesperson – Are they wearing the uniform from the company they claim to work for? Do they claim to be from Honeywell or GE (alarm manufacturers) instead of the actual company you have security services with? If you have any reason to doubt their credentials, contact your security company directly and ask about the person you talked to.

How to Protect Yourself

We see similar things with door-to-door magazine scams.  In both cases, don’t let a suspicious salesperson into your home.  A con artist will try their best to gain entry into your home.  Don’t fall for any tricks, flattery or deceptions.

This is especially important during any holidays.  People tend to put their guard down during holidays such as Christmas, the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving.

Senior Magazine Online has a number of good tips for dealing with phony door-to-door salespeople, and these tips aren’t just for senior citizens.

• Never pay for services in cash
• Never make checks out to a person. It should be to a company
• Most reputable businesses can bill you later in the mail
• Don’t be pressured into some “fantastic” deal

For other types of door-to-door scams read How to Identify Door to Door Scams.  You’ll learn about other types of scams con artists attempt on unsuspecting homeowners.

Don’t risk getting scammed. Immediately report any suspicious contact with door-to-door alarm salespeople to police and help protect your neighbors from these criminals.

Some of the proactive ways companies like California’s best electronic security alarm company take to strengthen their partnerships with law enforcement include:

• Initiating programs in conjunction with law enforcement officials to reduce false alarms
• Working with law enforcement to make more arrests
• Becoming involved in community policing activities
• Participating in educational events
• Forging strong relationships with chiefs, sheriffs and alarm coordinators

Security company relationships with law enforcement officials are making progress and are stronger than ever. If you have any questions about the industry’s efforts at developing strong relationships with law enforcement officials, please contact Rich Whitlock here at Hue & Cry Security.

Furthermore, the study showed a whopping 9 out of 10 law enforcement officials believe electronic security systems prevent or reduce property loss.

It is clear security experts recognize the value of electronic security systems.

The survey, 2011 Law Enforcement and Alarm Relationship Study, is published periodically by the two magazines mentioned above.

See the 2006 study results here.

See the 2003 study results here.

False alarms are annoying and more importantly cost businesses time and money. Some cities are giving out fines to businesses that have numerous false alarms.  Fines can range anywhere from a few hundred dollars into the thousands.

To help prevent false alarms with your business security system, we recommend following the tips below.

1. Have Your System Professionally Checked – It is important to have your business security system provider test your system from time to time. This helps to identify and fix any problems before they happen. We recommend having your system check at least once a year.

2. Test Your System – You also should regularly test your system yourself at least once a month. Be sure to notify your security system provider before doing any tests. Be sure to check that all functions of your security system are properly working.

2. Make Sure Employees Have Alarm Code – Be sure to give the alarm code to employees, who arrive to work early so they can disarm the security system. If you are hesitant on giving your employees the code, create company policies that regulate office hours.

3. Familiarize Yourself With The Alarm – Sometimes a business owner may be unsure how to effectively operate the security system. If this is the case, contact your business security system provider to help teach you how to use the system. Also, look at the literature that comes with the system.

4.  Make Sure The Backup Battery Is Working – Sometimes the backup battery in your security system may be old. Be sure the backup battery is working. Often times, your security system provider will check it during the regular inspection process. This is something you should check during your monthly inspection.

5. Keep Sensors Clean – If you have motion sensors, be sure they are clean and do not have any dust. Also do not have any hanging object near the sensor that may set them off. Also look for any loose wiring. Contact your security system provider if repairs are needed.

Following these tips will help prevent false alarms and keep your business safe. Remember to have your system regularly tested. And if you are unsure about anything, contact your security system provider.

Another survey showed that homes with a security system are three times less likely to be burglarized than a home without one. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, there were an estimated 2.2 million burglaries in the United States in 2009.

To protect your family and possessions against burglaries, a home security system is a great deterrent.  With alarm monitoring 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, a burglar will think twice before entering a home equipped with a security system.

Talk with any police office and you’ll hear that burglars are looking for easy targets. They are looking for homes with unlocked doors or other easy access points that would give them easy access.

Take a look at any police blotter in a newspaper and you will see countless burglaries. Computers, jewelry, television and other valuable possession are daily stolen out of homes.

When selecting a home security system, you will want to make sure the company you choose has the following qualities:

• Honest service to the customer
• Personalized security system design
• Reliable use of quality products
• Professional trustworthy installation
• Conscientious responsiveness to your needs after installation

It’s important to find the right home security system provider because you want the system to fit your needs, lifestyle and family. A professional home security provider can work with you to make sure your needs are being met.

We’ve compiled this helpful list of things to do when moving into a new house:

• Change The Locks – It’s always a good idea to change the locks (and garage code if you have one) upon moving in to a new home. You never know who was given keys in the past and it’s better safe than sorry.

• Invest In Quality Locks – Since you’re buying new locks anyways, you might as well get good ones. Check with a qualified locksmith to determine the best locks for you.

• Get Extra Security For Your Doors - Use additional deadbolt locks, door strikes, secure door hinges, and sturdy doors to add extra protection to all entrances to your home.

• Install Impact Resistant Glass – A common way for burglars to enter your home is by breaking the glass near a door and reaching their hand in to unlock the door. By using impact resistant glass you can prevent this from happening.

• Reinforce Your Garage – Install locks on the garage door or use only automatic garage door openers so that thieves can’t simply pull the door open.

• Get Your Home Security System Running – A good home security system is a vital part of keeping you safe from burglars. If there is not already a system installed and operating, contact a home alarm system near you to set one up right away.

That’s why home burglaries are most likely to occur while you’re on vacation and no one is looking after your house. It’s during these times that newspapers and fliers pile up, nobody checks the mail, and lights never seem to turn on. This serves as a beacon to burglars looking for an easy target.

If you are planning to go on vacation or be away for any other reason, here are some easy steps you can take to make your home more secure:

Tell a Trusted Neighbor – Even if you don’t need anything done, let a neighbor you can trust know you’ll be gone. That way, if they see anything odd around your house they will know to call the police.

Have Mail And Newspapers Picked Up – Pausing your mail or newspaper can be a sure sign to burglars that you’re gone. Instead, have a close friend or trusted neighbor pick them up each day and hold on to them for you until you get back. If you’ll be gone during garbage/recycle pick up, ask them to take your bin to and from the curb also.

Have Your Calls Forwarded – Some crafty burglars will call your home number to check if you’re home. If you can have calls forwarded to your cell, you will make them think you’re home just by picking up the phone.

Get Your Lawn Maintained – People who are gone for long periods of time often forget how quickly their lawn can grow. Have a friend or lawn maintenance company keep your lawn looking good while you’re away.

Keep Your Alarm System Running – Don’t forget that a good home alarm system is your best line of defense against burglars. Before you leave on your trip, make sure that your home security system is in good working order and that you arm it as you leave.