2011 Trends In Home And Personal Security

As you prepare for Christmas and New Years, home and personal security is probably not the top thing on your mind right now.

However as a homeowner, it’s important to take some time to review your home and personal security plan. There are a lot of important trends that will affect homeowners in 2011. Here are some of the top trends.

Property Crime Will Drop, But Security Still A Must: Crime stats are down across the board. According to the FBI assaults, burglaries, robberies, auto thefts and property crimes were all down last year. However, homeowners should not let their guard down. Criminals are always on the lookout for easy targets. Homeowners should inspect their homes and home security systems for upgrades.

The Need For Home Office Security Will Grow: According to the Telework Research Network, between 20-30 million people work at least one day a week from home. As more and more people work from home, homeowners are going to need to re-evaluate their home security options. Here are some ways to protect your home office.

The Demand For Home Automation Systems Will Grow: Homeowners will continue to purchase technology that controls different portions of their home, they will want a home automation system. These systems allow you to control lighting, home security, entertainment systems and more from a single location. You can also control these systems from a web-enabled device such as a smartphone.

Cyber Crimes Will Grow: The threat of cyber criminals will continue to grow in 2011. An estimated 65 percent of the world’s 2 billion internet users have been victims of cyber crimes. If you’re purchasing any products from the comforts of your home, be careful of deals that seem too good to be true. For more information on how to protect yourself, read our blog post on online shopping safety.

Homeowners should pay attention to the trends above. Remember to have your security system regularly tested to make sure it is properly working.

Tips On Selecting The Right Burglar Alarm System For Your Family

The stats don’t lie. A nationwide survey showed that police believe that home security systems help deter burglary attempts.

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.

Should You Set Up Surveillance Cameras In Your Home?

More and more homeowners are turning to camera surveillance systems for monitoring and protection. Previously used for business security, surveillance cameras are now popping up in homes.

With surveillance cameras homeowners can keep tabs on potential intruders and unwanted guests. With more and more homeowners using surveillance cameras, should you add a camera to your home security system?

Here are some things to consider:

• What are your security goals?
• Do you want surveillance cameras inside and/or outside your home?
• How much are you willing to invest in surveillance cameras?
• What type of security camera system do you want?

What are your security goals?

When deciding whether or not to purchase surveillance cameras for your home, it is important to first set your security goals.

• Do you plan to use the cameras to protect your home while you’re away?
• Do you plan to use the cameras to monitor guests such as babysitters?

These are just a few questions you should ask yourself, when outlining your security goals.

What type of security camera system do you want?

Based on your security goals, you will be able to decide whether you want cameras inside and/or outside your home. There is no right or wrong answer to this question. It’s all based on your security goals.

How much are you willing to invest in surveillance cameras?

Setting a budget is an important step. Like any responsible homeowner, you don’t want to invest too much or too little in your home security system. We recommend talking with friends, family and home security professionals to find what is right for you.

What type of security camera system do you want?

Once you have a budget, you can then decide what type of security system you want. You will have plenty of options. Decide what is in your price range and what will be best for your family.

Summary

Home surveillance cameras are not for everyone. We recommend discussing your options with family and friends. There are a lot of benefits to using surveillance cameras at your home. It’s all about finding the right comfort level.

How Landscaping Can Protect Your Home From Burglary

Home security systems and alarm monitoring are great ways to protect your home from burglary. But did you know that landscaping should be included in your home security prevention plan?

An overgrown lawn with untrimmed hedges cries “easy opportunity” to burglars. A freshly cut lawn, trimmed bushes and flowers give the impression that someone is home. A little landscaping could be the difference maker in providing a little extra protection to your home while you’re gone.

If you’re going on vacation for a few weeks, follow these tips to make sure your landscaping is up to par.

• Cut your grass, be sure to rake and sweep trimmings
• Trim tree branches near home and rake dead leaves
• Water your followers and set any sprinkler systems if available
• If you have any fruit trees, pick up fallen fruit
• Be sure perimeter lighting is working
• In winter, be sure driveways are plowed by a service or neighbor

Besides landscaping, be sure to cancel newspaper and mail delivery while you’re gone. Also, store bicycles, mowers, grills and other valuable outdoor items in a secure place such as a garage or basement.

Most importantly, don’t wait until the last minute to do this. Who really wants to do yard work right before vacation? We suggest cutting your grass and trimming bushes a few days before you leave. Then on the day before your vacation, you can focus on a few last-minute things such as fallen fruit and watering.

Proof that Home Security Systems Deter Crime

Proof that Home Security Systems Deter Crime

It has always been a supposition that homes with Security Systems did not get burglarized. The statistics seemed to bear that out. But there was never a detailed analysis that compared residential burglary before and after the addition of a Home Security System.

Finally what we in the Security Industry always knew to be true has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that the addition of a security system does prevent your home from being robbed.

The Alarm Industry Research Educational Foundation’s (AIREF) conducted an extensive study that found an indisputable connection between the increase of burglar alarm systems installed and a decrease of more than 40% of home burglaries over a five year period.

The interesting side note to the study is that many alarm industry critics try to point out that even if a home with a security system does decrease crime then it just increases the theft from the neighbors house without an alarm system. This was also proven to be WRONG!

The studies actually show that home’s that were nearby to a house with an alarm system also seemed to benefit by proximity protection. The studies also suggest a decreased use of law enforcement due to the installation of alarm systems.

My own personal experience as a service technician for Hue and Cry Security has shown this to be true long before this study was released. I cannot count how many customers have told me that they just had the alarm system installed because they were robbed. Since they had the system installed there has been no further incidence. A customer told me a few weeks ago that they typically had 2-3 insurance claims per year prior to the installation of their alarm system. Since the addition of the alarm system they have had NO claims!

The moral of the story?

Install an alarm system before you are robbed. The cost is usually much lower than is anticipated and with a free security review of your home or business how can you lose?

Home Security Systems:

• Prevent Burglaries
• Protect Your Family
• Protect Your Possessions
• Decrease Your Home Owners Insurance
• Provide Your Peace of Mind

Call Hue and Cry Security Systems today for a no obligation quote and get your “Peace of Mind” 1-800-762-3196