Tag Archives: security systems

General Safety Issues

TIPS TO STOP BURGLARS FROM TARGETING YOUR HOME (GUEST POST)

From working long hours and feeling overloaded at work, it is possible for us to pay less attention to the importance of home security. However, burglars will always find the easiest way in and they love your busy schedules. Most burglaries are crimes of opportunities, and that can make you and your family the potential victims. Also, when burglaries happen, police often have difficulties tracking them down.  So, making sure your home is completely secured when you are at work or away from home is always important since vacant homes can always be the targets.  It is good to take caution to minimize the damage or reduce the risk of burglaries. And there is definitely a lot more to keep your home safe than simply locking the door. Here is a list of safety tips that you can use to make your home less attractive to burglars: 

Light up Your Home – Remember to light up your interiors and exteriors. Motion detecting lights are a great deterrent to burglars. If they try to break into your house after dark, the motion flood lights will scare them away when the lights turn on all of a sudden. These lights also draw the neighbors’ attention, and your neighbors can easily notice what is happening when you are not at home.  

Alarm Your House – In addition to double-checking that all your doors and windows are locked, a home security system can be smart choice by monitoring your house day and night. Common security system features include motion sensors and sirens, and you just need to make sure that the alarm is loud enough so that you can make your house a less attractive target. Also, make sure to consider customized security systems to fit your home’s unique needs because a customized security system gives you the flexibility to add wireless security cameras and other home automation equipment. Therefore, even the smartest burglars will think twice before breaking into your house. 

Be Mindful of Your Trash – There is no need to show the whole world that you just bought a fancy purse! A bunch of empty boxes or bags out is apparently an open invitation to burglars. Remember to cut the boxes down and put them in the trash bag before throwing them out. 

Display Nothing Valuable – If someone can easily look into your window and see all valuables you have in open sight, you’d better keep them somewhere else. Some fancy electronics placed in front of a ground-floor window can obviously make your house an easy target. Do not leave anything valuable for the world to see even if you really want to show off. 

Befriend Your Neighbors – Make friends and know your neighbors because maybe your neighbors can help you in an emergency one day. In too many cases we spend time at work, and your neighbor can be the person who let you know if there is a stranger lurking around or if someone is trying to break into your house when you are not home. Therefore, make friends with your neighbors and ask them to look out for your house can definitely help you fight against burglars. 

Do Not Leave Your Key in The Mailbox – This is a very common home security tip, but many people still tend to ignore it. Leaving your key in the mailbox or under the doormat is another open invitation to burglars who want to enter your home. Do not hide keys because burglars know where they are. 

Now it is your turn to think about if your home is really safe when you leave for work. Protecting your home and family from burglaries should be on your list of top priorities.

 

These safety tips are provided by Lynn L. on behalf of Protection 1®, one of the largest and most respected national security companies in the U.S., please check out:

Visit Protection 1 – http://www.protection1.com/

Home security – http://www.protection1.com/home-security-systems/

Home automation – http://www.protection1.com/home-automation/

 today for more expert knowledge on best practices for keeping house safe.

General Safety Issues

HOW TO SECURE SAFETY FOR THE BUSINESS PLACE WHEN YOU ARE NOT THERE (GUEST POST)

Small business owners are always considering the safety of their employees and customers. Some owners forget to take into account safety when business is done for the day. This can lead to dangerous accidents, crime, and lawsuits that can ruin a company. While every business is different in nearly infinite amount of ways, there are tips and resources that can be tailoring to keep an operation running smoothly without injury or breaches of security.

Security Alarm Systems

Advanced technology has produced excellent business security alarms at prices that have never been cheaper. Wireless systems now have options to allow you to monitor your business from your smartphone so there is no reason a business should be without a security system that offers these benefits:

  • The ability to remotely stream security camera footage to a mobile device or computer.
  • Alerts that detect fire, floods, gas leaks, or unusual temperature changes.
  • The ability to access information when doors are accessed, and who accesses them.

These affordable options will keep your business safe from potentially violent intruders or dangerous situations that could harm your employees or customers. An added benefit of having security cameras is the ability to have an eye witness if lawsuits ever come about that you believe may be frivolous or unwarranted. Good security could be your first step in ensuring that your business stays open and danger free.

Protect Life and Property

A security system does not ensure safety in itself. The physical property that your business resides on could present hazards when no one is around to enforce safety standards. OSHA’s small business handbook is a great place to start helping you determine if you are leaving a safe environment when everyone leaves for the day. Having said that, just because it complies with OSHA standards, it doesn’t mean all dangers are eliminated. Here are some basic questions that may apply to your business.

  • Is it secure? If there is an outside area with machinery or other dangerous materials, then it should be properly protected by fences, locked gates, hazard warnings, etc. Do everything in your power to keep out those who would present a danger to your property or themselves.
  • Light it up. Make sure the space surrounding your business is well lit. This will discourage intruders as well as making any hazards easily distinguishable. Lighting indoors afterhours is also a good deterrent while making it safer for those locking up late or opening up early.
  • Know your Police. Know who patrols the area your business is located. Employees, and anyone authorized to be in your business after hours, should try to be on familiar terms with your officer.

Data Security

Technology can be used to ensure the safety of our business and those it. Often overlooked are the dangers that can occur when data security is compromised. Employee personal information could be stolen and used for nefarious purposes. While the physical safety of persons is not necessarily at risk, data breaches can have very real physical effects.

  • Always make sure that passwords and firewalls are utilized. Any step that you can take to make it more difficult for information to be had is better. Hackers are usually looking for the easy win so make it not worth their time. Additionally it’s a good idea to give all your employees their own username/password.
  • Make a computer accessible only to you. Do not connect this computer to any networks and use it solely for employee and business information. Information that you need to share can always be saved on a thumb drive and uploaded elsewhere.
  • Take steps to secure information before it’s too late. Data theft is a silent crime that is often undetectable until it’s too late. Preventative measures are the only way to be sure you are protected.

Safe Business Thrives

A safe business is a business that can be confident. When safety is assured you can turn all your resources to ensuring that your business survives to benefit you, your employees, and your customers without worrying it could be taken from you at any moment. Enact these steps, and strive toward a safe and productive workplace.

Our thanks to Zachary Trupp for this advice that all business owners should consider, if they haven’t already done so. pb

 
General Safety Issues

PUBLIC SAFETY AND INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS (GUEST POST)

Burglars are a big problem for businesses, especially those that are in areas where no one is around at night time. Businesses in mixed use areas suffer from less break-ins than industries in business and industrial districts,  so those located in industrial parks should be particularly aware of the issues they face,  since there are no neighbors to notice suspicious activity. Industrial businesses also need to keep the public out of what could potentially turn into a dangerous situation.

Industrial parks are a good thing for commerce. They allow businesses to do things that residential neighbors wouldn’t tolerate and get access to resources they need easily, such as truck deliveries and railway lines for shipping. But with industrial parks come some risks. Because no one is around at night in most industrial parks when the companies are closed for the night, security can become a big issue. Unmonitored areas attract burglars who want to steal industrial supplies and tools,  so businesses in industrial zones need to ensure their trade is protected. Part of the problem, however, is not enticing burglars with obstacles that show the business has things of value. For instance, high fences around a building might be a clue that there is something valuable inside to protect, such as copper or machine parts.

Another issue businesses in industrial settings need to be wary of is the public wandering into places they don’t belong, either by mistake or on purpose. Industrial businesses often involve dangerous machinery that come with lots of safety requirements that the general public doesn’t know about. If someone wanders into your business into an area they shouldn’t be or a burglar breaks in and ignores safety signs, they can suffer injuries and you might be held liable.

The best way to solve these problems is to install a security system that not only prevents burglaries but also alerts the police if someone has broken in. Security systems with surveillance cameras deter burglars so there’s less chance that someone will try to break into your business. Monitored burglar alarms also alert the police that a break-in has occurred so they will respond to your business immediately, instead of finding out the next morning when you get to work that things have gone missing.  They are also an inconspicuous way to protect your business without attracting attention.

 Sent by Kim Herrington of 1stsecurity.com

General Safety Issues

HOW TO IMPROVE WORKPLACE SAFETY WITH VIDEO SECURITY SYSTEMS (GUEST POSTS)

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Sent by Stephen Malina of www.supercircuits.com

A security system can be a valuable tool for businesses and organizations to improve safety in the workplace. With a properly deployed video surveillance system a business can reduce its employee liability and ensure regulatory compliance, along with reducing theft and improving inventory management.

Understanding Workplace Security

Over the past 50 years legislative changes in the United States have led to many expensive lawsuits against large businesses. With increased unionization and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), employers now may be held liable for a wide variety of common workplace injuries. While an employee may have caused an accident of their own accord, a business may still be liable if the incident isn’t properly documented.

Many injuries in the workplace are caused by employee error or a failure to pay attention to or follow proper instructions. If an employee violates a company policy in a way that causes an accident, the employer, with proper evidence, may not be liable in the event of a lawsuit or disability claim. However, it can be difficult to avoid liability without proper documentation.

For example, a modern warehouse facility is filled with a variety of potential hazards. Heavy equipment like forklifts, conveyor belts, cranes and other equipment can cause serious injury or death. Employees can be injured by climbing on wall racks, carrying heavy loads without assistance, mixing cleaning chemicals, or simply using a trash compactor incorrectly. It can be difficult to determine the cause of some accidents, and in some cases equipment failure and employee incompetence can both lead to the same outcome.

All dangerous equipment in a workplace should have warning labels. These will help reduce the risk of employee injury and minimize a company’s potential liability. However, many employees will not pay attention to warning labels, employee manuals and other instructional materials designed to help users avoid accidents.

When Workplace Accidents Occur

Given these risks, obtaining video evidence of any workplace accidents is a critical component of understanding the true cause of the incident and consequently where liability truly lies.

When setting up a it’s a good idea to have cameras in all areas where heavy equipment is used.  This allows the business owner to quickly and easily see the course of action that an employee followed before an accident. Additionally, cameras should be installed so that they show a clear view of who was using a particular piece of equipment at any given point in time.

Some additional areas to consider monitoring include break rooms, coat rooms, stock rooms and safety equipment rooms. If an employee is injured when he or she is not wearing safety equipment, there is a small chance that an employee will put on safety equipment after an accident, knowing he or she was operating without having followed proper safety procedures. Since this can expose a company to liability, it’s a good idea to have cameras installed in an area where employees are required to follow preparatory safety procedures and wear the proper safety gear.

Beyond the traditional benefits of reducing employee theft and preventing break-ins, establishing a properly installed video security system can play a significant role in reducing employer liability when workplace accidents occur. Furthermore, by knowing that their activities are being monitored, employees are more likely to follow proper safety procedures, which in turn, can lead to a reduction in safety-related incidents.

A security system can be a valuable tool for businesses and organizations to improve safety in the workplace. With a properly deployed video surveillance system a business can reduce its employee liability and ensure regulatory compliance, along with reducing theft and improving inventory management.

General Safety Issues

A LOOK INTO THE MIND OF A BURGLAR (GUEST POST)

Burglar Reveals 15 Trade Secrets – A Look Into The Mind of a Burglar


Ever wonder what goes through the mind of a burglar? Well, SimpliSafe home security sent a team of us out to hit the streets for some raw data. We got the chance to sit down with burglary professionals and ask them some real tough questions. It wasn’t easy getting these questions answered but we got them! We gathered the most common answers and assembled them to give you an inside look into the mind of a burglar. It’s time for you to meet Bob, your local burglar.


“Hello, my name is Bob and I’m your local neighborhood burglar!”
First I’m going to tell you what I look for before breaking into your home, and then I’m going to tell you how I can break into your home. I’ll even tell you what I’m doing and looking for inside your home.  A lot of people ask me why I do what I do, and why I haven’t been caught yet. Do you know what I tell them? Because people don’t realize how easy they make it for me. I shouldn’t be doing this but I need a challenge!
Here’s what I’m looking for to make your house my next target:
Before picking a house I have to scope the whole neighborhood. To do this I’m not going to be walking in the traditional cat burglar uniform. I’m going to be walking around with a rake, dressed up as the cable, electric, or phone repairman. In some cases I even post a flier on your door for a closer look. Usually my work hours are from 8AM-11AM. I want to avoid any kind of confrontation.

 
· High privacy fences – This way your pesky neighbors can’t sneak up on me or call the police
· Any sort of high vegetation, like trees or shrubbery, covering your windows – this way they can’t see me break your window. I prefer lots of cover.
· Toys or playground equipment in your yard – Toys or playground equipment in your yard are signs that kids live there, which to me equals a mother lives there and “cha-ching” that means JEWELRY.
· I’ll post a flyer on your door to get a closer look of your home. I’m also checking to see if you have a burglar alarm.
Here’s how I break into your home:
· I’ll knock on your door to see if anyone is home. If someone answers the door I’ll just come up with some bogus story.
· I’m going to check if the front or back door is unlocked. Sometimes people usually hide a key somewhere easy to access. If I can’t find a key I will check the windows. If worse comes to worse I’ll just smash a window.
· I can also get into a home through your doors using my trusty crowbar.
· If I can’t make it into your house in one minute I just move onto the next one.
Now here’s what I’m doing once I’m inside your home:
· I always use the same search pattern. I go straight to the master bedroom. I look for cash, jewelry, or anything that might be valuable. People often make the mistake of leaving money or jewelry in the most common areas.
· I’ll even look under the bed and in your closets.
· I’m always listening for outside noises. It’s a 6th sense.
· I check your bathroom medicine cabinets for any narcotic prescriptions. Pills are easy money.
· I’m going to check your kitchen and living room for electronics, credit cards, car keys, and personal information.
· After I have gathered everything I need, I call my backup driver to meet me so we can load up all the goods in the car or van.
· Once I have loaded all the goods, my associate and I drive away to the next target. It’s a never ending cycle.

And that’s it folks. It usually takes me about 8-12 minutes to get in and out of your home. It’s as easy as that!
In closing, there are a lot of things that you can do to avoid someone like me. Home Security is Important!” A security system is a no brain-er. If that’s not an option, leaving a TV or stereo on during the day usually helps someone like me avoid your home. This usually indicates someone is home. Also most burglars won’t even attempt entry if they know there’s a large dog in the home.
So now you know my methods and secrets. Hopefully this will help you avoid bad guys like me. If not, I’ll be lurking around. “So, once again, I’m Bob, your local Burglar, and I’ll be coming to a city near you!”

Our thanks to Kevin Raposo, with another article from his series on home security.  Kevin Raposo is a writer for SimpliSafe-Live Safely, and can be contacted at kevin@simplisafe.com. He will be featured in upcoming articles.  Our homes are our castles; we don’t want Bob or any other bandit invading them!