https://www.homesecuritysystems.net Fri, 14 Dec 2018 20:45:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.8.2 Help Your House Sitter Keep Your Home Safe https://www.homesecuritysystems.net/help-your-house-sitter-keep-your-home-safe/ https://www.homesecuritysystems.net/help-your-house-sitter-keep-your-home-safe/#respond Fri, 14 Dec 2018 20:45:45 +0000 http://www.homesecuritysystems.net/?p=8190 housesitter1

Hiring a house sitter and setting up a security system are two very complementary steps you can take to keeping your home safe when you’re away. Your home-automated system can make up for the human errors of which your house sitter may be guilty. Your house sitter is an intimidating presence to burglars and intruders who prey on empty houses. But you have to remember that you’re very familiar with your home, and all of its quirks—your house sitter is not. Don’t assume that she’ll know all the tricks and protocol you do. Here are instructions to give your house sitter so she can keep your home safe.

Mention finicky locks

Are there any finicky locks in your home? Maybe the deadbolt on the back door only shuts if you pull the door tight and flush with the frame. Maybe a simple knob lock can unlock if not turned entirely vertically. These finicky locks can leave your home vulnerable if your house sitter doesn’t know how to manipulate them.

Mention windows/doors that don’t close entirely

You may have some windows or doors that just don’t close all the way. They’re old and should be replaced. As for now, make sure your house sitter doesn’t try to jam them shut as she could cause further damage. Ask that she activate the motion sensor alarms around these, since they are security weak points.

Local crime to look out for

Are there burglars going door to door, pretending to be from a tree trimming service? Or scam artists, asking for donations for a fake charity organization? You know about these, but your house sitter doesn’t. Make her aware of the local crime in your area, so she can look out for it.

How to arm and disarm your security system

Your house sitter should know how to arm and disarm your security system. You can always reset the code when you get home, so that she no longer has the correct one. But while she’s there, it’s important that your security company doesn’t mistake her for an intruder because she accidentally sets off alarms.

Neighbors she can turn to

If your house sitter is in trouble and needs help immediately, point her to the neighbors who will help her. It could be a good idea to introduce her to these neighbors before you leave for your trip, so they know who she is, too.

How to schedule lights

Make sure your house sitter schedules lights, so she can make the house look occupied when she isn’t there. She is house sitting, but she may still leave for brief errands. During that time, it’s important that the house doesn’t look vacant.

A list of approved visitors

Write down a list of approved visitors. You may have, for example, family members or friends who stop by to borrow things. It will make everyone’s life easier if she’s aware of these individuals. She should certainly know of anyone who has a spare key, so she doesn’t call the police on that individual

How to lock up

Any time you leave or go to sleep, there is probably a series of things you do around the house to secure it. Go over these steps with your house sitter.

Point out faulty appliances

If you have faulty appliances that shouldn’t be left unattended or can be hazardous, make sure your house sitter is aware of these.

Notify your security company

Notify your security company that there is someone staying in your home, so that they don’t call the police on your house sitter.

If you have a real life security guard in the form of a house sitter plus a security system, your home has the best combination of protection. Just make sure your sitter is familiar with your home, and all of its quirks.

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How Dogs Can Help and Hinder Home Security https://www.homesecuritysystems.net/how-dogs-can-help-and-hinder-home-security/ https://www.homesecuritysystems.net/how-dogs-can-help-and-hinder-home-security/#respond Fri, 14 Dec 2018 20:45:32 +0000 http://www.homesecuritysystems.net/?p=8194 dog1

Dogs are a man’s best friend, but they can also be a man’s security guard. Actually, a dog can be an entire family’s security guard. With an impeccable sense of smell and sensitive ears, dogs can be aware of a threat long before you. Sure, they do the adorable thing of wagging their tails and running around the house when a loved one pulls into the driveway, but they can also do the very helpful thing of growling, barking, and sounding the alarm when a not-so-loved individual shows up. That being said, dogs are just four-legged friends in the end and are capable of human error—or, rather, canine error. Here are ways dogs help and hinder home security.

They scare off burglars with barking

Burglars don’t typically want to mess with a house where there is a dog inside. Even if humans aren’t home, the sounds of the dogs barking could alert neighbors and the entire neighborhood of a problem. Simply having a “Beware of dog” sign could send a burglar on his way.

They sound false alarms

Dogs, however, bark at a lot more than burglars. They also bark at squirrels, garbage trucks, UPS delivery personnel, and another doggys friend they see out the window. They can, in essence, sound a lot of false alarms so you start disregarding all their barking—even when there is an intruder. Get to know your dog’s distinct barks and body language. You’ll see that he has a different bark for actual threats. Generally, if Fido won’t stop barking for a long time and he is growling, you should be on the lookout.

They can attack intruders

Your dog could potentially take an intruder down and make it difficult for him to escape before the police arrive. It’s hard for anyone to run fast with bite marks in his legs. Dogs can harm and detain intruders long enough for you to grab your own weapon of self-defense, too.

They can dig holes beneath fences

Dogs can, unfortunately, be little escape artists who dig holes beneath fences. If those holes are big enough, then they can also create security vulnerabilities around your perimeter. If you do have a dog, check your yard regularly to make sure he hasn’t dug holes beneath gates and fences.

You can’t hear who is at the door

Dogs are like a second doorbell. Even after someone rings your doorbell, you can count on your pups to bark for several minutes. That means when you yell, “Who is it?” you can’t hear the visitor’s response, over your dog’s bark. Don’t just open the door to find out who it is, though. Look through your peephole, or your smart doorbell surveillance.

They notify you early of visitors

Before someone even steps onto your front lawn, your dogs will notify you. They can sense people much sooner than you can, which gives you a chance to grab your smart phone, and, using your synced-up home automated system, lock all your doors at a push of a button if you feel threatened.

 

They’re fast

A dog can chase a burglar down, fast. If you have a large, strong dog, he can likely pounce on the thief that just took a package from your porch much quicker than you can get the police to arrive.

They chew on wires

Don’t forget that dogs—puppies in particular—love to chew on wires, including those that power your security system and surveillance cameras. Make sure these are tucked away from the jaws of curious canines.

 

Dogs can be great security assets, so long as you know their weaknesses and strengths.

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Why You Should Use Security Cameras During Construction https://www.homesecuritysystems.net/why-you-should-use-security-cameras-during-construction/ https://www.homesecuritysystems.net/why-you-should-use-security-cameras-during-construction/#respond Sat, 08 Dec 2018 00:07:07 +0000 http://www.homesecuritysystems.net/?p=8177 buildinghome1

It’s only natural to feel like your safety is compromised while your home is being gutted for renovations. Ironically, the construction your home is undergoing might even enhance its security, like the addition of a carport that conceals high-end vehicles or a guest house that doubles as a storage unit for valuables. But the process of making these changes can cause inherent safety risks. Your walls are being torn down and your property is being swarmed with strangers each day. That’s why adding security cameras during construction, or re-positioning your current ones to monitor the work area, can be very helpful. Here are 7 reasons you should use surveillance cameras during construction.

Finding safety issues

Reviewing the surveillance footage from the construction area can help you identify safety weak points caused by the work. If there is a massive hole in the wall facing the street, that can be an enticing entryway for potential burglars. Ask workers to cover this hole up at the end of each day, and arm that area with extra motion sensor alarms and lights.

Monitoring entryways

While you might instruct the crew to lock up your home each day when they leave, it’s easy for them to forget. Looking at your camera footage can help you ensure the crew is locking up the property thoroughly at the end of each day. This is especially important if you’re staying somewhere else during construction, since you won’t be there in person to check the property.

Discovering workflow issues

While you probably aren’t a contractor, you can probably identify major workflow issues by reviewing surveillance. If there is a manner or order in which the crew is working that is clearly slowing down the process, you can bring that to your contractor’s attention. Construction work has a tendency to go on for much longer than anticipated, but you do have the power to supervise it and find holes in the workflow.

Familiarizing yourself with the crew

You should get to know the names and faces of the crew who will be working on your personal home for weeks or months on end. You may want to review your footage periodically to make sure you don’t see any unfamiliar faces on the property. It’s easy for a burglar to sneak onto a construction site, pretending to be one of the crew-members.

Tracking work hours

If the construction company has promised you their crew will be working daily from 8am to 5pm, yet what was meant to take two weeks has dragged into six weeks, you may want to check the surveillance footage. You might find that the crew isn’t showing up until 10am every day or that they’re leaving early.

Reviewing injuries and accidents

Hopefully both you and your contractor have insurance, but even then, when accidents happen on a work site it can be a nightmare deciding who is responsible for what. Having security cameras will help you review the incidents that led up to any accident and give a clear report to insurance companies.

Lost or stolen items

Ideally, you have thoroughly vetted the construction company you chose. They should have good reviews, and many of them. You should also ensure that they vet their employees and have a well-curated crew. But even then, theft can occur on a job site. Surveillance cameras will help you determine how it happened and who is responsible. They can eliminate a legal battle with the construction company as you try to be compensated.

Doing work on your home will make it vulnerable for a while, so it’s an important time to increase security efforts through more alarms, lights, and—of course—surveillance cameras.

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How To Prevent Package Theft with a Home Automated Security System https://www.homesecuritysystems.net/how-to-prevent-package-theft-with-a-home-automated-security-system/ https://www.homesecuritysystems.net/how-to-prevent-package-theft-with-a-home-automated-security-system/#respond Fri, 07 Dec 2018 23:43:42 +0000 http://www.homesecuritysystems.net/?p=8169 packages1

Online shopping makes buying holiday gifts so much more convenient. You don’t need to struggle through the mall crowds, stand in line to check out, or deal with pushy retail associates. Plus, when you online shop, you can easily check multiple sites to compare prices and find coupon codes. The one issue with this otherwise simple way to shop is this: rather than you personally bringing your purchases home, UPS, FedEx, or another delivery company does it for you. And the packages on your porch can pile up quickly around this time of year, which is a rather enticing sight for package thieves. Here are ways to use your home-automated system to prevent package theft this holiday season.

Activate perimeter motion sensor alarms

Activate perimeter motion sensor alarms around your property, both when you’re at home and when you aren’t. Just because you’re there doesn’t mean you’re monitoring the porch, aware of every package that arrives—and every thief that takes an interest. Perimeter alarms will notify you each time anyone enters your property. So if it’s UPS, you can grab your package swiftly. If it’s someone else, you’ll know straight away.

Focus cameras on the porch

Position one security camera to face the package delivery area and make sure those who enter your property can clearly see it. This could be a big deterrent against package theft. Most package thieves assume that as long as no one is present, nobody will see them. A noticeable camera tells them otherwise.

Put up a security decal

To discourage anyone from stepping foot onto your property in the first place, add a security decal to the front lawn. This notifies any curious parties that your property is under surveillance and armed with alarms. Package thieves would rather spend their efforts on a property that doesn’t have a security system.

Use a smart doorbell

Install a smart doorbell so you can communicate with delivery personnel. If FedEx rings your doorbell when you aren’t home, your smart doorbell will send a notification to your phone. Then, you can talk to the FedEx employee directly through the speakers on your doorbell. You can ask him to hold the package and return when you’re home, or tuck it away in a discreet place.

Check on your surveillance

If you are expecting a package to arrive when you won’t be home, check in on your live security surveillance to see if it’s on your porch. When it arrives, call a trustworthy neighbor and ask him or her to hold your package until you get home.

Let a neighbor bring your package in

You can even let your neighbor into your house to put the package safely away for you. Using your home-automated system, you can unlock the door remotely, let your neighbor bring your package in, and even remotely lock up after he or she leaves.

Activate motion sensor lights

Activate motion sensor lights around your property and add extra bright ones around the package drop-off area. These will frighten and disorient a package thief, making him feel as if he’s being watched.

Make it look like you’re home

It can’t hurt to make your home look occupied even when it isn’t. If you’re looking forward to several weeks of package deliveries right around the time you’ll be away at work, try these tricks. Schedule lights to go off and on around your home. Turn music on remotely. Make the house look occupied so package thieves will move along to one that looks vacant.

Having your precious packages sitting outside makes them vulnerable to theft. Nothing ruins the holidays like an expensive purchase being stolen and the company offering no refund or warranty for theft. These precautions will make package thieves think twice before approaching your property.

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How Snowy Weather Affects Your Security https://www.homesecuritysystems.net/how-snowy-weather-affects-your-security/ https://www.homesecuritysystems.net/how-snowy-weather-affects-your-security/#respond Tue, 27 Nov 2018 00:28:25 +0000 http://www.homesecuritysystems.net/?p=8100 snowing

The weather outside may be frightful to you, but it could be a welcome sight to burglars who take advantage of winter conditions to break into homes. While you’re busy keeping your pipes from freezing and scraping ice from your car’s windshield, burglars are busy planning their entry into your home. It can be hard to monitor your property’s security when you’re worried about all the other maintenance winter weather brings. Here is how winter weather affects your safety and security systems.

Snow on camera lenses

Should snow build up on your camera lenses, then any footage they captured won’t be much good. Position your cameras under a ledge or inside a box that protects them from snowfall. Check your cameras regularly, and if you see that snow has fallen on the lenses, wipe it away.

Cracked camera lenses

If temperatures drop too low, your camera lenses can freeze and crack. It could be a good idea to keep cameras capturing outside activity, inside the house, and simply have them facing a window. Or, consider putting them inside an insulated but transparent box.

Locked up camera movement

Should condensation freeze on your motion-activated camera’s arm, it could become stuck, and fail to respond to movement. Check your motion-activated cameras for ice or condensation—on the body and lens—regularly to prevent this issue.

Battery life and cold temperatures

Severe temperature can actually affect battery life. If you have battery-operated systems, check their levels regularly as they may drop quicker during the winter.

View impairment

Snowy weather and misty days make it harder to see far out into your yard. You cannot rely on your own vision to spot people approaching your home. That’s why it’s more important than ever to keep your motion sensor alarms around the perimeter of your property on.

Car theft

During the summer, if a neighbor sees someone wearing a ski mask approaching your vehicle, they know to call the police. But seeing someone in a ski mask isn’t out of the ordinary during the winter, making it easier for burglars to break into cars unnoticed. Keep your car in a locked garage during the winter.

Back up batteries should be charged

If you have a backup power supply for your security system, it likely runs on batteries. During the winter, you may experience many power outages—too many for your backup supply to recover from in time for the next one. Check the battery supply on your backup generator regularly.

Interrupted cell phone service

If snowy weather affects cell phone towers, then you may not be able to call the police successfully during an emergency. Make sure you have a neighbor whose home you can escape to during an emergency. Do not attempt to stop a burglar on your own.

Blocked police routes

After snowstorms and other severe weather, roads to your home can be blocked, making it difficult for police to arrive quickly in an emergency. That only makes it even more essential to have all of your security systems—from your perimeter motion sensor alarms to your scheduled locks—in working order.

A snowy day is only cozy so long as your home is safe. However, winter weather provides some unique opportunities for burglars to make their move. Keep these hazards and tips in mind so that you can enjoy the chilly season, without concern for your safety.

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How Your Holiday Decorations Affect Your Security System https://www.homesecuritysystems.net/how-your-holiday-decorations-affect-your-security-system/ https://www.homesecuritysystems.net/how-your-holiday-decorations-affect-your-security-system/#respond Tue, 27 Nov 2018 00:22:57 +0000 http://www.homesecuritysystems.net/?p=8095 christmas lights

If you’re that house on the block who takes extreme pride in your holiday decorations, then you may be setting up your ladder to string twinkles lights all around your roof, blowing up those giant inflatable displays, and getting your snow machine ready. Decorating your property can bring cheer to the whole neighborhood, and really gets everyone in the festive spirit. Major holiday decorations can interfere with your regular security system, though, as well as pose a few safety hazards. Let’s take a look at those risks, so you can avoid them, while still enjoying your decorations.

Inflatable reindeer

Those larger-than-life inflatable reindeer that flap in the wind on your front lawn always make children smile, but they also trick your motion sensor property alarms. If one decoration flops too far over the perimeter, it can activate your alarm. Set these up in a place where they cannot interfere with motion sensors.

Power surges

Between motor-powered displays and twinkle lights, your decorations require quite a bit of power. This can, unfortunately, cause a power outage that means not only your decorations go dark, but so too does your security system, creating the perfect entrance for a burglar. Make sure your generator is up and running, so your security system doesn’t take any breaks.

Surveillance interference

Be careful where you hang those twinkle lights and how tall your displays are. You don’t want your decorations interfering with surveillance cameras. Before setting up decorations, check into the live surveillance from each camera. From there, you can choose strategic places for your displays that won’t interfere with surveillance.

Trees creating blind spots

Did you lug a big, gorgeous pine tree into your living room for the holidays? These are nice to look at, but while you’re viewing them, you may miss the burglar passing right by your front window because the tree blocks it. Set your tree back from major windows, so you can still look out them and onto your property.

Motion sensor light confusion

Twinkle lights create a lovely ambiance, but they can also create some motion sensor light confusion. Do not use lights that flash and flicker. These can make it very hard to differentiate between a motion sensor light activating, and just a decorative light flashing.

Large lawn displays

It’s always best to keep your front lawn displays minimal. Anything as tall as a human can give a real human a place to hide while mapping entry into your home. Stick the life-size gingerbread house in the backyard.

Wreaths around fireplaces

Wreaths look gorgeous around a fireplace, but they are also highly flammable. Both the real thing and the synthetic options can catch fire and spread quickly. Do not drape wreaths around your mantle. Keep these far from any flame.

Large Presents

You’ve surrounded your tree with massive, empty gift boxes for decoration. Burglars peering in do not know that those boxes are empty, and are probably willing to break in to find out. Keep your tree clear of presents—real or fake—until the actual day you’ll open them. Gifts easily draw in burglars.

Faux snow can be useful

If you don’t live in an area that sees real snow, putting some fake snow on your front lawn and driveway can actually aid in your security efforts. Burglars hate anything that makes their footprints loud and highly visible. Consider putting a thick blanket of the fake stuff over your front lawn. It makes it harder for burglars to walk onto your property unnoticed.

Everyone appreciates the home that makes an effort with their holiday decorations. They light up the neighborhood. But just know that, while those flashing lights and displays may be entertaining for friends, they can be like target signs for burglars.

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Hosting the Thanksgiving Meal – Secure Your Home Before the Guests Arrive https://www.homesecuritysystems.net/hosting-the-thanksgiving-meal-secure-your-home-before-the-guests-arrive/ https://www.homesecuritysystems.net/hosting-the-thanksgiving-meal-secure-your-home-before-the-guests-arrive/#respond Fri, 16 Nov 2018 23:38:57 +0000 http://www.homesecuritysystems.net/?p=8025 thanksgivingdinner

You’ve offered to host the Thanksgiving meal this year. That’s very generous of you as it’s a big financial and time commitment. However, it’s nice to have all of your loved ones around your table, and guests are usually willing to contribute side dishes and help clean up. Just remember that you’re responsible for the safety of your guests. On a night where you may have a deep fryer running and plenty of wine pouring, that task is harder than it sounds. Once everyone arrives, you’ll be distracted by chitchat and requests for beverages so it’s best to secure your home while it’s still quiet. Here are ways to make your home safe for Thanksgiving guests.

Put away precious silverware

If you have precious silverware, champagne glasses, or other items you don’t want people using this evening, lock those away. When guests are hungry or thirsty, they may grab the first piece of dishware they find on a shelf, but they may accidentally break the champagne flutes you received as a wedding gift.

Add the necessary instructions

You’re familiar with your house’s quirks but your guests are not. Put notes where necessary to warn people of a sink that gets very hot, a step that’s hard to see, or a pathway that can be slippery.

Schedule backdoor locks

It’s best to only have people coming in and out of one door since it’s hard to monitor several entrances. Schedule back and side doors to lock during the dinner, so you can easily see who comes and goes.

Put timers on appliances

You probably won’t remember to turn off every crockpot, kettle, and coffee machine once you’re busy with your guests. Put timers on all active appliances now so they’ll automatically shut off when finished.

Schedule lights on walkways

If your driveway leading up to your home or walkways around your home get dark at night, schedule lights to turn on at sunset. You might know how to navigate these areas at night but your guests don’t. Lighting the areas can prevent injuries.

Check your smoke alarms

Make sure your some alarms are in working order. When you’re cooking the Thanksgiving meal, you face a lot of fire hazards so it’s important that your smoke detectors have working batteries.

Keep guests out of the kitchen

It’s best if guests stay out of the kitchen while you’re cooking. Having multiple people in the kitchen increases the risk for hot oil spills, fires, and other accidents. Set up an area in the living or dining room that makes it clear where guests should congregate. Ask your partner or another family member to entertain guests while you cook.

Locate your fire extinguisher

First off, if you don’t have a fire extinguisher, then buy one today. If you already own one, make sure you know where it is and that it is full. Instruct all family members on how to use it.

Run vents early

If you are using a natural gas or propane stove, begin running vents and opening windows early to avoid a toxic gas buildup. As more people show up, it will be harder to keep fresh air circulating so start the process early.

Put away real candles

If you have real candles, put those away. You don’t want guests lighting them, believing they’re doing you a favor when they’re just causing a fire hazard. Put out battery-operated candles in advance.

Create a safe area for kids

If there will be kids at the dinner, create a safe area for them away from the kitchen. Make sure they have plenty of toys and games to entertain them, so they don’t try to enter the kitchen. Put someone on child-watch duty.

Hosting the holiday meal feels great since you get to provide a warm environment and delicious food for loved ones. Just make sure to get your home ready and prepare for safety hazards before everyone arrives.

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Safety Tips for Your Kid’s First Sleepover https://www.homesecuritysystems.net/safety-tips-for-your-kids-first-sleepover/ https://www.homesecuritysystems.net/safety-tips-for-your-kids-first-sleepover/#respond Fri, 16 Nov 2018 23:33:46 +0000 http://www.homesecuritysystems.net/?p=8012 sleeping bags

You’re sending your kid off for her first sleepover—it’s exciting and nerve-wracking for both of you. On the one hand, you essentially have free overnight childcare. You get your home to yourself. Maybe you and your partner can have that date night you’ve been trying to have for months. On the other hand, you’re giving someone else jurisdiction over your child for the night, and that’s a bit scary. Your kid has apprehensions, too. You can make everyone feel more at ease if you have a talk with the parent whose house your child will be sleeping at, to go over some safety matters.

Who lives in the home?

It won’t just be your child, his friends, and the parents at the house. There may be older children or teens living there. There could be in-laws or cousins living there temporarily. Make sure you know everyone who will be there. Meet each individual who resides there before sending your kid over. You should feel completely safe with your child being around each person under that roof—not just his friend.

Get to know the other children

You should know the other children—your kid’s friends—well, too. Host an afternoon playdate with the kids and parents before a sleepover occurs. You may want to have several of these before an overnight stay. Your child will feel more comfortable in the home of an adult that he knows well and you’ll feel more at ease once you’ve gotten to know your kid’s friend, and his parents.

Which movies are they showing?

You likely have rules about what sort of programming your kids can watch. Discuss these with the other parent. The other parents are probably happy to talk about it and decide on a movie that everyone’s comfortable with.

Is there a swimming pool?

Swimming pools can be a lot of fun for kids, but they can also be safety hazards. Ask questions about the pool like, is it fenced in? Does that fence lock? How easy is it for kids to access the pool?

Are there weapons in the house?

It may seem a bit odd to ask—perhaps because you either live in an area where nobody has weapons or you live in an area where everybody has weapons—but it’s important to discuss. If this house does have weapons, make sure they’re stored far from where any children can reach them, separate from the ammunition, and properly locked up.

Are there any pets?

If there are pets in the house, this is something you should know about. Should your child have allergies to pets then this may not be a suitable place for a sleepover. But, if he only has mild allergies, and the parents assure you that the pets only have access to one part of the house that the children will not be in, it might be okay. It’s just important to discuss these matters.

What sort of security does the house have?

When children become afraid during a sleepover, they sometimes try to walk out the front door and find their way home. This could naturally be rather dangerous. Make sure the house has security systems that will prevent this, like alarms that sound if the front door is open and automatic locks.

Make sure your child knows he can call

Telling your child he is free to call you at any time will give him the peace of mind he needs to enjoy the sleepover.

Monitor your child’s behavior

If your child is going through a phase of acting up, then this is likely not a good time for a sleepover. When he is nervous and in a new environment, his bad behavior will flare up more. So just make sure your child is ready for this event.

Letting your child go to sleepovers can be an important part of growing his independence. But you are entitled to speaking to the other parents about important safety issues first.

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Why Suburb Crime is Less Frequent but More Severe https://www.homesecuritysystems.net/why-suburb-crime-is-less-frequent-but-more-severe/ https://www.homesecuritysystems.net/why-suburb-crime-is-less-frequent-but-more-severe/#respond Wed, 07 Nov 2018 19:52:46 +0000 http://www.homesecuritysystems.net/?p=8015 outdoor camera1

People move to the suburbs for a lot of reasons, but one of them is to feel safer. And, in most cases, families do have a more peaceful life away from the city, where they don’t hear as many sirens or read about as many crimes in the newspaper. But the suburbs are a unique landscape. While suspicious individuals may not be able to move around, unnoticed the way they can in the bustling city streets, criminals do see the worth in visiting the suburbs, because that’s where the wealth tends to be. If you are moving to the suburbs, it’s important to just understand the environment. Here is why crime may be less frequent, but more severe, in the suburbs.

A suburb burglary is worth the work

While getting to the suburbs, and getting into someone’s house unnoticed, is much harder for a burglar than it is to sneak into a massive apartment complex, it’s worth the work. Burglars know that there is more wealth in the suburbs. So making the trip there, and finding a way into a home, is worth it for them. The burglary may be more of a challenge, but criminals are more motivated due to what they may get. Just because your home is secluded, doesn’t mean that taking precautions like locking valuables inside of a safe, and putting alarms around your perimeter, can fall to the wayside.

Attacks can be more comprehensive

In a busy city, it’s difficult for a burglar to avoid the eyes of neighbors and people passing by. And it’s nearly impossible for a burglar to be certain that nobody saw him break in. That’s why city robberies can be more rushed, and less severe. Burglars go in, take what they can get, and leave as quick as possible. In the suburbs, thieves can thoroughly stake out the surrounding areas, and determine the best time to make a break-in, totally unseen. The suburbs are less populated, so when burglars make it into a house, they may take more time inside. Once they’re in, they don’t worry about busy sidewalks outside, and people walking by, spotting them.

Theft could be from someone you know

Suburb living can include housekeepers, nannies, tutors, landscapers, and other individuals who regularly get access to your home—inside and out. Those living in the city may not have the resources to have regular staff in their home. But homeowners in the suburbs may have a handful of individuals who have spare keys to their house, have passcodes, and have other information that they need to do their job—but that they could also use against the homeowner. If you do hire people who will spend regular time in your home, make sure to vet them thoroughly. And, still, lock up valuables when they’re in your house.

Neighbors are less alert

Families move to the suburbs so that they can worry less about suspicious activity and crime, and that’s exactly what they do—think about it less. That means they aren’t as on guard as city dwellers might be. If your neighbors see someone going in your back door, they might just assume it’s a dog walker or home office assistant, and not even raise an eyebrow. If someone fiddling with your backdoor claims to be a friend from out of town, your neighbors may not find that suspicious either—that’s not out of the ordinary in the suburbs. You need to provide your own security and surveillance system in the suburbs, because your neighbors may not be much help.

Several points of entry

There is usually only one way in and out of an apartment. But there can be several ways to go in and out of a home, like the back door, basement window, and garage. This gives attackers options to plan their route, based on the least visible angle. Make sure every point of entry on your house is armed with motion sensor alarms and lights when you aren’t home, and when you’re asleep. And set up surveillance cameras.

The police are rarely nearby

It’s true that you hear fewer sirens in the suburbs, but that suddenly becomes a bad thing if you’re the victim of a crime. There just aren’t as many police units in the suburbs as there are in the city. When you call the police, you may be waiting a while for them to show up. That’s why crime prevention should be your first plan of action.

The suburbs present a unique set of dynamics for burglars. While some may think that the quiet streets make it harder for them to move around, unnoticed, it’s that exact quietness of the suburbs that means fewer people are on alert for criminal activity.

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Preparing Your Home for a New Nanny https://www.homesecuritysystems.net/preparing-your-home-for-a-new-nanny/ https://www.homesecuritysystems.net/preparing-your-home-for-a-new-nanny/#respond Wed, 24 Oct 2018 00:08:37 +0000 http://www.homesecuritysystems.net/?p=7975 nanny

So you’re expecting a new nanny. You’ve interviewed dozens, called referrals, run background checks, and found one you feel really confident about. That’s a feat, in and of itself. Now you need to make sure your nanny has everything she needs to do a great job, and that you’ve arranged your home and other details in a way that leaves you feeling comfortable. Here is how to prepare your nanny for her new job, and how to prepare your home for the nanny.

Provide her with a list of phone numbers

Your nanny should have a list of all pertinent numbers. This should include every way to reach you, from your cell to your office phone, a close friend or family member’s phone number who can answer questions when you cannot be reached, the pediatrician’s phone number, and the school’s phone number.

Write down instructions for appliances

Make sure your nanny knows how to use important appliances like the thermostat, TV, washing machine, dishwasher, and any other machine she may need on a daily basis. You can walk her through these, but it will also help to type up instructions and tape them to their respective appliances.

Provide her with essential passwords and codes

Think of all passwords and door codes your nanny may need. If your building has a door code, she’ll need that. If your car opens with a code rather than a key, she’ll need that as well. She might need a password to the tablet on which your child does his homework.

Walk her through childproofing

Show your nanny how to use all of the childproofing items in the house. These may include stair gates, bathtub rails, and parental controls on the television.

Go over medical details

These include your child’s allergies and medical conditions. If he has asthma, make sure the nanny knows where the inhaler is, and how to use it. Show her where you keep the first aid kit, EpiPen, and other emergency items. And make sure she knows your child’s blood type, and where the nearest urgent care is.

Go over your kid’s tricks

You know your child’s tricks by now, but your nanny may not. Whether it’s sneaking candy before meals or pretending a TV show is child-friendly when it isn’t, you’re familiar with his antics. Just make sure to prepare your nanny for these.

Label or point out daily items

Show your nanny where she can find the items she’ll need on a regular basis, like cereal, utensils, towels, shampoo, laundry detergent, and diapers. You may want to put labels on these cabinets, for when your nanny is still finding her way around.

Lock up confidential areas

You will have a stranger in your house now, so think about the areas you’d like to keep concealed and locked up. You may want to put away personal documents like insurance documents, wills, and investment portfolios.

Prepare the car

If you plan on having your nanny driving your car, it’s important that you add her to your insurance plan. Also make sure she knows how to use your particular model—where the lights are, how to adjust the seat, how to put in a car seat, and anything else she may need to know to get around safely and comfortably.

Let neighbors/doormen know about her

Make sure neighbors, family, doormen, and anyone else who frequents your home knows about the nanny. You don’t want them to be taken by surprise, mistake the nanny for an intruder, and call the police.

A nanny can provide a lot of relief for busy parents, but she’s really just thrown into a home and schedule about which she knows very little. So make sure your home is ready for your nanny, and vice versa.

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