HOME SECURITY: Invest in it now... If you were locked out of your house, would you still be able to get in? Maybe you keep an unlocked window in the back, or a hidden key in the mailbox or on top of a window ledge? You may think this is a good idea, but guess what? If you can break in, so can a burglar! One out of ten homes will be burglarized this year. For a small amount of time and money you can make your home more secure and reduce your chances of becoming a victim.

Check the Locks! Make sure every external door has a sturdy, well-installed dead bolt lock. Key-in-the-knob locks alone are not enough. Sliding glass doors can offer easy access if they are not properly secured. You can secure them by installing commercially available locks or putting a broomstick or dowel in the inside track to jam the door. To prevent the door being lifted off the track, drill a hole through the sliding door frame and the fixed frame. Then insert a pin in the hole. Lock double-hung windows with key locks or "pin" windows by drilling a small hole into a 45° angle between the inner and outer frames, then insert a nail that can be removed. Secure basement windows with a grille or grates. Instead of hiding keys around the outside of your home, give an extra key to a neighbor you trust or get a Lock Box. When you move into a new house or apartment, re-key the locks.

Check the Doors! All outside doors should be metal or solid wood. If your doors don't fit tightly in their frames, install weather-stripping around them. Install a peephole or wide-angle viewer in all entry doors so you can see who is outside without opening the door. Door chains break easily and don't keep out intruders.

Check the Outside! Thieves hate bright lights. Install outside lights and keep them on at night. Keep your yard clean. Prune back shrubbery so it doesn't hide doors or windows. Cut back tree limbs that a thief could use to climb to an upper-level window. Clearly display your house number so police and other emergency vehicles can find your home quickly. If you travel, create the illusion that you're at home by getting some timers that will turn lights on and off in different areas of your house throughout the evening. Lights burning 24 hours a day signal an empty house. Leave shades, blinds, and curtains in normal positions. And don't let your mail pile up! Call the post office to stop delivery or have a neighbor pick it up. Ask local law enforcement for a free home security survey.

Consider an Alarm! Check with several companies before you buy so you can decide what level of security fits your needs. Do business with an established company and check references before signing a contract. Learn how to use your system properly! Don't "cry wolf" by setting off false alarms. People will stop paying attention and you will probably be fined.

Why Purchase An Alarm? The three main reasons are to protect against:

• Fire
• Theft
• Vandalism

Statistics have proven that alarm systems are successful in protecting against and therefore minimizing the impact of fire, theft and vandalism. A home or business owner can reduce or even eliminate:

• Insurance Claims
• Deductible Payments
• Rising Premiums
• Risk Of Policy Cancellation
• Lost Sentimental Items
• Physical Injury Or Loss Of Life ( fire )
• Mental/Emotional Stress

There is another reason to have an alarm system. Although uncommon, assaults and personal injury do occur and the implications are so massive that we cannot leave it unstated. People don't break into your home to attack you, but should they unexpectedly bump into you, their fear of being caught causes them to behave in irrational and violent ways. The emotional trauma of any of the above events can often times be greater than the financial implications. the impact tends to be greater with women and children. Emotional trauma or financial loss are both valid motivations for investing in a security system.

Other reasons and types of alarms are:

• Medical Alert Alarms
• Panic Buttons
• Cold Temperature Sensors
• Water Detectors
• Gas Detectors
• Deep Freeze Monitors

What Does An Alarm Do?
Deter - A major role in alarm systems is to deter would be thieves and vandals. Window decals and yard signs play a major role in this regard. Several industry studies have delivered the consistent conclusion that criminals avoid homes and businesses with alarm systems. One such study went into prisons to question those convicted of break and enters. Their response was simply, "When I see a home with an alarm system, I move on to one without one."

Detect -Although alarms do a great job of deterring criminal activities, they do not stop somebody from breaking in. If a criminal wants in, they are coming in. The job of the alarm system now is to detect them. To recognize when somebody has entered an area you have deemed to be off limits.

Report - Once the system detects an intruder, it's job is to report that detection. It can do this in two ways. The most basic and lowest level of reporting is a local siren. It is loud and meant to attract attention from neighbours or passerby's. Unfortunately we have been exposed to car alarms and sirens so much in our society , that people tend to ignore them or even worse become angered by the noise. The second way that an alarm system reports intrusion detection is through a monitoring station. The monitoring station is staffed seven days per week 24 hours a a day. As a signal comes in the operators dispatch the appropriate authorities. If it is a fire signal they dispatch the fire department. If it is a burglary signal they dispatch the police. If it is a medical alert, they dispatch an ambulance. Monitoring stations also alert key holders when events occur. All activities are logged, including conversations with premise, key holders and police dispatch officers. Having your system report via a monitoring station is the most effective and common method.

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