Is It Time To Retire These Vintage Security Ideas?

Leaving your lights on to come home to a lit house is smart, but don’t expect it to drive off burglars. If you saw a home with a few lights on that never change for an extended period of time and no other signs of life, would you believe someone was likely home? Probably not, and neither would a burglar.

Criminals have gotten increasingly sophisticated and once tried-and-true security measures are now not just ineffective, they can be dangerous. The good news is, modern home security and automation offer a better alternative.

It’s time to retire these “old-school” security practices:

Keys Under the Doormat

Even today, it’s not uncommon for parents to leave keys under the doormat for their children to use when they get home from school. It may be handy, but it is also dangerous. Having a key hidden under the mat (or above the door, for that matter) is as good as an open door for any burglar or predator.
Instead, use home security smart locks and keyless entry. Your kids can come home and enter the home with a unique code. Not only do you keep the bad guys out, you know your kids made it home safe and sound when the system sends you an alert to your smartphone.

Keys in a Plastic Rock

Okay, maybe the fake rocks have become far more realistic in looks, today there is hardly a thief (or any other person) around who does not recognize them. If you need to give access to friends or family, or are someone that loses their keys frequently, opt out of the fake rock. A burglar would look at it, and think of his good fortune.
A far better option is to use home automation. With home security and home automation features like smart locks and remote mobile apps, you can let in your kids or visitors yourself from wherever you are, even if you are stuck in traffic, all from your smartphone.

Leaving the Lights On

Leaving your lights on to come home to a lit house is smart, but don’t expect it to drive off burglars. If you saw a home with a few lights on that never change for an extended period of time and no other signs of life, would you believe someone was likely home? Probably not, and neither would a burglar. Instead of providing security, this practice is more like a beacon for bad guys.

A better way of adding security is to use home automation to fake occupancy. With it, you can have smart lights going off and on at various intervals, as well as the television or other enable electronics go on and off. You can even have appliances turn on to add real life to the home, even if you aren’t.

About All Action Alarm

Take it from an experienced Long Island home security company: When it comes to security, “old school” isn’t necessarily best. To upgrade your security practices and integrate home automation into your life, call All Action Alarm. All Action Alarm is a family owned business that has been protecting Long Island since 1980.

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Tips for Protecting Your Home While it is Under Renovation

A home under renovation can be a gold mine to potential burglars! It is not just your personal property that burglars are interested in. Renovation sites have construction materials and tools that are very attractive too.

While your home is being renovated, you have contractors and suppliers coming and going, which means your home is frequently unsecured. Is it being exposed to potential theft and vandalism? Even a minor renovation project such as, replacing a roof or adding a backyard patio, can increase your risk of exposure.

There are things you can do to protect your home, the job site, and any materials or tools so that your project does not end up costing you more than the labor itself.

How to Protect Your Home During a Renovation

By taking the proper steps, you can protect your home while it is being renovated – whether you are occupying the home or not. This includes:

  • Securing the Site and Valuable Materials – Lock your home before leaving it or instruct the foreman to lock up the site at the end of the day. Lock up building materials in a shed or use security sensors that will trigger if the materials are moved.
  • Use Video Monitoring – Because construction sites have dozens of people coming and going, a traditional security system may not be enough. Instead, consider a video surveillance system. This will help you keep an eye on your property even if you are living off-site. If a theft does occur, you will have video evidence of the event and hopefully, you can help authorities catch the burglar.
  • Let Neighbors Know – Discuss with your neighbors letting them know who is authorized to be on your property. Make them aware of the construction company’s name, their uniform, and what days they will be there working. That way, if your neighbor sees someone on a different day or notices unauthorized trespassers, they can notify you or the authorities immediately.

About All Action Alarm

Contact your local Long Island alarm company and security experts for more tips on how you can protect a home renovation site. All Action Alarm offers no obligation consultations. We can come out to your home and recommend the right security products.

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