Burglary Prevention From Former Criminals

Believe it or not, sometimes it’s resigned burglars who have the best tips on burglary prevention. It can be thought-provoking to find out what types of complications ex-criminals came across “back in the day” – obstacles that were so great, they actually sabotaged a criminal’s plans. So, what are those complications? Here are a few you may want to make a note of.

A Locked Front Door

“Lock your doors” is hardly a hot burglary prevention tip – but have you ever thought about the first thing a burglar checks when he approaches a home? Nine times out of ten, it’s the front door. Think about it: An unlocked door is a jackpot for a burglar. If the door is open, he can slip in quickly without tampering the lock, pulling out tools or worrying about the neighbors. And with one in three residential burglaries classified as “unlawful entries,” it seems too many homeowners make it easy for this to happen.

What can be done? We recommend smart locks, which can be included in any home security system upgrade. With smart locks, homeowners can lock the doors using a cell phone app – which means they can do it from anywhere. 

An Occupied Home

Homeowners often miscalculate the intelligence of criminals, and that’s a big mistake. The truth is, many burglars will check out a neighborhood ahead of time to see what the best times of day are to strike. This is why daytime burglaries are now much more frequent than evening burglaries; unfortunately, criminals have simply gotten smarter.

But with the same home security upgrade that gives you smart locks, you can reduce the risk of being targeted while you’re at work. With security alerts that come straight to your phone, you’ll know about any suspicious activity that happens at home wherever you are. And if you have video incorporated into your security, you’ll be able to see what’s happening on your video alerts. If someone does try to force entry, your motion detectors will trigger the alarm – which means the UL listed, certified central station will be sending help immediately.

Smart Home Security Systems

They may not have admitted this when they were “working” – but once they retire, criminals will tell you that home security systems really work. In one survey of convicted burglars, 83 percent of them confirmed that they looked for signs of home security when staking out houses, and 60 percent said they avoided a house if they felt a system was installed. The numbers don’t lie, and neither do ex-criminals.

To learn more about burglary prevention with home security, Long Island homeowners should call All Action Alarm. We will be happy to provide a free home security consultation.

About All Action Alarm

We have experience in the electronic security industry and experts in home automation technologies. If you are looking for ways to simplify your life, give us a call.

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Pets and the Burglar Alarm: Ways to Integrate Them

Alarm systems are designed to help protect every member of your family, and that includes the ones with fur on their backs. That’s right, we’re talking about your family pets. Understandably, some homeowners are concerned about integrating a security system with their beloved family dogs. With that in mind, here are ways you can do it easily and conveniently.   

Use your smart locks for walk time.

Busy homeowners don’t always have time for the things they really want to do, like walking their best friends on four legs. If that’s you, maybe you’ve decided to hire a neighbor or professional dog walker. No matter who you decide to employ, you need a safe way to let them in the house that only takes seconds – something you can do with your phone without leaving work or your other responsibilities. That’s where the smart locks on your home security system come in.

When you receive the smartphone alert that your dog walker is waiting, simply tap on the app to unlock the door so they can enter the house and greet your pet. When the two of them walk out, you can lock up again until they return. One last time, unlock it again when they return so your pet can be let back in the house. When the walker leaves, lock back up and get back to work. Job well done!

Set Boundaries around the Home

Your pet keeps watch over the yard and home, and so do your home security cameras. Working together, they can establish a clear barrier around the home. And if a break-in ever takes place, your dog can get in attack mode while your burglar alarm sounds and the central station is called. Very quickly, help will be on its way. This is a great way to allow your pet to partner up with your alarm, so there will be multiple layers of home security.

For more ideas on combining your pet with your burglar alarm, Long Island homeowners can learn more by calling All Action Alarm. We would love to speak with you.

About All Action Alarm

We have experience in the electronic security industry and experts in home automation technologies. If you are looking for ways to simplify your life, give us a call.

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What to Look for in a Smart Home Security System

It’s a wonderful time of the year to shop for a smart home system, but not all of the products out there are equally effectual. Here’s what to look for when shopping for yours.

Rock Solid Security

Smart home systems can do all kinds of things: automate your lights, locks and thermostat, allow you to talk to whoever’s at the door, and even allow parents to check in on kids. All of that is great, but what about protection from home security emergencies? That should always be the primary purpose of a smart home system. If an emergency occurs, you want a smart home system that can notify the central station and get help to your home.

If someone attempts a break-in, your system should wirelessly alert the alarm monitoring center. From there, the trained security operators should be ready to dispatch help to your home.

Bells and whistles are great in a smart home system, but rock solid security comes first.

Proactive Fire Protection

The same principle is true for a fire emergency. A true smart home security system should include smart smoke detectors. Are these different from “regular” smoke detectors? You bet. They’re designed to signal the monitoring center if smoke is detected, where operators will promptly respond by alerting the fire department. At the same time, the smart thermostat will shut off the HVAC system so that the noxious fire fumes stop circulating through the air.

Smart home systems start with home security, but fire protection is equally important. Make sure yours has it.

User-Friendly Operation

Buttons, codes, keypads, beeps…all of those things can be in your rearview mirror with a smart home security system. A true smart home system lets you control home security with your own smartphone, via a user-friendly home security app that your professional installer helps you set up during installation. And from that day on, there should be informed support available anytime you need it.  

If you’re shopping for a smart home security system, we can help you choose a system that’s easy to operate while providing rock solid security and fire protection. To learn more about smart home security in Long Island, contact All Action Alarm. We will be glad to answer your questions.

About All Action Alarm

We have experience in the electronic security industry and experts in home automation technologies. If you are looking for ways to simplify your life, give us a call.

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Rolling Out the Winter Welcome Mat With Home Security

t’s that time of year when your favorite overnight guests may be coming to town. You want the environment to feel welcoming and safe for these loved ones, but you also want to impress them with all the great security technology you have in your home. Fortunately, you can do both with your smart home security system. Here’s how. 

Give them their own user code.

When you give your house guests a unique user code for the keyless entry at the front door, your guests can come and go freely – and no one has to worry about accidentally triggering the alarm. This spares them potentially embarrassment, and saves you any potential hassle. Plus, they can go out at night without you staying up to let them in. It’s easy and impressive. And when the visit is over, just deactivate their user code; it can stay inactive until the next time they visit.

Keep the guest room cozy.

Everyone loves to look at a winter wonderland through the window while they sit inside the warmth of a house – the operative word being “warmth.” If you are unsure whether your guest room is warm enough for your friends, you can use one of the most exciting tools your smart home system has to offer: the remote temperature sensor.  

When this sensor is placed in the guest room, it can adjust the thermostat based on the average temperature in the rest of the home. It’s the perfect way to find out if your guest room is your house’s “cold room” – and, it takes care of that problem so guests can enjoy their stay more.

Show them how the cameras work.

Although home security cameras are popular, there are still some “holdout” guests who may be concerned their every move is being watched. You know that’s not true, so show them how the cameras really work. Open up your home security app settings, and show them how the Geo-Services technology can prevent the indoor cameras from recording when people are home. They’ll breathe a sigh of relief, and you can let your cameras continue to do their job.

If any of these smart home security tools are not yet part of your home security setup, we would be happy to help. Contact All Action Alarm for a free consultation to discuss home security. Long Island homeowners, we look forward to hearing from you. 

About All Action Alarm

We have experience in the electronic security industry and experts in home automation technologies. If you are looking for ways to simplify your life, give us a call.

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