I came across this video yesterday and I thought that it was the cutest thing.  Since I was talking about using your dog as a home security system (you can read that article here), I thought this was an appropriate video to share.

Scout and Paws save the day.  It’s actually a commercial for pet food and I don’t for a second think that a dog and a cat would ever team up to foil some would be burglars but it is a cute video and I hope that you enjoy it.

I’m not really a dog person.  I’ve had dogs and I like them but when it comes to having pets, I am a cat person.  I seriously doubt that either of my cats would do anything to protect the house from a burglar.  In fact, Happy Cat would be the first to run and hide from an intruder during a home invasion. 

My neighbor, however, has a couple of dogs and I have to tell you that there isn’t anyway that you are getting near that place without getting those dogs to bark.  It just isn’t going to happen.  They aren’t large dogs.  In fact I doubt very much that they would even bite you but they are very loud when they get to barking and I don’t know of too many burglars that want the attention that a barking dog can bring to them. 

Giving what I just described,  it would look like man’s best friend would be a good home security system.  But as with any security system, there are to be pros and cons and you should know what they are.  Can a watchdog be used as a home security system?

The Pros of using a dog as a home security system

• Dogs are very quick to let you know that something isn’t right outside.  Of course, that isn’t always a good thing.  The dog that I had would bark at his own shadow.  It’s kind of like the boy that cried wolf.
• Dogs are a great show of force.  Most dogs will naturally do anything to protect their humans.
• A barking dog can alert others in the area that there is a problem.  Dogs are excellent at alerting others with their vigorous barking.

 The Cons of using a dog as a home security system

• Dogs have to sleep too.  My neighbor’s dog is a serious napper.  Nothing seems to bother him when he is taking his afternoon nap.  The point is that they can’t be on duty all day everyday.
• Dogs can be bribed into staying quiet.  There are some dogs that will be the burglars best friend after getting a treat.
• Dogs can be overcome physically or even killed by a burglar that doesn’t want to be found out.
• Dogs make great companions and can make you feel more secure in your home.

There you have it those are the pros and cons of using a watchdog as a home security system.  As with any security system, you have to know it’s limitations and decide if you can live with them.  In my opinion, dogs are great companions and can be a great addition to your home security solutions but they should not be used alone.

When it comes to home security, you should never rely solely on one security method. For other DIY home security solutions, you may want to check out these other articles:

Home Security Solutions – Door Security

Home Security Solution – Remove the “Break In Here” Sign Painted on YOUR Home

Home Security Solutions – Make Your Windows More Secure

If you talk to anyone in the burglar alarm business, they will definitely tell you that you should without a doubt have your house alarm system monitored.  On the surface it sounds like a great idea to have home security system monitored but they may not give you the whole truth about what you actually get for your monthly monitoring payment.  Here are some facts that you should know about before you sign up:

How your burglar alarm signal is sent matters.  There are a variety of ways that your home security system can send an alert to the central station (a central station is where the alarm signals are received and processed).  Some ways are more reliable than others.  The majority of alarm signals will be sent either over your telephone line, a local cell tower via radio signal, or through the Internet.  Each method has it’s own set of pros and cons. 

Using a telephone line requires wiring that can be easily cut by an intruder that knows what they are doing but it’s usually the cheapest method and the most reliable.  A radio signal can be sent wirelessly but is usually more expensive and it doesn’t have the best track record for sending signals.  The Internet requires both wiring and can be expensive but for folks that don’t want or use telephone service it could be their answer.

Some burglar alarm monitoring companies charge more than others.  There are some companies that will give you the same service for a lot less money than other companies.  There is one company that I know of that actually charges you more for monitoring if you have additional security devices on your alarm system.  What they don’t tell you is that the burglar alarm company pays the central station a flat fee for each alarm security system.  That means that it doesn’t matter how many security devices you have on your system, the burglar alarm company pays the same rate to the central station.  However, they may get extra charges if a security system sends an excessive amount of signals during a time period.

Central stations are state regulated and therefore are created equal.  They are more than likely Underwriters Laboratory (UL) certified, manned 24/7, and have a backup system in case of power failure.  You still want to check to make sure that the central station your burglar alarm company uses has all of these things but don’t be surprised to see that they ALL have it.

Just because you pay for burglar alarm monitoring doesn’t mean that the proper authorities will respond to the call.  The job of the central monitoring station is to receive signals from burglar alarm and then to call either the police, fire, or whatever authority should be called.  That’s it.  Local police and fire agencies may take their sweet time to respond if they respond at all.  For example, where I am from, the sheriff’s office will take on average – 15 minutes – to show up at the scene of an activated security system.  A lot can happen in 15 minutes.  There are some locations where you can’t even get the police to respond to a home alarm system signal. 

In conclusion, I still recommend that you have your burglar alarm system monitored but only if it makes sense for YOU and you should know that even if your system is monitored there are limitations on what you should expect from using that service.

When it comes to home security, our main focus is on protecting ourselves, our family, and our valuables.  But what do we do if we can’t actually prevent a break-in from occurring? 

How do we get our stuff back?

There are a few things that you can do to help the police in case your home get broken into and the burglar gets away with your valuables.

• Keep a list.  The first thing that you want to do is to keep an inventory (a list) of all the valuables that you own.  This list should include a good description of the item along with the model and/or serial number if it has one.
• Take pictures.  Once you have your list, it’s a good idea to also take a photo of the object itself.  I think that it’s a good idea to go around your home and take pictures of everything in it’s normal place.  My reason for this is because if you do happen to experience a break-in, you will probably be more than a little shaken up and unable to think clearly.  Having photos can help you to identify what is missing.
• Put your name on it.  The best way for the police to be able to identify your property is if they see your name on it.  The best way to do this is to have your valuables engraved but if you can’t do that, then at the very least put a simple security label on it. 

Here is a short video on how to put labels on your valuables:

Labels & Engraving for Home Security — powered by eHow.com

Obviously engraving your items is a more permanent home security solution.  Let’s face it – someone could remove a simple label rather easily.  But if that’s all that you have, it’s better than doing nothing.

It is up to you to do all that you can to protect your yourself, your family, and your valuables from burglary.  We live in a time when we can’t rely on everyone to do the right thing on their own.  Actually, I guess it’s always been that way but now that there are more of us in the world, we have to be a little more cautious.

I came across this story today and it is a great example of why you should only use a residential home security system as a backup system.  Take a look at this video:

This story is also a great example of what I dislike about the burglar alarm industry.

Alarm monitoring companies love to get you to add devices to your home security system and some of them even charge you extra to monitor those devices.  But as you can see from the video, it takes more than just having a home burglar alarm with extra safety devices to protect your family.

I recognize the alarm system model that was pictured in the video and it is a pretty good system that uses primarily wireless devices.  The great thing about wireless home alarm systems is that they can be installed just about anywhere you want them.  The bad thing about them is that they require batteries to work properly.  The batteries that are used in the security devices are almost always lithium and therefore, provide long lasting usage but still it is a battery and I’m not sure that I want to rely on a battery to save my families life.

Where alarm monitoring companies seem to fail is in communicating with their customers.  People need to be reminded from time to time to test their home security systems and to actually look at all the security devices to see if they are in good condition.  I know that everyone is trying to save money and not spend on unnecessary things but there are a lot of things that you can do yourself that don’t cost a thing.  Testing your own alarm system is one of those things.  And I think that the alarm companies should be telling people how to do it themselves instead of maybe telling their customers that they need to pay for a service call so that a “trained” security technician can do it for them.

I’m not trying to bad mouth alarm monitoring companies, they do provide a great service.  However, I want everyone to know that home security systems are an electronic device and as such, they are subject to failure.  Please, test your systems regularly (actually put it on your calendar to do) and only use your burglar alarm system as a backup. 

Until next time stay safe and secure.

Burglars like to do their work when no one is home.  They’re sneaky like that.  One of the best ways to protect your possessions is to know what a burglar looks for BEFORE they break in and then make sure that you DON’T give it to them.  Here are 9 ways you could be telling a burglar that you aren’t home and a home security solution for each one:

1.  The daily newspaper hasn’t been brought in.  Home security solution – Put a hold on any deliveries that you normally get or ask someone to collect these items for you in your absence.
2. The mail is piling up in the mailbox.  Solution -  Have the post office hold your mail while you are away or have a neighbor bring it in for you.
3. There aren’t any lights on at night.  Home security solution -  put a few lamps on a timer to come on.
4. The yard hasn’t been mowed or maintained.  Home security solution -  Have someone keep up with the yard maintenance.
5. No one answers the phone when it rings.  Solution – Lower the phone ringer so that it can’t be heard outside or set the telephone answering machine to pick up after a few rings.  And never change your answering machine message telling people that you are away.
6. There hasn’t been a car in the driveway for days.  Home security solution – Ask a neighbor or a friend to park a car in your driveway.
7. You or someone in your family is Tweeting about being on vacation.  Solution – don’t let on that you are on vacation.  Save the vacation tweets for when you return.  I know that this could sound a little far fetched but it could happen.  Burglars aren’t all stupid just because they have a dishonest profession.
8. You or someone in your family is updating their status on any of the other social media sites.  Home security solution – Just don’t do it.
9. The house is very quiet.  Solution -  Put a TV or a radio on a timer to come on for a while during the day.

I’m sure that you know all of these things already but sometimes it’s a good idea to be reminded from time to time especially when it comes to burglar security.  The holidays are coming and many families will be away from home.  Before you take off, make sure that you aren’t telling a burglar that you aren’t home and they have the place to themselves.

What is home security?  Let’s break it down a little.  When you think of the word “home” what comes to mind?  For me, it’s where I live and where I work but for others that don’t work at home it may be just where they live.   And what about the home itself, is it a traditional home, a townhouse, a condo, or something less stationary like a mobile home?

What about the word “security?”  That can mean a lot of different things to different people.  For some it may mean protection but from what.  Protection from burglars, home invaders, fire, flood, smoke, the list could go on for quite some time.

Before you can find a home security solution, you have to know what “home security” means to YOU.  What is your goal?  Once you know what you want to protect, you can then think about HOW you can protect it and what obstacles you may have to rise above in order to reach your goal.

For me home security means  doing what it takes to both; prevent and deter an attack to myself, my family, and my possessions.   In order to get the best level of home security, it may help to understand how crime happens in the first place. 

Three things have to be present in order for a crime to occur: a criminal, a victim, an opportunity

• Criminal – the first thing that has to be present is a criminal and not just any criminal but one with desire and motivation to commit a crime.  There really isn’t a whole lot you can do to remove this element but that’s not the only thing you need for a crime to occur.
• Victim – there has to be a target (a victim).  Usually a criminal is going to look for an easy target.  Someone that isn’t paying attention to what is going on around them.
• Opportunity – That is something that you can control.  Be aware of your surroundings at all times and avoid places that can put you in a vulnerable situation.  If you do sense that there is danger, then get out quickly.

You may think that this only applies to your personal security and not really have anything to do with home security but it works for any crime situation.  Instead of a person being the target, it is a home, a home that looks like an easy target will be one that doesn’t have any outside lighting, or one that provides a lot plantings that gives a good hiding place for a burglar to do their work behind.  As for opportunity, you have to leave the house sometime and if you don’t, there is always darkness.

I hope that by sharing with you how crime happens, you will do what it takes to protect yourself.  Just remember that YOU can take control you’re home security.

I just read a startling statistic from the FBI – they say “Every 12 seconds a home is invaded by someone going right through the front or back door.”  More than 70% of all break-ins occur through a door and the majority of the time the cause is “door frame failure.”  That’s a pretty scary statistic folks.  Yesterday I wrote an article that covered how to improve your door security.  If you missed it, you can read it here.

Another fact is that during tough economic times, like what we are experiencing now, home invasions and burglaries go up.  Prime time for a burglary to occur is while people are normally at work, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.  The reason burglaries occur during this time is because a burglar doesn’t want anyone to be home, and it’s also nice when the neighbors are also out, while they rob your house. 

If having your home burglarized isn’t bad enough, then you should think about home invasions for just a minute.  For a home invasion, the goal is for you to be home so the intruder can get the really valuable information like; credit cards, car keys, and bank information.  Since home invaders like you to be home, they usually take place between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.  And just to put a little more fright into your head – 38% of Assaults and 60% of all Rapes take place during a home invasion.

Even though I highly recommend having a residential home security system, in the case of home invasion, I think it would be a lot safer to keep out the intruder all together.  You see, as much as I like home security systems, there main function is to alert you AFTER a break-in.  For that reason, I recommend that you do all that you can to make sure that your door security is as strong and impenetrable as it could be.  That means; checking your door to make sure that it isn’t a hollow wood door, replacing your door strike with one that has at least 3-inch screws that go into the stud, making sure to install and use a deadbolt lock, and if there is a window nearby or glass in the door itself, use a security film for added strength. 

I don’t want to scare you or put nasty pictures in your head but I think that it is really important to make sure that you have done everything that you can to protect yourself and your family.  Make sure that you follow the tips that I wrote about yesterday, again you can read that here.   Until next time, stay safe and secure.

Let me ask you a question.  How did you move into your home?  Did you carry your items through the front door or the garage door?  Most people do and burglars like to get in and out of a house the same way – by the door.  If you think about it, it makes sense because it’s the easiest way for them to take off with your valuables.  Here are a few things that you can do to improve your door security at home:

Keep your keys safe

This may sound simple but you would be surprised at the number of people that think it is a good idea to give a spare key to a family member or friend in case they get locked out.  Some people will even give those people that are doing work in their home a key so that they can come and go as needed.  You may think that the people you give a key to are completely trustworthy but you have no control of where that key may end up.  I’m not saying that you can’t trust people but it is important that you think about who you are giving your keys to.  If it is someone doing work on your home that you trust, that may be fine but do you trust their helpers?  Be sure to consider not only who you are giving the key to but also the people around them.

Another thing about keys is to make sure that if you have a hide-away key that you like to keep in a secret place outside your home that you hide that key a fair distance from your door.  A burglar will always look in the usual hiding places for a key.  So putting your key under the front doormat, under the flower pot, or any place near your front door could turn out to be a big mistake.

Check your door locks

Is the door lock to your home the one that the builder installed?  Is it one of those locks that have the lock and the handle in one unit?  If so check out this video, you will be amazed at how easy it is to break in.

If you have a deadbolt, be sure to use it.  Get into the habit now and make sure that everyone in the family does the same.  Another thing that you should do with your door locks is to check the strike plate.  A door strike plate is the metal plate that is installed in the door jamb.  It’s the part that receives the latch from the lock when the door is closed.  Most strike plates are being held in with ¾ inch screws.  These small screws make it very easy for someone to kick in the door.  At the very minimum, I suggest that you replace the short screws with 3 inch screws but more additional security, replace the entire strike plate with a longer one that has more than two screws that are offset and the screw length is at least 3 inches.  The reason you want such long screws is so that they will penetrate the stud near the door opening.

 The door itself

Even if you have installed a good lock and strike plate, it is only as good as the door itself.  If you door is a hollow wood door, you have a weak spot in your door security.  You want your exterior doors to be of a strong material such as fiber glass, metal, or solid wood.  If you do have a metal door, make sure that it is reinforced inside and has what is called a lock block. 

Another thing that you can easily do yourself to improve your door security is to fortify the door frame itself.  Most door frames aren’t strongly secured into the wall so that a good strong kick or something like a crowbar can separate the door frame from the wall itself.  You can easily remedy this by installing several 3 inch screws along the door frame.

One final note on doors, it’s more secure to have a door that does have a window in it or a window close enough to it so that a burglar could break the window and unlock the door.  If you do happen to have that situation, you may want to consider replacing the door or reinforcing the glass with a security film.

That’s it on doors.  Be sure to check all the exterior doors to your home.  There are also some interior doors that deserve a check as well.  The door from the garage into the house for example, as well as any other door that a burglar can use to get into the main area of the home.