Electronic Dog?

If you're interested in a quick no-nonsense security device and can't afford an entire system, this Electronic Secure Dog may be the best option for you.

It has been said for years that the best way to scare off a burglar is to have a barking dog. It doesn't even have to be a big dog. The small yappy ones are sometimes the most effective. But if you live in an apartment, this is not always an acceptable option. Wouldn't it be nice to have a watchdog that you didn't have to feed, water or take on walks?

Now you don't have to with the latest Electronic Secure Dog motion detector. Most units are less than a foot tall and require no installation. These units can apparently "see" through any object with their radar to detect any movement outside your building. And the barking is not on a loop, but will gradually get louder and more frequent as a potential invader walks around your house, apartment or office. The "dog" will stop barking if the intruder stops walking and will resume barking when movement is detected again! You can control the volume as well as sensitivity which can usually detect movement up to 20 feet.

For under $100, this could be a valuable device for your home security.

The Latest in Choosing a Gun Safe

When is the last time you stopped to really consider what you would do if you heard an intruder in your home. Be it the middle of the night or during the day, it is wise to have a plan of action to defend your home.

If you have guns, an ideal place for them is a gun safe. But what if that intruder comes to visit? Are you going to creep out of bed in the middle of the night only to find that you can see the keypad or combination lock on that safe? Time is of the essence when dealing with seasoned criminals, so it is worth your while to have a gun safe you can open quickly.

I was a huge fan of the TV show Bionic Woman. The thought of that type of technology is astounding. Well, we are reaching that age of technology today. There is now a biometric gun safe that will scan your fingerprint and open immediately! The nice thing about it is that more than one fingerprint can be programmed into these "bio" safes, so you, your wife, and any grown children can have access to your safe at any given moment without delay. This option can be crucial when it comes to protecting your home; if caught unawares, you may not get the chance to defend your family.

With the option of this biometric safe, it is no longer necessary to keep it on a high shelf out of reach from your children. You can keep the safe near your bed or even under it for quick access in the night. It is the best option for keeping your guns and ammunition completely safe from your children or anyone else who might have an interest in them. While I'm not a fan of violence, I am in favor of doing what is necessary to protect my family first and home second. When push comes to shove, I do believe I would act accordingly and defend what is precious to me.

How ready are you?

How Secure is Your Front Door?

So, how secure do you think your front door is? Would it worry you to know that the front door is the most likely place a thief will attempt entry?

Okay, so you have smart key deadbolts, key codes, chain locks, peep holes and more, great! But with today's technology quickly advancing, we have been bombarded with bump keys. I'm sure you've all seen them used on cop or paramedic Tv shows where the user gets in the house in seconds. Did you ever stop to think this type of key can be used on all of your "high dollar" locks? Scary thought!

If you are inside your home, the best lock for you to install is a one-sided deadbolt. They are also called half-deadbolts or single sided. What this means is that you, being inside the house can lock the deadbolt, but there is no lock or entry point for this deadbolt on the outside of the door. So, none of the latest bump keys or drilling locks or any other type of intrusive tactics will work on this deadbolt. Of course, you won't have a key to it and will not be able to lock these deadbolts when you're away, but it will definitely ensure your safety when you are home.
If you install one of these single sided deadbolts on every exterior door, you will have taken a simple step in giving yourself peace of mind in your home.

Do you want to be WATCHED?

If you've stepped foot outside your house at all in the last year, chances are you've been on candid camera from some type of surveillance system. They're everywhere you look, right?

There are usually at least 2-4 at an intersection. These can be used to monitor traffic patterns, catch red light violators and/or just to run every single person through a face recognition software. I know, you're thinking, yikes! While these monitoring cameras can sometimes be beneficial in clearing up who was at fault in a fender bender, it seems like an invasion of privacy. I'm sure I'm not the only one who drives with my visor down when I'm traveling through a big city. Not because I have something to hide! I just don't care to have my face analyzed 100 times in the course of a visit to Costco for my monthly food run. Call me paranoid, but I like my privacy and I don't like having the government involved in every aspect of our lives!
I know I'm not the only one, either. When the technology for police to monitor homes with infrared devices mounted on their dashboards came out, the public screamed "invasion of privacy"! And they were right to do so. While some crimes may have been stopped by using this technology, you and I both know that police are human just like the rest of us and would be tempted to check out every home in the neighborhood. The likely hood of them being able to watch your intimate acts would make you feel uncomfortable doing anything in the "privacy" of your own home.

Now, ATM cameras, I don't have as much of a problem with. It is a high risk area with cash being taken out by every single user. This temptation for criminals can make them salivate with anticipation.
However, I'm sure I'm not the only one who has watched cop or forensic TV shows. How many times have we seen them solve a case or get a significant clue from an ATM camera? This may not happen quite as frequently in reality as on TV, but the resource is still available. Again, I don't have a problem with using the ATM cameras to solve crimes, but it can also capture you hiking up your pantyhose or adjusting an irritating wedgie when you think no one else is looking. Seems comical, but it is still an invasion of privacy.

It would be easier to list the places that DON'T use security cameras, but I'm fresh out of ideas for the types of businesses that wouldn't want to use them. Banks, kids arcades, hotels, supermarkets, any retail store, the list goes on....we've all seen the obvious security cameras. And while these do protect your business, I'm sure every security guard or camera monitor gets a huge laugh at least once a week from watching the clumsy idiot that tripped and fell flat on his face on aisle 3.
It puts me constantly on guard...and I don't like that feeling.

Best Thief Deterrent!

When you think of home security, do you think of the best deadbolts and locks on the windows? Well, it's time to come out of the stone age!

Now don't get me wrong, these are essential to have, but there are so many other things available that can protect your home in more effective ways. And the majority of us probably don't think to install these extra security measures until it's too late and our homes have already been violated in some way.

The best thing you can possibly have to scare away a thief is a high-pitched alarm. There are many different ways to install a burglar alarm. You can opt to install it yourself, which, if effective enough, can usually scare away a thief.

And, of course, there are alarm companies by the dozen that will offer to set up your chosen system for you. These companies often require a monthly subscription to a service they provide, and this service will keep them apprised of any disturbances in your home. Usually your security system is set up to call the monitoring service automatically. The company then gives you, the homeowner a call to inform you that your alarm has been activated. Assuming you are at home, this situation can be an easy one to deal with. You check your house and surrounding area, then inform the security company that it is a false alarm. Alarm is silenced and no further action is taken. Usually if they don't get a response from your house, police will be dispatched to your residence to check out a potential break in. Sounds great, right? Well, sure, except when you stop to calculate the time spent on all these phone calls.

Suppose your alarm goes off and it sends an immediate trigger to the security company monitoring your account. The representative most likely has to look up your account to find your home phone number, right? 2 minutes tops. Then they place the call to your house. If you're not home, this phone call will last less than 1 minute. So then the security company tries your cell phone. There's another minute or two if you don't answer. The logical next step is to call the police, right? Assuming they dial 911 and are not put on hold, this call should take no more than 2 minutes. The dispatcher then gets on the radio to find the closest unit or dispatches someone that should be in that section of town. Now, we all love and respect our boys in blue, but we also know that they are only human and can only get to your house as fast as the traffic around them will allow.
So let's tally this up. We're looking at at least 7 minutes until the actual officers closest to your home are notified that there could be a crime in progress. If you live in one of the larger cities, the response time will vary, but on average it will be at least 5 minutes. So there are at least 12 whole minutes for your burglar to run through your house grabbing your precious keepsakes and antiques. If you have the patience, sit looking at a digital clock for a full minute. Now multiply that time by 12 and imagine yourself doing absolutely nothing for that period of time while your home is being vandalized.
The alternative? Absolutely have a burglar alarm connected to a monitoring service! My advice? Have your home equipped with hidden security cameras connected to a stand alone DVR that is remotely accessible via cell phone or internet.
So let's try this scenario again. Your security company calls you within 2 minutes of your alarm activating. You then take around 1 minute to access your cameras from your cell phone or internet connection. Assuming you see a burglar or broken window in your video feed, you can immediately call the police on your cell phone directing them to your house.

Well, let's see, we made that call within 3 minutes! So you have saved around 4 minutes and have been proactive in the process. You could even place a call to your neighbors and direct them to yell outside that the police are on their way!
I don't know about you, but I would definitely opt for the remote access cameras!

Reduce your risk!

We all want to keep our homes as safe as possible, right?

So put yourself in the mind of a thief. Unusual concept, I know....
But try it. If you were casing a house wanting to break in somehow, what would you look for? What specific features about a house would you avoid?

OK, I'll state the obvious. I would avoid the well lit house with close neighbors, barking dogs, or the place that had a sign posted for a specific security company.

Let's touch on the first issue.

Lighting for a house can be one of the best deterrents against crime. And, you don't even have to break the bank with a large electric bill either. Your best bet are any kind of security lights that have a built in motion sensor/detector. This way, your property doesn't always have to be lit up like a Christmas tree, but can still be secure. Just make sure the switch is always on or hard wire the light.

It has been proven that crimes are much less likely to happen when an area has sufficient lighting. This is one of the most cost effective ways to secure your home, as no criminal likes to be exposed by light.
Your best bet for positioning your lights are to keep them high with a wide range of visibility. It's a good idea to place them on several different areas of your home so that all access points will be thoroughly covered with light. It is also smart to put these lights high enough so that the average person cannot reach them and ruin the motion sensors.

Now, if you have money to burn, any kind of outdoor floodlight kept on all night will suffice. HID or High Intensity Discharge lights are somewhat energy efficient and will last quite a while. This will emit a blue-green looking light similar to Incandescent or Halogen lights. There are also high pressure sodium lights, these are the yellowish looking lights you often see in commercial parking lots. Instant on fluorescent lights are a great choice and you could also opt for metal halide lighting.
The latest development is LED lighting, of course. I have seen motion sensored LED lights, but they are battery operated. Why anyone would want this is beyond me. Yes, the LED is the most efficient type of lighting, but the batteries could fail you at a very inopportune time!
You could also go with the solar powered lighting, although I'm not sure if they would be consistently bright the entire night.
I'm partial to LED just because they are 85% more efficient than other lights, so whenever I can save a dollar here or there, I'm game! I also love the way the LED's look, but that's my personal opinion.
So what method of lighting will serve your home the best? Take care to select a security light that has adjustable settings of "ON" time. You don't want your lights going dim too soon after motion is detected. A well planned robbery can work around this. But, some neighbors will get a little agitated if your nice bright light shines right into their bedroom window any time the cat prowls around at 3 a.m. If your lights are positioned to shine downward instead of outward, you will alleviate a lot of this hastle. Remember, you care more about your house being invaded than your lawn or carport!
The lives of you and your loved ones are more precious than anything you could possibly own!

Wow! Talk about smart!

Our latest technology is advancing in leaps and bounds!

So you think remote viewing from your new DVR is cool? Try an entire network for your home that allows you to completely control your home remotely! With your cell phone you can now view your security camera's current video, adjust the temperature on your thermostat, turn on or off almost anything in your house, or even preheat your oven for dinner!
These new home control networking systems are the next step up in convenience. In fact, new home constructions are adding the necessary elements to new buildings to accommodate this exciting development.

Basically, there are three major companies that are coming out with this new technology: Z-Wave Alliance, ZigBee and Insteon. What they've done is take the everyday item such as a thermostat, keyed entry, garage door, etc. and put their mark on it. What this mark means is that no matter who manufactures it (and at present there are over 150 different manufacturers involved), every product bearing it will be compatible with each other.
In computer terms, it would make Windows and Linux compatible.

So, say you have a washing machine made by LG, a thermostat made by Honeywell, a garage door by Raynor, a Schlage keyless entry, and a security camera with dvr, these products will all work together on the same home network accessed by your cell phone! You won't even have to program it!

These networks work on low-power, low speed digital radio waves and can even be routed through your home's existing AC power wires!

The great part of it is, it will save you money in the long run. Think about it.
When you leave the house in the morning, you turn the AC up to 80. Half and hour before you get home, you get on your cell phone and tell your thermostat to turn on and get the house temperature down to 75 by the time you get home!
Not to mention, if you're watching your security cameras at the office and see something suspicious, you can start turning on lights, which in most cases will scare off a burglar. You can even alert a neighbor and have them check your house. Worst case scenario...you can call the police immediately and possibly nab the intruder in the act. It may mean a window broken, but they won't run off with your great-grandmother's antique pearl ring or the big screen TV.

More next time...





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Practical Applications?

You really don't think you'd use a hidden camera, right? Think again!

Some would probably still laugh at the idea...not me! With the threats of robbery, terrorism, physical attacks, rape, or home invasions of any type, it's nice to know you can know what is going on in your home while you're away. Most of us think...well, that'll never happen to me! What about the recent shortage in jobs?
Do you think those people that are now jobless aren't going to have problems paying the bills or even keeping their homes? You'd be a fool if you didn't consider that crime rates WILL go up with the economy in this endless slump!
What if your teens come home from school and there is a knock at the door? Perhaps someone pretends to sell something or give your child something.....then forces their way in! Our imaginations can run wild with that scenario for sure.
But with the latest wireless hidden cameras, this concern can be all but alleviated. There are now wireless doorbell hidden cameras among others that you can monitor from any internet connection or capable cell phone. Wouldn't it give you peace of mind to be able to check on your teens to be sure they are safe? Even a phone call can't give you 100% assurance of that.
Think about it.
Next time...computer security