Spring vacation is just around the corner, and keeping your home safe and secure is a full-time job no matter how far away your travels might take you. Just because you are on vacation doesn’t mean that local thieves and burglars have also decided to take some time off — in fact, a significant number of houses are targeted because their owners are out of the area and they have been marked as an easy score.
Don’t worry — there are a number of ways you can make your home a less appealing choice for burglars even when you can’t be around. Let’s take a look at a few easy ways to keep thieves from ruining your relaxed state of mind after you’ve come home from vacation.
Below we outline our top 3 tips to keep your home safe while on vacation:
“Spring is the time of plans and projects.” – Leo Tolstoy, “Anna Karenina”
Since spring is just around the corner, many people are planning to build new homes or renovate their current homes – projects that involve a lot of time, not to mention money, and maybe even a few tears.
However, “a home under construction or renovation is more vulnerable to damage or destruction than at any other time in a home’s history,” according to the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies. “Improperly stored work rags may combust, newly installed plumbing can leak, and intruders might vandalize your vacant home” and that’s just for starters. Read more →
https://www.americanalarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/American-Alarm_logo_1Xr.png00American Alarm Blogging Teamhttps://www.americanalarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/American-Alarm_logo_1Xr.pngAmerican Alarm Blogging Team2013-03-07 08:25:492024-12-10 12:09:17Preserving Home Security – and Sanity – During Renovations
This winter it seems that Mother Nature is one unhappy mama, to paraphrase Sudbury, Mass. real estate agent Gabrielle Daniels.
With snowstorms on top of blizzards followed by days when the mercury hits spring-like temps, it’s no wonder she’s a bit cranky. Not to mention it’s only February.
Because we understand just how frustrating – albeit beautiful – winter in New England can be, we’d like to share some tips from Daniels and others to help you keep your home and your family cozy and warm, not to mention safe, from Mother Nature’s mood swings. Read more →
https://www.americanalarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/American-Alarm_logo_1Xr.png00American Alarm Blogging Teamhttps://www.americanalarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/American-Alarm_logo_1Xr.pngAmerican Alarm Blogging Team2013-02-25 10:15:452024-12-10 12:08:59Home Security Tips: Protect Your Home from Mother Nature’s Wrath
Now that we’re right in the middle of the winter heating season, you have to be sure you’re heating your home or business with safety in mind.
Each year the Massachusetts Office of Public Safety has a Keep Warm, Keep Safe This Winter campaign to remind people about the dangers of winter heating.
It’s no wonder the office considers this campaign a yearly necessity since heating has been the source of over 14,000 fires the last five years and it’s the number two reason for Massachusetts home fires, according to Mass.gov. Read more →
Burglaries in the US have increased from 2010 to 2011, according to an FBI preliminary report issued in June 2012.
One of the more obvious ways to deter a potential thief is by installing a home security system.
In the past few years publications like Reader’s Digest and news outlets in various US cities like Stoughton, Mass. have taken us inside the mind of a burglar, compiling tips to give us more insight into other ways to thwart would-be thieves. Read more →
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So if you’re one of the lucky ones going down to New Orleans to cheer on your team in the Super Bowl, or just traveling with the family, choosing a hotel is serious business. This is not the time to be lazy about safety.
The holidays are over and you may now have online gifts to return or exchange, so don’t forget about package delivery safety.
Packages are stolen each year, and reports of package thefts are appearing more and more in the headlines of our local news outlets. For example, on Monday, December 3, a group of Woburn, Mass. residents allegedly stole packages delivered to a home in Stoneham, Mass.
Also, Watertown, Mass. Police Lt. Michael Lawn is warning residents of the increase in packages stolen from doorsteps and apartment/condo lobbies.
“We have had a few reports recently and this is becoming a big problem especially around Christmas time when people are ordering many items online,” Lawn explains in a Patch.com article. “This is just not a problem in (apartment) buildings but also in residential neighborhoods. Police have caught people following delivery trucks and grabbing the boxes after they are delivered.”
Last year, the Wellesley, Mass. Police Department released this video after investigating several thefts of packages delivered to the front doors of residents’ homes.
So what can you do to avoid being a victim of this crime? Local police departments offer these three tips:
If you aren’t home during the day, send the package to a neighbor or relative who is home. Be sure that person knows ahead of time so she can be at home to accept the delivery.
Request a signature confirmation on each delivery so a package will not be left at its destination unless someone is present to sign for it.
Send packages to your work address instead of your home.
Check with your shipper for options. UPS offers My Choice, a service that alerts you by text or e-mail a day before the package is scheduled to arrive. You can reschedule the delivery for a different day or reroute the package to be delivered to a different address (a neighbor for example) if you won’t be home.
FedEx offers similar services, including allowing you to hold the package at a FedEx retail location for pickup, or you can go online and request to have the package delivered to your home within a specific delivery time window.
The USPS will hold mail for pick up under some circumstances. Talk to your local USPS office for further information. For instance, if you’re traveling during the holidays all USPS offices offer a hold mail service to keep your packages, and all your mail safe at one of their offices until you return.
Sidenote: Both FedEx and UPS are warning consumers about fraudulent e-mails this year. These e-mails may reference a failed delivery or a suspended account. They are actually “phishing” e-mails, even though they may appear legitimate and come complete with the company brand, logo or legal disclaimers.
These types of e-mails contain invalid hyperlinks that may contain malware, and could corrupt your computer. These are not legitimate e-mails, so if you receive one do not click on any links. Delete the e-mail. FedEx and UPS do not send unsolicited e-mails to customers requesting information regarding packages, payments, invoices, account numbers, passwords, financial information or personal information.
Read more about fraudulent e-mails at the FedEx and UPS websites.
Next Steps:
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The importance of installing a home video security system was highlighted recently as a UPS driver was caught stealing a package from a customer’s door step. The driver made his delivery and left with a package sent earlier by another carrier. Luckily, the front and back doors were secured with video surveillance systems, catching the thief in the act.
As you watch the video proof below, know that the front and back doors are crucial places to set up residential video surveillance systems. With cameras positioned in these high-traffic areas, thieves are deterred and any intruders will be visible and captured on the surveillance system as evidence. With modern technology, video security systems can be accessed remotely, ensuring you’re always in the loop. Stay tuned for a follow-up blog post on how you can further protect yourself when packages are delivered by a carrier.
After the Black Friday mayhem, comes Cyber Monday. And many shoppers will choose to shop online up until just a few days before Christmas.
A Harris Interactive/McAfee study tells us 70% of consumers will shop online during the holiday season, with one in four using a mobile device.
Whether you’re shopping online or just browsing the web this holiday season, you must remain aware of the many ways criminals can strike over the Internet. Increased web traffic presents more opportunities for criminals to strike unsuspecting victims. From stealing your credit card number to various scams, cybercriminals find ways to wreak all kinds of havoc. Read more →
https://www.americanalarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/American-Alarm_logo_1Xr.png00American Alarm Blogging Teamhttps://www.americanalarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/American-Alarm_logo_1Xr.pngAmerican Alarm Blogging Team2012-12-17 09:21:262024-12-10 12:06:19Holiday Home Security and Safety Series: Online Safety
It’s Friday night and you’ve hit the mall. You’re looking to find the perfect gifts for all the people on your holiday shopping list. The last thing on your mind is becoming a victim of crime. The reality is, you very well could be.
Police and safety organizations across the country are warning of the risks associated with the holiday shopping season.
The holidays are hectic. Shoppers are easily distracted. They become more unaware of their surroundings, giving criminals more opportunities. Read more →
https://www.americanalarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/American-Alarm_logo_1Xr.png00American Alarm Blogging Teamhttps://www.americanalarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/American-Alarm_logo_1Xr.pngAmerican Alarm Blogging Team2012-12-10 08:08:412024-12-10 12:05:47Holiday Home Security and Safety Series: Holiday Shopping Safety
Home Security: Safety Tips while On Vacation
/by American Alarm Blogging TeamSpring vacation is just around the corner, and keeping your home safe and secure is a full-time job no matter how far away your travels might take you. Just because you are on vacation doesn’t mean that local thieves and burglars have also decided to take some time off — in fact, a significant number of houses are targeted because their owners are out of the area and they have been marked as an easy score.
Don’t worry — there are a number of ways you can make your home a less appealing choice for burglars even when you can’t be around. Let’s take a look at a few easy ways to keep thieves from ruining your relaxed state of mind after you’ve come home from vacation.
Below we outline our top 3 tips to keep your home safe while on vacation:
Read more →
Preserving Home Security – and Sanity – During Renovations
/2 Comments/by American Alarm Blogging Team“Spring is the time of plans and projects.” – Leo Tolstoy, “Anna Karenina”
Since spring is just around the corner, many people are planning to build new homes or renovate their current homes – projects that involve a lot of time, not to mention money, and maybe even a few tears.
Home Security Tips: Protect Your Home from Mother Nature’s Wrath
/1 Comment/by American Alarm Blogging TeamThis winter it seems that Mother Nature is one unhappy mama, to paraphrase Sudbury, Mass. real estate agent Gabrielle Daniels.
With snowstorms on top of blizzards followed by days when the mercury hits spring-like temps, it’s no wonder she’s a bit cranky. Not to mention it’s only February.
New England Winter Heating Dangers
/1 Comment/by American Alarm Blogging TeamNow that we’re right in the middle of the winter heating season, you have to be sure you’re heating your home or business with safety in mind.
Each year the Massachusetts Office of Public Safety has a Keep Warm, Keep Safe This Winter campaign to remind people about the dangers of winter heating.
Home Security: What Your Burglar Won’t Tell You
/1 Comment/by American Alarm Blogging TeamBurglaries in the US have increased from 2010 to 2011, according to an FBI preliminary report issued in June 2012.
One of the more obvious ways to deter a potential thief is by installing a home security system.
Hotel Security: Safety Tips You May Not Know
/2 Comments/by American Alarm Blogging TeamSo if you’re one of the lucky ones going down to New Orleans to cheer on your team in the Super Bowl, or just traveling with the family, choosing a hotel is serious business. This is not the time to be lazy about safety.
Home Security: Package Delivery Safety
/1 Comment/by American Alarm Blogging TeamThe holidays are over and you may now have online gifts to return or exchange, so don’t forget about package delivery safety.
Also, Watertown, Mass. Police Lt. Michael Lawn is warning residents of the increase in packages stolen from doorsteps and apartment/condo lobbies.
“We have had a few reports recently and this is becoming a big problem especially around Christmas time when people are ordering many items online,” Lawn explains in a Patch.com article. “This is just not a problem in (apartment) buildings but also in residential neighborhoods. Police have caught people following delivery trucks and grabbing the boxes after they are delivered.”
Last year, the Wellesley, Mass. Police Department released this video after investigating several thefts of packages delivered to the front doors of residents’ homes.
So what can you do to avoid being a victim of this crime? Local police departments offer these three tips:
Check with your shipper for options. UPS offers My Choice, a service that alerts you by text or e-mail a day before the package is scheduled to arrive. You can reschedule the delivery for a different day or reroute the package to be delivered to a different address (a neighbor for example) if you won’t be home.
FedEx offers similar services, including allowing you to hold the package at a FedEx retail location for pickup, or you can go online and request to have the package delivered to your home within a specific delivery time window.
The USPS will hold mail for pick up under some circumstances. Talk to your local USPS office for further information. For instance, if you’re traveling during the holidays all USPS offices offer a hold mail service to keep your packages, and all your mail safe at one of their offices until you return.
Sidenote: Both FedEx and UPS are warning consumers about fraudulent e-mails this year. These e-mails may reference a failed delivery or a suspended account. They are actually “phishing” e-mails, even though they may appear legitimate and come complete with the company brand, logo or legal disclaimers.
These types of e-mails contain invalid hyperlinks that may contain malware, and could corrupt your computer. These are not legitimate e-mails, so if you receive one do not click on any links. Delete the e-mail. FedEx and UPS do not send unsolicited e-mails to customers requesting information regarding packages, payments, invoices, account numbers, passwords, financial information or personal information.
Read more about fraudulent e-mails at the FedEx and UPS websites.
Next Steps:
Home Video Security: UPS Driver Caught Stealing FedEx Package
/by American Alarm Blogging TeamAs you watch the video proof below, know that the front and back doors are crucial places to set up residential video surveillance systems. With cameras positioned in these high-traffic areas, thieves are deterred and any intruders will be visible and captured on the surveillance system as evidence. With modern technology, video security systems can be accessed remotely, ensuring you’re always in the loop. Stay tuned for a follow-up blog post on how you can further protect yourself when packages are delivered by a carrier.
Holiday Home Security and Safety Series: Online Safety
/2 Comments/by American Alarm Blogging TeamAfter the Black Friday mayhem, comes Cyber Monday. And many shoppers will choose to shop online up until just a few days before Christmas.
A Harris Interactive/McAfee study tells us 70% of consumers will shop online during the holiday season, with one in four using a mobile device.
Holiday Home Security and Safety Series: Holiday Shopping Safety
/3 Comments/by American Alarm Blogging TeamIt’s Friday night and you’ve hit the mall. You’re looking to find the perfect gifts for all the people on your holiday shopping list. The last thing on your mind is becoming a victim of crime. The reality is, you very well could be.
The holidays are hectic. Shoppers are easily distracted. They become more unaware of their surroundings, giving criminals more opportunities. Read more →