How to keep your home safe from illegal entry and from burglary is a common worry today, and it’s understandable; there are constant reports of thefts of all kind, from corporate theft to identity theft, and people want to protect their possessions. Of course, the problem with home security is that it can be hard to know what home security products are the best to keep your house safe. The number of home security products and companies are growing, and they all have a variety of things to offer. But before you buy more security than your local jewelry store has, evaluate some of the different kinds of home security products and how they can help.
The Total Approach
When it comes to home security, it's hard to beat alarm companies such as ADT or Brinks, that sell alarms as well as provide the monitoring service to go with them, similar to how cable companies will provide you equipment as well as charge you a monthly fee. An alarm system installed by a professional installer and monitoring is one of the best home security products that your money can buy. These companies also offer, in addition to simple monitoring services, fire monitoring and even carbon monoxide monitoring to keep your family safe. The big disadvantage to these home security alarm, of course, is the cost. The initial cost of the equipment is often high, and some people just can’t budget for the monthly fee, no matter how moderate.
Check the Doors
Sometimes increasing the amount of security your home has involves just changing the locks. It’s unfortunate to say so, but the barrier that most people use to keep their home from being exposed to the outside, their front door, isn’t an adequate block against thieves. Most door jams are made out of soft wood, which makes an easy task of kicking the door in. Even the hole your lock slides into is probably only held in by a few small screws. Hope isn’t lost, though, since you can easily improve upon this with door reinforcement kits and new strike plates for your locks. For even more security, install a heavy deadbolt that requires a key to open from either side. These home security products are readily available at most major home improvement stores.
The Bare Minimum
If you’re not going with an alarm system, there are home security products that operate more as deterrents to thieves rather than anything else. Most of these work off light, such as motion sensor lighting systems, which can be installed around the house. No thief wants to deal with lights illuminating his entry every step he takes and the lights also mean extra security for you when you get home, even if you’ve forgotten to turn on your porch light. Another effective home security product is timers for the lights inside. A few of these set to turn lights on and off at preset times can give the illusion that you're home, even if you're miles away. Again, things like this won’t stop a determined thief, but even a strong lock and a great security system won’t if the person is desperate enough. Still, whether you opt for the simple or complex, using one or all of these home security products will increase the chances a burglar will pick an easier target and leave you and your things safe.
Filed under Home Security Guide by on May 16th, 2009. Comment. 
You live in an area that has a reasonably high crime rate. Thus, you do not want any chances, and would like to get some home security doors. However, you cannot just chose any door and make that a home security door. Rather, when it comes to choosing the right home security doors, there are several things that you should look for.
About Home Security Doors
The best home security door will not necessarily go with the décor of your home. For example, if your home as an open look and you would like to have glass doors, be aware that those will not make for good security doors.
Additionally, people make the mistake of getting wooden doors and thinking that because the wood has been polished and treated, it will be enough to withstand a robber. This is not true, because some woods are softer than others, so be sure to choose a door made out of strong wood, such as oak.
Some people do not have the money for an elaborate home security door, so they have several bolt locks attached to the door. Keep in mind that it will also keep other people out too, as no one from the outside can get in without a key, but it is a good way to keep out robbers.
When it comes to selecting the right home security doors, you have several options. The first option is a door with a complicated lock system. Remember that skilled robbers can pick locks, so you must have a lock installed that will open with a key, but not through any other means.
Some people choose to go with the ultimate kind of home security door, and that is a home security door that is made out of steel. Now, it is important to note that this will look rather ridiculous in an everyday neighborhood if you get certain door designs, so be sure to get a door design that fits with your home, otherwise it might actually attract robbers, since they might think that you are protecting things that are worth a lot of money.
There are several places that you can go to purchase a secure door. The first place that you should check is your local home improvement center. Prices will, of course, vary with whatever kind of door you choose. With the proper research, you are sure to find a home security door that looks nice and at the same time keeps you safe.
Filed under Home Security Guide by on May 15th, 2009. Comment.
Security should be one of the most important considerations for your home. Why fill your home with your personal effects and decorate it if the home can be so easily burgled? It makes more sense to have a security system fitted that will deter intruders and send them elsewhere.
This article is designed to give you an idea of the sort of intruder alarm protection you’ll need in a private house. It does not replace the advice of a professional Security Surveyor/System Designer from a reputable security installer. The article will give you a degree of understanding and help you to discuss your home’s security with a security professional.
Christie Intruder Alarms (CIA) consider that the best way to protect residential property is by using trap protection. Trap protection is a strategy for protecting a property without fitting sensors in every room.
Statistics show that villains rarely break in through windows at the front of a house. They are even less likely to stay in one room and leave through the same front window; they are more likely to go straight to the master bed room. So fitting sensors in the rear rooms of the house and in the hallway is often considered sufficient for the ground floor.
Also as kitchens have heat sources (boilers, fridges, ovens, washing machines and such) and hard surfaces, they are generally considered unstable areas and rarely contain items of value. Therefore, as a rule, a kitchen should not be protected with PIR.
Through our 35+ years of experience, we have learnt that even dual technology detectors are unsuitable for kitchens, as the microwave motion sensor will detect movement through glass, thin walls and will even be triggered by water moving in pipes.
There are various reasons for adopting a trap protection strategy. The first is to limit the false alarm potential of a system and the more detectors a property has, the higher the false alarm potential. All detectors (even the top of the range ones that CIA use) sometimes false alarm. These false alarms are becoming increasingly onerous due to the new hard line that Police Forces are taking regarding attendance. False alarms result in withdrawn Police attendance.
Another important factor is cost – using a good quality sensor would make it expensive to protect each room.
As external alarm boxes are a good deterrent, just having an alarm system installed by a recognized intruder alarm installer should deter most villains, whether they are opportunists or professionals. After all, burglars don’t know whether or not your system is monitored by a central station who will alert the Police in the instance of an alarm – it’s easier for them to go next door or somewhere that doesn’t have an alarm system.
Burglar Alarms
Burglars, and indeed any intruders, are overwhelmingly deterred by a burglar alarm (or, as we say in the trade, an ‘intruder alarm’) more than any other form of home security. It is better to take preventative measures as opposed to the ‘shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted’. You are far more likely to be burgled if you have been burgled before. Villains are renowned for returning to the same properties.
Break-in’s are a unfortunate fact of life. Being broken into in a residential property is obviously more distressing than a burglary in the work place and although vandalism is rare, the loss of sentimental artefacts can be most upsetting.
As the Number One security installer in the South of England, Christie Intruder Alarms (CIA) use a combination of detection devices. The most popular devices are the PIR (Passive Infra-Red) detectors, magnetic reed contacts, breaking glass detectors, infra-red beams, pressure pads, case wiring, vibration detectors and dual technology sensors (sensors that combine Passive Infra-Red with Microwave or Ultrasonic detection).
Always choose a company that has been awarded the prestigious NSI NACOSS Gold Medal. The Gold Medal is only awarded to companies who consistently deliver an outstanding performance in security management.
NSI is an acronym of the National Security Inspectorate. Formerly known as NACOSS, the NSI is an independent, not-for-profit approvals body providing inspection services for the security and fire industries.
Monitoring – Alarm Receiving
For complete peace of mind, many people choose to have their intruder alarms monitored. If an alarm is monitored, then, when it detects an intruder it automatically sends a signal via the phone line and/or cellular network to an ARC (Alarm Receiving Centre – these used to be referred to as Central Stations or Monitoring Stations) and the appropriate action is taken. CIA uses Southern Monitoring Services (SMS) Ltd – http://www.smon.co.uk.
New Police/Constabulary Service guidelines (the ACPO Policy on Response to Security – ACPO are the Association of Chief Police Officers of England, Wales and Northern Ireland) state that the Police will now only attend monitored alarms that confirm alarm activations (unless installed pre October 2002).
Confirmation is received when a second detection device is triggered during the same intrusion; therefore, something is definitely on site and moving around.
On receiving the first activation, the ARC will notify a keyholder but if a second detection device is triggered in the same activation, this confirms to the ARC that ‘something’ is definitely on site and moving around, and the Police are instantly alerted.
If an intruder is detected, a signal is sent from the alarm system using either a standard digital communicator, BT RedCare, BT RedCare GSM or CSL DualComm, via the phone line and/or a cellular network.
A standard digital communicator works by sending signals via the ordinary analogue telephone network, as does BT RedCare, however, with RedCare the ARC are alerted if the phone line fails, either through attack or a genuine line fault, as the line is constantly monitored.
BT RedCare GSM and CSL DualComm send alarm activations via the phone line and a cellular network to for increased security. These forms of signalling are ideal if your insurance company requires your alarm to transmit ‘confirmation’ signals after a line cut.
Your home is your greatest asset. Why leave it vulnerable when it clearly pays to have your house protected by security professionals.
Christie Intruder Alarms (CIA) Ltd headquarters are in Waterlooville, Portsmouth, Hampshire.
We Install and Service anything you will ever need to protect your home and your business, including;
Intruder Alarms, Fire Alarms, CCTV, Access Control, Locks, Safes, Fire Extinguishers and Fire Extinguishing Systems (Gaseous or water), Ram-raid and car park barriers, bar and grilles and all manners of Physical Security.
Visit our website at http://www.ciaalarms.co.uk
Filed under Home Security System by on May 14th, 2009. Comment.