What You Can Avoid By Using Northstar

Nobody wants their house to be broken into but it happens. One way to avoid being the victim of a break-in is by getting a home security system.

Here’s an example of what you don’t want to happen to you:

Someone broke into a 10th Avenue home on June 22 and got away with a grand.

The 46-year-old owner of the house, which is between 69th and 70th streets, told cops that he’d left his home around 4 pm and returned seven hours later to find the front door unlocked and $1,000 and a cellphone missing from inside.

Northstar Alarm - Making Your Home Recession Proof

Right now a lot of people are trying to cut down on their spending. But during any economic downturn, there is bound to be a rise in crime. In a recent survey of law enforcement agencies, they reported a rise in crime of up to 40%, most of which were home burglaries and thefts. They suggest that these crimes can be traced to the recession.

Is saving money during an economic downturn really worth your family’s safety. Don’t think of a home security system as another expense; think of it as making you and your property recession-proof.

If you already have an home security system and are not advertising, this may be the time to start. It won’t cost you anything and it may deter criminals from trying to enter your house.

You might also want to double check your system. Do some tests around your house with the system to make sure everything is working the way it should. You might also find that your system needs some upgrades in the process. Your system is useless unless it is working properly and, in that case, does become just another expense.

If you’re coming to the end of your agreement with a security company, evaluate the service you’ve been receiving. Have they been responsive? Helpful? Has your equipment held up? If not, look into new security providers. You might be able to find a better provider that’s more affordable.

If you don’t have a security system yet, call us. We can set you up with a brand new Honeywell security system. We can suit your needs and budget. Remember, security isn’t just another expense; it’s about making your home and family recession-proof.

Burglary Prevention – Home Security Secrets!

By: Andy Jon

Fortunately, most burglaries are committed by amateurs or opportunists. It is much easier to be one step ahead of these types of burglars by following some straightforward advice. Don’t think it will happen to you? Don’t you believe it. There has never been a better time to be more home security aware. Act now and don’t wait the until unfortunate happens.

Your Smoke Detector. Are You Certain It Really Works. Or Has It Been Fooling You

A long time ago, before the invention of the smoke detector by Swiss scientists back in the 1940 era, the best protection from smoke or fire was either a cat or dog. These friends of ours are very sensitive to smoke and will either bark or meow loudly while running back and forth in the home. Some didn’t with dire consequences.

There are two types of smoke detectors in use today. One is an optical detector that detects large particles of debris from a slowly burning or smoldering fire. The second type is the ionization detector which detects minute particles form fast burning blazes.

Either type may be powered by battery or electric current. It is a good idea to have both set up in your home and you should have at least one installed on each level of your home. Better yet, place one in every room. They are inexpensive sentinels that can save you life and those of your family.

Visit your local hardware store and you will be amazed at the variety of detectors offered and on display. The big question is, how do you know which is best. Probably your best source of information on this subject will come form review sites. Take some time to check the reviews before purchasing.

Recently a friend told me about an apartment fire in his building. The fire began when a heavy drapery was installed above an electric baseboard heater. The drape was too long and covered most of the heater. A small capillary switch became confused by the thermostat calling for more heat and the heaters inability to dispense the heat properly. It did this switching on and off rapidly for 14 hours before sparks began when the insulation burned off from the heat. The sparks started a fire on the drape and the rest is history.

Following the fire management checked the rest of the apartments in the building and found that over 30 percent had their batteries disconnected. Further inquiries found that each renter had replaced the battery in his/her unit during the past few months. The question then was, why did the detectors not work when checked?

Everyone had the same story. They had checked their detectors, found the batteries were dead and replaced them. They opened the detector cover, placed the new battery in the space provided, the detector beeped a few times. They closed the covers and went to bed secure in their belief that they were safe. Little did they know they were totally without protection from smoke.

Anyone who has ever placed a 9V battery in any apparatus will have discovered that the batteries do not simply slide into the leads but must be squeezed onto the leads with quite a bit of force otherwise they will not make a good connection.

Through trial and error, management found that because of the confined area within the small detectors a finger could not be inserted to hold the battery lead while trying to push the battery onto the leads. Because of this the battery would touch the leads at first, causing the alarm to sound. The cover was then closed but the connection was still not made.

Management then made the effort to educate all of the residents so that they would be safe in the future. Play it safe. If you are not sure your smoke detector works properly, ask anyone for assistance. Don’t take a chance with your life.

By: Joe Mac Millan

Home Security – How Can I Improve It?

Burglars are often opportunists, but are very good at targeting properties that appear undefended that leave doors and windows open. The first thing you should look at when improving your home security is securing your doors and windows. Consider installing deadbolt door locks for your doors and secure window catches for windows, especially the catches that don’t allow your window to open more than a few inches. It may be worth replacing your doors and/or windows if they are old and in need of repair. The worse condition they are in, the easier it will be for an intruder to break into your property.

Improving your exterior lighting will considerably increase your home security as intruders obviously don’t want to be seen when breaking into a property. Make sure you choose a position to mount your security lighting so that very poor lit areas of your garden will be illuminated. A popular choice is the PIR motion sensor exterior security light which senses changes in heat and hence will illuminate when something is within its range. These can also act as a welcome-home light to illuminate your path when you arrive home at night. It is also worth cutting down overgrown bushes and trees as these often shield a burglars attempt at the break-in.

Interior lighting is just as important as you will want to give the impression that someone is always at home. A dark, unlit house is a magnet to the burglar. Use timers to switch your lights on and off. You could also leave a radio switched on.

One of the most effective ways to defend your home is to install a home alarm system. The visual presence of a siren/bell box together with signage will often put off a burglar, even before they set foot onto your land. But for those who think they are smarter than the alarm system will get a surprise when they trigger the sounder. A professionally installed alarm system will prevent virtually all burglaries attempted by opportunist intruders. Ultimately, when a burglar sees you have an alarm system, they will move on to an easier target.

For real peace of mind, install a monitored burglar alarm system. These systems are connected via your phone line to a monitoring center. If your alarm system is triggered then the monitoring center are notified and they immediately call your home. Unless whoever picks up the phone can give the correct pass-code or if there is no answer then they will call the authorities straight away. If you are concerned that the burglar may cut your phone line then you can install a wireless monitored alarm system. These use regular cell phone technology to dial the alarm center so no phone line is needed.

Always go for a quality alarm system and the best you can afford. Less expensive alarm systems may be easily disabled by a burglar. Take advice from a leading alarm company before you purchase a system so that you get the correct and most effective security solution for your requirements.

By: Andy Jon