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.

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

Travel Away from Home with Peace of Mind with a Home Security System

With the summer travel season approaching in a few months, many people are planning on taking extended vacations away from their home. While this may be an enjoyable time for the family, it is also a time when the home is vulnerable to break ins and burglaries. Before you take that trip this summer, buy yourself a little peace of mind and have a home security system professionally installed. Having a fully monitored home security system means your home will be protected from theft and intrusion while you are away enjoying your vacation and you can rest assured that help will be dispatched if the alarm is triggered.

Having a home security system with professional installation and live monitoring is a good investment for any home. With crime statistics showing home invasions and burglaries on the upswing, it’s important to have protection for your home all year round. Having a monitored home security system is a sure way to have help dispatched to your home when the alarm is triggered so a burglary can be stopped in its tracks. This is important regardless of whether you are at home or away on vacation. While you are a way on vacation, as long as your system is armed, you home is protected by around the clock monitoring. You do not have to worry if your home is safe from intrusion. Monitoring guarantees that help will be summoned immediately to your home hopefully in time to apprehend any intruders who were not scared off by the high decibel alarm that sounded when they broke into your home.

When you are travelling away from home, the last thing you should worry about is your home’s security. That is why having a professionally monitored home security system is a good idea. It allows you to travel away from your home with the peace of mind that your home is protected around the clock by state of the art technology and live monitors who are standing by in a centralized monitoring center ready to act should an alarm be triggered at your home. They are well versed in the protocols of what to do when an alarm is triggered in your home, and if they are unsuccessful in their attempts to reach you, they will immediately call the police to your location.

Live monitoring means never having to depend on neighbors to act when they hear your security alarm sounding. Many people disregard security alarms or figure that the homeowners are handling it in their own way. The monitors make sure that each alarm that is triggered is handled in a professional fashion and that police are dispatched to every alarm that is verified as valid by the monitor. This means that your home is covered and police will respond to an alarm whether you are home or not.

With the travelling season of summer approaching, many homeowners who will be taking extended vacations should really consider investing in a monitored home security system. It is a surefire way to make sure you home is protected while you are away from any unwanted intrusion and burglary with a guarantee that help will be dispatched when the alarm is triggered.

By: Laura Williamson