Security Cameras For Your Peace of Mind

By Owen Gerrard

The reasons for installing cctv cameras are the same whether you own a home or business. Protecting your property, family and employees is probably at the top of your list of priorities. You’re not the only one that feels that way. Sales of home and business security systems have exploded in recent years. Even before 9/11, security system sales were on the rise. After the terrorist attacks, sales of home and business security cameras rose by as much as 20% over the course of three months.

The rise in sales of security cameras is justified by the results. Police in most major cities say that the chances of a break-in or robbery are nearly cut in half by the presence of an obvious security camera on the premises. Business owners report that theft by both customers and employees is nearly eliminated when they install the right security camera system. And we’ve certainly all seen the dramatic footage taken by home security video cameras that have led to the conviction of criminals who have abused children, burglarized homes or otherwise broken the law.

What can security cameras do for your peace of mind?

Secure Your Business with a Security Camera System

You’ve seen them – the ubiquitous, all-seeing eyes of a video surveillance system in local stores. The most obvious commercial use for a security camera is to prevent loss of merchandise through shoplifting and theft. It’s far from the only way that security cameras are used in business, though.

Security cameras can log transactions at the cash register or ATM, monitor remote areas of the plant for safety reasons, monitor the premises after hours and ensure that your employees are treating both you and your customers fairly. Evidence taken from security camera systems has been used as evidence in sexual harassment suits, burglary trials, even murder trials. The evidence isn’t always used to convict, either. In one case, the security videotapes from security video camera covering an employee parking lot were used to prove that the car of an employee could NOT have been used in a hit and run accident that took place several blocks away – they showed the car parked in its usual spot every 2 minutes throughout the entire day.

Business owners have installed security cameras at cash registers, overlooking dressing rooms, in parking garages and on loading docks. A security camera in the elevator greatly increases the safety of a building. Security cameras have been used to monitor work progress at construction sites and aid managers in making decisions about unexpected occurrences that may keep a project from completing on time.

Protect Your Family with a Home Security Camera System

According to police in any major city, the mere presence of a home security camera can reduce the chances that your home will be burglarized by as much as 80%. In addition, security cameras can monitor an infant’s room, identify callers at the front door and allow you to view what’s going on at home when you’re away at the office – or on a longer trip. Combined with remote monitoring, a security camera in your home can help alert police to a break in at your home, and provide evidence for conviction if one should happen.

There are a wide variety of security camera systems to choose from for either home or business. A consultation with a professional security installation company can help you decide which is the right one for your needs.

Is Your Business Property Safe and Secure?

By Jimmie Newell

Security Professionals provide the products and services necessary to create a safe and secure workplace for you and your employees. Products such as lever hardware, panic and exit devices, desk locks and high security key control systems, as well as security boxes and safes, can help you protect your business and property. In addition, electronic access control systems can be designed to restrict access to the building or business complex in order to increase security and control.

Security Professionals are also trained to identify potential risk areas in your business. Assets such as computer hardware and office equipment are particularly vulnerable. To assist you in controlling theft, sophisticated equipment locks, loss prevention services and exit alarms are available.

In addition to offering a wide range of products, Security Professionals provide such value-added services as rekeying, key duplicating and consultation on governmental regulations such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Security Professionals can assist you in complying with these regulations by recommending and installing approved specialized door hardware, automatic door operators, low opening resistance and delayed action door controls.

Contact your local Security Professional, for all your business and residential security needs. They have the training, and are equipped to provide the information, products, services and proper installation to ensure peace of mind for your family, business and property.

Businesses face some unique security risks, some that you may not have considered are:

ADA compliance

The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires "barrier free" entry to and egress from all public and commercial property that handicapped persons could have access to. If your property is not in compliance, you could face fines, and lawsuits. Your Security professional has the knowledge and training to help with this special risk, they will survey your property, and make recommendations, for any non- compliant hardware.

Audit of key control systems

Unauthorized key duplication, is one of the biggest threats to all businesses, and is usually overlooked and very hard to detect. Key control is usually compromised because of the complete lack of, or very poor key control. Crimes committed with duplicate keys are very difficult to detect, and very difficult to prove. There are high security key systems available, that can insure that no one obtains a duplicate key without your authorization. There are access control systems available, that can do away with keys all together, and provide audit trails of who and when someone enters your property.

Using the correct safe or security container.

Are you using your fire or record safe for storage of cash and valuables? Many businesses make this error, fire and/or record safes are built to protect paper records from destruction from fire, most are not usually meant for protection of cash and valuables. There are some units available that are constructed to provide protection from fire and burglary, you should check with your Security Professional, to be sure of what you have.

Some businesses that keep high value items (jewelry stores) may be required by their insurance carrier, to use high security containers, others that keep cash value securities (airline tickets) may be required by their franchise and/or their insurance carrier to use a particular security container. If you are not using the correct container, and suffer a loss, your loss may not be covered. Your Security Professional has the training and knowledge to help you make sure you are using the proper security container.

Safeguard Your Home

With the rising crime rate in the United States, personal security has become a primary concern for many Americans. To combat this fear, many people are increasing the level of home security to protect their families and valuables.

Security Professionals can assess your current level of home security and recommend ways to improve it. These experts can then suggest the appropriate security products, such as entry locks, deadbolts, decorative hardware, door viewers, window and patio locks to meet your needs. In addition, they also can provide information on a wide range of electronic detection devices, such as motion sensors and exterior floodlights, and closed circuit TV systems.

Security Professionals are also experts in the wide range of fire resistant, burglary resistant and gun safes designed to protect you valuable items and important documents.

Please visit http://www.SecureYourStuff.com for links to manufacturers sites and crime prevention sites, many of which have additional security tips.

Jim Newell a Security Professional and Consultant for over 35 years, operates a wed site who's mission is to bring you information about security systems , security devices and security hardware. To help you to make informed and educated decisions about securing your personal property, your home and your business property. Visit www.secureYourStuff.com for more info.

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Protect Your Home as Well as Your Family

By T. R. Walton

How secure is your home?

How accessible is your home?

How often do you ask yourself these questions. Your home is where you and your family want to be safe from the daily stresses of life and most definitely from crime. A burglary happens every 15 seconds in this country. Though many intrusions are non confrontational have you ever asked yourself what if I or my family were home during a burglary? Most Burglaries happen during daytime hours because this is the time many of us are working, going to school, etc. The typical burglar is looking for anything of value. Rape and/or sexual assault after a break-in happens almost regularly during the summer months when windows and doors are left open and unlocked. If you try to think like a burglar for a minute the first step in planning a break-in would be to figure out when the home owners are not home. You would watch the daily routine of the homes occupants. The next step would be to figure out how difficult gaining entry to the house would be.

A couple of things come to mind here; Locked doors and windows, alarm systems, and even surveillance cameras now. Burglars are going to enter your home by either walking right thru an unlocked door or open window, using tools to break in or unlock the existing locks, or simply using force to gain entry so lets look the first steps in preventing a burglary. Door an window locks are the homes initial barrier to be overcome by an intruder. Typically the garage and rear doors of the house are the weekest entry points as well as first floor windows on the sides and rear of the home. These areas may also provide cover for the burglar. You will want to make sure your locks make it very difficult to gain entry. Use a solid core or metal door for all entry areas, Use a quality, heavy-duty, deadbolt lock with a one-inch throw bolt Use a quality, heavy-duty, knob-in-lock set with a dead-latch mechanism Use a heavy-duty strike plate with 3-inch screws to penetrate into a wooden door frame, use multiple locks for your doors as well. Sliding glass doors have blocking bars that can be inserted in the track to prevent the door from sliding open. You can use pins that slide thru the track as well to prevent sliding or lifting of the door. Windows are often left open during the summer months. Blocking devices are neccessary to keep the window from opening further. A window should not be left open more than six inches or enough to allow a burglar to reach in and unlock or remove blocking device.

If an intruder makes it into your home via door, broken window, etc. we suggest the next step of arming your home via an alarm system that is monitored and dispatched to police upon an alarm or simply by having detection and sound alarm devices to not only scare off an intruder but also warn anyone who may be home at the time. Devices such as Door and window sound alarms, motion alarms, vibration alarms, etc. Alarm yard signs and window decals are also a great deterrent as well as the lighting in and around your home. We suggest using floodlights with motion sensors around the exterior of your home and timers that your lights and appliances plug into and will come on automatically simulating people are home. You may purchase surveillance cameras to help further deter and/or monitor your homes activities when you are not there.

These images can be viewed and recorded onto time lapse recorders or your PC with proper software. You can even watch your home while on vacation thru your laptop computer. These are the basic steps in in preventing home burglary as well as protecting your family. For more information on crime prevention and personal self defense visit us at http://www.Futuretechsafety.com

10yrs+ in commercial, financial, home security industry.

www.futuretechsafety.com