What Breeds of Guard Dogs are Best for Home Security

There are various burglary alarms and home surveillance systems available, designed to help you protect your home. Although they are good in their own rights, nothing compares to an old fashioned guard dog. Guard dogs have been used for generations to help people protect their homes and their belongings.

For many years, guard dogs have helped to scare off burglars and thieves. Although most have gotten used to dogs now days, nothing fends off a thief more than a vicious dog grabbing his ankle and clamping down. Almost all guard dogs have serious bites and can seriously injure a burglar. Guard dogs are trained to protect one’s home and they will do so no matter what.

When you get a guard dog, you should always make sure that you let him know who is safe to be around your home. You don’t want the dog to be vicious towards everyone, as friends and family are certainly allowed to be around your home. Most guard dogs are left outside of the home, with some deciding to keep them indoors. Indoor dogs are great, as they will instantly catch a burglar the second he decides to break into your home.

If you plan to keep your guard dog indoors, you should always have a supply of food and water available, as he will be there when you aren’t. You will also need to give him access to an outdoor area as well, so he can use the bathroom. A fenced in yard is an ideal place for a guard dog to go outside, as he can come and go as he pleases. Sometimes, a burglar will try and sneak around the back entrance which is where giving a guard dog outside access can really come in handyBefore buying the dog, you should always carefully research the species and where you plan to get your dog from. Police dogs or dogs that have been trained for protection are ideal, as they already know how to defend things. Dobermans and Pit Bulls are great for protection as well, simply because they are well known for being very vicious.

If you carefully research your options and get your guard dog from a reliable source, you shouldn’t have much of anything to worry about. You should never get your dog from a lesser known or poor source, as the dog may be poorly trained or not in good health. A guard dog can be a great addition to any home providing you get a dog in good health and more than capable to fend of burglars.

Burglars Might Have Keys to Your House!

What can you do to safeguard your home if your house keys accidentally end up in the wrong hands? That’s a question nearly two out of every three American homeowners should consider closely, according to a new study.

The study, Danger at America’s Doorstep: Who Has Keys to Your Home?, looked at how homeowners protect–or fail to protect–their house keys and safeguard their home.

The survey found that a majority (64 percent) of American homeowners have knowingly circulated their house keys outside of their immediate family and nearly one-third (27 percent) of American homeowners have given out a key three or more times.

Every 15 seconds a burglar breaks into a house, apartment or condo in the U.S. Burglars are often quick to attack a home’s easiest point of entry, and nothing’s easier than unlocking a front door with a set of keys. According to John Heppner, President and CEO of Fortune Brands Storage and Security, including Master Lock Company L.L.C., “Too many Americans underestimate the potential risks they invite to their homes when they let their house keys wander.”

Fortunately, there are ways to prevent strangers from entering your home–even if they have your key. For example, the Master Lock NightWatch Deadbolt looks and works just like a standard deadbolt lock, but it offers a powerful new security feature-a patent pending blocking function that locks out all keys.

To activate, owners simply lock the deadbolt as they would a standard deadbolt and then pull the lever towards them. This simple motion locks the deadbolt into an “engaged” position that blocks out any key. The lock can only be engaged or disengaged from indoors and can be easily installed in any standard entry door, replacing any other standard deadbolt.

To safeguard their homes, homeowners should:

1. Keep keys secured where they won’t be forgotten or left behind.

2. Don’t hide keys in “secret” places outside your home-experienced burglars can usually find them.

3. Never attach your keys to anything that lists your name, address or phone number, and never leave them behind in a locked (or unlocked) car.

4. Always separate your house keys from your car keys each time you valet your car or drop it off for maintenance.

5. Only give your keys to someone who will watch over them as if they were their own.

Do It Yourself Home Security System - Solar Powered Security Camera

We are all looking to “go green” lately, so why not do it with your Do it yourself Home Security System? I saw this cool DIY Home Security Video on youtube recently, and thought I would share!

Honeywell Burglar Alarm Systems

More and more, homeowners are using home security monitoring services, such as Honeywell Home Burglar Alarm Systems, to keep their families, and property safe from intrusion, fire, and carbon monoxide poisoning.  According to a variety of researchers today, Honeywell Home Burglar Alarm Systems are enjoying some of the highest home security systems rating, due to the variety of technologies available to the markets.  Here are five reasons why:

The first reason that Honeywell Home Burglar Alarm Systems enjoys a high home security systems rating is because of technological innovations such as “Optiflex” internet video security, one of the most cost-effective video monitoring systems available today.  “Optiflex” allows Honeywell’s customer the additional peace of mind in letting them look in on their property while away, via an internet based connection, from anywhere on earth.  Another company may beat Honeywell Home Burglar Alarm Systems by shaving a few dollars off the price, but no other company can beat the clarity and quality of digital video.

Reason number two that Honeywell Home Burglar Alarm Systems is known for their high home security systems rating is another leading innovation known as “Symphony.”  “Symphony” is a state-of-the-art, one-touch system that is as simple and easy as a homeowner could dream.  Most homeowners have enough going on in their day-to-day life and “Symphony” allows an easy to use access point for their home security system while attending to their ever increasingly busy lifestyles.

The next reason that Honeywell Home Burglar Alarm Systems enjoys a high home-security system rating is “AlarmNet.”  “AlarmNet” is a family of communications services that has been built specifically for the home security industry.  At present, there are a total of four types of network services, and offers the advantage of redundancy with two different fundamental technologies.

A fourth reason Honeywell Home Burglar Alarm Systems enjoys a high home security systems rating is the “TotalConnect” advantage.  “TotalConnect” offer homeowners the ability to monitor not only their property, but also to keep in touch with, via communication, their loved ones.  “TotalConnect” is peace of mind and protection all at once.

The fifth reason Honeywell Home Burglar Alarm Systems is enjoying such a high level of home security systems rating is their structured wiring product.  Structured wiring is an innovation that allows all of the wiring in your home- security system, audio and video, internet, cable/satellite television, and even your HVAC wiring- to be organized into a central panel.  This allows you the ease and advantage of connecting the desired wiring into any room of your house at will.

Monitored Home Security Alarm Systems

There are several types of monitored home security alarm systems but they are designed to detect intrusion, fire and poisonous gases. There are several home security systems rating standards. In the United Kingdom, they are designed to BS 4737 and DD243. Home security monitoring companies offer the following general features in standard home security systems.

• Master control panel could be considered the brain of the entire system. When a detector is triggered, it operates the alarm.
• The internal siren sends a loud ring inside the premises when the alarm is activated.
• The control keypad with panic buttons is used to set or reset the monitored home security system. This is generally placed near the entry doors for easy access.
• Door and window contacts are used to detect intrusion when the doors or the windows are opened without proper keys. One part of the contact is attached to the door and the other part is fixed to the doorframe. When an unauthorized entry is done, the contact is broken and the alarm is activated.
• Breaking glass detectors are attached to window glasses and they are triggered when the window glass is broken.
• Passive Infrared detectors or PIRs are activated when an intruder enters the room. The PIR senses the body heat and the alarm is triggered.
• Smoke and gas detectors are used to detect fire and poisonous gases like carbon monoxide. This sensor captures smoke or gas molecules and it is activated when they exceed certain fixed levels.
• Battery backup ensures that the system works even during power failure. In general, the battery backup and the controlling transformer are designed for several hours’ functioning.
• Monitored home security system is connected to the alarm-receiving center or the office of the monitoring agency through a telephone line and a matching signaling system.
• On receiving an alert, the monitoring agency rings up your home to verify whether there had been any problem. If there is no answer, the agency calls the relevant regulatory authorities like police, fire department, etc.

Home Security Monitoring Companies

Apart from the above monitored home security system, home security monitoring companies also offer other features like compound wall sensors, triggered floodlights for lawns in case of an intruder entering the premises outside the house, garage security systems, etc. Several other fancy add-ons are also available in the market but they are generally meant for specific applications like pet detection to prevent false alarms when a cat or a dog is moving around the house.

For monitored home security system services, the pricing is done in two parts. The first part goes for the cost of the monitored home security system and its installation. This is a one-time payment. The second part is charged every month for monitoring your home and acting when an alarm is triggered. The payment for a good home security system is completely justified when you consider the value of your cherished possessions and the risk to the lives of your dear ones.

How Safe is Your Monitored Home Security System?

Some consumers have opted, in the past, to save money on a home security monitoring system, with other means like firearms, dogs, or even something so simple as a neighborhood watch program.  Regardless of where one stands on the issue of gun ownership, how is a firearm going to stop a burglar, while you and your loved ones are away on a vacation?

As for keeping dogs instead of using a home security company, most burglars anticipate the presence of pets and are prepared with either some sort of distraction for the animal, or are even prepared to kill the dog in order to have access to your valuables.

Now, as for neighborhood watch programs, in lieu of home security monitoring systems, if a burglar is invading your house while you are asleep, more then likely don’t you think the neighbors are just as likely to be asleep.

As well, home security monitoring systems are not just for preventing burglaries, anymore.  A good home security system company will not only help to keep your home safe from intruders while you’re away, they can also help protect you and your loved ones from fire, and even carbon monoxide poisoning.

Not only do modern home security monitoring companies now have the technology, and the infrastructure, in place to detect hazards such as fire but also they will even call the fire department for you.  An outbreak of carbon monoxide poisoning can kill your entire family in their sleep.  However, today’s home security monitoring systems can detect these problems and notify the homeowner while they are at work or elsewhere, to prevent anyone entering the danger waiting for them.

Nevertheless, you do not have to be a homeowner, to enjoy the benefits and safety of a home security monitoring company.  As crime is ever increasing, and in an effort to attract quality tenants, more and more property managers are having home security monitoring systems installed for their tenants.  A simple matter of providing access cards for the main entrance, and even swimming pools and gyms eliminate the need for additional keys to be carried or fumbled with late at night.

The benefits to you and your family are beyond words.  Ask the home security monitoring company such as Honeywell Home Security for a free risk assessment to help you determine what sort of system you might need for your family’s security.  Honeywell Home Security offer free risk assessments so that they know the home security they can provide will not only meet your needs in safety but also give you the peace of mind you deserve in your own home.

Home Security Monitoring Companies Brinks

Home security has become a top priority these days. With the increase in thefts and burglaries due to the economic recession, homeowners are forced to have a foolproof monitored home security system installed in their residences. A good home security system protects not only the valued household possessions but also the loved family members from being harmed by thieves and robbers. However, it is also necessary that the home security system be monitored 24 hours, because there has to be an immediate response if the alarm of the security system is triggered.

The main features of a monitored home security system can be listed as follows:

• The alarm system should notify the monitoring agency when a protected door or window is broken or tampered with.
• The burglar alarm system should provide a yard sign to potential intruders that the home is fitted with a monitored home security system.
• The monitoring agency should be able to notify the police and other emergency agencies immediately in a simple manner.
• When the smoke/heat detector is triggered due to a fire, the monitoring agency should be able to inform the fire department and other agencies at once.
• When carbon monoxide or other poisonous gases rise to dangerous levels inside the house, the monitoring agency should be able to detect it immediately through the security system and call for medical assistance, as well as evacuation specialists.

The above advantages would not be available in non-monitored home security systems. As such, a non-monitored security system might protect against burglars but would not offer complete safeguard in case of fire or poisonous gas hazards. Even in case of burglary, if the alarm is limited to the neighborhood, there is no guarantee that the neighbors would call for help immediately. Hence, it is always ideal to have a 24-hour monitory agency when a home security system is installed.

While selecting home security monitoring companies, it is advisable to evaluate several companies in your city. The size of the organization, past experience, and the types of systems offered should be carefully considered, along with the pricing. Home security system rating should also be kept in mind. A substandard system is as good as not having any security system at all. The home security monitoring companies normally provide details about their organization and home security system ratings. If there is a doubt, you could ask for a list of existing and past clients. Calling them for information about the quality of service offered by the agency would provide valuable insight into the effectiveness of that particular company.

Certain home security monitoring systems link directly to the city police station. This could also be a viable option, if you are not able to afford the 24-hour services of home security monitoring companies. Still, the marginal amount of extra payment to home security monitoring companies is definitely justified because of the fast, prompt and right response of these agencies. They are able to access all the concerned emergency agencies like the police department, the fire service, medical service, and other related services as soon as threat is detected.