Jeff’s Security Products Blog

Security cameras were once only used by the government, banks, convenient stores, casinos, and other high dollar institutions and property owners.  But now the cost-effective production of security cameras has changed the game.  Today’s technological advancements allow for the everyday consumer and homeowner to buy and use what was once only reserved for the rich.  Furthermore, if you are willing to install the cameras yourself, the security option becomes even more cost-effective.  Do-It-Yourself websites and forums help make this easier than ever before.

          There are also inexpensive small and wireless security cameras available which offer some advantages.  The small cameras can be positioned discreetly without attracting too much attention.  This makes the devices easier to place and more effective because the cameras are not as easily identified.  The same discretion if offered through wireless cameras.  Because there are obviously no wires to deal with, the placement of the camera is made easy.  Discretion can help you and your security system catch potential thieves who are unaware to your home’s defense.
          In addition to the size and type of security camera, there are also a variety of inexpensive camera styles.  You can choose the right style for your property and for your desired level of coverage.  The many different styles have different capabilities when it comes to visual distance, resolution, and span of view.  There are bullet cameras available at www.securityproductssuperstore.com as low as $79.50.  Dome cameras are as low as $39, spy cameras start at $99.95., and of course there are fake cameras which are as low as $15.99.  Visit the security products superstore website to learn more about inexpensive security cameras.

Home security is something you cannot take for granted regardless how famous you are. A burglar can strike your home regardless of where you live in this world. A good example of this is one of the most famous people in the world, Paris Hilton. The Los Angeles Times has reported that her home was burglarized and over $2 Million Dollars worth of jewelry stolen. There are a couple things interesting about this story and how it can apply to all of us. 1. First of all the police do not believe this was a professional burglar. A guard reported a burglar “wearing a hooded sweat shirt and gloved” entered the home and “ransacked her bedroom,” said Los Angeles Police Officer April Harding. LAPD officials said the suspect or suspects snatched jewelry worth around $2 million from the home in the 3300 block of Clarendon Road before fleeing. 2. Although she lived in a gated community, with a security system, she still protected her home with a security system as well. Because most of us do not live in gated areas this makes having a security system on our homes even more important. How would you feel if something valuable was stolen from you? Paris Hilton had $2 million worth of jewelry stolen, but can you place a value on personal items that could never be replaced if they were stolen?  One interesting statistic is that burglaries have asked actually decreased over the last 30 years. Statistically less homes are being burglarized every year but there is a couple of reasons for this. First of all burglars are finding that stealing things and turning around and selling them is becoming harder to do. The reason for this is more people have stuff and do not need to buy it. The second reason is something that you can actually do. Did you know one out of four homes have some sort of security system protecting it. In many cases this is something very simple such as a burglar alarm or alarm kit like you can find at Home Security Stores. One thing burglars do not want is notoriety and an alarm draws attention to them at the worst possible time. Other things such as better locks, steel bars, stronger doors and security glass, all make it more difficult for a burglar to get into your home. Locks are an interesting aspect of this because they are more intricate now. It is more difficult for a burglar to break in, and in some cases people are actually paying attention to whether they work or not. They are getting their locks updated, or even changed, and paying attention to who actually has a key to their home or business. One final point to make is when burglars are out casing neighborhoods they often just look for easy entry such as an open window or door. This is a very simple thing you can do to protect yourself. None of us want to be like Paris Hilton, but in her case she actually did what she could to protect herself and her valuables. The rest of us need to do our part to be protected as well.

The best self defense you can posses in this world in knowledge.  You can have all of the physical training in the world, but without the knowledge, you do not acquire the skills to apply it.   The best self defense is something very personal and it has to be something you are comfortable with.  If you need to gain more skills and knowledge, there are many classes available to teach you the skills you need to defend yourself in case of an attack.  This can help you build your confidence and give you some advice to avoid becoming a victim.   There are also several self defense tools on the market that you can carry on your person to thwart an attack.  You have to find the best self defense for you and your needs.  You can carry pepper spray or mace.  You should know how to dispense both products to avoid spraying yourself.  You can also carry a tazer type gun.  This type of self defense does require some training and you should never play with it for fun.  This should be considered a weapon.  The best self defense for women can be learned in many forums.  You should have no problems finding self defense programs for women.  If you are a woman and you live alone, you should consider this type of course, you have nothing to lose. 

Already in Little Rock Arkansas, law enforcement is citing the upcoming holiday season as the reason burglars have come out to creep their way into our homes.  Police believe that was certainly the case in Little Rock’s Hillcrest neighborhood, where several break-ins happened over one recent weekend.            Morgan Smith was one of the victims.  She talked to Today’s THV about a thief breaking into her home.  Smith and her husband, Isaac went to run a quick errand, but they quickly came back home after they were told something looked suspicious.  “A neighbor called us on our cell phone and Isaac answered and they said there’s a guy on your porch.  So we hurried home and when we got there he was still near our porch.  So Isaac pulled over to see if he could look at him and when Isaac got out of the car he ran into the alley,” Smith said.  The burglars got away with a computer and its accessories, plus had disconnected the TV, but didn’t have time to get it out the door.            Little Rock Police officer Cassandra Davis says what happened to the Smith family is typical this time of year.  “That’s simply because criminals know the home owner will have a lot of hot ticket, high-dollar items in the homes so they take the chances to break into homes to take televisions and VCRs and videos games,” Davis said.           Davis recommends installing longer screws on the faceplates of your locks.  She says, “The standard screw is a little 1 or 2 inch screw.  If you use a longer screw that reinforces if someone tries to kick in the door.”           Here are some other security tips from Joel Skousen, author of The Secure Home and a number of other survival books.  Skousen told Forbes.com that he recommends people get a solid or metal door for the front door and a solid-core door with a deadbolt for the master bedroom.  Another tip - security window films that make it tough for an intruder to punch out a window.           Even those who build the most elaborate security systems say the best defenses can be simple ones.  “We’ve done one house with an escape pod in every room that releases to one safe room,” says Jonathan Fine of Las Vegas-based Sting Surveillance, which designs security systems for casinos, hotels, and homes.  However, he says the best deterrent is still a simple one, “The best line of defense to defend your house is having an alarm sign in front.”

          Many of these security measures, whether basic ones for a typical home or elaborate ones for a multi-million dollar home, have more than one benefit.  Simple window coating can making it tough for a burglar to break in to your home and also makes it harder for a toddler to crash through a window.  Fine says the lesson is - you don’t need to live in a fortress to protect your family, and you don’t need to be paranoid to make a few prudent upgrades

If you are in desperate need of an outdoor motion sensor security lights, but don’t want to spend big dollars or hours to get the job done, here are 6 benefits of outdoor motion sensor security lights you may not have known. 1. If you are away from your home it will be protected because the lights come on bright all over your yard and anywhere they are pointed. You can feel safer knowing everyone can be seen. It is proven fact that homes with motion sensors have less crime than those that do not. 2. There are many outdoor sensor security lights available. You can go online and look for the perfect one for your home. There are wireless ones or there are the kinds that stay with the home. You will be able to find something to fit your budget. 3. Motion lights are convenient for the family. When you come home and it is dark inside your home the motion lights will come on. If your hands are full you will be able to see to open the door. If your kids get dropped off after schoo

l, or playing sports, they can see to get into the garage, or to put their key into the door.  4. Motion lights can clear your lawn of rabbits, and skunks because the pest do not like light. When it is dark outside it will scare them and they will leave the yard. If you have problems with raccoons in the trash you will not have this problem any more because they will be scared and run off. 5. Security lights save money. You do not have to have your lights on all day or night. They will come on only when there is someone in your yard. So you will save on bulbs and also you will see it is more useful for your home. 6. Outdoor motion sensor security lights help your neighbors watch your house. If you go on vacation they can see if the light goes on in your yard, so they can go check out the house.  

Why all the above are great reasons to get outdoor motion sensor security lights the final choice on whether to purchase them will be up to you. Hopefully these 6 benefits will give you some ideas on whether to buy them or not.

Stun guns are becoming an increasingly popular method of self-protection. As a non-lethal weapon (as opposed to hand guns), they offer users the opportunity to incapacitate an attacker without killing him. For both moral and practical legal applications, it’s easy to see the appeal of a stun gun. Before you head to your local security shop, however, there are some key points to note about stun guns.

There are a myriad of weapons out there that use high-voltage electricity to disable would be attackers, but they all fall into two basic categories: short range and long range. Short-range options require physical contact with the assailant, while their long range cousins instead shoot electrodes attached to the end of long, thin wires. The most popular of these long-range stun guns is the Taser, used by law enforcement and military organizations across the world.

Most civilians in the market for a stun gun purchase a weapon of the short-range variety. These are much smaller than Tasers, and thus easier to conceal, a key characteristic for the average user. The newest models tend to look like cellular telephones or small flashlights, and can easily be carried in a purse or belt holster.

At this point, you’re probably wondering exactly what a stun gun could potentially do to save your life in the event of an aggressive attacker confronting you on a dark street. It’s important to note that stun guns aren’t magi

cal pieces of wizardry that can automatically disable attackers. The most important factors in determining whether you’ll get away from your attacker are the power of the stun gun you purchase, and the amount of time you’re able to hold the weapon against their body.

In most of today’s high power devices, one half of a second is necessary simply to repel the attacker. This short dose won’t disable; instead, it will merely cause a high level of pain, probably doing nothing more than angering and inciting the aggressor to inflict more pain upon you. For real effective power that will cause your attacker to drop to the ground for at least enough time for you to make your escape, approximately four seconds of contact is needed. This may sound like only a brief moment, but when your opponent holds a significant strength and weight advantage, applying the shock for this long can be a very difficult proposition.

For that reason, some industry experts remain skeptical of the application of stun guns in the civilian environment. They argue that stun guns give their owners a false sense of security. At the same time, there are few non-lethal alternatives out there that can offer even close to the stopping power of a stun gun. Mace, for example, can only temporarily blind an attacker, but that will have little effect if the aggressor has already made serious contact with the victim. For now, the stun gun and Taser represent the most effective, non-lethal tools available to civilians that don’t want to bring a firearm into their household

Convenience stores have traditionally been targets for theft, that’s because there’s handy cash, it’s open late, and it’s easy to get in and out.  According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, working in a convenience store has one of the highest annual homicide rates among retail industries.  In fact one other study shows that convenience store employees are second only to taxicab drivers in rates of workplace homicides, but now many major cities across the U.S. are taking steps to keep convenience stores safe.  In order to do this, city officials are passing ordinances that require certain standards from convenience store owners.  In Dallas, Texas new regulation requires convenience stores to install high-resolution cameras, silent alarms, and drop safes by May 2010.  The ordinance also requires store owners to register with the city and sign an affidavit allowing police on their property to target loiterers and trespassers.   Meanwhile in Houston, Texas,  where there’s an average each year of about 1,000 convenience store robberies and 10 homicides, police have begun enforcing new regulations as well.  The rules require convenience stores to register with law enforcement, provide employees with training, and install equipment such as drop safes, panic buttons, and cameras.             Risk factors for being Robbed          According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, risk factors for convenience stores being robbed include, poor cash handling and lack of bullet resistant shielding.  Lack of security systems and surrounding environmental characteristics (for example, stores not located in shopping centers, distance to graffiti, and distance to multi-family housing).             So what can convenience store owners do?

          With police regulations being enforced over time, there is action that convenient store owners can take now to help make their store safe.   To combat crime, owners can install proper drop safes and post signs that drop safes are used.  They can also train employees in robbery prevention and install, as well as maintain, modern security systems.  Owners and workers need to keep the windows free of signs and advertisements.  Also, make the cashier area visible from outside the store.  At times, convenience stores are usually manned by one employee, especially after 10 p.m.  Owners should schedule at least two employees late into the evening and early mornings, if not at all times.               What can You do?          Daily, some 135,000 convenience stores in the U.S. serve 100 million Americans who find their easy in-and-out access appealing.  If a convenience store robbery happens while you are in the store try to stay calm, don’t make any sudden movements, and do precisely what you are told.   But to help avoid this situation all together, don’t go into a convenience store that is in a high risk area, even if it’s more convenient!  It’s safer to drive further to a more secure area.           The Law enforcement Magazine reports that most convenience store robberies are committed by males under the age of 25. The majority of robbers say they were under the influence of an intoxicant at the time of the robbery.  Offenders opted to commit robberies near where they live and usually hit between the hours of 10 p.m. and midnight.  Convenience store surveillance cameras became popular in the 1970’s and drastically reduced the number of robberies.  It’s law enforcement and convenience store owners and customer’s hope that with new technology and smarter safety plans the number of robberies will drop even more.

While apartment living offers advantages you must also pay special attention to security.  Once you have chosen an apartment to live in and have moved in, here are some safety tips to follow.           Lock Your Door          Never leave your apartment door unlocked, even while taking out the trash or bringing in the groceries.  Yes, I know this can be a nuisance, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.  Just imagine if someone was waiting for you when you returned to your apartment.  Of course we don’t want this to happen, so lock your doors!   Before you go to bed at night make sure to check that both locks on your door are secure.  Remember, burglars are looking for a way in and through an open entry is the easiest way.                         Know who’s Knocking on your Door           Be careful when answering the door and don’t open the door to strangers.  Use your door peephole.  If the person who is knocking on your door identifies himself as a utility worker the ask them to slip their identification card under the door.  If you are still in doubt then look up the number yourself of the company he says he works for and ask if he is a legitimate employee.  If you requested a cable or TV repair person to come to your apartment, be weary if two people show up.          Be Social          You should make an effort to meet your neighbors, learn their names, and their work schedules.   In essence, y

ou should make more friends.  If you are in some kind of trouble, a friend is more likely to help than a stranger.  Getting to know your neighbor also helps because you can learn their schedule and pinpoint when something is unusual.  And finally, because neighbors talk to each other, it’s likely that you will hear about problems that happen throughout the complex.              Get a Pet            Thieves hate pets, especially dogs.   Unfortunately, most apartment complexes do not allow big guard dogs, but you will have better luck getting the okay on a watch dog.  A scottish terrier, chihuahua, and poodle are among the top ten watch dogs.  Remember, a barking dog, even a small one, can be enough to scare away a potential thief.             Leave the Light On            Leave the lights on at all times, even when you are sleeping or not at home at all.  This is especially true when you are coming home after dark.  If you’d like to conserve energy, then you might want to buy a Fake TV.  A Fake TV cost around $30. And fools thieves into thinking you are at home when you are not.  A Fake TV uses flickering lights just as a real TV would, but uses one-third of the energy.             Get Renter’s Insurance!          Even though you don’t live in a house, renter’s insurance is a must.  Renter’s insurance will cover damage to or loss of your personal property.   Apartment management is supposed to insure the physical building against damage from events such as a fire or hail, but it does not cover your belongings.  Another reason to pay for renter’s insurance is to protect yourself against accidents caused by other people.  Renter’s insurance usually cost around $30. A month and is well worth it.

You have now invested you hard earned cash on a home alarm system and you are thinking about spending even more money on add-ons, but is the money worth it?  You bet it is, especially with add-ons like a smoke detector, water detector, and automatic light activation.  In the end, your investment could save you tons of money and possibly a headache or two.  Let’s take a look at some of the add-on features.

          Smoke Detectors          These operate like conventional units, but their alarm is usually louder.  If you opt for a monitoring service and the detector senses smoke in your home, it sends a signal to your alarm’s control panel, which then contacts the central monitoring station to contact the local fire department.  Some security systems (like wired) connect the power supply to the smoke detectors, which means you don’t have to change the batteries of the smoke detectors.          Carbon Monoxide Detectors          Just like smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors can be hardwired and you can link them to the central alarm control unit.  Your home should have a carbon monoxide detector if it has an attached garage, uses any fossil fuel heating or refrigeration source, or has a fossil fuel electrical generator within close proximity.          Water and Flooding Detector          This add-on can prevent, or at least limit, the damage that is often the result of unseen and normally undetected leaks, drips, and appliance failure.  Getting an early warning of a water leak can mean all the difference on the extent of water damage to your house.         

Glass Break Detectors           This is a great add-on to coincide with window and door sensors.  Glass break detectors come in a couple of designs.  Acoustic detectors detect the sound that glass breaking makes, while the vibratory kind detects the vibrations of the glass.            Remote Control and Panic Button             A remote control or key fob is similar to a car alarm remote.  It allows you to arm and disarm your alarm from several feet away without entering your code.  Some remote controls include a panic button that activates the house alarm and alerts the proper authorities in the event of an emergency. The downside to remote controls is that someone can steal or find it and disarm your security system.

            Extra Key Pads          Extra key pads for entry and exit doors are a good idea, that’s depending on the design of your house.  There are also exterior mounted key pads which can provide secure keyless entry for your family.  A monitored system can also lock down entry after several repeated, failed attempts at entry which indicate a thief might be trying to break-in.          Automatic Light Activation          This feature is not available for all systems.  If you can add this on, it lets you program the system to turn on house lights whenever the alarm is tripped.  You can also set the lights to turn on at a certain time of the day or (again depending on the type of security system you purchase) program it from your car or a touch-tone phone to tell the system to turn on interior and exterior lights for when you arrive home.

Often, good business security is merely an afterthought, something you may only give attention to after a break-in has occurred. You may then rush to secure your business, but it’s best to take your time in selecting the right kind of business security for your operation.

Businesses without alarms are four times more likely to be burglarized than business protected with forms of business security. Business security increases the safety of your employees and customers as well as your stock. If a criminal does manage to get in, business security helps keep the losses at a minimum. Here are some different ideas you can consider for your own business security plans.

Business Security Tip #1: Protect the Premises

The most common form of business security is the alarm system. Both wired and wireless systems are available. These systems can be easily installed and can be supervised by professionals at a monitoring center. Business security alarms protect all points of entry - doors and windows. There are also business security alarms that detect motion inside the room. If a window is broken, a door opened, or someone creeps across the room, the alarm will emit a shrill wail and will also alert security officials.

Business Security Tip #2: Protect Your Valuables

If you have important documents or items at your office, it is best to keep them in a fireproof safe. Regular safes only protect your valuables from burglars. Fire safes do double duty: they protect your valuables from foe and fire. Our fire safes have either bank vault quality or digital electronic locks that bolt tightly shut. Knuckled hinge pins prevent a criminal from simply removing the door. All fire safes can be easily bolted right to the floor, so even if a criminal wanted to carry a possibly 200-pound safe out the door, they couldn’t.

Business Security Tip #3: Protect Your Employees

There are two tools you can use to arm yourself and your employees in the event of an emergency. A panic button simplifies personal and business security down to a direct line. If an emergency arises, but the alarm is not triggered by normal means, hit the panic button to set off the alarm and call for help.

If an intruder tries to attack an employee, mace or pepper spray will temporarily disarm the criminal, givi

ng the victim time to escape and get help. Arm your employees with mace or pepper spray to protect them on late nights and walks to the parking lot, where many criminals attack. Your employees will appreciate your concern for their personal safety beyond just business security.Business Security Tip #4: Keep Intruders Away

Law enforcement officials recommend a motion sensor light as a strong crime deterrent. Criminals will shy away from well-lit businesses, because they prefer the cover of darkness to do their dirty work. Put a spotlight on them, either with an energy-saving motion sensor light or a flood light that stays on all the time.

There are also common sense ways to secure the outside of your business. Begin building your business security system with basic business security. There are simple do-it-yourself steps you can take to create an inexpensive business security system before you even add any special technological components.

•Install exterior lights and include either a timer or a motion detector
•Secure all exterior doors and windows with well-built, sturdy locks
•Trim back trees and shrubs around windows and doors

These DIY business security tasks are easy and fast projects, yet they offer you and your employees’ paramount security.

Business Security Tip #5: Monitor Your Store

Security cameras can be your eyes and ears all around you. Video monitoring systems, whether CC-TV systems or spy cameras, bullet cameras or dome cameras, offer 24-hour supervision for your business. Security cameras can keep a shopper from becoming a shoplifter, and will scare away burglars. Beyond preventive business security, if an intruder does get inside, the cameras will help officials identify and capture the criminal and bring him or her to justice.

Business Security Tip #6: Know When Customers Arrive

A very basic form of business security is the wireless door chime. It will alert you whenever a customer enters the store, so you can always be certain someone is there to supervise the store while customers are present. This not only protects your store but improves your customer service.

Business security technology these days can make your business super-secure, saving you money and giving you peace of mind. Protect yourself, your employees, your customers, and your property with a business security system customized to your security needs.