by Tommy Smith | Aug 9, 2017 | HOME SECURITY TIPS, NEWS
Winter Security Outside Your Atlanta Home
We spend a lot of time indoors during the winter months. You might guess that we don’t need to worry about home security. Guess again. Home burglaries occurs just as often in the winter months. Winter increases a number of safety issues.
In my last post I gave suggestions on how to keep the inside of your home safe and secure during the winter months. In this post, I will offer additional suggestions on keeping the outside of your home safe and secure during the winter months.
Sidewalks can be slippery with ice and snow. Eliminate this risk by cleaning the walkways, or adding salt and sand.
No body home! There is another reason for keeping your sidewalks and driveways clean of snow. It lets would be burglars know that someone is at home. Accumulated snow on walkways and driveways provide an open invitation that no one is home.
If you do receive substantial snow, many home owners blow the snow against their homes. Over the course of a cold winter this can provide a ramp to windows that provides a better access for the bad guys.
With longer cold spells you can have ice build up in your gutters. This can cause extensive damage to the inside of your home when it melts down the inside walls.
Burglars love to see trash with boxes in their weekly trash pickup that have indicated the home owner has just gotten a new TV or IPad or other products. Bag all trash in opaque bags so you are not advertising your latest purchases.
Winter means less daylight and more darkness. Outdoor lighting becomes even more critical in preventing home burglaries. Check your outdoor lighting and motion detection equipment to make sure they are working properly and the cold had not hindered their functioning.
Should you get snow that needs shoveling, be careful about the extra exertion needed to get the shoveling done. Back conditions and heart attacks are frequent with snow removal. Use a snow blower with care.
Check your garage security doors that may have not been closed properly because of ice and snow.
While technically not on the outside of your home, make sure your car has been winterized. A stalled car can put you and your family members at risk.
Review the above list of outside safety and security measures to make your home safe and secure for the winter months.
by Tommy Smith | Aug 9, 2017 | HOME SECURITY TIPS
Conduct a Home Security Check List for 2015…The New Year has is a time for us to take inventory of our personal lives. We may want to go on a diet; do regular exercising; make more money. The New Year can also be a time to take inventory of your home security. What do you need to change in 2015 to make you and your family more secure?
Review this simple check list of home security items from Lock Doctor to complete your New Year’s inventory regarding your home security.
EXTERIOR DOORS & ENVIRONMENT:
- Is house address clearly posted and lit to aid emergency response? Yes□ No□
- Is door itself of metal or solid wood construction? Yes□ No□
- Is doorframe strong enough and tight enough to prevent forcing or spreading? Yes□ No□
- If there are no windows in or near door, is there a wide-angle viewer or voice intercom device? Yes□ No□
- Is door secured by a deadbolt lock with a minimum 1-inch throw? Yes□ No□
- Are strikes and strike plates adequate and properly installed with 2 ½ -3 inch screws? Yes□ No□
- Is the exterior of the front/rear entrance lighted with at least a 40-watt bulb? Yes□ No□
- Does porch or landscaping offer concealment from view of the street, other homes or public areas? Yes□ No□
SLIDING GLASS DOORS & WINDOWS:
- Do all windows have adequate locks in operating condition? Yes□ No□
- Is there a dowel or “charlie bar” in the bottom of sliding door track to prevent horizontal movement? Yes□ No□
- Are exterior areas of windows free from a concealing structure or landscaping? Yes□ No□
MISCELLANEOUS HOME SAFETY:
Smoke Detector:
Check each one in the home. Test to ensure they are functioning.
If the device uses batteries, check to see if they need replacing.
Recommend testing when setting clocks for Daylights Savings.
Fire Extinguisher:
You should have one in the garage and a small on in or near the kitchen.
Consider putting one under your bed. Check the gages to see if they are
well-charged.
Home Security Systems:
If you have a home alarm system, does everyone set the alarm every time they leave the house? Yes□ No□
Conclusion
If you don’t have a home alarm system, consider making this step in 2015. Give us a call and learn how our home security systems can make your home and your family safer.
by Tommy Smith | Aug 9, 2017 | HOME SECURITY TIPS
The holidays are a great opportunity to enjoy time with family and friends, celebrate life, to be grateful, and reflect on what’s important. They are also a time to appreciate the gifts we have. Here are some of my favorite tips from the CDC for making your holidays safe and special for you and your family.
Wash your hands often.
Keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps you can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Wash your hands with soap and clean running water, and rub them together for at least 20 seconds. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands.
Manage stress.
The holidays don’t need to take a toll on your health and pocketbook. Keep your commitments and spending in check. Balance work, home, and play. Get support from family and friends. Keep a relaxed and positive outlook. Make sure to get proper sleep.
Travel safely.
Whether you’re traveling across town or around the world, help ensure your trip is safe. Don’t drink and drive, and don’t let someone else drink and drive. Wear a seat belt every time you drive or ride in a motor vehicle. Always buckle your child in the car using a child safety seat, booster seat, or seat belt appropriate for his/her height, weight, and age.
Watch the kids.
Children are at high risk for injuries. Keep a watchful eye on your kids when they’re eating and playing. Keep potentially dangerous toys, food, drinks, household items, choking hazards (like coins and hard candy), and other objects out of kids’ reach. Learn how to provide early treatment for children who are choking. Make sure toys are used properly. Develop rules about acceptable and safe behaviors, including using electronic media.
Prevent injuries.
Injuries can happen anywhere, and some often occur around the holidays. Use step stools instead of climbing on furniture when hanging decorations. Leave the fireworks to the professionals. Wear a helmet when riding a bicycle or skateboarding to help prevent head injuries. Keep vaccinations up to date.
Prevent House Fires
Most residential fires occur during the winter months. Keep candles away from children, pets, walkways, trees, and curtains. Never leave fireplaces, stoves, or candles unattended. Don’t use generators, grills, or other gasoline- or charcoal-burning devices inside your home or garage. Install a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector in your home. Test them once a month, and replace batteries twice a year.
Handle and prepare food safely.
As you prepare holiday meals, keep yourself and your family safe from food-related illness. Wash hands and surfaces often. Avoid cross-contamination by keeping raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs (including their juices) away from ready-to-eat foods and eating surfaces. Cook foods to the proper temperature. Refrigerate promptly. Do not leave perishable foods out for more than two hours.
Eat healthy, and be active.
With balance and moderation, you can enjoy the holidays the healthy way. Choose With balance and moderation, you can enjoy the holidays the healthy way. Choose fresh fruit as a festive and sweet substitute for candy. Limit fats, salt, and sugary foods. Find fun ways to stay active, such as dancing to your favorite holiday music. Be active for at least 2½ hours a week. Help kids and teens be active for at least 1 hour a day.
Keep Your Home Secure
Visiting relatives, attending religious services, doing your holiday shopping means your home may have no one at home more than normal. Thieves know and watch for potential homes because they know there will be additional gifts in the home. Make sure your windows and doors are locked and your home alarms are set even if you are leaving for just a short period of time. A home break-in can destroy an otherwise joyous holiday season.
Conclusion
Follow my safety tips to make your home safe for the holidays.
by Tommy Smith | Aug 9, 2017 | Business Security Tips, HOME SECURITY TIPS, PERSONAL SAFETY TIPS
No doubt you are part of the millions of Americans that are doing part of their holiday shopping online. With data breaches from well know retailers like Target, Home Depot and EBay, you are aware that credit card information can be hacked. The vast majority of online transactions are secure. Still, we need to take precautions with our online purchases. Here are a three simple tips from American Express on ways to make your online purchases more secure.
Be Protected with Fraud Alerts
Most credit card companies will allow you to set up protection alerts on your card. You can customize these alerts to fit your particular situation. When you combine your alerts with the credit card company’s oversight, you are spotting suspicious activities very quickly.
Change Your Passwords Regularly
Credit card companies recommend that you change your password regularly to help prevent unauthorized access to your account. Here are some tips to keep in mind: Create strong passwords for your accounts using a combination of letters, numbers and symbols. Use different passwords for all the sites you use.
Spot a Scam
Fraudulent emails look as if they’ve come from legitimate organizations. If you receive an email you’re your credit card company that does not address you by name and include the last five digits of your account number, you should forward it to the company. Do not automatically respond to these emails with your personal information.
Conclusion
By following these simple tips, you can make your online purchases and your holiday celebrations more secure. In the next post I will share some thoughts on making your retail holiday shopping more secure.
by Tommy Smith | Aug 9, 2017 | HOME SECURITY TIPS, PERSONAL SAFETY TIPS
Thanksgiving is almost us. It’s a time for us to give thanks for our blessing and celebrate with family over a wonderful meal. Sadly, the kitchen is also the place where two out of every five home fires start. What should be a wonderful time can turn into a tragedy for families. As you approach the holiday cooking season, use the following tips from ESFI.com to make your holiday cooking safer.
Holiday Cooking Safety Tips
- Never leave cooking equipment unattended.
- Turn burners off when you leave the room.
- Make sure children stay three feet away from all cooking appliances.
- Clean your exhaust fan and duct over your stove regularly.
- Wear close or tight fitting clothes when cooking. Loose fitting clothes can catch on fire.
- Use the back burners and turn the pot handles in away from reaching hands
- Locate all appliances away from the sink.
- Plug countertop appliances into ground fault circuits.
- Keep appliances away from hot surfaces like stove tops.
- Unplug countertop appliances when not in use.
Conclusion
Use the above holiday cooking safety tips to make your holiday celebrations safe and happy.
by Tommy Smith | Aug 9, 2017 | Home Security Cameras, HOME SECURITY SYSTEMS, HOME SECURITY TIPS
Don’t Become a Victim of Home Burglary in Atlanta. http://www.cityrating.com/crime-statistics/georgia/atlanta.html#.VBlns_ldXW8
Most people living in Atlanta do not believe they will become a victim to a home burglary. Atlanta crime statistics paint a different picture. Criminals don’t discriminate. Whether you‘re white, black, male, female, wealthy, or poor, you could be the next victim of a homer burglary.
So far this year, there have been over 30,000 property crimes in Atlanta.
- Approximately 1 out of every 5 homes encounters a burglary or violent home intrusion in Atlanta.
- Up to 79% of home invasions are done forcibly through a “locked” door in Georgia.
- Home burglary takes place every 14 seconds in Georgia.
Many Atlanta homeowners have made the decision that installing a home security system is a way of life for iving in the city. Just as they pay for electric and water, they have a home security system to protect their families.
Those same crime statistics show that homes with a security system are ten times less likely to be burglarized The reason alarms systems deter burglaries is because they recognize the increase risk of being caught because of the home security system. Lawn signs and window decals signify to the criminal they are more likely to be apprehended by the police.
