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According to the FBI, a burglary occurs every 18 seconds. While this is a shocking statistic, there are steps you can take to deter a burglar and protect yourself. Deter thieves with the following security tips and help reduce your risk of burglarization.

 

Lock your doors

A surprising number of people leave their doors open while they’re away from home. In addition to locking your front and back doors, lock your garage and all accessible windows. Visit your local locksmith and buy the most secure locks possible.

 

If you keep a spare key hidden outside your home, pick it up before leaving for a week-long or weekend vacation. When coming home at night, double-check to make sure you have taken your key out of the lock. It is frighteningly easy to leave your key in the door overnight without realizing.

 

Buy motion-activated lights

You hear noise outside one night, but don’t see anyone. Is a thief lurking nearby? Without motion-activated lights, it can be difficult to tell. Put a giant floodlight on whatever goes bump in the night and sleep much more soundly. Motion-activated lights can also help alert a neighbor who is watching your home while you’re away on vacation to a potential intruder.

 

Use sturdy doors

Many thieves will choose to break in through the windows or the door, depending on which is more accessible. The door is the point of entry for around 70% of break-ins. If you notice that the doors on your house seem flimsy, replacing them with solid wood is worth the investment.

 

For doors with a glass window, you’ll want to install a secondary floor lock. A secondary lock will prevent a thief from breaking the window and unlocking your door from the inside.

 

Store valuables in a safe

Instead of stowing away jewelry, cash, or other valuables in a drawer, invest in a secure safe or lockbox. Since the bedroom is the first place thieves check for valuables, keep yours in a different room. If you don’t want to invest in a safe, you can get creative with places to hide your small jewelry or cash.

 

However, keep in mind that if you leave for an extended period of time, thieves will have a longer opportunity to search every inch of your house. A strong safe that is bolted to the floor is the best choice for protecting your valuables.

 

Install a security system

Home security systems are one of the most effective methods for long-term protection against burglary. Security systems can alert the authorities if the alarm is triggered and give you and your family time to get to safety.

 

Choose a security system with cameras, allowing you to monitor your house at any time. The most best security systems allow you to connect your home system wirelessly with your smartphone or laptop for an additional layer of protection.

 

Sonitrol Security offers customizable, state-of-the-art alarm systems for your home and business. Our systems are wireless and can be connected to all of your devices. Schedule a free consultation today or give our expert team a call at (843) 747-0904.

Burglars target homes even in the safest neighborhoods, meaning it’s important to protect entry points to your home. Some parts of your home leave you more vulnerable to break-ins than others. By securing the weakest parts of your home, you can better protect yourself against burglary or intrusion.

 

Learn more about the weakest parts entry points to your home and how to secure them.

 

Front Door

Did you know that approximately 30% of burglars enter homes through the front door? To secure your front door, check the hinges and locks to make sure they are working properly. Then, replace any outdated or broken hardware.

 

Homes with recessed doorways or other architectural elements that obscure the door are also at risk. If this is the case for your home, make sure the area is well-lit, and consider putting up visible deterrents like a security alarm sticker or beware of dog sticker.

 

Windows

First and foremost, make sure that-unless open- your windows are locked. You should also consider the age of your windows, as windows weaken and become worn over time. Additionally, be wary of shrubbery or other obstructions near your windows where an intruder might hide.

 

Glass is obviously quite easy to break, but so are window latches. Replace worn or outdated hardware like latches to strengthen your windows. While first floor windows should be your priority, don’t forget to secure second floor windows, too.

 

Pet Doors

While your dog or cat’s freedom is great, pet doors offer an easy entry point for intruders. Fortunately, technological advances have increased the security of pet doors. Some pet doors even use a key attached to your pet’s collar to remotely open the door when your pet comes in.

 

Most pet doors also come with a latch that you should lock whenever you leave the house or go to bed. If you have an older pet door with no security measures, consider replacing it.

 

Garage Entries

Your garage may not seem like an obvious place to burglarize. That’s exactly why intruders take advantage of unlocked garage doors or unlocked cars within garages. Be sure to lock both your garage door and your car. It’s also a good idea to take any valuable possessions into the house rather than keeping them in your locked car.

 

With attached garages, you also need to consider the possibility an intruder might enter your home there. Secure the door from your garage into your home like you would any other entry point. You may also want to invest in a garage door sensor to detect movement in or around your garage.

 

Specialty Doors

Decorative doors, like a French or sliding door, can also act as an easy entry point for intruders. When securing specialty doors, take into account the extra security measures they may require. Install special locks and handles to prevent potential burglars from jimmying the lock or breaking the glass.

 

While it may sound like a lot of work, taking the time and effort to secure the weakest parts of your home is important. Not to mention, it can save you time, money, and heartbreak by preventing an intrusion or burglary. In addition to securing weak entry points to your home, installing a comprehensive security system will keep you and your family protected.

 

Sonitrol offers a number of security system options to help homes and small businesses of all sizes. Interested in learning more about what Sonitrol can do for you? Contact us today for a free home security consultation.

Nobody wants to experience coming home to find that your house has been burglarized. It’s a nightmare that leaves many people wondering “why me?” While some burglars strike impulsively without a strategy, many strategize and plan their crimes ahead of time. To help prevent a burglar from targeting your home, it’s important to understand why burglars target certain homes over others.

 

Below are a few reasons a burglar might target your home over another, along with techniques that will make your home less attractive to potential burglars:

 

Corner House

Due to accessibility and the ability to escape without the fear of multiple neighbors watching, burglars often target corner houses. While you can’t change the fact that your house is located on the corner of your block, you can take measures to protect your corner home. Motion-detecting lights, sturdy doors, and a security system can all help you deter burglars.

 

Obvious Signs of Valuables

Obvious signs of valuables in and around your home are also more likely to attract burglars. Just seeing a nice car in the driveway alerts a burglar that there may be valuable items inside. Limit the visibility of your valuable items by closing blinds and parking your car in the garage.

 

No Dog

Dogs can sense when something isn’t right, and a bark can alert owners to a potential intruder. Burglars know this, and tend to stay away from homes with dogs when choosing a target. Considering getting a dog? Think of keeping burglars away as an added bonus to their love and affection! But you should only get a dog if you are prepared to undertake the responsibilities that come with having a pet.

 

Empty House  

Most people assume that home break-ins occur at night, but that isn’t necessarily the case. While night-time robberies do occur, over half of take place between 6am-6pm. Strategic burglars will watch the home they’re targeting to find out when the house is empty during the day. Catching on to the homeowners’ work or school schedules, these burglars will strike the house once everyone is gone for the day.

 

Unlocked Windows and Door

Locking windows and doors seems like an obvious way to keep your home safe and sound, but many people tend to forget this simple step. Although a locked door doesn’t guarantee full safety, it helps deter impulsive burglars and those looking for an easy target.

 

No Alarm System

Finally, intruders are less likely to target a homes equipped with home security systems. No thief wants to attract the attention a security alarm or camera will bring. Just seeing a security system sticker on the door or in the yard will deter would-be burglars.

 

Protect your home, your family, and your valuables with comprehensive security systems from Sonitrol. No matter your security needs, we can help. Contact us today for a free consultation.

There are a lot of decisions to make when choosing a security system for your home or business. One of those decisions is whether to select a local security company or a big box company that has branches all over the country. Here is a look at why a local company can be a greater benefit for you and your family.

Knowing the Lay of the Land
Choosing a local security company is going to provide you with a service provider that knows the area. For example, a local power outage in the Northeast part of the country is quite different from a sudden tornado that touches down the Midwest. When contacting your security provider, it’s much easier when that provider is familiar with the area. Speaking to someone halfway across the country may not provide the same results because there is little familiarization with the local area.

Less Pressure
National security system companies often have sales quotas. Contacting one of these services means that you are speaking to a salesperson that is looking to meet a quota. That often results in high-pressure sales. With a local company, there is more familiarity as they are part of the community. Using high-pressure sales tactics will develop a negative reputation which makes more local companies prone to conducting low-pressure sales pitches.

See What You Are Buying
National home security providers do not always have offices in your local area. That means you are left to rely on trusting an anonymous voice on the phone. With a local company, you can check out their facilities and even meet the people in charge. When it comes to protecting your home, it’s important to know who’s helping with that protection.

Quicker Support
If there is ever an issue with your security system, a local company can send a technician right over to your home. Big box companies do not have as many technicians available in certain parts of the country. That means they could be coming from a great distance away. That also means you could be left waiting for quite some time. And during that wait, you could be without any home security.

Lower Prices
National companies have much more overhead. They spend more on advertising, inventory and often have to hire a team of lawyers for any legal issues. To compensate for all that cost, big box companies are prone to hiking their prices. You may find more bang for your buck with a local home security company.

Owning a business comes with many responsibilities, including making sure that every aspect of your business is protected. The benefits of video surveillance will take your catapult your organization’s security to a new level. It’s a smart investment that will keep your building, employees and customers protected.

 

Learn more about the benefits of video surveillance for your business.

 

Reduces the Chance of Theft

Perhaps the greatest benefit, surveillance cameras help reduce the chance of both external and internal theft. From shoplifting to armed robbery, many businesses are at risk of theft. However, burglars are less likely to target businesses with surveillance equipment.

 

Video cameras also provide eyes and ears to protect your business and help authorities in the event of an incident. If a burglary occurs, the system provides clear video footage to help law enforcement, showing facial features and other important details.

 

In addition to burglary, 64% of businesses fall victim to employee theft. Video surveillance also helps reduce the chances of employee theft. Employees are much less likely to take advantage of their position or access if they know they’re being monitored.

 

Improves Safety

Protecting employees and customers in the workplace is just as important as protecting the business itself. The presence of security cameras can help your employees feel and stay safe. Whether employees worry about break-ins, property vandalism, or internal issues, video surveillance lets them- and customers- know they are protected.

 

Improves Customer Experience

In addition to protecting your employees, video surveillance benefits your customers. Customers will have an overall better experience with your business if they feel safe in your establishment. Owners can even use footage to study customers’ shopping habits or patterns, making alterations to ensure a better shopping experience.

 

Resolves Conflicts

Video surveillance can also provide proof of what actually happened in the event of internal conflict. The information provided by camera footage can help easily resolve employee disputes. Management can clearly assess the situation and help employees come to an agreement.

 

Offers Peace of Mind

Finally, video surveillance offers peace of mind to business owners and managers. With an extra set of eyes watching your organization, you can focus on other important aspects of your business. With continuous, automated recording and clear images, you can rest easy knowing your organization is secure and protected.

 

Video surveillance cameras do much more than catch criminals. Designed to secure, protect, and monitor, video cameras benefit businesses both large and small. At Sonitrol, we offer video surveillance options with a number of advantages. Contact Sonitrol today and learn how we can help protect your business.

The holidays should be a time of giving, but many criminals take advantage of this busy time of year. In 2015, 11 million Americans were victims of package theft. During the holiday rush, making complaints to your local post office or shipping companies can be time consuming. Luckily, you can take certain steps to prevent package theft.

 

Here are five tips for preventing package theft and keeping the holidays merry and bright.

 

Put packages on hold

When tracking your order, you may realize that your package is scheduled to deliver while you’re out of town. Don’t just cross your fingers that the package will still be there when you return. Instead, call the delivery service to place your package on hold. Specify a convenient delivery date when you’ll be home to receive your items. Just know that some companies may charge a fee for rescheduling delivery times.

 

Deliver packages to your workspace

If you work long hours, your package might be scheduled to deliver while you’re at work. Instead of shipping items to your home where they are at risk of theft, have packages delivered to your workplace or a trusted friend’s house.

 

Request a signature upon delivery

You can also request a signature upon deliver to package theft. That way if you aren’t home to sign, the courier will simply leave a note on your door and deliver your package later. If a courier leaves a package without getting a signature and it is stolen or damaged, he or she is liable to legal action for violating protocol. You will also receive a full refund or replacement from the delivery company.

 

Get package insurance

Ordering expensive items like electronics? Consider paying for package insurance. Although it adds on an extra cost to your purchase, it can save you time and money in the long run. You should also insure time-sensitive purchases like holiday gifts. Otherwise, you may not have time to find a replacement if your package is stolen.

 

Install a security system

Security systems not only help protect your home from break-ins, but also help prevent package theft. Choose a security system with video cameras that can record your front entrance. Video surveillance provides the highest level of security for your home. Criminals are less likely to attempt a theft or a break-in if they know they will be recorded.

 

Sonitrol Security Systems provides premium protection against package theft and other home and office security issues. Give us a call at (843) 747-0904 to discuss how our expert team can help you.

Restaurant owners know that this kind of investment takes a lot of dedication, organization, and intelligent planning. There are so many different aspects that go into a well-designed restaurant, that making any kinds of mistakes from the start can be very costly later on.

 

With so many responsibilities included in running a successful restaurant business, it’s important that the basics are covered ahead of time. This means designing a smart floor plan, having all of the safety requirements covered and even choosing security systems before construction begins. Although some may assume that the table selections and menu creation are of the utmost importance, the details of building and protecting a restaurant need attention first.

 

A quality security system for restaurants can help to protect the premises, catch thieves, and even keep track of the actions of employees. Restaurant owners have a lot to lose when it comes to robberies and poor work habits, so it’s important that they can track what’s going on in their establishment.

 

If you or someone you know is planning to install security into their restaurant, they may feel slightly overwhelmed with the options. To help, consider this information to help in choosing a security system for a restaurant.

 

Size Matters

Knowing how large your restaurant establishment is will help security professionals decide how much security is required and where it will be needed most. The bigger a restaurant is, the more potential there is for weak spots, so gather a blueprint of your restaurant to help you visualize where you’ll need surveillance the most.

 

Consider Your Hours

If your hours of operation are 24/7, then you’ll likely need less security than if you close overnight or for multiple days at a time. Those establishments that are closed on weekends and evenings may be a greater target for robbery or damage.

 

However, if your restaurant is open most hours of the night, but with little staff, you might increase security around the building to keep these employees safe during peak hours for crime. Factors like open hours and number of staff can be very helpful to deciding how much surveillance you need.

It’s not every day that people witness some type of fire in a home. The reality is that fires still occur in residences all over the country. That’s why it’s important to have some type of fire protection that is part of your home security system.

In the United States, 60% of all deaths caused by fires in a home are due to a lack of properly functioning smoke detectors. Moreover, close to 90% of all deaths related to fires take place inside a home. It also does not take a towering inferno to result in a fatal situation. It only takes two minutes for a fire to spread and be considered a threat to human life.

Fire protection has also gone beyond the traditional connotation. For instance, there are reasons to contact the fire department outside of a fire. A home’s security could be threatened by a gas leak, electrical problem or high levels of carbon monoxide. Having a system that alerts you to these types of problems can actually help to prevent a disaster.

For many years, people relied on basic smoke detectors to protect them against a potential fire. In the present day, technology has evolved and new systems can provide a greater umbrella of protection. For example, the installation of a monitored system that checks for excess heat, carbon monoxide and smoke will significantly lower the risk of a potential fire.

Modern systems also have the ability to identify a rapid increase in temperature. This will trigger a notification and alarm. It can even monitor the situation when you are away from home. The system can be programmed to send a signal directly to the fire department and help could be on the way immediately.

Another benefit of modern fire protection systems is that they continue to operate even when the system is disarmed. This can be achieved with professional monitoring, another perk of having a modern home security system.

Smoke detection has also come a long way with these security systems. Some smoke alarm systems provide updates every hour to ensure your home is always free from smoke. The careful and precise monitoring of smoke and heat levels are reducing the number of house fires every year. It is a new age of fire protection and a smart system is a way to keep your family safe.

For the installation of a fire protection system in Columbia, SC, be sure to contact the experienced team at Sonitrol.

Surveillance cameras are a major component of any home security system. These components are often the lifeblood of security systems as they provide real-time footage of what is going on. Here is a look at how to maximize surveillance cameras outside your home.

The advent of Wi-Fi systems has not made it necessary to position cameras right next to power outlets. This gives homeowners a lot of flexibility when it comes to positioning their surveillance cameras.

The most optimal places to position surveillance cameras is by any doorways. About one-third of burglars attempt to enter a home through the front door. So it’s good to have a camera at the front door as it will give you a clear view of whoever is trying to gain access to your home, even if it is just a delivery man ringing your doorbell.

It should also be noted that surveillance cameras should not be placed anywhere that violates the privacy of your neighbor. There are actually laws that prohibit this, and each set of privacy laws differ on a state-to-state basis. The basis is that the security camera may capture footage that is not related to actual security. Be mindful of your neighbors when setting up your surveillance cameras.

If your home is fronted by a driveway and garage, then it is a prime area for a surveillance camera. Thieves may attempt to gain access to your home using this point of entry.

As a general rule, cameras should be installed anywhere from eight to ten feet off the ground. It is an optimal height that will be able to focus on any would-be criminals and still out of reach for most people.

Keep in mind that outdoor surveillance cameras are going to have to deal with the elements of Mother Nature. This is important in the selection process as you want a camera that will be able to hold up to the conditions. And if it is possible, install the camera where there is some type of covering as it will help protect its life and functionality.

Homeowners must also make a decision as to whether they want their surveillance cameras to be obscured or visible. Ones that are out in the open act as a deterrent, but are also vulnerable to vandalism. A special type of protective casing can be placed around the camera so it is more difficult to damage.

When you are ready to install surveillance cameras around your home, contact the professionals at Sonitrol –provider of top quality home security system installation and maintenance in Columbia and Charleston, SC.

In the event of a power outage, homes and businesses become more of a vulnerable target for burglars and criminals. However, security systems can still provide a line of defense even when there is no power. Here’s a look at how security monitoring works during a power outage.

 

Natural Disasters

Monitoring is extremely important in areas that are prone to natural disasters. After a natural disaster, it is often recommended to shut down the main source of power assuming there is a real threat. When that occurs, backup batteries only last so long, which makes it ideal to have a generator. This is a way of maintaining monitoring during an elongated power outage. Still, home and business owners may need to take additional steps to keep their security systems functional until electrical services are restored.

Backup Power

As mentioned, many security systems have a backup battery that may get you through an outage. There are different time lengths as to how long this backup battery will last. Most batteries will power the security system for a full day after an outage. Systems differ according to the type of backup battery, while extended power outages may call for other measures. Backup batteries are also available for purchase and can help in power outages that may span several days.

Remote Monitoring

A power outage can severely impact a business as it leaves it susceptible to looters and trespassers. Installing a remote monitoring system will account for all types of conditions. This includes potential leaks, sudden changes in temperatures, and other environmental factors. When there is an outage, this type of monitoring system will send a notification to the homeowner or person in charge of the business. This is particularly important for business owners, who can then take necessary action to secure their property.

Camera Functionality

It is common to ask whether cameras will still function in the event of a power outage. That all depends on how that camera is powered. Some cameras are powered by batteries that rely on solar panels. This allows for a limitless supply of power. When selecting a battery for your security camera, consider how it will function storing a power outage.

Restoration

Some security systems need to be restored after a power outage. This involves entering the appropriate system codes. When purchasing an alarm system that needs to be reset after a power outage, it’s a good idea to get familiar with all the essentials, including what codes to type in for restoration. This occurs more in units that are self-monitored and requires homeowners and business owners to be informed.

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For general power outage tips including generator safety, we recommending visiting www.ready.gov/power-outages

Click here to learn more about Sonitrol of South Carolina monitoring services.