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.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
How to Choose Guard Dogs for Home Security
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Keep Burglars Out With A Home Security System
A home security system doesn't just keep your home and property safe, it also provides peace of mind. Statistics show that your home is three times more likely to be broken into if you have no security system.
Basic home security systems are made up of the control pad, a motion sensor (or possible several), a few magnetic switches on doors and windows and of course an alarm. The switches and motions sensors can be either wired or wireless.
More advanced systems may include video cameras and centralized monitoring by the alarm company. Monitoring gives you an extra level of security because you'll have trained personnel keeping track of your security system.
One of the main advantages of having a home security system is its deterrant factor. If a potential thief sees the yard sign or sticker saying that your house is protected, or if the alarm is activated while they are attempting to break in, they'll be less likely to go through with it.
Being the lowlifes that they are, they're more likely to look for the path of least resistance and will find a home that doesn't have protection instead.
There are 5 major components that almost every security system should include:
1. Control Panel
This is the control system for the alarm - the "brains" behind it. This is usually installed somewhere like the basement or in a closet, as it isn't necessary to access it very often.
2. Keypad
The keypad is normally installed somewhere relatively close to the main entrance to the house. It lets you arm and disarm the alarm, as well as control the various other components.
3. Magnetic contacts
These contacts are installed on doors and windows and will sound the alarm if the contact is broken when the alarm system is armed.
4. Sensors
Motion sensors are the most common but there are also body heat sensors available. Again, if the system is armed these sensors will sound the alarm if there is any motion (or heat) detected.
5. Alarm
This is usually a loud siren or clanger and may include flashing lights for even more attention.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Planning And Building A Security System That Works
First of all a security system is not an alarm system, although the alarm system plays an important part in the overall security plan. In fact,no single component should be seen as most important, although as I will explain some measures provide greatest value for the security money you will be investing. The first step though is a survey of the premise, including how it is used, for what purpose and by whom, and of course the physical layout. Risk factors and loss potential are scrutinized as these greatly influence the budget.
Barrier security will be the first step in the implementation of the security system and devices such as window bars, security gates, security film, security grilles and good locks provide the greatest value for the money you will be investing. Barrier security can also be achieved through installation of security films which are fitted onto existing glass, security films such as Profilon tm, made by Haverkamp in Germany provide a near invisible coating that transforms glass into transparent armor. Security films are especially useful for strengthening glass in offices and homes. Typically thicker films work best for security applications and fourteen mil security film is currently consider minimum for commercial applications.
Security films work best on larger surface areas. Installation is very important and is as important to the barrier security as the choice of film. The glass type is also important with ordinary annealed glass as the design favorite. However if possible the glass should be changed to a laminated glass as that is the best substrate for security film. Installing on tempered glass should be avoided due to break characteristic of that glass. This is of utmost importance as door glass must conform to a safety code and that is almost always done with tempered glass and forced entry through glass accounted for two thirds of all break-ins. Unless the glass is changed to annealed or laminated glass single pane commercial doors should not be fitted with security film. It simply will not work. The mechanical bond of security film to the edges will add to or decrease the value of security film as barrier security and if possible security film should be fitted under the glass retaining stops.
To increase the effectiveness of security film in the security system the alarm system should include glass break detectors of the dual technology type or signature type. Very loud siren horns and or strobe lights outside over the glass is an excellent way to augment the effectiveness of security film in the security system.
The first line of protection in barrier security are the locks and their effectiveness as a security barrier depends entirely on the small details of the installation. Burglar bars, window bars, security bars, different names same meaning are available over the counter or custom built in many shapes and sizes. Window bars are probably the best single investment of barrier security and because burglar bars have been used in the security system for thousands of years many examples of good design are readily available. Security bars are especially useful for protecting basement windows or for protecting windows in warehouses as they provide visual deterrence as well as providing barrier security. A visual display of security is very useful when planning a security system as opportunistic thieves can be easily persuaded to move elsewhere by carefully planned barrier security.
As risk increases the security system becomes layered so that thieves are forced to spend valuable time after detection but before penetrating the barrier security to get to the reward.
Planning and designing an effective security system is as much art as science, but more than anything else involves common sense and while there is temptation to rely on high technology the opposite is true. The best system is simple and relies heavily on barrier security with electronic systems as back up.
Secure Your Home without a Security System
Labels: burglar, Home security, secure your homeThe best way to secure your home is with a home security system, the only problem is they can run anywhere from a few hundred dollars, to thousands for all of the options that are now offered. The funny thing about home invasions is that they have not changed at all over the years. Criminals still use the same methods to break into your home now, as they always have. Statistics tell us that 63% of burglaries involve forcible entry, which means if you focus on protecting your home from forced entry, your odds of being burglarized drop dramatically.
People that make a living burglarizing people, have three main enemies, time, light and noise. When you purchase a home security system, you create much larger enemies for burglars. If your system is monitored, the burglar knows that his time in your home has to be very fast, because the police are dispatched and on their way. The noise that the alarm makes is enough to get them out of your house all by itself.
Believe it or not most burglaries happen during the day, so the light factor does not mean what you think. Light really means exposure. If your criminal is exposed to your neighbors and or people walking by, chances are he will pick another target.
What you need to do is address each one of a burgular's enemies:
1 Purchase dead bolt locks for all entrances to your home. A good deadbolt will most certainly slow down a burglar, along with generating alot of noise from him trying to force the door open.
2 Replace the doors in the back of your house that have windows . This is probably the easiest way into your home. All a burglar has to do is break a small pane of glass and reach in and open the door.
3. Never leave a ladder in your back yard. Criminals know that second floor windows a rarely locked.
4 Trim the shrubs and bushes that guard first floor windows. If a burglar can be seen by the neighbors climbing in a window, chances are he will think twice.
5. Purchase motion sensor lights for any area outside the house that is in total darkness.
6 Always lock your doors, especially if you are home. Burglars always check to see if a door is locked before deciding on forced entry. The last thing you want is an unwelcome guest in your home just because you didn't lock the door. (It happens more than you think).
Secure Your Home
Monday, June 22, 2009
What Are The Different Components Of A Alarm System?
Burglar alarms are used in houses, banks and shopping centers etc. There are numerous varieties of burglar alarms but they all are designed to do the same job. The main components of a alarm system would be a sensor, a camera, a motion detector, a buzzer a flash light and batteries.
Sensors
It is a component that is usually used to detect noise or a movement. Sensors are usually connected to the circuit. As soon as it detects the slightest noise or movement it initiates the circuit which results in triggering the buzzer and the flashing light.
Cameras
The camera as everyone knows, it is a gadget which is used to take a snap or video. You must be wondering why this is used for an alarm. Cameras help to show who and how many of them have broken in and hence resulting in identifying the burglar with ease.
Motion detector
This detector sends out bursts of ultrasonic sound waves and then waits for the reflected energy to bounce back. If there is no one interrupting the signal, the radio energy will bounce back in the same pattern. But if somebody enters the area, the reflection pattern is disturbed and the alarm sounded.
Buzzer
Buzzers are devices which are used to alert people that something has happened. These are set off as soon as the sensor or motion detectors give the signal to the circuits that something fishy is happening.
Flashing lights
These are powerful lights which flash in order to signal people that something is happening.
Batteries
Nowadays burglars are so professional that they do everything under the sun to burgle, they sometimes cut off the electricity so that you’ll not be able to see them and to deactivate the alarm but with improved technology and the use of Batteries it makes it impossible for them to switch off the alarm. Even when the current is turned off your bugler alarm still functions.
