Home Security News

LoJack Car Security System

A recent article in the Seattle PI about the LoJack Security System starts out: "If you think you face difficult times, imagine you're a car thief. The LoJack security system has hurt the business model of auto theft, forcing thieves to go into new lines of work...Sold for $695, the LoJack is a radio transmitter that is hidden on a vehicle and then activated if the car is stolen. The transmitter then silently summons the police -- and it is ruining the economics of auto theft."  Entitled "Creative Thinking Foils Car Thieves," the article offers information on how LoJack works and why it's so effective (not only for the car owner who purchases and installs it, but for every car owner, because it's a hidden device that makes car thieves think twice about stealing in general) as well as thoughts on why hidden security systems and "creative" means for protecting your stuff could be smarter moves than devices like the Club or noisy car alarms in the long run.

Cheap Home Security

An online news articled called Home Security Doesn't Have to Be Expensive reminds us that while expensive alarm systems and remote monitoring are nice, common sense goes a long way in protecting your home, too.  If you can't afford a big system right now, just make sure you're doing the basic stuff. 

Replace old hollow-core dores with solid all-wood or metal doors, and install good locks and deadbolts.  Also install secure locks on windows and make sure you don't leave windows open at night or when you're away from home.  Don't leave hide-a-keys outside the house, and don't give keys to people who don't live in your home. 

The article talks about some sort of gimmicky stuff like fake barking dog alarms and other scarecrow kind of systems that may or may not work.  Sticking with the basics and making sure your house doesn't look like an easy target may go farther in protecting your property and your family.

More helpful articles:

How to Modify Your Landscape to Protect Your House from Burglars
Common Sense Home Security
Personal Security for the Home, Street, and When Traveling

Parking Lot Safety Tips

It's important to worry about security not just at home but when you're out as well.  By being aware of your surroundings, you can help keep yourself from becoming a victim.  Parking Safety: How to Be Smart When You Park is a checklist of tips to help you avoid danger when parking and walking to and from your car.

A couple other sites with tips are:

Parking Safety Tips
BART Parking Safety

Open Windows Can Be a Problem

With warmer weather coming on, it's natural to want to open the windows and let in some cool breezes and fresh air, however, the National Crime Prevention Council reminds us that you can let in thieves that way, too. 

With the arrival of spring weather, you may be tempted to leave your windows and doors open to let the fresh air in, but this can also let a thief into your home. The National Crime Prevention Council says more than 60 percent of completed burglaries take place without any sign of forced entry.

Make sure to close and lock windows when you go to bed for the night or when you leave your home.  For tips on keeping your home secure this summer, check out their short article called, "Open Windows Let in Fresh Air and Crooks: Home Security Tips for Spring and Summer."

Setting Up Multiple Video Surveillance Cameras in Your Home

It's fairly easy to set up a single video surveillance camera such as a nanny cam and hook it up to your computer or a VCR recorder to save the video.  Things can get more complicated when you are setting up a whole home video surveillance system with multiple cameras in different rooms or even monitoring the outdoors.  If you're the do-it-yourself type and prefer not to spend money on a professional security installer, you can start at a place like Smarthome.

Their GrandTec 4 Camera Color Quad Processor is designed to handle the feeds from up to four different video cameras and it can output images to your television, a dedicated monitor, a computer monitor, or a VCR.  It can work with different kinds of cameras.  Smarthome offers both wired and wireless video cameras such as the SecureTek Day/Night Sunshade Camera , a wired video camera that works in color by day and automatically switches to black and white (more effective in the dark) at night, or the WiFi-ready Wireless Video Observer , which is a pan/tilt able IP camera that is reasonably priced.

Wireless Hidden Cameras on the Cheap

For introductory level video surveillance equipment, X10 is one of the most popular sites on the net.  Their basic wireless video camera (because it operates on batteries and is small, it's easy to hide in a room) is about $80 and (at the time of this posting) comes with free shipping.

"The XCam2 is a tiny, powerful wireless video camera that easily installs anywhere around your home. Delivering live COLOR video to your TV and VCR, the XCam2 combines an analog video camera and 2.4-GHz Wireless transmitter into a single ingenious unit."

Xcam2 Wireless Video Camera

They have other wireless hidden cameras if you browse their site at: X10

Glass Break Sensor Information

Some home security systems come with glass break detectors or motion detectors, and you may be wondering if it's a worthwhile investment or what exactly they do.  Basically, glass break sensors work by recognizing the sound/shockwave made by the glass of your windows breaking.  Then an alarm sounds.  To be thorough, you should install sensors on both ground and upper story windows.

More information on glass break sensors/detectors:

About Glass Break Sensors
How to Install a Glass Breaking Sensor in Your Home
Background on Glass Break Detection
Making Sense of Glass Break Sensors

More Car Thefts in the Summer?

Recent news article "Police Say Heed Car Theft Precautions, Especially During Summer" takes a look at the need to keep your car secure, especially in the summer.  The good weather can draw out would-be thieves, and owners may be more likely to leave their windows down and their cars accessible as well.  The article says, "Probably the most common error is leaving keys in the car. The second one is leaving the car open and accessible."  As for suggestions on keeping your car safe, they recommend: "Don`t leave your purse in your car, don`t leave your keys in your car even for a split instance to go in and get a drink at a gas station or anything, because they are everywhere; they`re looking for you to mess up one time."