Evaluating Value: A 2012 Safety Odyssey…

If you were planning to jump out of an airplane, would you be shopping for the best price available?  Would you choose a well-known, reputable agency with years of experience or a company just getting into the business?  Do you choose a company that owns its own equipment, employs its own pilots and instructors?  Do you take the recommendation of other people who’ve used the company before and still appear to be alive?  Who would you trust for the experience of a lifetime, if it could be the last experience of a lifetime?

How many chances will you have to get it right the first time?  What are the consequences of choosing poorly?  Is home security worth getting right the first time?  If you choose wisely, chances are good that you'll only have to make this investment once in each home you own.

 

Ever Misplace a Child?

My children are getting older; a supremely better option than the alternative, but they still require a significant amount of guidance and parental supervision.  This is not supposed to be an exposition about modern parenting techniques.  It would likely prove me to be old fashioned, as I believe parents should keep a rather tight reign on their children until they leave home to discover all of the many things for which they are still unprepared.  As a result, I find myself on school sponsored field trips frequently.

Recently, at the Detroit Zoo, I was asked to chaperone my daughter and two of her school chums through the park.  Each of them had chosen an animal to study and about which to write a report.  These choices played a large role in setting our route.  As we studied the map together, they also determined that we should see the lion and the polar bear exhibits.  Along the way, we would need to stop and eat our lunch, and finally, on our walk back to the front gate, they all agreed that we should spend a few minutes on the playground.

Almost as soon as we completed our group agenda I began to dread the task of leadership set before me.  Where would I find the energy required to organize and keep track of these independant little spitfires at my age?  How would I be able to keep up at my age?  What would I do if the group got separated?  Then my safety-man mind kicked in and I came up with a simple, elegant contingency plan using the wisdom that comes from being a person of my age.  It had to be simple so the children would remember and execute the plan properly.

I took a picture of them with my camera phone.  Each of them was given a piece of paper with my name and cell phone number.  They were given one simple instruction in the event they found themselves separated from me; Stay put!  I promised I would come back for them by retracing my steps.  I told them not to approach a stranger for help, but that if a stranger offered to help, they were to simply tell that person to call my phone number.

Maybe there are other solutions and precautions.  The thrust of this article, though, is to ask the question "Does my child know what to do if they get lost or left behind?"

Of course all opinions and suggestions manumitted here are subject to your own better idea. I'm not proud.

Security Partner or Salesman

This entry begins like a bad joke and the punch line isn’t very funny, either.  A woman whose home had alarm sensors at every opening called a reputable construction company to inquire about upgrading the windows in the home.  She chose high quality materials.  She discussed the alarm system with the project manager and together they determined that the alarm sensor wires should be left exposed for reconnection after the windows were installed.  It was a great idea, but in the end, the style of window that was installed, and the way the screens fit in the opening precluded the installation of any standard type of hard-wired window sensor.

I am only drawing attention to the fact that if her alarm company had been involved from the beginning she may have saved a substantial amount of money by not having to upgrade her alarm system.  Of course a solution still exists, but it is expensive.

By comparison, a client of mine called with a similar inquiry, involving the replacement of her exterior doors.  I met with the contractor and the homeowner to plan to accommodate the alarm sensors.  Then I went back out on the day the doors were installed to ensure the alarm system wasn’t compromised.  Having the contractor drill the necessary holes also meant that the warranty on the door system stayed in force.

The lessons to be learned here are threefold.  First, make sure you deal with a reputable security company.  Second, stay in touch with your security company representative.  Finally, any time you make renovations to your home, or when your home situation changes significantly, get in touch with your security provider to make small adjustments to the security system that better suit the new situation.

Some situations that might cause your security needs to change are:

·         Retirement or change in occupation

·         Middle school children who come home to an empty house for an hour or two each day

·         More extensive travel for work or vacation

·         Hiring or changing household staff, such as a nanny or house keeper

·         Acquiring a new pet

·         Finding yourself with an “empty nest”

·         Changing insurance companies

·         Increased criminal activity in the area

·         Changing phone companies or services

·         Home improvement or renovation

·         Caring for an aging or disabled family member

The security of your home and family should feel like a partnership between you and your security professional.  This is the difference between a security professional and a run-of-the-mill alarm salesman.  Stay tuned to this channel for some tips on choosing your security partner.

Summertime Security

Here's an oldie, but a goodie... It's been a long time since a client faced the dilemma of securing a window that is regularly left open for fresh air circulation.  It's a ground floor, crank out window which when closed is relatively secure, unless broken.  This is monitored by breakage detection.  But if left open intentionally...well then you have to be creative.  Security screens.  A security wire is interwoven in the mesh of the screen to keep it from being cut and sound the alarm if it is damaged, and a simple, normally closed, button style contact sensor ensures that the alarm sounds if the screen is removed.  An elegant solution, and if cost is a factor, perhaps not all of the windows have to be left open for adequate ventilation, eh?

Even though every security solution should be customized for each family's situation, sometimes design aspects of the system can become predictable and formulaic.  It is good to be reminded that every situation warrants exceptional investigative technique to help ensure that the alarm system works within the framework of normal household operation.  The normal function of a family should be considered when designing an alarm system. 

Granted, sometimes being safe is a pain and presents obstacles.  Somewhere, even on some ethereal level, there could exist a list of which estates are most desireable as a target for intrusion or robery.  Another list might prioritize kidnapping targets.  In extreme cases, security might become, necessarily, intrusive.  Think of a presidential daughter, upon her arrival at an otherwise ordinary school dance, being escorted from the limo by a handsome fellow and five or six armed Secret Service people.   In some cases, then, security may be inconvenient, however warranted. 

Here's the thing, most of us don't need that level of protection.  Every week I meet people who are moving into homes that have existing alarm systems.  If every family worked the same, perhaps taking over an existing alarm system, as currently installed, would be sufficient.  Another such scenario is when a builder or architect or general contractor includes a standard, pre-wired security system.  Of course they are qualified to run wire to doors and maybe a keypad or two, but design requires the input of the occupant of the home and a professional who knows the latest security equipment available and how to employ it for the comfort and convenience of the end user.

Participate with an alarm professional.

Of course all opinions and suggestions manumitted here are subject to your own better idea. I'm not proud.

How Can Cameras Enhance Your Security at Home?

I read part of a discussion about how some companies are using free cameras as a loss leader product to open doors for residential alarm system installations. Not a bad ploy from a business perspective, but for a while I had trouble accepting that this really bolstered the security of the home. But, I strive for honesty, and many times, when I confer with potential clients, I admit that the deterrent value of a security sign in the front yard is a substantial part of the overall system. Most burglars will say that they avoided homes with alarm systems.
I was reminded of something I heard when I worked in the commercial and retail side of the security house..."cameras keep honest people honest." The trouble is that companies that use cameras as a foot-in-the-door fail in many cases to maximize the effectiveness of surveillance equipment. It is a novelty; a toy to impress the neighbors and a testimonial to the level of concern that particular company has toward security. (I despise a "hit and run" alarm salesman.) However, cameras can enhance home security when properly deployed. Here are some tips if you want to consider CCTV...

The first trick is that they should be conspicuous. This will take full advantage of the deterrent factor. Of course this works best on a person who is normally well behaved, but who might be tempted to mischief if a tantalizing opportunity presented itself and the risk of being caught was low. A determined thief might risk it anyway, which leads to The next tip.

Cameras are relatively cheap, especially when it is only connected to a viewing device. A burglar might gamble on there being no video recording machine because he knows the recorder is the single most expensive component in a CCTV system...they don't give those away with an alarm system. They also might gamble that they will be able to make off with the recording unit, thereby taking the evidence with him. The suggestion is that the video recorder be well secured and out of plain sight.

When putting the record in a safe location, remember that from time to time, you will want to review recorded footage. To make this simpler, it is convenient to have a viewing monitor close to the recorder. Some recorders come with remotes that can also solve this issue.

You should note that any VCR or Digital Video Recorder can record your camera footage. Pictures of intruders can assist the authorities in identifying a culprit, but not all video is valuable for prosecutorial purposes as evidence. Criteria for evidentiary video include, but may not be limited to time and date stamps embedded in the video. Security DVRs can be costly depending on hard drive space, available channels for camera connections, search and review software. My suggestion is to purchase a substantial unit even though it may cost more. You'll want to avoid having to make that significant investment twice.

As for cameras, pay attention to variables such as operating temperature, iris ratings which determine how much dynamic range (how much light is required for a quality picture), and understand the field of view required. Take some measurements of the areas you want to survey and your camera salesperson can identify a good lens for your application. Unless you have plenty of money to invest, you'll be looking at fixed lens cameras. Pan, tilt and zoom cameras are ultra-cool and have some appropriate applications, but they are expensive.

If you have the chance, you are better off having a professional security person, preferably someone with experience in a residential setting, design the layout and equipment with you.

I invite you to send me questions directly if you'd like more detailed information.

National Preparedness Month

How ‘ya gonna’ get out of town?


A few years ago, 2003 to be precise, the electric grid suffered a major failure and power went completely out all over the northeast United States. Can you remember your circumstances at just the instant you realized the extent of the outage? Any trouble getting home from work that afternoon? Worry about the family much? Considering that the events of 9/11 were fresh on our minds, only two years prior, many jumped to the conclusion that it must be another terrorist attack.

My family was caught off guard by the power outage. Both of our cars were pushing empty; to the point that we used the last two gallons of lawn mower fuel to get us to the nearest gas station using a back-up generator. The line was more than a mile long. So that the car didn’t run out of gas, I walked to the front of the line and snuck in between cars for two gallons at a time. We used up most of our cash as neither my wife nor I carry much and the station couldn’t take plastic. The short version is that we were, as I said, off guard.

The movies have covered almost every conceivable natural disaster and apocalyptic event you can imagine. One of the required reading assignments I had in secondary school was a book called “Alas, Babylon” which dealt with a “day after” scenario and the subsequent anarchy and eventual chaos that civilization fell into. Perhaps this type of fictional sensationalism in our media and entertainment industry causes us to be desensitized and to put off a realistic “what if” discussion. I suggest that you visit the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) web site for all kinds of preparedness tips.

Of course you will sound like an alarmist if you show up one day with maps and charts of escape routes, rendezvous points and emergency contacts numbers. Naturally you’ll seem paranoid if you bring home “his” and “hers” bullet proof vests and gas masks. The neighbors will certainly be concerned if you are stockpiling weapons and durable goods or if the “Bob the Bunker Builder” van stays in your driveway for a week.

However you feel about the security of your family, you should communicate with each other and sort a few things out. Some of the discussion questions might include the following…

If there is a fire in the house:

• What are the two escape routes from each room?

• Where will you meet?

• What is the backup location?

• Where is the fire extinguisher located?

• Who is allowed to use the fire extinguisher?

If there is a local disaster:

• Where can you call or tune into for information?

• Who, outside the local area, can everyone call to check in?

• What is the local evacuation plan?

• Do you have an emergency suitcase packed?

• If communication is not possible, where do you meet?

There are professionals who think up various tragic scenarios and how to prepare for them. Check out the Federal Emergency Management website at www.fema.gov and check out disaster mitigation. You’ll see that September is National Preparedness Month.

What Bad Guys Want

I have been collecting pictures of things that cause significant security concerns.  At first glance some are not so obvious, but hopefully some may choose to scrutinize their security a little more closely for having taken this journey with me...

Indications that a home might be vacant or the occupant has been away for a significant period of time:  tall weeds and lawn not cut.

Bushes and trees obscure the view out the window to the resident and provide cover for the miscreant.

Motion sensitive lights are an excellent deterrent, but should be mounted high enough as to be not easily defeated by covering the lens, unscrewing the bulb or just smashing it by spraying a little water on it.

Privacy fences work both ways... they obscure others' view of your activities as well as the activity of a visitor with ill intentions.

Loose rocks and broken chunks of cement are just the right tool for smashing through a sun-porch window or door.  Get rid of them rather than stashing them behind the garage.

Think your second floor windows are safe and don't need alarm devices?  You might ask your neighbor to either move his ladders or at least secure them to his garage.  Also think about the message that the wheat field in the back yard sends to a possible intruder.  (Hint: it has nothing to do with watching out for snakes or remembering to wear mosquito repellant)

Once the picnic table and lawn chairs are set up, those upstairs windows become accessible, regardless of how secure the ladders on the neighbor's garage might be.

The phone line that should carry the signal to your alarm company is likely four feet off the ground, making it very easy to cut the phone line, or simply destroy, before breaking in through that huge glass door with the shovel left so conveniently nearby.  Back up your phone line!

Note the condensation between the panes of glass on this crank-out window.  This window was destroyed when the installer of the alarm system drilled into the casing to install a hard-wired window contact sensor.  Don't let anyone drill into the casing of your windows; it voids the warranty and can wreck the window.

There you have it.  Check your own home from the perspective of an intruder.  What tools would you use?  What are your vulnerabilities?  If you had to break into your house, how would you do it?  What does the bad guy see you do every day?

Who is watching your home when you cannot?