Home security weaknesses you may be ignoring

As a homeowner you may be surprised to learn that your habits are improving burglars’ chances of breaking in successfully. Naturally, if you change your habits you will deprive crooks of having an advantage over you. All you need to do is get rid of these vulnerabilities in security to make your home a more difficult target.

  v  Predictable Schedule
Burglars look for people who have regular schedules, they like to find a home that is usually left open for hours every day at the same time. Once thieves have seen that they will have a lot of time to search for valuables, they’ll make their move! The best thing you can do is try to change your schedule every now and then and take different routes to and from your house. Majority of us have to work the same hours every day, but it is possible to make small changes to your other activities that will throw off any potential burglars.

  v  Concealment
Sometimes you might be helping burglars approach your house without even knowing it. You may do this by planting tight clusters of bushes or not having lights around your doorways, burglars can then be easily concealed. Always be sure to trim any bushes and consider even removing any that are big enough to be used as hiding places. Your doorways should also always be lit up well so that you can see burglars if they try to break in.

  v  Accidental Invitations
Thieves are very talented at looking for signs that a home has valuables inside, but homeowners are sometimes unaware. One thing that can be an invitation is when you dispose of packaging from expensive items outside, crooks are clever enough to look at your garbage on trash day and see if there are any large electronic boxes. Always make sure to cut up your packaging and dispose of it more discreetly.

You should always examine your home and your habits for things that enable a burglar to pull off a successful break-in. The key is to eliminate the opportunities and use the best technology available from a reliable security company.

For home security services at a high standard contact SIS - Security & Investigation Services. They can offer a wide variety of services.

Written By: Christine Romans

How to improve your small business security

If you want your small business to thrive and be successful you need to make sure you take all the necessary precautions to protect your company from criminals. Here are some simple tips to help improve the security of your small business.

  Ø  Secure all important documents
If you own a small business, you will probably be dealing with very important papers on a daily basis. Written documents like lease agreements and tax forms ALWAYS need to be stored in a secure place. The less important documents can always be stored in a normal file cabinet, but the essential documents need to be stored in a fire-proof safe at all time.

  Ø  Shield your computers
We live in the computer age and hackers are always a legitimate threat to your business. Within a matter of minutes or even seconds a skilled computer hacker can attack your entire business. Instead of storing all your important documents on a hard drive or disc, you should consider storing your data on the cloud. As many people already know the cloud is an off-site storage system for electronic data. The typical cloud storage service is known to be very secure.

  Ø  Install an alarm system
A small business is completely defenseless without a high-quality alarm system. Security experts such as SIS – Security & Investigation Services specialize in providing around the clock security for your business or your home. Home security professionals can easily install multiple security sensors within your company’s building. If an intruder tries to break into your business, an alert will be automatically sent to you.

  Ø  Use security cameras
If you have a small business you will benefit greatly from having at least two security cameras on the premises. In the event that someone breaks in or damages your property, the video footage may prove to be extremely valuable. Not only do security cameras provide vital evidence, but the sight of them will scare criminals away.

There is no overlooking the fact that owning a small business requires you to make important decisions and sound judgment. You always need to ensure that your business is safe and secure at all times. These four security measures will certainly help to protect your investment.

Written By: Christine Romans 

The best place to keep your valuables is in a SAFE!

Everyone has those important documents that should and cannot ever be lost. Birth and Death certificates, Estate-planning documents, Life-insurance policies, Savings bonds, Stock certificates and Tax returns are most of the common documents one should be expected to place in a safe. However not every safe serves the same purpose, there is a wide variety of sizes as well as function of safes.

It’s best to decide what your safe is going to be used for and everything you are going to need before you set out to purchase yours. It is advised to determine the average Rand value of the contents. It is not wise to spend the same amount on a safe with a contents worth R5,000 compared to one that’s worth R5,000,000. This is why your budget has to be set out according to the value of its contents.

·         Fire Resistance

        The number 1 concern for most buyers is fire, and whether their valuable would survive extreme heat. The National Fire Protection Association says that there is only a one in four chance that someone would experience a household fire bad enough to call the fire department in an average life time. When rating whether a safe is fire resistant or not, they look at the heat the safe will hold on the inside during a fire. If you are storing paper documents you will look for a safe that doesn’t exceed 350 degrees, Old tape recordings of 35mm slides you will look for a safe that doesn’t exceed 150 degrees and if you are storing Computer disks and DVDs you will look for a safe that doesn’t exceed 125 degrees. A fire tends to move through a house in 20 minutes. Most safes can withstand a fire for about 30 minutes, there are safes that can last longer but they come with w higher price tag.

·         Burglary Protection

        To test whether a safe is burglary-resistant UL testers go at the safes with tools, torches and even explosives. A TL-15 rated safe can withstand and attack for up to 15 minutes using common tools. Most safes don’t carry a very high burglary safety rating but they do have some kind of security. A 1.2 or 1.33 cubic foot safe is heavy and weighs u to 100 pounds without having anything inside it, so it looks less attractive than jewelry, cameras and other small electronics. Many safes also come with bolt down kits which acts as a further deterrent to thieves in a rush. Its best to conceal a safe in a wall of in the floor.

·         Water Resistance

         Most safes come with the added feature of being water proof and are submerged in water to simulate the effects of a flood or broken water line.

Even though Safes are a costly expense, it’s a smart idea to install one or two in your house to keep those important documents and memories you don’t wish to lose because of a small fire, burst pipe or even a robbery. The better you hide your safe from the public the safer your belongings will be.

For safety and security services contact SIS - Security & Investigation Services.

How to teach your kids about home security

If you have a child it is your responsibility to keep them safe, it is also your job to teach them how to follow the proper course of action if they are ever in a dangerous situation. Your children may have never thought about home security because they have never been faced with any potential threats; here is how to teach your kids about home security…

Small Children
It is never too early to teach your child about home security. It is especially important to teach them at a young age if they are often left alone with older siblings or babysitters. Make sure your child knows all these precautions:

       -          Never open the door for someone when an adult is not there.

       -          Refrain from answering the phone when a parent is not home.

       -          Know how to lock all the doors properly in order to keep the home secure.

       -          Know the plan for evacuating the house in the event of a fire or related emergency.

Tweens
Kids these days seem to be using technology at a younger and younger age, this can threaten their security without them even realising. If your child is often active on social media sites, ensure they follow these rules:

      -          Do not post information about where you live or your physical address.

      -          Do not post on Facebook or Twitter or any other social media network that you are home alone.

You should also always show your tween exactly how to use your home security system, make sure they know the code and how to activate and deactivate it.

Adolescents
If you have older children you probably know that they can be very unpredictable and irresponsible, you have to ensure that they know exactly how to use the home security and access control systems. If you want to get them more involved, have them teach their younger siblings about home security and how to use the home security system.

      -          If you have a smartphone and an advanced home security system, learn how to use it with apps.

      -          If you are installing a new home security system, involve your teens son they can understand how everything works.

      -          Make sure they know all the codes and how to activate and deactivate the security system.

If you would like further guidance in teaching your kids about home security, contact SIS –Security & Investigation Services today. They also offer you a wide variety of services from general guarding and farm protection to CCTV off site and alarm monitoring.

Written By: Christine Romans

Why transparent Polycarbonate burglar bars are better than normal metal burglar bars!

It goes without saying that burglar bars are a must have in every home, However that doesn’t mean your house needs to look like a prison. Through the years many different styles of burglar bars have been designed; namely the Spanish, Russian, Wrought iron, mild steel and flower design. But none of these can compare to the Polycarbonate burglar bars.

Transparent Polycarbonate burglar bars

      ·         These transparent Bars don’t destroy your view which is often the main reason you bought the house in the first place.

      ·         The Bars are ideal for both open-pane and fixed-pane windows and depending on the company you choose to install them, they can be competitively priced.

      ·         As these bars are made of polycarbonate they will not rust near the coast as the metal ones tend to do.

      ·         The polycarbonate burglar bars are strong and flexible and can withstand a far higher level of impact compared to ordinary bars.

      ·         These unique clear bars can be custom fitted.

      ·         As there are no metal parts the bars are installed efficiently and cleanly without the need to weld or grind them.

      ·         The maintenance is minimal over time as there is no coating or re-painting needed.

      ·         These bars can fit with a modern design or a newly renovated home.

Benefits

      ·         Entirely transparent burglar bars that won’t obstruct your view that protects your home at the same time.

      ·         Maintenance free

      ·         No rust

      ·         No mess after installation

      ·         No chemicals, just a cloth and water

The transparent polycarbonate burglar bars protect you home from intrusion without obstruction your view. They are as strong and durable as traditional bars. Due to their transparent appearance they are fast becoming the most popular choice in burglar proofing modern homes.

For your home security services contact SIS - Security & Investigation Services, they can provide you with a variety of home care options.

Ditch the keys & get a digital door lock

No longer will you have to spend your time struggling to find your keys or pay extreme prices for spare keys and locksmiths. The digital door lock is a revolutionary invention that allows you to lock and unlock your doors with ease.

How do digital door locks work? First of all they are considered to be much safer than your normal door locks and they are beneficial for you if you do not want to carry a key around. Once it is installed either use your fingerprint, smart card or key code and the door locks or unlocks – it’s as easy as that!

Digital door locks are not just for businesses anymore, they are increasing in popularity for home use too. Most security companies offer this type of door lock, but you can even install it yourself! Make a note to ensure that no one sees your security code when you are installing it.

A great digital door lock that has just been introduced is the Yale Biometric Mortice Digital Door Lock. Let’s take a look at some of the features:

-        - One touch fingerprint access

-        - Verification method voice guide features

-        - Smart touchpad anti-panic egress with safe handle

-        - Scramble code

-        - Easy registration of keys

-        - Missing key invalidation

-        - Mechanical cylinder applied

-        - Break-in damage alarm

-        - Automatic lock mode

-        - Electronic shock resistance

-        - Heat sensor

-        - Stores up to 20 fingerprints

-        - Mechanical override keys: 2

-        - Pin code: 6-12 digits

-        - Case quantity: 1

With the Yale digital door locks you are allowed to choose how to unlock your doors, whether it be fingerprint, smart card or keypad. Imagine just how much simpler your life would be if you had one:

• No need to remember to bring your keys when you go out 
•  No need to lock your doors
• No more time wasted rummaging through your bag and pockets  
• No more forgotten and lost keys
• No need for spare keys
• No more money wasted on cutting keys for visitors

These state-of-the-art locks will simplify our lifestyle and enable us to feel safer and secure in our own homes. These days the world has become so full of new technology, so consider getting a digital door lock to keep with the times and ensure peace of mind.

For all your security needs, contact SIS - Security & Investigation Services. They pride themselves on a protecting your business and home. 

Written By: Christine Romans 

Security upgrades you should make in 2015

Everyone knows that most New Year’s resolutions don’t make it into February. We all have those ambitious plans to change our lives and majority of the time these changes are just way too unreachable and unrealistic. If there’s one goal you should have this year, it should be to keep your home and family safe. Here are some suggestions and upgrades you should make in 2015...

      ·  Prevent house fires with simple precautions
The first step to take is to always check your smoke detectors and chimney regularly and make sure they are in good working condition. Secondly always use caution with simple household items – heaters, candles and other heat sources can be dangerous, leaving them unattended can be catastrophic.

      ·  Child burn prevention
Child burn prevention is extremely important, you need to keep all your hot liquids and foods far out of your child’s reach, whether it is locked away in the cupboard or kept high up on top of the fridge. Make a note to yourself to always remember to turn off the stove and oven when you are done using it, during cooking turn the handles to the inside of the stove so your child is unable to grab them.

      ·  Inspect your electrical system
If your home is old, there’s a good chance your wiring may be outdated. Do not attempt to check the wiring yourself if you are not an expert, rather hire a professional electrician! If you decide to upgrade your wiring, it will be worth the money spent, because your home will be a whole lot safer for you and your family.

      ·  Ensure your furniture is child-friendly
If you want to keep your children safe, make sure your furniture can withstand their behaviour. Try to stay away from dining room and coffee tables that have dangerous sharp edges, bolt your bookcases sturdily to the ground and keep anything that can be climbed on top of away from windows.   

      ·  Mind the window coverings
it is very important to use your common sense when you choose your window coverings. If you have children stay away from any that have cords – they can be hazardous! Most newer windows are cordless and safer.

If you are serious about keeping your family safe it may be time to consider installing a home security system. Security systems from SIS – Security & Investigation Services can offer you and your business an affordable, reliable system to fit your needs.

Written By: Christine Romans

How to keep your home cool in summer

Let’s cut to the chase – it’s extremely hot and it doesn't look like it’s going to cool down for a while. It’s so tempting to turn the AC on the whole day or just plonk yourself right in front of the fan, but those aren't the only tricks for keeping cool this summer.

1. Keep your blinds closed. As simple as it may seem, some people don’t think to do this. 30% of unwanted heat comes from your windows, if you simply utilize your shades, curtains and blinds you can lower the temperature inside your house by a lot!

2. Be smart about your doors. Closing off unused rooms will prevent cool air from going into these areas during the hottest parts of the day. However when there are cooler nights you’ll want to let air flow naturally through your home.

 3. Swap your sheets. Not only does swapping your bedding seasonally freshen up your room, it’s also a great way to keep your bedroom cool. Cotton sheets are cooler in summer because it breathes easier and stays cooler and as an added bonus try to buy yourself a buckwheat pillow or two, they won’t hold onto your body head like normal pillows.

4. Set your ceiling fans to rotate counter clockwise. Whether you know it or not your ceiling fan needs to be adjusted when the hot months arrive. By setting them counterclockwise in summer at a higher speed, the airflow produced will create a wind-chill breeze effect that will make you feel much cooler.

5. Worry about the person, not the house. If the cavemen survived without air conditioning, I’m sure you can too! Cool yourself from the inside out by sipping on ice cold drinks or apply a cold cloth to your neck or wrist, also try to be smart about your clothing choices.

6. Let the night air in. temperatures tend to drop during the night (sometimes). If this is the case then make the most of those refreshing hours and  crack open your windows before you go to bed, just be sure to close the windows and blinds before the morning heat.

7. Start braaing. It’s obvious, but it needs to be said anyway: using your oven or stove in the summer will make your house hotter than it already is. If it already feelings like 100 degrees in your home, the last thing you want to do is turn on the oven, besides what could be better than a nice braai in the summer heat.

For a reliable home security system for your home, contact SIS - Security & Investigation Services. they pride themselves on protecting your home or your business.

Written By: Christine Romans

How to make your life easier with home automation

It wasn't that long ago that managing your home from the palm of your hand seemed futuristic and absolutely impossible. In this day and age controlling your home via home automation is becoming very popular and you will be able to avoid mistakes like these:

  o   Your son has lost the house keys, again!
You’re at work and you get a phone call from your son saying he’s lost the house keys again, sound familiar? Instead of heading all the way home to unlock the door you can do it from your smartphone or other internet connected device. Even better you will never have to hide your spare key under the doormat or in the pot plant again!

  o   That leak in the basement has returned
The plumber told you the leak was fixed, but you've just returned home and the basement is completely flooded. If you had a water detection sensor and home automation, you would have been sent a message alert the exact moment water was detected.

  o   You’re worried you forgot to lock the front door
You got the kids dressed in a hurry and then darted off to work in a hurry, but as soon as you sit down at your desk you get an uneasy feeling that you've forgotten to lock the front door. Rather than stressing all day about a break-in, you can check the doors status from your smart phone and even lock it remotely.

  o   You get the feeling your kids aren't staying on task
Your kids promised they would start their home work as soon as they got home from school, but you’re not convinced. If you had a home security camera and home automation you could see exactly what’s going on in your home in real time.

  o   Your lights have been left on
You’re driving down your street and you see your daughter left the bathroom light on, that gets you wondering – has she forgotten to turn off her flat iron too? Instead of driving all the way back or worrying all day about wasting electricity or a fire breaking out, just pick up your smartphone and turn the lights and appliances off.

If you invest in a home automation system, it can not only boost your home’s security and save time and money, but it can also help you avoid some of life’s little misadventures.

SIS - Security & Investigation Services pride themselves on providing you and your family with affordable, professional security services for your home or business.

Written By: Christine Romans

6 common home security mistakes to avoid

Many people forget some of the obvious home security practices that can be done to safeguard their homes. Here are some of the most common security mistakes people tend to make and how to overcome them.

1. Forgetting to lock the door
It may seem like an obvious statement, but you’d be surprised how many of us forget to secure the entryways when leaving the house or going to sleep for the night. A lot of burglaries are filed as unlawful entries – meaning to enter it did not require any force.

2. Leaving the alarm disarmed
Your home security system can only protect you when it is armed. You should make it a habit to turn on your system as soon as you enter your home and right before you leave. If you find that you forget most of the time, create reminders like a note on the door or a keyring to make sure it doesn't slip your mind.

3. Advertising a vacant home

The lights are gone, the cars are gone and your mail has piled up – all

this paints a perfect picture for an easy burglary target! When you leave for a holiday or business trip, always consider what your empty home will look like and find ways to make it look like an active home.

- Ask a friend, relative or neighbour to pick up your mail while you are away.
- Invest in an energy management solution that allows you to schedule and remotely control lights within your home.

4. Neglecting to maintain your home security system
Your home security system should be check each year by a professional. While testing it yourself is a good practice, having a professional to check can give you a more specific diagnosis of your system. Don’t forget you should also inspect and change the batteries of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors yearly.

5. Leaving valuables visible
It’s obvious – leaving valuables in plain view will attract burglars. The best thing to do is to keep your valuables out of sight and out of mind.
- Close garage doors when not in use
- Fold boxes from purchases inside out before throwing them away
- Close drapes and curtains to shield your belongings from prying eyes

6. Letting your guard down

Everyone thinks their home or neighbourhood is immune to crime until it happens. It doesn’t matter how often your area is patrolled or how well you think your neighbours keep an eye out for one another – never let your guard down!

Are you guilty of committing any of these obvious mistakes? Make sure to be alert in the new year and avoid any of these common home security mistakes.

For all your home security needs contact SIS - Security & Investigation Services, they can provide you with reliable security services for your home or business.

Written By: Christine Romans

Top home security trends for 2015

So 2014 is done and dusted in what seems like a flash. Last year shaped up to be quite a big year for home security as it continued to integrate and crossover into the world of smart home technology.

Every month there seemed to be a start up company popping up with a new and improved take on home security.  Some of the biggest security news of the year came from two of the largest global companies, Google who acquired Nest and Dropcam and Apple who introduced HomeKit.

Here are some things to keep an eye out for this upcoming year:

The Camera-centric Security System
Security cameras will soon become a focal point of home alarm systems, after all, it’s comforting to know what’s going on at your home when you’re not around. Many start up security companies have designed their systems around a camera, making video monitoring and live streaming the main features, other alarm companies continue to try and combine more video and image options into their systems.

Smartphone integration
As security camera use becomes more popular, it also makes sense that smartphone use for home security also increases. And why shouldn't it? It’s incredibly easy to just simply pick up your smartphone and control your home alarm system. With smartphone integration you can view live camera footage, monitor the system’s activity and status and so much more!

User experience
In 2015 the user experience is to become extremely important and thankfully, more companies are recognizing that. Home security companies are focusing more of their time and money on websites, apps, guides and other important collateral to be streamlined and user-friendly.

The home security industry is in for a very interesting 2015. Home security companies continue to innovate and introduce new technologies into their systems, make sure to keep up with the latest home security trends this year!

For all your home security needs contact SIS - Security & Investigation Services, they can offer you a wide variety of home security services from general guarding to CCTV off site and alarm monitoring.

Written By: Christine Romans