Safety tips for living by yourself

Living alone is liberating! You’ll always know that the only dishes in the sink are yours, everything is exactly top your taste and the fridge is full of your favourite foods only… But, sometimes it can be a bit stressful, especially when you think of how dangerous it can be. Well, it doesn’t have to be any more dangerous than any other types of living situations! With a few simple precautions, you can make sure that you are always safe.

Get a Pet – Dogs are proven to deter burglars from targeting your home, but the advantage of having either a dog or a cat also means that you will feel more comfortable in your house. How comfortable you are in your home generally can determine your panic levels and how you respond when you have to make quick, emergency decision.

Remember to Lock Up – this applies all the time, not just when you are out or a sleep. Some break-ins even occur as “walk-ins” because a lot of people are so relaxed about locking their doors. This is also an advantage of living alone, because you can stick the chain in without having to worry about anyone else having to get into the house. You should also get into the habit of using the peephole.

Fix Maintenance Issues right away – The thing about living alone is that no one else isn't going to take care of this for you, so get yourself a good toolbox for small fixes and ask the landlord or call in a professional for major ones. Some maintenance issues, like a broken or stuck window, can make a burglary easy.

Close the Curtains – Closing the blinds or curtains means that potential burglars can’t see your stuff, but it also means that they can’t see that you’re alone – which can be a factor when they choose targets. Closing the curtains also gives you more privacy so the entire street can’t see what you’re doing.

Turn off Location Services – When you’re living alone you might be on social media a lot, whether you’re Facebooking constantly or instagramming your delicious dinner you just made. But also remember that when you do, just make sure that you’re not broadcasting your location to the world! This is especially important if you can in fact see that you are alone from your social media posts.

Know your Neighbours – No, you don’t have to be the best of friends, but knowing your neighbours is one of the best and easiest security systems in the world. If your neighbours know you live alone, they will be likely to alert the authorities if they see anything suspicious around your home.

Keep Your Cellphone Charged – It may be easy for a burglar to cut a phone line, but majority of us have a cellphone anyway. Make sure to always keep your cellphone charged so that if there is an emergency you can always make a phone call – after all, you live alone so it’s all up to you.

Get a Home Security System – Getting a monitored home security system means you can be alone without being alone, alone! It’s just like having a roommate that doesn't eat food and take up space, but they will always be there for you. Make sure you contact SIS – Security & Investigation Services for all your home security needs.

How to choose the best PIN for your security alarm

Your home alarm system is a great too to have to protect you, your belongings and your house against burglary. You know that if someone were to ever try and break into your home, they’d trip a sensor and set off your alarm, alerting local authorities. But there is an extra layer of security that you can control – your PIN, or Personal Identification Number. Hopefully, you and your family are the only people who ever enter your home, but if someone ever attempts to they first thing they’ll try to do is to disarm your alarm system.

When you make your PIN complex and challenging, you are adding an extra layer of security. The big question is how exactly do you choose the best PIN.

Eliminate Common Factors – Of course, you’ll have to remember your PIN. You will have to use it every day and you need to make sure that you are one of the people who can easily turn off your alarm without any hassles (It’s not good if your forget it.) The main challenge is that many people pick things that are TOO easy to remember, you should avoid significant dates in your life. Dates are always the common choice for four digit PINs, because they are easily remember and they fit the pattern. Birthdays and anniversaries are a no-no as they may be easy to find id the person breaking in knows you. Also, most years that people use begin with either “19” or “20”; this gives the burglar a great chance of accidentally choosing the correct date.

Make sure to keep your PIN varied. It’s good to stay away from numbers in a sequence, make sure to use several numbers in your PIN. The more numbers you use, the more difficult it is to guess!

Stay Away from “Default” PINs – Often a security system will come with a default PIN. It is extremely important to change this PIN as soon as you can, this way you will know you are the only one who can arm and disarm your system. Immediately this will provide you with an extra layer of security.

Select a Better Pin – Try to choose a four digit number that means something to you, but there should be no easy or obvious record of it. Try using the last four digits of your friend’s phone number or take a four letter word and use its numeric counterpart, like on your phone. This way no one will ever know what your PIN code is.

Yes, it is very important to know and remember your PIN, but it’s also good to change it regularly. It’s also vital to have different PINs for different accounts, there’s no need to make your home security system PIN, your bank account PIN and any other PINs the same number.

Your PIN is an important layer of your home’s security. Be smart when your choose your PIN, and anyone trying to burglarize you won’t stand a chance. Your home will be safe and secure when you know you’re the only person who can access it.

For all your home security needs, contact SIS - Security & Investigation Services today! They can offer your a wide range of services, from general guarding and farm protection to CCTV off site and alarm monitoring.

Written By: Christine Romans

The Genie smart lock

Smart locks definitely aren't rare these days. Many of the devices, however, go through batteries pretty quickly.  It’s with this in mind that the Genie Smart Lock was created – it has all the right features and it uses much less power!

Like most of the other smart locks out there, Genie allows you to unlock your door with the help of your smartphone. It uses both Bluetooth and WiFi to accomplish this, this gives you the option of unlocking your door from anywhere in your house. They can also grant temporary door-unlocking privileges to other people, like house guests or maid services.

The main selling point of this particular lock is the battery life! Most smart locks average about a month of use per charge, but the Genie promises up to 12 months of life. This is done using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). The lock itself only sends out BLE signals, and the Genie Hub, a WiFi connected device that is a part of the system, receives those signals and sends them to the user’s smartphone through WiFi. This means the lock itself is never actually connected to a searching for a wireless internet signal – resulting in low power consumption.

For users who are interested in the WiFi Features, the lock can be used with just the BLE connectivity without the Genie Hub. Of course, is you decide to go this way then you will be missing out on all the remote unlocking  features, but having options is always a good thing.

As with all smart locks, should the battery die at some point, a normal key is also included for emergency unlocking. Also, another important thing to note is that the lock is designed to work with a standard 54mm door hole, and can be replaced with a traditional lock without leaving a trace.

Smart locks are becoming more and more popular as time goes by, but it’s rare to find one with all the best features and still an amazing battery life.

For all your home security needs, contact SIS - Security & Investigation Services. They can provide you with anything from general guarding and farm protection to CCTV off site and alarm monitoring.

Written By: Christine Romans

How to avoid door to door scams

Never, ever let a salesman into your home. Letting a stranger into your home is incredibly dangerous, even if you hear a knock on the door and a stranger is there – use extreme caution! It is always best to check through the peephole or a window first to see who is at the door before opening it. Always ask a person to identify themselves before you open the door, if you are still concerned there’s nothing wrong with turning them away. Safety is a priority!

The home security industry is plagued with people using scams to make money, here’s how to guard your castle and avoid door to door scams…

Check for ID
Many people will claim to someone they aren’t. Always make sure to ask for some form of identification. Even so, keep in mind many people might give you false identification.

Get their offer in writing
If you absolutely must listen to a pitch from a door-knocker, always get their offer in writing and then contact them after reading their contract.

When in doubt, shut the door
You should never, ever feel inclined to open the door and listen to someone. If at any time you feel what the door-knocker is saying is too good to be true, it probably is. So, just close the door and stay safe.

Never invite a solicitor into your home
Never let anyone you don’t know inside your house. It is extremely dangerous to invite a solicitor into your home, you never know what their actual plan could be – they may want to rob or hurt you!

Don’t be afraid to call local law enforcement
Some people who knock on your door just won’t leave. If any of the techniques above fail, don’t ever be afraid to call your local law enforcement.

When you hear a knock on your door, make sure to keep your guard up and these tips in mind!

Contact SIS - Security & Investigation Services for all your home security needs! We have a variety of services, from general guarding to CCTV off site and alarm monitoring.

Written By: Christine Romans

Why door alarms are a practical decision for home security

Door alarms are an inexpensive option for home security, but they only take the security system so far. While they are definitely a great first step, you may want to think about getting alarm monitoring to go with your door alarms you have in your home.

Benefits

Door alarm systems are great because they alert you if an intruder is trying to break into your home while you are in it. They usually sound at 110 – 120 decibels, which is loud enough for you to hear throughout your home. When the alarm goes off you can react quickly and phone the police, and it also scares the intruder into leaving because he knows you are home. If you are away from home, the alarm may be just loud enough for your neighbour to hear, and then they may be able to call the police for you. Keep in mind that most break-ins actually happen during the day, so this is very important.

Types

There are a few different types of door alarms. Some are wireless and portable and do not have to be permanently mounted anywhere. These door alarms can simply be hung on the doorknob and are activated when someone turns it, because they are portable you can take them with when you travel. The door stop alarm is a wireless door alarm that looks very similar to an actual door stop, but it sounds an alarm when pressure is put on the door as it is opening. It is wedge shaped, so you can put the narrow part under the door. Other door alarm systems have a keypad panel, which is usually mounted close to the monitored door; the code number will activate and deactivate the alarm.

Are Door Alarm Systems Enough?

Though door alarms are a key part of a full security system, they are not always enough just on their own. Yes, these alarms alert you when an intruder is breaking in, and alert the intruder that there is some kind of security system, but no one else is really alerted by the alarm. Your neighbours may not even hear it and even if they do, that doesn't mean they’re going to react. In conjunction with door alarms, alarm monitoring services round out the home security package. If you have alarm monitoring, as soon as the door alarm goes off, either the police, a security company or both will be alerted of the problem. This means that the police will arrive at your home quickly to access the situation, without monitoring, no one else would be alerted to the break-in and so no help would arrive!

If you are considering setting up door alarms or already have them in place, you should consider installing an alarm monitoring service with SIS – Security & InvestigationServices as well. You can talk to a security expert to help you make the decision for your home security plan and help keep you, your family and your possessions safe.

Advice for children about family safety

Many families are protected with a home security system from SIS – Security & Investigation Services. However, the equipment will only provide alerts about the intruders who have broken into your home. Homeowners must assume a responsibility for not attracting thieves and for informing children about the dangers from burglary. Children may want playmates to come to their house to play games or climb trees. But remember that friends are a source of risks because children may not know about methods for concealing information about personal possessions.

> Confidentiality
Children may choose to make themselves more popular by talking about the new electronics their father bought or the valuable jewelry their mother wears. The information about personal possessions should be protected because thieves will cruise through neighbourhoods and look for open windows and doors such as patio and garage doors. The thieves may enter through an open garage door and steal tools from a work bench or an unlocked vehicle.

> Electronic Devices
A burglar will break a window and enter a home to steal video games, TVs, computers and music systems. Because of this children should always be advised about not speaking to anyone about any expensive or new electronic devices in their home. All information about new purchases should be protected because a thief could easily enter a home and steal something.

> Weapons and Jewelry
Thieves can easily sell stolen weapons, jewelry, antiques and family heirlooms – all these cannot be replaced! Therefore, parents should protect themselves and their children by speaking with their children about the potential threats from strangers. Family members may be frightened after a burglary, but you will all have protection with a home security system from SIS – Security & Investigation Services.

Written By: Christine Romans

3 home security tips when you bring home a new baby

Having a baby is probably the most joyous occasion for a couple and its natural for parents to want to keep it that way by ensuring that the newborn is safe and secure at home. Here are some helpful tips for ensuring that your house is safe for your new baby…

Secure Hazardous Chemicals
There are many items around the house that seem okay, but they are actually quite dangerous for babies. The most common item to be aware of is you’re cleaning chemicals under the sink. Although most of the containers have childproof lids, an extra layer of security would be vital. Think about installing childproof cabinets or moving the chemicals to a higher shelf. Another substance in your home that is surprising dangerous for newborns is honey! Infants’ digestive tracts are vulnerable to the bacteria in honey, so make sure you keep it out of range.

Update your Home Security Plan
Every part of your home security plan must be rethought of because of your new addition to your family. If you have a safe room, it should be relocated to the baby’s new room or close by. It’s also important to have a home security system installed with cameras and motion sensors so that your home is 100% secure and your baby is properly protected. Contact SIS – Security & Investigation Services, if you want to learn more about home security systems.

Use Technology to keep Tabs on your Baby
When you lay your newborn in the crib for a nap, it is important to have some way of monitoring the room. Baby monitors have traditionally served this purpose, but today’s technology offers so much more possibilities! There are many home security systems with cameras that can provide a view of your baby’s room when you are asleep or in another part of the house. It is even possible to get a live feed straight to your smartphone. SIS – Security & Investigation Services will be able to help you with a home security system and cameras that will fit your needs.

New babies need constant protection, and they depend on their parents to provide it. Follow this advice and your baby will be safe from the most common household hazards.

Written By: Christine Romans

Why DIY home security installation is better

The secret of DIY installation is that it’s super easy. Even though professional installation requires no work on your part, the “work” you need to do for most do-it-yourself installations is minimal. Here are some pros and cons of DIY installation…

The upside of DIY installation:

> No installation fees > Install on your own schedule
> Adjust the system how you want it
> You can move your system whenever you want
> You’ll learn about how your system works

The downside of DIY installation:

> You have to do all the work
> No in-person professional, however they are usually on the phone guiding you

The best part about DIY installation is that it’s completely free. You don’t have to pay any installation fees since you’ll be doing it yourself. The good companies won’t leave you all alone to do this though! Some companies have an installation professional to walk you through the process over the phone, so when you install your system yourself you won’t have to wait around for an installer.

There are some situations where you really need a professionals help, like with any kind of hard-wired home security that’s going to be more difficult to install than wireless. If you want to talk to a professional to get a better idea on which type of system is best for you, give SIS – Security & Investigation Services can help you anytime.

Written By: Christine Romans

Safety tips when selling your home

When you are selling your home, always remember that there are certain safety guidelines that should always be followed to keep yourself and others safe…

Valuables
- Don’t forget to take your keys, credit cards, jewelry, and other valuables from your home or lock them away.
- Antique, rare or expensive home décor items also should be put away to avoid accidental breakage, or worse, theft!

Medications
- Remove all prescription medications from medical cabinets and bedside tables.

Weapons
- Firearms, knives (including those in a block in the kitchen), and other weapons should be removed from sight and locked away.

Personal Info
- Bills, invoices, credit card statements, mail and anything with personal identifying information should be removed from view.
- Family photos and anything labeled with names also should be out away.

Showings
- Do not let strangers into your home if they do not have an appointment first.
- All showings should be officially scheduled in advance through either your estate agent, their office, or another estate agent who represents the buyer.

Hazards
- Protect yourself from a liability standpoint by making sure that driveway and sidewalks are clear and free of all debris.
- Also, make sure all pets are secured at all times.
- Do everything on your power to ensure a prospective buyer is never in any danger.

Contact SIS - Security & Investigation Services for all your home security needs. From general guarding and farm protection to CCTV off site and alarm monitoring.

Written By: Christine Romans

The Step Off Door Alarm

With all the hot days turning your home into an oven, it only makes sense to leave windows open at night and let the cool air come inside. But, as peaceful as that sounds, it’s also the perfect time for predators to be sneaking around looking for ways to get into your home.

There are many ways you can deter burglars from climbing in your window at night, like…

- Dogs can be trained to wake you up with a bark and also subdue a person breaking into your home.

- Alarm systems can protect your doors and windows with the simple push of a button.

- Replacing windows with newer models that have window locks so the windows cant just slide open.

- Cutting a sturdy piece of wood to slip into the track to stop the window from opening all the way.

Not everyone can afford an alarm system though, and not everyone is allowed a dog. Lock and slicks can also make it hard to open the window to get good circulation.

Luckily, there is another solution. The Step Off Door Alarm by Damsel in Defense. It is a versatile, inexpensive and easy to use gadget that works with sliding glass doors and main doors to your home and windows. All you have to do is set the pressure sensitivity and place it so that if the door or window is slid open, the pressure will sound a 120 decibel alarm that will not only wake up the dead, but scare any intruders away immediately!

The Step Off Door Alarm is battery operated and portable, it can be used in college dorms, hotel rooms and anywhere else you want to stay safe. It can also be used during camping in your trailer or placed just under a tire so that if someone tries to steal your car the alarm will sound.

If you can’t afford expensive monitoring the Step Off Door Alarm can completely replace it, plus you won’t have to be in any unsafe situations, attacks, burglaries and you will have complete peace of mind. Anyone who has used this device would give it five stars, because it is durable, practical and it lasts very long.

If anyone ever tries to break into your home, you will be completely safe and out of harm’s way thanks to this nifty little gadget.

Contact SIS - Security & Investigation Services for all your home security needs. Whether it be general guarding and farm protection to CCTV off site and alarm monitoring.

Written By: Christine Romans