If you’re a pet lover you probably can’t imagine a more terrifying experience than coming home to find your pet missing. It’s growing increasingly common for dogs to be stolen from homes or yards for any number of disturbing reasons such as “bait dogs” to train fighting dogs, animal testing and biomedical experimentation, or the offer of a lucrative reward to name a few.

Purebred dogs are the most common victim since their pedigrees have actual “street value.” As purebred dogs become increasingly popular, stolen dogs can be sold for up to half the price that legitimate breeders offer ownership.

If you have an alarm system in your home, your dog’s safety is also protected while he or she is inside. And even better, if you have an outside pet, install a security camera in your yard so that would-be thieves will see the camera and possibly be dissuaded from following through with the actual abduction.

Should you be the unfortunate victim of such a frightening crime, take immediate action by calling your local police and animal control center and filing a report. After that, contact your local shelters and monitor pet ads listed in newspapers and online since pet thieves who are looking to profit will most likely be using these resources to promote the sale.

The bottom line is that your pet is more than likely an important member of your family. And just as you make sure that your family members are protected with a home security system, your four-legged companion deserves the same security, too!

It’s always a time of interest when the FBI releases their Annual Crime Statistics Uniform Crime Report (UCR), and the good news for homeowners is that the FBI’s 2010 numbers indicated an average 2.8 percent decline in the number of property crimes over the previous year.

This might indicate that the need for home alarm systems is not as imperative as it once was, but an FBI spokesman commented “there are many factors that go into crime levels” such as economic conditions, and since the country’s economic condition continues to struggle, these declining numbers may once again shift.

As such, home alarm systems might become more of a factor.

Home Alarm Systems Could Contribute to Decreased Statistics

Another item to consider is that statistics may be one thing, but home alarm systems that ring through to 24/7 monitoring systems like ADT are another – and the protection offered by home alarm systems such as those should never be minimized.

The Sign that Deters

Another item the report does not cover is whether yard signage provided by some home alarm monitoring companies like ADT helps as a deterrent to property crime. Still, one must agree that that such signage does deter would-be intrusions.

Knowing all of this, the message seems clear:  the signage provided by home alarm companies should be prominently displayed to dissuade would-be intruders.

The Orlando Sentinel reported in February of this year that “most burglars don’t want to contend” with a dog and as such, having a dog as a pet can often be a great way to enhance your home alarm system. Dogs have been used throughout history as a form of guarding and protection, so this is nothing new; but a visit to some of the more popular breeds as a security companion is always worth reexamining.

Certain breeds that are considered well-suited for protection as a watch-dog include the Scottish terrier, Poodle, Dachshund, and Shih Tzu. Note here that the distinction is “watch dog” and not “guard dog” since the primary goal is to alert you that there is activity occurring. Often, that alert is all that is needed to dissuade a would-be intruder from wanting to gain access to your property.

However, the same article went on to point out that some home insurance companies will not be able to provide  insurance to residences that have certain breeds of dogs living on the property such as large breed guard dogs. So, before you fall in love with that cute little puppy, it’s best to call your insurance agent to make sure your selection will keep you insurable!

Also, if you do have an alarm system in your home make sure it contains a pet sensitive motion detector such as those offered by ADT before bringing your new companion home!

If you don’t have a security system that protects home access areas such as windows and doorways you might want to incorporate a few (if not all) of these tips until you are able to be more fully armed with a home safety system.

1. Make sure exterior doors are solid core construction.
2. All strike plates for exterior doors (or interior doors if you want to provide individual locked-room safety) should be installed using nothing shorter than three inch screws. Anything shorter makes it super-easy for the doors to be kicked in.
3. Sliding door panels should be equipped with an auxiliary lock so both door panels can be locked together.
4. Even if you keep your car parked in the garage, make sure keys are removed from the car in all instances.
5. Exterior doors (including front, back and garage) should be equipped with wide-angle peephole viewers, and remember to always be cautious of who is standing on the other side since would-be intruders have been known to dress in uniform and even carry flowers for supposed delivery.
6. Make sure trees and shrubs have been trimmed from around windows so clear visibility is never in question.
7. A closed window is not deterrent enough – it also needs to be kept locked!
8. And in addition to being kept locked, windows should be equipped with an auxiliary locking device.
9. Make sure your window locks are securely mounted since any loss of integrity can open an opportunity for an easier break-in
10. Install motions sensor lights around all windows and doors for two reasons: these alone are often enough of a deterrent; but if someone is still bold enough to try to break in you’re more likely to see them in the act (remember the peepholes?) and call 9-1-1.

As many people already know, burglary is typically a crime of opportunity. The Portland Police Bureau underscores this notion by pointing out three current burglary trends:

1. It seems that burglars are now reading obituary notices to gather information about those who have recently passed to either make plans to gain entry into the home (which in a lot of cases is left unoccupied for a period of time) or to steal identity. In cases such as this it just makes good sense to make sure that the home of the recently-deceased is armed with a security system even if the home is no longer physically occupied.
2. Burglars are now also frequenting real estate open houses to gain information about not only the types of belongings in the house but whether or not the home is currently occupied or in a state of limbo as it is being sold. Think about it – anyone touring an open house has every reason to open closets to look at closet space; but a perceptive thief will use the opportunity to see whether or not the closet has clothes in it; and if not, they know the home is unoccupied.
3. Likewise, burglars are driving through neighborhoods looking for real estate “For Sale” signs and then pay particular notice whether or not there is a lockbox on the door (which in many cases implies that the home is unoccupied but still somewhat furnished while the home is being marketed).

So, how do you prevent a possible burglary due to these conditions? The Portland Police Bureau recommends not printing an obituary, paying exceedingly close attention to all who enter a home during an open house, and to keep real estate lock boxes in a concealed location that is not easily seen by drive-by viewing.

It’s pretty much common knowledge that a system provided by ADT security is one of the best moves you can make to improve your home’s safety. But beyond the obvious you may want to also consider the following ideas to increase safety inside your home.

1. If you have area rugs in your home it’s suggested that you always use a rug pad to prevent slipping (and falling). In absence of a rug pad you can use double-sided tape.
2. While ADT provides fire monitoring, it’s also a good idea to make sure that an A-B-C rated all-purpose fire extinguisher is accessibly located in the kitchen.
3. Motion sensor outdoor flood lights have proven to deter many a would-be intruder from coming inside the home. They’re easy to install and do their job well!
4. It’s recommended that nightlights (or a light on a timer) be used in bathrooms and hallways that lead from the bedroom to the bathroom not only for personal safety, but the ambient light can serve as a deterrent to would-be intruders.
5. Make sure that you have a peephole installed to all exterior doors – front, back, and side – since you never know where someone will be knocking to gain access.

It looks like this summer could have the necessary ingredients for the perfect storm that will send crime rates soaring through the roof. First off, it looks like criminal activity is trending upward along with the Recession, as desperate people begin to take desperate measures. Though concrete statistics have yet to be determined, police chiefs around the country report a noticeable increase in reported crimes. Most are recommending home security systems as the most potent method available to citizens for protecting against this surge.

That still leaves the second front sweeping in, which threatens to turn the situation into an even more serious national event. Many meteorologists are counting on July and August to set new records for heat and humidity across the nation, as thermometers slowly start to creep upward.

Sociologists have long known that rising temperatures result in rising crime rates. People tend to spend more time outside of their own homes, leading to more invasions. Extreme heat also leads to a general loss of self-control and restraint. Finally, don’t forget that kids are out of school, unsupervised, and looking to cause trouble.

All of this means that there’s never been a better time to protect your property.

Consider that all of this heat will almost certainly lead to increased blackouts, as more and more folks switch on their air conditioners to beat the heat. Other home security providers limit their coverage to one command center. In contrast, ADT spreads the risk across four interconnected command centers.

This summer, give your family the protection they deserve. With a home alarm system that is reliable and ready to protect you and your loved ones.

The Home Safety Council hosts a wonderful website designed to provide awareness to home safety issues and educate your family on to practice home safety steps in your home or neighborhood. The Home Safety Council was issued a $1 million grant for Fire Prevention and Safety from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

As a result of this grant the Home Safety Council has been providing a series of Webinars on various fire safety and prevention topics. April’s Webinar is titled Fire Safety for Older Adults and People with Disabilities. Previous Webinars have been on juvenile fire setting, school fire safety, scald burn prevention and other similar topics.

Viewing these Webinars is an excellent way for your community to learn about fire safety. The Home Safety Council will send all participants a sampling of the Webinar material for free after each Webinar. For more information on these programs visit the Home Safety Council online at http://www.homesafetycouncil.org/.

There is no substitute for being prepared in case of a fire emergency. Sometimes even the best preparations are not enough to protect you and your family. A rapid response from emergency personnel is essential to getting your family out quickly and safely.

The best way to ensure that your home and family are protected for any emergency is to have a home alarm system with professional monitoring services installed. Choosing a home security service can be a difficult task. The two top names in the home security industry are ADT home alarm systems and Brinks. Take care not to simply pick one without researching the facts. It could mean the difference between life and death for your family in the event of a fire.

ADT and Brinks both have highly trained staff in their Customer Monitoring Centers that are prepared to assist you during any emergency. Both companies have easy one touch buttons to contact the CMC’s if you are in need of emergency assistance. Both have smoke and heat sensors to detect a fire early. That is about where the similarities end when it comes to immediate emergency response.

Brinks and ADT both advertise 24/7 home monitoring but is it really 24 hours a day 7 days a week? In the case of ADT it certainly is. ADT Security Services has a total of five Customer Monitoring Centers in different locations. Unlike ADT, Brinks only has one CMC. This leaves the Brinks CMC vulnerable to power less and natural disasters. Certainly both companies have backup power plans but in the event of a large scale disaster backup generators may not be able to work they entire time. When a call gets routed to an ADT Monitoring Professional it can be immediately routed to another center if needed. This means that your family will truly be protected 24 hours a day 7 days a week with an ADT Home Security system.

Another important area of difference is the way that the monitoring center is contacted. Both companies utilitize a standard telephone line in the event that the CMC needs to be contacted. Only ADT home alarm systems offer Safewatch Cellguard. In the ever increasing wireless age this technology is a wonderful enhancement to your security system. Safewatch Cellguard contacts the monitoring center using a nearby cellular tower. This means that the center will be contacted even if the telephone line is not working in your home.

In the event of a fire you will be unable to answer your phone. Hopefully you will be on your way out of the home at the time the alarm goes off. If you are still in the home an added benefit of ADT security systems is the ability to talk with the ADT associate through the unit itself. ADT can hear you speaking from up to 100 feet away from the unit. This technology is currently not installed in the Brinks security system. The comfort of being able to hear that help is on the way is sometimes all you need as you make your way to safety.

Take the time to research your home alarm options for the safety of your family. Check the Home Safety Council for information on fire preparedness and how to educate your family and friends. You will be glad you did.

In this new era of economic uncertainty, and with job fluctuations and natural disasters causing populations to shift from city to city, safety and security are quickly becoming hot topics for the upcoming year.  And depending on where you live, the level of security you need to protect your home and family could vary.

New Orleans, LA, the Gulf Coast city still recovering from the aftermath of 2005’s Hurricane Katrina, topped the QC Press’s list of U.S. cities with the most reported crime.  The city’s top spot on the “City Crime Rankings” report was earned based on reports of more than 19,000 incidences of six major crimes – 209 of those, murder – in 2007.  Camden, NJ; Detroit, MI; St. Louis, MO; and Oakland, CA took the next four rankings after New Orleans.

According to an article on CNN.com, criminologists and the U.S. Conference of Mayors have criticized previous editions of the rankings saying the FBI misreads federal crime statistics. But QC Press stands by its methodology for creating accurate models to compare similar communities.  The six crimes considered in the study are: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, theft and motor vehicle theft.

Regardless of the minute details of the report, it’s always a good time to ensure your home and family are protected from any possible crime.  And the best way to do that: installing a quality home alarm system.

ADT Security Services has been ranked as the #1 choice of home security providers among American homeowners.  Their quick-response alarm system, network of 5 monitoring centers and technologically-advanced security equipment make them a leader in home security.

Aside from the benefits ADT provides homeowners, the security company helps protect more than 90 percent of the country’s Fortune 500 companies through its monitored security systems. Also on the ADT corporate list: more than 80 percent of the country’s top retailers, more than two dozen of the nation’s top national and regional bank holding companies, 72 U.S. airports, and all federal courthouses nationwide.

With a customer list like this, ADT responds to thousands of crimes in progress each year, and helps thwart many would-be burglars from entering homes and businesses with its yard signs and window decals.

While the country may be in flux, and crime may be on the rise, with and ADT home alarm system, you don’t have to sacrifice your sense of safety.