Tips from Security Pros

Finding neighborhood crime statistics and safety ratings online is easier than ever thanks to these helpful websites. Remember, you don’t just live in a house, you also live in a neighborhood. Being aware of your area’s crime can help you best protect your family as well as your property.

CrimeReports. Ranked in 2014 by Time Magazine as one of the 50 best websites, CrimeReports works with thousands of law enforcement agencies to publish crime data and improve communication with the public. You can enter an address or use the advanced search option to discover crime statistics up to the last six months or by a date range. Another option is to search by specific crimes. Or, if you know about a crime, you can submit a crime tip to alert others. You can also sign up for daily, weekly or monthly crime alerts. All of these services are available for free, including the CrimeReports iPhone app.

SpotCrime. Gathering data about crime incidents from law enforcement agencies, news reports and user tips, SpotCrime plots them geographically using Google Maps. Every crime is assigned an icon, so you’ll get a clear picture of the types of crimes in a community. Access to the crime maps is free (just type in an address or zip code) and users can sign up to be alerted to criminal activity in their area via text message, email, Facebook or Twitter. Like CrimeReports, SpotCrime offers a free iPhone app. Their blog also offers lots of good information on crime awareness, new cities covered by SpotCrime and how to get the most value out of the site.

NeighborhoodScout. This web-based search engine uses FBI and U.S. Justice Department stats to build neighborhood and city profiles to compare crimes as well as other lifestyle characteristics. You can search by a specific address or use the advance search tool to find a neighborhood that best matches your lifestyle criteria. The neighborhood is then described in detail and linked to information that’s valuable to a newcomer. A paid monthly or annual subscription is required to access the crime data, which includes information on a location’s overall, property or violent crimes as well as an individual’s chance of becoming a victim of crime within any neighborhood.

Denalect Alarm is proud to serve home alarm and business security and alarm systems in Northern California: Antioch, Blackhawk, Concord, Danville, Dublin, El Cerrito, Hercules, Lafayette, Livermore, Martinez, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Pleasanton, San Ramon and Walnut Creek.

If you have an alarm system installed in your home or office, then you know to contact your security provider if the system is triggered or if you need to schedule routine maintenance. However, there are a few other situations when they need to hear from you, especially if you’ve done or plan on doing any of the following.

• Remodeling. Your alarm system was designed and installed to meet your home or business’s original security needs. If you have or plan to make any significant remodels (such as building an addition or altering the layout) your current system may no longer provide the same level of protection. Contact your provider so they can assessment any existing or proposed changes.

• Testing your system. At Denalect, we highly recommend that you test your alarm regularly to ensure it’s still communicating with your provider. First, however, it’s important to contact your provider so that the test won’t be mistaken for a bona fide alarm signal. For more information on how to test your system, go here.

• Changing your cable or wireless system. If there’s any work done on your telephone lines or if you’re switching providers, it’s also a good idea to let your provider know. Certain alarm systems might be affected by, or not work with, some of the phone providers out there. That’s why we provide several different options for monitoring your system, including cellular, internet and our own private wireless network.

• System Upgrades. As home security technology advances, new system upgrades and add-ons can increase the custom features of your existing system. You should be able to contact your security provider for a no-obligation review of the latest advances compatible with your system.

If you’re a Denalect customer who has made or is interested in making any of the changes above, feel free to contact our business office at (925) 932-2211, between 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday.

We proudly serve Contra Costa County in Northern California: Concord, Danville, Dublin, El Cerrito, Hercules, Lafayette, Livermore, Martinez, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Pleasanton, San Ramon and Walnut Creek.

Homes and businesses with security systems are six times less likely to be broken into but a sounding alarm doesn’t always frighten intruders away. That’s where 24-hour monitoring comes in. Benefits of monitoring include:

• Immediate response. Offered by most security providers for a monthly fee, alarm monitoring doesn’t rely on your neighbors to contact the authorities if your alarm is activated. Instead, a silent signal is sent directly to your security provider’s central station so they can dispatch the police to your property right away.

• Peace of mind. In addition to being notified if an intruder breaks into your home or business, security companies can also detect other emergencies on your property, such as a fire, carbon monoxide poisoning or if a panic button is activated.

• Budget friendly. Like cell phone companies, most security providers nowadays offer customers an equipment discount along with a two- or three-year monitoring contract when installing an alarm system. Also, check with your insurance company. Many offer a discount for homeowners and businesses that use a 24-hour monitoring service, which may help off-set the cost.

• Better customer care. A security company that monitors your system will be more sensitive to your needs (such as fixing and maintaining equipment) than a vender that sells you a system in a one-time deal.

• Security when you’re not there. If you’re out of town, have a vacation home or another part-time residence, monitoring will report any issues 24 hours a day, from a low battery to a beeping keypad. Alarm monitoring companies let you specify who should be notified for which kinds of signals.

Denalect’s UL-compliant Central Station monitors businesses, schools, homes and government offices 24 hours a day. For more information on our monitoring services or to get a free estimate, give us a call at (925) 932-2211 or (800) 273-2680.

Denalect Alarm proudly serves the home security and business surveillance needs of Contra Costa County in Northern California: Concord, Danville, Dublin, El Cerrito, Hercules, Lafayette, Livermore, Martinez, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Pleasanton, San Ramon and Walnut Creek.

 

To help protect your home against burglars, you need to learn how to think like one. Each year more than two million U.S. homes are broken into, with an estimated $4.6 billion in goods stolen and property damaged. Not to mention a break-in’s impact on your sense of safety and well-being. Here are some tips on how you can enhance your home’s security.

• Burglars almost always knock first. If someone answers the door, they’ll usually ask for directions or offer to do odd jobs around the house. If no one answers, he or she will usually try the next house. One-third of all burglaries don’t involve forcible entry, which means they entered through an unlocked window or door. Before leaving the house, double-check to make sure all your doors and windows are secured.

• They love peeking in windows. They’re checking for signs that someone is home and scoping out any high-value items you might own, such as a game system or laptop. If you have decorative glass as part of your front entrance, make sure your alarm company doesn’t install the control pad where he or she can see if it is set or not. Also, be sure to prune any shrubs or trees near your home’s doors or windows so burglars can’t conceal themselves while trying to break in.

• Never let newspapers, mail or flyers pile up. If you’re going out of town, have your services held. Or better yet ask a trusted neighbor, family friend or house sitter to collect your deliveries every day and bring in the garbage bins on collection day.

• When you’re out of town, always make your home look lived-in. You can do this by installing outside motion-sensor lights and parking a car in the driveway (remember to remove your garage door remote first). Inside, set lights and a loud radio or TV to turn off and on randomly with an automatic timer.

• Secure your valuables where burglars least expect it. Usually in and out within minutes, a burglar will most likely start by searching the main bedrooms first, including dresser drawers, bedside tables and medicine cabinets. If you have a small safe, be sure to bolt it down so they can’t walk off with it.

• A burglar might look more familiar than you think. He or she may have been at your house last week cleaning your carpets or delivering a new refrigerator. Or a burglar may carry a clipboard or dress like a maintenance worker while scoping out the neighborhood. They will do their best to never ever look like a thief.

Denalect Alarm is proud to serve home and business security and alarm systems in Northern California: Antioch, Blackhawk, Concord, Danville, Dublin, El Cerrito, Hercules, Lafayette, Livermore, Martinez, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Pleasanton, San Ramon and Walnut Creek.

With all the hundreds of different home security systems available on the market, how can you choose the best one to give you piece of mind, works within your lifestyle and fits into your budget? From evaluating your needs to selecting a security provider, here are some tips on how to decide which alarm system is right for you.

• Evaluate your lifestyle. How do you enter and leave the house? Do you have children? If so, what ages? If you have pets are they large or are they small? Who else comes into the house? Do you want to be able to turn on the alarm when you’re home? Answers to these questions will help you determine what features or enhancements you may need, including multiple keypads, mobile access, video surveillance, and small animal-immune motion sensors.

• Then do the math. Determine your budget. Along with your lifestyle, this will help you decide what type of alarm, features and installation you need. A basic alarm system should include at least one keypad, an alarm panel, a loud siren and a combination of door and window sensors, depending on the layout of your house.

• Ask for referrals or recommendations. Look for an established, reputable company that has enough employees to service and monitor your system. They should enjoy a solid relationship with local police, sell good-quality equipment such as Honeywell and Bosch, and offer at least a one-year warranty. You can also check with the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been lodged against them.

• Consult with a security provider. Get two or three quotes to evaluate. Was the salesman informative and helpful? You should never feel pressured to purchase a system. If you do, it’s a good indication that the company isn’t worthy of your business.

• Professional versus DIY. You can decide to install the system yourself or have one professional installed. Some vendors will sell you the equipment directly to install yourself, which can save money on installation and monitoring fees. While a professionally installed system usually requires an installation fee and a two- or three-year monitoring contract, it could be more cost-effective to take advantage of the equipment discount that a security provider can offer. It’s also important to note that a company that monitors your system will be more sensitive to your needs then a vender you purchased from in a one-time deal.

Denalect Alarm is proud to serve home and business security and alarm systems in Northern California: Antioch, Blackhawk, Concord, Danville, Dublin, El Cerrito, Hercules, Lafayette, Livermore, Martinez, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Pleasanton, San Ramon and Walnut Creek.