When living is supposed to be easy, summertime can often catch us off-guard with home security. In fact, residential break-ins peak during the summer vacation months of July and August, as well as in September, according to information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Among all burglaries in 2011 (the latest statistics available), home burglaries were the most common—accounting for 74.5 percent. Additionally, a burglary occurs every 14.4 seconds in the U.S.

Statistics make us aware and alert. But with the My Home system from My Alarm Center, you can relax and enjoy the easy, breeziness of summer while on vacation or at work, or just out for a few hours. No need to worry about the safety of your home while you’re away from it.

Whether on your PC/Mac or smartphone, My Home allows for you to receive real time alerts when your home is armed or disarmed, when a door is opened or closed, or if there is motion activity on your property, provided you have cellular monitoring and interactive services. Also, My Home can be equipped with video surveillance, home entry notifications and archived entry logs.

How It Works

The way this is all possible is through My Home’s sophisticated technology and a corresponding sensor system. With My Home, you are able to be notified about virtually anything you would like about your home. Have kids and work full time? My Home can alert you via text or email when your teenager arrives home from school every day. Or it can inform you if your child hasn’t yet arrived home at a specified time that you have programmed.

Not only do you have the ability to program My Home to custom parameters, but you can make last-minute, on-demand decisions. For example, you forgot that a contractor was coming to do some work while you’re on vacation. Once the contractor arrives at your home and calls you wondering why you’re not there, you can disarm your system to let him in, unlock the door, as well as lock the door behind him. You can do the same thing when he leaves to lock and re-arm the system.

Video surveillance can be installed as well so that you can see exactly who is coming and going.

Another option with My Home is controlling the lights and thermostats. For instance, you’re at work and it’s another summertime scorcher. Simply log into your My Home account either through PC/Mac or your smartphone app, and program it to crank up the A/C in time for your arrival. Depending on availability, some systems can even allow you to set activation parameters so that it can detect when you’ve left your home and turn down the a/c and then upon your return, it will sense you getting closer and will turn up the air.

The bottom line: My Home takes home security (and conveniences) to a more manageable, customized and personal level. You are in control.

Next month, see how My Alarm Center can help protect your family and you from the ravages of fire.

We are excited to continue the series of guest blogs by Peter Rogers, Co-Founder & Senior Advisor, of FrontPoint Security Solutions. Peter has more than 20 years of home security experience, including leadership positions at some of the country’s most prominent alarm companies.

Wireless Home Security Update – Top 10 Things Burglars Avoid

We’ve seen that as many types of crime are decreasing across the country, burglary statistics remain stubbornly high: in some areas the incidence of home intrusion has even spiked. The FBI reports that there is now a burglary every 14 seconds somewhere in the US. Homeowners are asking what they can do for greater security – and greater peace of mind. I came across this great list that provides some timely advice about what burglars don’t like to find, as they case a house or neighborhood. And as you might guess, item #2 is my favorite!

Burglars invade homes every single day. There is nothing more threatening to an apartment dweller or homeowner than the idea of a burglar forcing his way into their home and stealing their valuables. Not only does this leave the victim angry and shaken, but it also makes the victim feel as if their life and sanctuary have been viciously invaded. More than likely, the typical burglar is not the high-tech professional you may have seen in movies. In reality, most burglars are amateurs who will use crude methods of gaining access to your house, including breaking windows and kicking in doors. Here are some things that burglars tend to avoid.

1)      Strong Doors

Many people when purchasing a home, renting an apartment or building a new home can tend to get skimpy on details like the quality of exterior doors. Some people feel that a door is a door so there’s no use in worrying about it. Not so. If possible, invest in solid hardwood or metal clad exterior doors. If renting an apartment, invest in deadbolts.

I couldn’t agree more. In fact, here a link to my blog on Where Burglars Break In – and you’ll see that it’s the front or back door almost 60% of the time!

2)      Security Systems

If at all possible, invest in a high-quality, trusted and monitored security system. As you may notice with car alarms that have frequent false alarms, most people will walk right by a car with a screaming alarm without even giving it a second glance. Having a monitored security system will alert police once your home has been breached. You can also put a sign on your yard or decals on your windows that show that your house has a security system. If a burglar is scouting the area, more than likely he will go to the house that does not have a security system to avoid the hassle.

Studies show that a home with a monitored alarm system is actually one third less likely to be burglarized than the unprotected home next door. And when you are shopping for wireless home security, be sure to ask for safer wireless monitoring: no vulnerable phone or Internet line required, and no physical connection for a burglar to cut with that $3 pair of wire cutters.

3)      Dogs

A barking dog, even if it is a small dog with an annoying yap, is a definite deterrent for a burglar. If you do not have a dog, post a “Beware of Dog” sign on your gate or near your front and back doors. Burglars will avoid having to deal with a barking and growling animal any day.

4)      Well-lit Areas

If there is one thing a burglar loves, it is working in the dark, away from seeing eyes. Burglars are knowledgeable when it comes to jimmying open a door or breaking a window and unlocking a door in the dark. Keep the area around your house well lit and invest in motion detector lights for those darker corners of your home’s exterior.

5)      Security Cameras

This is not an inexpensive investment, but installing a security camera near your front and back door will definitely keep a burglar away. Many burglars will knock on the front door to see if anybody is home before deciding to break in. Even if the burglar successfully invades your home, you will have video footage of your burglar’s identity.

6)      Corner Homes

Burglars love to do their criminal business unseen. Corner homes, thus, are not easy targets as they offer more of a public view.

7 & 8) Two Story Homes & Apartments on High Floors

Most burglars do not risk stealing the larger items like wide-screen televisions and electronic equipment. They usually stick to jewelry and cash, items that they can easily carry. For this reason, burglars usually avoid two story homes, since these items will more than likely be upstairs in the master bedroom and burglars like to minimize the time they stay in a home. For this same reason, burglars usually avoid apartments located on the higher floors. First floor apartments are easier to scout and escape from.

9) Closed Drapes or Shutters

Many people love to have the sunlight stream through their windows, but this gives potential burglars a chance to glimpse into your homes and see what types of items you may have laying around that they may want to steal. Keep your drapes and shutters closed when you can, especially at night.

10)   Irregular Routines

Burglars simply LOVE routines. Many burglaries are not random. Burglars like to scout out their potential victims and see what time of day is best to invade. If they know that every day, like clockwork, you leave the house at 7:30 in the morning and usually do not return until 8:00 at night, they know they have a large window of opportunity to strike. But if you (or someone you designate) can be in and out of the house at all times of the day, frequently changing your routine, burglars will more than likely avoid your home.

What you want most is for these random intruders to move on to the next house – and again, it’s been shown that the best deterrent to intrusion is a monitored home alarm system. And while you’re shopping, make sure you also look into the advanced interactive features that many alarm companies now offer: remote arm/disarm, text & email notifications even on non-alarm events, mobile apps, on-demand and motion-activated video services, and even remote control of lights, locks and thermostats. You won’t have to pay a lot for the latest technology, and you’ll love the convenience of many of these features. Be safe!

Many customers of My Alarm Center invest in a home alarm system and remote monitoring to protect their families and assets. However, not everyone is aware of the many additional benefits of having a home security system, like those highlighted in a recent Yahoo! Homes article. 

For instance, while a home security system alerts homeowners and emergency response teams in the event of a break-in, a key benefit to owning a home alarm system is deterring criminals in the first place. It takes burglars, on average, 60 seconds to break into a home, so any deterrents are likely to send potential intruders searching for a different target.  Home alarm systems serve as a major deterrent, as homes without a security system have a significantly higher break-in rate, than homes with an alarm system.  

Another crucial benefit of home monitoring systems is increased smoke and fire detection. Having a home alarm system that doubles as a smoke detector can help residents ensure their families and property don’t suffer from the damage caused by thousands of fires that cause multi-millions in damage each year in cities like Seattle, WA.

These significant benefits – deterring crime and additional smoke/fire protection – provide home alarm system customers eligibility to discounts on homeowners insurance.  Discount rates vary by provider, but many realize savings up to 15% per year.  Call your insurance provider for details, or visit the Insurance Information Institute at www.iii.org for more information.

Aside from safety, My Alarm Center is providing homeowners the ability to control and monitor their homes remotely.  Although, interactive home monitoring is a relatively new offering, many customers are experiencing the convenience and benefits of managing and monitoring their homes from their smartphone, tablet or computer.  Managing thermostats and lights can mean energy savings, and monitoring home security equals peace-of-mind, especially for those with kids at home, or those granting access to service people (contractors, dog walkers) while away.

These are just a few of the benefits customers of My Alarm Center experience every day. For more information or to understand how you can leverage some of the benefits outlined here, email blog@myalarmcenter.com or visit www.myalarmcenter.com.

-Your Friends at My Alarm Center

We are excited to continue the series of guest blogs by Peter Rogers, Co-Founder & Senior Advisor, of FrontPoint Security Solutions. Peter has more than 20 years of home security experience, including leadership positions at some of the country’s most prominent alarm companies.

Wireless Home Security - Wilmington, Delaware Man Shot in His Home by Daytime Burglars.

It was just a few months ago that I posted on this topic, with some very strongly worded advice: do not, under any circumstances, confront a burglar in your home. And this new story (published just last week) from Wilmington, Delaware, clearly makes the case for leaving burglars alone in your home and calling police immediately. Happily, the homeowner lived after being shot.

A Wilmington, Delaware man is hospitalized after being shot by a pair of burglars in his own home. It happened before 1:00 p.m. Monday. Police say two masked men broke into a home in the unit block of West 24th Street and began to burglarize it. As the suspects were removing items, police say a 29-year-old tenant confronted them inside the home. One of the suspects then pulled out a gun and shot the man in the chest. Both suspects then fled. Police arrived, found the wounded man and called medics. The man was rushed to Christiana Hospital, where he is listed in stable condition. Police are searching for two suspects described as black males wearing all black clothing and masks, last seen fleeing south on North Tattnall Street.

As I have stated before, one major challenge in avoiding burglar confrontations is that you don’t always know that an intruder is in your home when you walk through the door – especially if you have no alarm system to alert police, and scare the burglar off. Just imagine entering your home assuming you are safe and all is well, and suddenly encountering someone in the act of stealing your cash, jewelry, or electronics. When you have no warning, the results can be frightening – or as in this case, potentially fatal.

And of course, other aspects of this new report follow standard patterns. It was a day-time burglary, when intruders expect that nobody is home. As is usually the case in these situations – and I could cite countless more from daily crime reports – there is an 80% likelihood that there was no alarm system in the home of the victim. How do we know that? Because only about 20% of US homes do have a monitored alarm system that can trigger a police dispatch.

I’ve been reading police reports, police tips (especially about burglaries), and other home safety and security advice for over twenty years, and one of the most consistent and unvarying concepts I’ve seen during all this time is that one of most dangerous and foolhardy things you can do is to confront a burglar in your home. And now that so many people have guns in the home, there is a stronger disposition among some homeowners to take the law into their own hands when intruders strike. There are plenty of these stories in the news as well – and they often end badly.

Now imagine how much safer you would feel when entering your home at any time of day or night, without worrying about confronting intruders, who may well be armed. And with interactive monitoring services, such as those offered by today’s best alarm companies, you can also receive a text or email any time a door opens, telling you which door. That level of protection provides real peace of mind, which helps explain why more people are shopping for home security, as home intrusion statistics continue to get worse across much of the US.

It just makes sense for homeowners to realize the fact that a monitored home alarm system can prevent these confrontations in the first place. The good news is that police tips are making increased reference to home security systems – they understand that monitored detection is the best way to keep burglars and homeowners from meeting face to face. And that’s also why so many more homeowners are shopping for true peace of mind, and why electronic security is included on this list of Top 10 Home Security Tips. With only one in five homes protected by a monitored alarm system, and a burglary occurring every 14 seconds in the US, there are still lots of homes – and homeowners – left to protect.

We are excited to continue the series of guest blogs by Peter Rogers, Co-Founder & Senior Advisor, of FrontPoint Security Solutions.  Peter has more than 20 years of home security experience, including leadership positions at some of the country’s most prominent alarm companies.

Burglars Do Come Back – The Same House, and the Same Neighborhood

We know that burglars do come back to the scene of the crime. It may be a few days later, or even years later: after serving a three-year prison term, one serial burglar in Florida even revisited a house he had previously broken into – and was caught again! In this report from Philadelphia, PA, a persistent pair of intruders targeted a home and then struck twice in four days. And in this case, police have video of the burglars.

Philadelphia police are looking for two burglars who attempted to hit the same house twice. Video of the two suspects, who tried to block their faces from a surveillance camera, was released by police on Monday. Police say, back on August 13th, the pair broke into a home on the 1500 block of South 13th Street. Investigators say the victims woke up to find their back door open and several items missing from their living room. Then, on August 16th, the suspects tried to hit the home again, but ran away when a burglary alarm went off.

There are several positive angles to this story. I like the presence of security cameras – like those sold by most reputable, full-service alarm companies – since video footage should help police take these perps off the street. But I especially appreciate the fact that the burglar alarm scared the bad guys off when they came back. We may never know if this burglar alarm was added during the four intervening days: perhaps the system was already there, and the homeowner just decided to be more disciplined about using a proven deterrent he had in place. Either way, it’s a known fact that burglar alarms do prevent home intrusions.

Same Houses – and Same Neighborhoods 

Burglars don’t just target the same house two or more times: they also “work” a neighborhood or community on a repetitive basis. And what’s more, it’s been well documented that burglars have a high rate of recidivism, meaning they may well serve jail time for home intrusion, and later revert to that same form of crime after they are released. Here’s a telling tale from the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania.

An Allentown man admitted Wednesday to stealing about $98,000 worth of jewelry, cash, coins, electronics, handguns and other items in 41 home burglaries across the Lehigh Valley while on house arrest. Handcuffed and wearing a blue prison jumpsuit, Herman Ojeda Jr., 38, pleaded guilty to 41 counts of burglary and three counts of attempted burglary.

Drugs are Often Behind Criminal Activity

First Assistant District Attorney Steven Luksa described each burglary, digging cases out of a large pile sitting on top of Dantos' bench. After describing each one, Luksa placed the files next to him on the floor. By the end of the hearing, the pile had spilled by his feet. After the hearing, Luksa said Ojeda has told authorities he committed the burglaries because he lost his job and bills were mounting. Luksa said Ojeda was also feeding a three-bag-a-day heroin addiction.

Routine Burglar Tactics

Almost all of the burglaries happened between noon and 3 p.m., when the homeowners were not there. Police said Ojeda would first knock at the door to see if anyone answered. He would also avoid homes with alarm systems. "He said he didn't want to hurt anyone," Luksa said. Luksa said Ojeda told authorities he committed at least one of the burglaries with his "mentor" who later died of a drug overdose. Police said in many of the burglaries, Ojeda would ransack the bedroom and leave other rooms untouched.

How Police Caught Him

Authorities said they were able to identify Ojeda as a suspect based on witness descriptions and a GPS device that he was required to wear because he was on house arrest. Luksa said Ojeda committed the burglaries during times he was permitted to leave his home. Luksa said defendants on house arrest can leave their homes for work, doctor's appointments, grocery shopping excursions and for other reasons. Luksa said Ojeda's GPS device showed he was near the burglaries at the time they were committed.

One might assume that being forced to wear a device that reports your location would dissuade you from committing more burglaries – but not in this case. Amazing! 

As I’ve stated many times, the best deterrent to a break-in at your home is a monitored alarm system – especially one with safer cellular monitoring and smarter interactive features. Some alarm companies specialize in these systems, so make sure you ask the right questions when you are shopping. And if you’ve been broken into (or someone else in your neighborhood has), the very first thing you should do is add monitored home security as your first line of protection. You deserve peace of mind, and that comes from the knowledge that you’re protecting your home and family- no matter how many times a burglar comes back.

We’re thrilled to share very exciting news from My Alarm Center: we’ve officially moved our office to a new, state-of-the-art facility!  Since our inception in 2000, we’re committed to providing our customers with the latest technology and retain the top quality professionals in the industry to meet your security needs.  This new headquarters provides us with the unique opportunity to leverage both!

Our new space offers not only a great working environment, but a more efficient and advanced infrastructure that will ensure our employees are best-equipped to serve you and address your home security and home monitoring needs. For example:

Shorter waiting times and faster service are made possible by the fiber-optic communication system allowing us to assist you with greater efficiency and clarity. The system also gives us the flexibility to allocate home security resources where they are needed most. 

Savings and improved installations and upgrades will be driven by our expanded warehouse facility which gives us the opportunity to purchase alarm system equipment in greater quantities, resulting in bulk-buying cost savings.

We’re looking forward to a prosperous new year and excited to extend these benefits of our new facility to our valued customers in Philadelphia, Seattle, and nationwide. You can expect us to continue the quality service and offer state-of-the-art products throughout the coming year, as well as, support you more effectively while controlling operating costs.

We look forward to making it easier for you to keep your family safe and your home secure, with the latest technological offerings in the industry.

Thanks for sharing in the excitement with us! For any questions, email blog@myalarmcenter.com

Looking forward to a safe and happy 2013!

-Your Friends at My Alarm Center

We are excited to continue the series of guest blogs by Peter Rogers, Co-Founder & Senior Advisor, of FrontPoint Security Solutions.  Peter has more than 20 years of home security experience, including leadership positions at some of the country’s most prominent alarm companies.

Wireless Home Security - More Warnings on Confronting Burglars: Topeka, Kansas Police Offer Strong Advice

Every police department in the US agrees on this important advice: do not, under any circumstances, confront a burglar in your home. The big problem is that you don’t always know that an intruder is in your home when you walk through the door – especially if you have no alarm system to alert police, and scare the burglar off. It’s a dangerous situation when you enter your home thinking all is well, and encounter someone in the act of stealing your cash, jewelry, or electronics. When you have no warning, as happened in this story from Gary, Indiana, the results can be frightening – or as in this case, fatally tragic.

A Gary man came home from work for lunch Friday, and was shot and killed when relatives say he interrupted a burglary in progress. Relatives are grieving as police search for the killer of Jerry Hood, 48, shot in his home on 8th Avenue about noon Friday. Hood was declared dead on the scene at 1:05 p.m. Friday and died from multiple gunshot wounds in a homicide at his home, the Lake County, Ind., coroner’s office said in a news release. According to relatives, Hood was a hard-working family man. He was a single father raising a teenage girl—who has now lost both her parents.

Typical: a day-time burglary, when intruders expect that nobody is home. As is usually the case in these situations – and I could cite countless more from daily crime reports – chances are there was no alarm system in the home of the victim. In fact, only about 20% of US homes do have a monitored alarm system that can trigger a police dispatch. Imagine how much safer you would feel when entering your home at any time of day or night, without worrying about who might be there. And with interactive monitoring services, such as those offered by today’s best alarm companies, you can also receive a text or email any time a door opens, telling you which door. That’s the kind of protection more people are looking for, as home intrusion statistics continue to get worse across much of the US.

Topeka Police Offer Advice – and Caution

During a 48-hour stretch in early October, a handful of Topekans appeared to be anointing themselves honorary lawmen amid a rare set of circumstances in which two families interrupted burglaries and helped to apprehend the alleged intruders by giving chase. The two suspected burglars ultimately were arrested by police and are due back in court Thursday for hearings. Capt. Brian Desch said the Topeka Police Department doesn’t have a policy regarding burglary victims running down intruders, but officials discourage people from trying to make an apprehension on their own.

It’s Not Worth Risking Your Life

For every story where a burglar is caught, Desch said in a recent interview, there are an equal number that lead to residents suffering injuries or getting killed. “In our view, no property is worth the price of a human life,” he said. Desch acknowledges "there is some value" in following a burglar while relaying to dispatchers crucial information, but preferably from a safer distance to lessen the danger.

Police recommend that when interrupting a break-in, unless victims are physically confronted or threatened, people should be the best witnesses they can while removing themselves from a potentially dangerous encounter. “Burglars will do a lot once cornered in a house to try to get out,” Desch said.

A Case in Point

On Oct. 5, Edil Castillo pulled up next to his house on S.E. 10th with his long-time girlfriend and her 16-year-old nephew. Castillo flushed an intruder out of his home and pursued him, but not before police said the teenager was punched and had a handgun pointed at his face. Officers later arrested the suspected burglar after he had eluded Castillo in a lengthy chase. This is an example of when an outcome could have drastically shifted for the worse if the suspect had pulled the trigger, Desch said. “We’d rather you call us and we’ll make sure your house is safe before you go into it,” he stated.

More Good Advice

Recent cases don't lead Desch to believe Topekans are growing so fed up with property crime as to become reckless in an effort to try to curb it. Far more often residents first call authorities to report an intruder may be inside their home before acting in another way, he said. Police will arrive, clear the house and then go back in with the residents. Crucial to being a good witness is making use of this era’s technology. Desch said most people have cell phones capable of taking video or photographs. Snap a quick picture of a suspicious vehicle and its license plate, he said, or shoot video if people come running out of a house.

One important recommendation often overlooked by police is the fact that a monitored home alarm system can prevent these confrontations in the first place. And that’s why so many more homeowners are shopping for true peace of mind, and why electronic security is included on this list of Top 10 Home Security Tips. With only one in five homes protected by a monitored alarm system, and a burglary occurring every 14 seconds in the US, there are still lots of homes – and homeowners – left to protect.

Home Safety & Crime Prevention Tips for the 2012 Holiday Season

Each year as the holidays approach, we are often distracted by the hustle and bustle of festivities.  So, we’d like to share some tips for keeping your home secure and your family safe, whether your plans include travel, entertaining or relaxing at home this year.

Home Security & Safety Tips for the Holiday Traveler:

Homes are certainly more susceptible to intrusion when homeowners are traveling, especially for an extended period of time. Here are a few tips to help ensure your property is safe, and your home doesn’t become an easy target for burglars while you’re out of town:

Make it look like your home is occupied and active.  It is not necessary to invest in gadgets to make your home look lived in, such as those on FakeTV, featured in Wired Magazine’s Gadget Lab holiday travel safety article this November. Many home security system providers now offer interactive home monitoring and remote home automation – like MyHome, by My Alarm Center – that enable control and management of lights, climate, alarm systems, and surveillance cameras via your mobile device.

Maintain your property.  Simply keeping your driveway and paths clear of snow by arranging for snow removal is important for your own personal safety, and also discourages burglars because it signals someone is home.

Check your outdoor security equipment. Severe winter weather could damage your outdoor equipment. Test your system regularly, and ensure that sensors and video equipment are always free and clear of snow.

Make sure holiday lighting doesn’t create an unsecured entry point to your home. Running a cable from inside the house often requires you to open a window, which is an ideal entry point for a burglar.Use outdoor electrical circuits to run your holiday lighting.

Home Security & Safety Tips for the Holiday Host:

Keep valuables secure when hosting guests. Holiday parties are a great opportunity to welcome new friends and family members. Ensure valuables are stowed away and lock up items that could pose a threat to children such as medicine and gun cabinets.

Dispose of gift packaging.  Don’t advertise the contents of your home to burglars, dispose of your gift packaging in black bags so a burglar can’t see what new goodies are in your home.

Personal Safety Tips

Protect your identity. Always shred your receipts (but not important warranty information). Don’t give burglars a chance to steal your identity.  Investing in identity theft protection services through companies like TrustedID, My Alarm Center partner, is an effective option to help protect you against identity theft not only during the holidays but all year-round.

Stay in the know. Keep aware of crime trends locally (especially as crime tends to increase during the holidays); it’s often helpful to follow local crime alerts and updates via local authorities and via sites like Patch.com and others. For example:

·        Patch.com for Bellevue, WA outside of Seattle, Washington

·         Patch.com for Radnor, PA outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Doing holiday shopping? Thieves are out shopping too.  Don’t buy more than you can carry to your car in one trip, as thieves are often on the lookout for shoppers making multiple trips to their car. Seattle Police recommend making sure that anything of value inside your car is stored completely out of sight. The Philadelphia Police department advises shoppers to be aware of crime risks in-person as well as online, listing several helpful tips to keep purchases and credit and debit card data secure during the holidays. Local news sources like CBS Philly post even more great tips to ensure holiday shopping safety such as how to avoid becoming a victim of the latest trends in scams, or fake Facebook promotions and even mobile apps designed to gather personal data.

Have a tip you’d like to share? Email us at blog@myalarmcenter.com with suggestions for our next holiday safety blog post!

Thanks for taking time to observe these simple tips, and enjoy a safe and wonderful holiday season.

Happy Holidays,

Your Friends at My Alarm Center

We are excited to feature the first in a series of monthly blogs by Peter Rogers, Co-Founder & Senior Advisor, of FrontPoint Security Solutions.  Peter has more than 20 years of home security experience, including leadership positions at some of the country’s most prominent alarm companies.

Residential Crime Trends – Police Bust Burglars in Seattle with Help from Apple Technology

Known for its physical beauty and temperate year-round climate, Seattle, Washington has traditionally experienced higher property crime rates than the rest of the US. In fact, according to the FBI, the incidence of home intrusion in the Emerald City runs half again as high as the national average. But thanks to a smart burglary victim and some good police work, one Seattle neighborhood should now be a little safer, as described in this recent news report.

A man’s search for his stolen iPad helped lead Seattle police to a home in Seattle’s Capitol Hill filled with stolen technology devices and bicycles. Using a cellphone app, the burglary victim tracked his stolen iPad to a home doubling as a computer repair workshop near 12th Avenue East and East Mercer Street on Friday, according to Seattle police.

Not the First Time Police Tracked an Apple Device

This story reminds me of the recent burglary in Palo Alto, California: in that case, the thief happened to break into the home of Steve Jobs’ family, and stole a number of Apple devices. Police were able to track down the stolen devices, and catch the burglar in a short time.

What Happened This Time

The burglary victim called police to accompany him when he knocked on the residence’s door. Once they made contact, the man activated the app on his phone and his iPad made a sound that could be heard inside the home. Officers arrested a 41-year-old suspect and booked him into King County Jail for investigation of possession of stolen property.

More Stolen Items Recovered

After getting a search warrant to go through the rest of the home, detectives found computers, computer parts and high-end bicycles in the basement, shed and garage, according to the department’s online blotter. “There appears to be quite a number of items from recent area burglaries at this location,” the department’s blotter said. “This remains an active and on-going investigation, and detectives have quite a bit of evidence to sift through.”

A smart burglar might realize that this tracking ability exists: but then again, most burglars aren’t that smart – by definition. Even so, we do know a lot about burglar behavior. For instance, we know exactly where burglars break in, and what burglars steal. But what’s harder to figure out is why only one in five US homes have a monitored alarm system, with a burglary occurring every 14 seconds!

It makes sense to do everything you can so your home is not a target. You can start with installing a monitored alarm system. Your peace of mind is worth a lot, and there’s nothing more important than protecting your home and family. And make sure you have those tracking apps loaded!

As we’ve been expanding services and offerings at My Alarm Center to extend beyond the traditional “alarm system," we can’t help but take note of several offerings and services that are most popular with customers. In today’s post we’ll focus on Real Time Alerts which have been offered by My Alarm Center for some time, but have recently become very popular among parents, working professionals, and those who own rental/vacation properties.

When MyHome by My Alarm Center launched, our customers opted in for basic home alarm system real time alert triggers like alarm activation and deactivation activity.  However, as more people subscribed to the service every day, several alerts are becoming clear favorites.  This got us to wondering:  Are you subscribed to the 5 Most Popular Real Time Alerts at My Alarm Center (powered by Alarm.com)? 

1. Show / No Show Alerts letting subscribers know when their children have arrived home from school, or that the dog walker has arrived on-time.

“I have alerts set to keep tabs on my 13-year-old, I get text messages that alert me when the house is disarmed as she’s arrived home from school or after-school activities. It gives me great piece of mind when I am at the office.”

                -Laura S. of Merion, PA

2. Video Activity Alerts: Letting residents know when any motion/activity has been captured by video surveillance. Not only a great security feature to prevent theft/loss, this is a great feature for homeowners who may prefer that certain areas of their home are kept private from children, guests, or renters. 

 “I live in Seattle and have a rental property in Florida. The Video Alerts send me a notification if there is activity in our basement that is not accessible to renters. This has given me some extra security that our personal belongings are not being accessed.”

-Thomas M. of Seattle, WA

3.  Water Sensor Alerts:  Alerting a subscriber if there’s a water leak or a flood in an area of the home where a sensor has been placed. For those in areas at-risk for flooding during stormseason, or for those who don’t want to be “surprised,” by a hot water heater leak, these alerts can go a long way in preventing property damage, and in saving a lot of time and worry.

“I got a water sensor alert at work when the hot water heater burst. I was able to get home in time and prevent thousands of dollars in damage to our newly remodeled playroom. On the way home I even called the plumber who made it out the same day.”

-Danielle R. of Bellevue, WA

4. Cabinet/Drawer Security Alerts: Sensors can be installed and set up for drawers containing valuables, or cabinets containing items that could cause serious harm to children or strangers (medicine, firearms). A Real Time Alert indicating that one of these cabinets has been opened helps prevent both injury and property loss.

“ I often have contractors and dog walkers coming and going from the house; Real time alerts have helped ensure that our family’s valuables and personal items are safe and secure.”

-Maria R. of Cape May, NJ

5. Power Outage Alerts: These alerts help ensure residents are aware of a power outage in-advance of it impacting their home security system, helping to prevent property loss due to crime.  Also, residents with older or younger relatives at home can ensure their family’s safety during a power outage in extreme weather or circumstances.

“My mother lives alone so I set up my alerts to send me a text message if her power has gone out. This way I know immediately when she might need an extra hand getting around safely.”

-Kim L. of Cherry Hill, NJ

Not only are Real Time alerts convenient, preventive measures to ensure home safety and security, but many home monitoring services mean price breaks on homeowner’s and renter’s insurance as well. 

 Visit our website to learn more, or email us at blog@myalarmcenter.com to share your own tips on leveraging real time alerts as part of your home security and safety planning.