In The News - SafeTech Security https://safetechalarms.com SafeTech Alarms Tue, 07 Nov 2023 15:29:11 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.9.9 https://safetechalarms.com/images/cropped-safetech-circle-logo-32x32.png In The News - SafeTech Security https://safetechalarms.com 32 32 SafeTech in CCA GTA City Guide https://safetechalarms.com/blog/company/in-the-news-category/safetech-in-cca-gta-city-guide/ Mon, 06 Nov 2023 13:45:15 +0000 https://safetechalarms.com/?p=13518 The post SafeTech in CCA GTA City Guide appeared first on SafeTech Alarms.

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SafeTech Once Again Wins Several HomeStars “Best Of 2017” Awards https://safetechalarms.com/company/in-the-news/safetech-wins-several-homestars-best-awards/ Thu, 27 Jul 2017 19:17:24 +0000 https://safetechalarms.com/?page_id=12383 SafeTech Alarm Systems receives several “Best of 2017” awards due to glowing customer reviews and an ongoing dedication to service excellence. Once again, SafeTech Alarm Systems has been recognized by HomeStars as an outstanding provider of security services, alarm systems,...

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SafeTech Alarm Systems receives several “Best of 2017” awards due to glowing customer reviews and an ongoing dedication to service excellence. Once again, SafeTech Alarm Systems has been recognized by HomeStars as an outstanding provider of security services, alarm systems, and smart home technology. As a part of the HomeStars “Best of 2017” awards, SafeTech has been recognized for excellence in the categories of Alarm Systems, Locks & Locksmiths, and Home Automation. HomeStars is Canada’s largest, most trusted, and most respected source of home professional reviews. HomeStars collects and publishes reviews from real homeowners that contain information on the quality of the work provided, the level of customer service received, and the provider’s dedication to after-sales support. The coveted HomeStars “Best Of” awards are presented annually to companies that earn the highest reputation rankings based on thousands of reviews made by homeowners on Homestars. This is the sixth-straight year that SafeTech has been recognized by the experts at HomeStars. SafeTech is incredibly proud of this recognition. For more than 25 years, SafeTech has taken pride in offering superior security and automation products and also on an intense focus on customer service excellence. SafeTech understands that the security and automation needs of each person are different. For this reason, SafeTech’s loss prevention professionals don’t try to force a “one size fits all” strategy on clients. Instead, the company’s loss prevention team takes the time to listen to the needs of clients and works with them to develop a security and automation strategy that is designed to meet those needs. “At SafeTech, we take care of the needs of our customers by actually listening to what they are looking for,” says Sean O’Leary, President & CEO of SafeTech. “By truly listening to our clients, we can make the right security and automation recommendations that will improve the security and efficiency of a person’s home.” This focus on providing a superior customer service experience is what separate SafeTech from other companies and a big part of what has led to SafeTech once again receiving recognition from HomeStars. “Everyone at SafeTech is incredibly proud to be once again recognized by HomeStars,” says O’Leary. “We have always been very focused on delivering the right services for our customers, so it is great to see that our clients continue to be thrilled with our services.” For more information on SafeTech and its services, or to speak to one of SafeTech’s experienced loss prevention professionals about your security needs, contact SafeTech online at SafeTechAlarms.com or by phone at 416.229.9902 in Toronto or 1.888.939.3733 toll-free.

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Safe Room – Crime Triggers Demand (National Post) https://safetechalarms.com/company/in-the-news/safe-room-crime-triggers-demand-national-post/ Sat, 29 Aug 2015 13:58:03 +0000 http://egmtest.com/stech/?page_id=2026 Crime Triggers Demand By Lisa Van De Ven It seems Jodie Foster is not the only one panicking these days. While Foster is currently starring in The Panic Room, many other celebrities and wealthy individuals are building real-life panic rooms...

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img_article_panicked Crime Triggers Demand By Lisa Van De Ven It seems Jodie Foster is not the only one panicking these days. While Foster is currently starring in The Panic Room, many other celebrities and wealthy individuals are building real-life panic rooms in their homes. And not just in the United States. Panic rooms, also known as safe rooms, are spaces inside a home, where families can go during a robbery. Built with bullet-proof doors, fortified walls and a land-based cellular phone, the room is meant to keep homeowners safe until police arrive. “A safe room is really a holding pen within the home,” says Sean O’Leary, president of Safetech Alarm Systems in Toronto. “The idea is to be safe and to be able to make your communication from there.” Mr. O’Leary is working at a home with a safe room in Toronto’s wealthy Bridle Path community. The room has 12-inch thick concrete walls and is hidden away in the 47,000 square-foot house. “Nobody’s going to get into the room,” he says. “It’s doubtful they’ll even find it.” This is the first safe room Mr. O’Leary has worked on in a home. He says the concept is more American than Canadian. “The United States is a little more oriented toward that type of thing,” he says. Stan Green, president of Mirtech International Security, agrees. He has never been asked to design or secure a safe room in a home, but he would not be surprised if he starts getting requests in the near future. Canada tends to be behind the United States in these areas, he says. “They’ve had a lot more experience in that amount of crime a lot longer than we have.” Gary Paster, president of U.S.-based American Saferoom Door Co., has been building safe rooms for 22 years and was a consultant on the movie The Panic Room. He has installed approximately 200 safe rooms, estimating that about 60% to 70% of his business comes from individuals in the entertainment business, while the rest comes mainly from corporate executives. Since safe rooms can cost anywhere from US$5,000 to the typical US$20,000, it is usually more affluent individuals who have them built, some of whom have an identified threat against their lives. Corporate clients will sometimes have them added to their executive suites. Mr. Paster has worked for some less affluent individuals as well. “It’s cheaper than a new car and it depends on where people live,” he says. There is no typical safe room. Level of security, size and placement in the home all depend on the client’s needs. Many homeowners choose to fortify a walk-in closet or bathroom, while others build a room with no other use. Some homeowners attach the room to a son or daughter’s bedroom, where parents can flee quickly with their child. “Some are hidden. We have bookcases, which are also doors. For people who have smaller homes, they’ll typically be walk-in closets,” Mr. Paster says. “They go from very extravagant, like in the movie, to very basic.” While most are not as elaborate as the one in The Panic Room, Mr. Paster has built some that are as decked out as bomb shelters. These are larger and better equipped, meant to keep homeowners safe in the case of a national emergency or threat. These can cost more than US$250,000 and have separate plumbing, oxygen systems, and food and water supplies. “As many things as you can figure out how to defend against,” he says. Violence reported in the media can increase demand for safe rooms. Since Sept. 11, Mr. Paster has seen a 25% increase, in business, but more minor occurrences – such as the 1997 shooting of Gianni Versace in his Miami home – can also lead to more inquiries. “That always triggers a lot more calls,” he says. Even though a majority of the rooms Mr. Paster has built have gone unused, he says they give peace of mind. “We’ve only had a couple that have been used in all these years, and they were very successful.” National Post

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We’re feeling threatened (National Post) https://safetechalarms.com/company/in-the-news/were-feeling-threatened-national-post/ Sat, 29 Aug 2015 13:55:57 +0000 http://egmtest.com/stech/?page_id=2023 Deirdre McMurdy In 1983, after a botched abduction attempt ended in a shootout on the lawn of his estate south of Dublin, billionaire Galen Weston had a change of plan: He relocated his family and principal residence to Canada. These...

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img_article_threat Deirdre McMurdy In 1983, after a botched abduction attempt ended in a shootout on the lawn of his estate south of Dublin, billionaire Galen Weston had a change of plan: He relocated his family and principal residence to Canada. These days, however, he might think twice about seeking security in the Great White North. Although fellow billionaire Ken Thomson is a familiar sight ambling alone, except for his two little dogs, through the streets around his Rosedale mansion in Toronto, or picking up his own dry cleaning in a Mercedes with recognizable custom licence plates, he’s becoming a rarity. In 1990, when the daughter of Vancouver billionaire Jimmy Pattison was kidnapped and held for 14 hours, such crimes were almost unheard of in Canada. Times have changed. “All Canadians used to be much more sheltered and trusting about personal security issues, but that’s changed radically”, says Sean O’Leary of Safetech Alarm Systems. “[Sept.11] was the start of a great public awakening on that score. The amount of violent crime- and the mass-media coverage of it – has heightened the sense of threat.” A recent example of how real that threat can be is the brazen invasion of the Toronto ravine home of high-profile Bay Street economist Sherry Cooper of BMO Nesbitt Burns. A flashy fixture in media circles, Dr. Cooper and her husband were awakened, restrained and robbed at gunpoint. The assault prompted her to question whether Canada is becoming “like Brazil, where wealthy people or well-known people need security guards.” While even former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien encountered a knife-wielding nocturnal intruder during his time at 24 Sussex Drive, Canada has some way to go before it approaches the problems in Brazil. Still, there’s no question that individuals and corporations here are spending much more to feel safe. That trend is by no means restricted to the extremely wealthy. The latest data from Statistics Canada indicate that even five years ago, private security personnel outnumbered police officers at 84,000 versus 63,000. Hampered by budget cuts, police forces are outsourcing some traditional duties, even as officers are transforming themselves into independent entrepreneurs and security consultants. Given that many law enforcement professionals can retire with a full pension at 55, they represent a formidable resource for one of the fastest-growing service sectors in North America. On another front, community colleges such as Ontario’s Seneca College now offer a two-year “police foundations” diploma program that has a waiting list. Currently in the throes of rapid, international consolidation, the private security business is steadily improving its professional standards while reducing the costs of its increasingly sophisticated, technology-driven operations. According to Nadi Tadros, who covers the industry for Desjardins Securities, the industry is being transformed by takeovers as well as growth. And private policing is a trend he forecasts will continue to gain momentum. Driving that momentum is a profound psychological shift. Surrounded by heightened security in airports, at work and other public venues, people are “edgy and aware”, says Darcy Kernaghan of B.C.-based Securiguard. Security passes and personnel are now commonplace in an intensely competitive knowledge-based economy. Even synagogues, mosques and private schools are beefing up their security in the wake of international incidents. At Shaarei Shomayim Congregation in Toronto, a $50 security fee is levied on all member families. In some upscale neighbourhoods, where crime has been a recurring problem, “the thing now is for residents to get together and chip in $50 a week to cover the cost of a constant mobile patrol”,says Tom Gould of Shep-Rott K-9 Security. At the same time, as people feel the urge to retreat from the fast-paced world and cocoon, the urge to protect that shelter is unprecedented. Mr. O’Leary says that advanced technology has made it more affordable to remotely monitor activity in and around homes using laptops or even BlackBerry devices. Installing a package that in cludes four security cameras costs about $4,000. Still, while ha has worked on a fortified “panic room” for at least one home in Toronto’s wealthy Bridle Path neighbourhood, Mr. O’Leary says that demand for these in-home fortresses remains limited to dignitaries from volatile nations, celebrities and the extremely wealthy. The protracted housing boom in Canada is also making private security a bigger part of daily life. Soaring demand has driven up the cost of construction materials and that, along with the ever-present risk of vandalism, has stoked the market for round-the-clock guards on site. At he same time, the growing number of condominiums has increased the need for private security to protect common areas not only for safety, but for insurance and marketing purposes. Although Canada has relatively few of the gated communities so popular in the United States, it seems we’re well on the way to developing our own version of them in urban and suburban settings. National Post

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Burglars Beware (Toronto Sun) https://safetechalarms.com/company/in-the-news/burglars-beware-toronto-sun/ Sat, 29 Aug 2015 13:53:20 +0000 http://egmtest.com/stech/?page_id=2019 An alarm installing company out of Toronto is putting in thousands of security systems for free making it more difficult for burglars to find unprotected homes and businesses to break intro. A customer’s only requirement is to pay a low...

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img_article_freealarmAn alarm installing company out of Toronto is putting in thousands of security systems for free making it more difficult for burglars to find unprotected homes and businesses to break intro. A customer’s only requirement is to pay a low monthly fee so that the security company can monitor the premises on an ongoing basis and dispatch the proper authorities when an alarm occurs. Sean O’Leary, president of Safetech Alarm Systems says, “in the Toronto area, an unprotected house is 40 times more likely to be burglarized with 38 times greater property loss compared to a protected home.” For more free information call: (416)229-9902 Toronto Sun

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How to log in and check your home or business when you’re not there (The Globe & Mail) https://safetechalarms.com/company/in-the-news/how-to-log-in-and-check-your-home-or-business-when-youre-not-there-the-globe-mail/ Sat, 29 Aug 2015 13:50:35 +0000 http://egmtest.com/stech/?page_id=2016 What’s going on at your home or business when you’re not there? Why not log on and check? By Ian Harvey Home and business video surveillance systems used to be the domain of the well-heeled or large corporate concerns who...

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What’s going on at your home or business when you’re not there? Why not log on and check?

By Ian Harvey Home and business video surveillance systems used to be the domain of the well-heeled or large corporate concerns who could afford to deploy the resources required to install and monitor the equipment. However, a combination of falling prices and Internet-based technology seems to have come up with a solution for the average home and small business. Internet accessible video monitoring systems are cheap, easy to install and provide instant peace of mind because they can be remotely monitored anywhere there’s Net access – including over mobile phones. “We have one system that will e-mail you a video clip anytime a motion detector is triggered,” said Sean O’Leary, president and CEO of Safe Tech , a Toronto alarm system company. “Or you can log on via the Net with a password and see for yourself, and dispatch police who will respond if there’s a confirmation there’s an issue.” Cameras which used to cost thousands of dollars have dropped dramatically in price and they’ve evolved as network components, meaning they have unique Internet Protocol (IP) addresses and can be accessed via a browser over the Net. For determined Do-It-Yourselfers, off the shelf version is also available from computer and electronic manufacturers at retail level. Aron Reid, at D-Link Canada, manufacturers of wireless and wired network components, says there are several colour cameras, from outdoor to indoor starting at $200 and rising to $800 for top of the line models in both wired and wireless. Wireless models simply connect to the existing Wifi system in the home or business, he said, but require a power supply, while wired models simply pull power from the Ethernet cable connecting it to a router. Several cameras can be spread around the house though Safe Tech consultant Sal Aprile says in his experience many customers have privacy issues and prefer outdoor cameras which require weatherproof housings and are more expensive. “From there you can run it through a computer with a video card or in other cases to a network drive that doesn’t have to be connected to a computer that’s turned on,” Mr. Reid said. In any case the system can also be configured to send an e-mail if a motion detector is set off. For the more technically challenged, Telus offers HomeSitter to customers in Alberta and B.C. to access cameras in homes or business via any Internet connection. It also allows users to log into the video feed remotely and get a real-time update of what is going on, or to review digitally stored video to see what led up to the alarm being triggered. The $9.95 a month service is not available in Ontario and the basic hardware costs extra – up to $300 for two cameras. The real break-through, says Prateek Dwivedi, director, Product Marketing at Toronto based Casero Inc which created the software for the Telus system, will be when hardware prices fall though the $99 mark. “For the mass market, it’s almost got to be free,” he said drawing a parallel with the cell phone sales model. “And it’s got to be simple. Our software sits on the network so installation is a matter of a couple of questions over a browser.” The value proposition to Internet accessible cameras in the home is that grandparents can set a time to check in on their grandkids half way around the world, road warriors can log on to say good night to their own children, anxious moms have a nanny or teen cam while others can check on elderly parents or even just their pets. “We don’t see it as a security camera, we see it as a window to the personal content of your life,” said Dwivedi. “Though in many places now, such as California, police won’t respond to alarms unless there is visual confirmation of a break-in or incident.” As such, the value of being able to instantly determine what set off a motion detector is invaluable, he said. “Now that the carriers have the high speed bandwidth of EV-D0 we could also video to a handheld, because you may not be near a computer when you get the alert.” Globe and Mail

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Security system combines past and future (National Post) https://safetechalarms.com/company/in-the-news/security-system-combines-past-and-future-national-post/ Sat, 29 Aug 2015 11:35:46 +0000 http://egmtest.com/stech/?page_id=2012 By Grace Macaluso Bob Forrest is borrowing from the past to come up with a security system for the future. When his downtown 19-storey condominium complex opens its doors in 2003, the entrance will feature a doorman. You can have...

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By Grace Macaluso img_article_pastfutureBob Forrest is borrowing from the past to come up with a security system for the future. When his downtown 19-storey condominium complex opens its doors in 2003, the entrance will feature a doorman. You can have all the fancy technology money can buy says Mr. Forrest owner of The Forrest group of companies. But at the end of the day your security is only as good as your people. The doorman is part of a more comprehensive security system at the Avanti, located at 38 Charles St E plains include a concierge and closed-circuit television surveillance of common areas, such as the lobby and underground parking garage. After location and affordability security it’s a major selling feature for Toronto’s two predominant purchasing groups-young urban professionals and empty nesters, says Mark Cohen, vice president of sales and marketing at Concord Adex Developments. Empty nesters are always away a lot and young professionals are either spending long hours at work or leading busy social lives, says Mr. Cohen. High-Tech Features dominate the security system planned for city palace, a 20.25 hectare project being develop d by concord Adex. The master –planned community on the railway lands will house 8,000 high-rise units and townhouses and between 12,000 and 15,000 resident s who will have access to a fiber-optic network that gives them the visual access to common areas. “They’ll all become watchdogs through their watchdog monitors or computers,” Mr. Cohen says. A 24-hour concierge service is the nerve centre of the system that allows for visual and audio access to such areas as the underground parking garage, lobby and pool. “That means you’ll have a live body his eyes and ears open,” Mr. Cohen says. The garage will also feature “panic buttons” that give residents in need of assistance contact with the concierge. As well, elevators will be programmed so that visitors and residents can only go to their designated floors. “Both residents’ and visitors’ access must be granted by the concierge,” Mr. Cohen says. A 24 hours concierge service is basic security feature at all Tridal condominium developments, says Jim Ritchie, vice-president of marketing and sales. “The concierge is our focal point for security,” Mr. Ritchie says. “He has an elaborate computer system that allows him to monitor traffic in and out of the building.” Linda Mitchell, vice-president of sales and marketing at Monarch Construction, says a concierge service is a security feature that appeals to buyers. “It’s an expectation, especially with more and more single women buying,” she says. “Security is a draw. When we advertise, we always mention our 24-hour concierge.” At Monarch’s Waterview condominium project on Humber Bay Shores, residents will have card access to the main entrance as well as remote control access to the garage. Windows and doors in ground-level suites will have contact and motion detectors. Like CityPlace, the 1,500 units at Waterview will be wired using high-speed fiber-optic cables. The network, which will enable residents to control lighting, heat and appliances in every room, will also allow them visual and audio contact with the concierge she adds. National Post

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Ryerson’s report card: the findings of an independent security audit (The Ryersonian) https://safetechalarms.com/company/in-the-news/ryersons-report-card-the-findings-of-an-independent-security-audit-the-ryersonian/ Sat, 29 Aug 2015 11:34:04 +0000 http://egmtest.com/stech/?page_id=2008 By Ryersonian Staff It’s the first real day of spring – hello shorts, skirts and sunglasses. But that doesn’t matter to Charles Camato and Brant Bell. (The man are pictured in photo number 1, Bell to the left and Camato...

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By Ryersonian Staff img_article_ryersonIt’s the first real day of spring – hello shorts, skirts and sunglasses. But that doesn’t matter to Charles Camato and Brant Bell. (The man are pictured in photo number 1, Bell to the left and Camato to the right.) They are the men in black, strictly suit-and-tie attire – and seriously out of place on Ryerson’s campus. The two men – security experts from Toronto’s Safe Tech Alarm Systems – agreed to walk around campus and give The Ryersonian their professional opinion on the strengths and flaws of Ryerson security. “You need to have the ability to control and track a target (a person) from one place to another,”Bell said, while pushing the benefits of maintaining a “Big Brother” style of campus security. A watchful eye on campus can’t hurt – following several recent security issuse. On March 15, a Ryerson teacher was assaulted in her own classroom. On March 13, an RTA student was the victim of an armed robbery in the lobby of the Rogers Communications Centre. While some might cite privacy concerns regarding closed circuit television (CCTV), the security experts say that cameras makes law enforcement easier. 1 – In the middle of the Pitman lawn stands one of Ryerson’s blue security poles. It serves a dualpurpose – to record those in the area with its rotating camera and to connect students indistress with security. Bell’s first concern was the cameras on Pitman lawn, which instead of scanning the area are stuck facing Church Street. Bell said the camera should rotate 360 degrees and record those coming and going from the buildings. The area appears under surveillance, but the grounds where many students return home late at night are unmonitored, according to the experts. 2 – The security experts were concerned with a ladder propped against the loading dock wall at Pitman Hall. This allowed easy access to Ryerson buildings through upper windows for criminals. Further investigation of this entrance showed that anyone off the street could walk into the open, unmanned garage door to the left. Ryersonian staff were led through the open door and into the cafeteria’s kitchen. Bell said: “I could go in right now and poison all the food. Terrorism is a real threat nowadays and we have had examples of it in this city already.” 3 – Earlier this week, Ryersonian newspapers were stolen from newsstands throughout campus. Within minutes after this was reported, a Ryerson security guard arrived to take a statement. He said there is a camera in the RCC lobby, the very same lobby where an armed robbery took place earlier this month, but added, “The camera in there is pointing the wrong way.” Last Friday, Camato said “With a fixed (position) camera, a person could walk right under it and not be seen.” 4 – O’Keefe Lane cuts through the western edge of campus off Gould Street, giving drug dealers and sex trade workers shelter from the city’s open spaces. “This is definitely a bad area,” Camato said. “Although, it’s certainly an improvement over what was at Dundas and Yonge 15 years ago.” A lone camera scans from high above on the library building. But Bell said it would be difficult for Ryerson to control the area, considering how many rear entrances there are to Yonge Street businesses. 5 – During our 90-minute walkabout we didn’t see a single security officer, but we did see the same EMS worker numerous times in different locations. Bell was very surprised to see an on-campus EMS officer equipped with a bullet proof vest, baton and handcuffs. “That’s quite unusual,” he said. “When was the last time you saw a paramedic with a baton?” Camato explained that it was possible that a Ryerson paramedic could be called out to attend to someone who could be under the influence of hard drugs and the paramedic “may have to protect himself.” As for the lack of security, Bell said that no camera could ever substitute for manpower. Camato added that ultimately security on campus falls in the hands of students. “Students need to take care of each other, protect one another.” Ryerson security manager, Lawrence Robinson, has not responded to The Ryersonian’s request to comment on results of the security audit. The Ryersonian

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Secure ladders to stop second-storey thieves, police warn (Toronto Star) https://safetechalarms.com/company/in-the-news/secure-ladders-to-stop-second-storey-thieves-police-warn-toronto-star/ Sat, 29 Aug 2015 11:32:06 +0000 http://egmtest.com/stech/?page_id=2005 By Jim Wilkes Homeowners who leave ladders unattended or windows unsecured are giving burglars an open invitation to bypass ground-floor security systems and break in through upper storeys, Peel police say. The warning comes after this week’s arrest of a...

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By Jim Wilkes

SafeTech talks fire protection in The Toronto StarHomeowners who leave ladders unattended or windows unsecured are giving burglars an open invitation to bypass ground-floor security systems and break in through upper storeys, Peel police say. The warning comes after this week’s arrest of a Mississauga man charged with 50 break-ins across the GTA over the past 18 months that netted more than $800,000 in cash, gold and jewellery.

Det. Randy Brack said high-end homes in Halton, Peel and York were targeted, usually on Saturday and Sunday nights when residents were out. “You can drive down any street in any neighbourhood and spot the ones where people aren’t home because they’re dark,” Brack said. “He had a very distinct signature entry. He used a ladder to access second-floor windows, to avoid obvious alarms on the ground floor. He is a self-employed contractor and seemed to know which windows led to the master bedrooms.” A Peel police civilian crime analyst spotted a trend in home burglaries last year in Mississauga and identified the profile of a particular suspect who had been arrested in Toronto in 2005, but the break-in artist wasn’t active then and the trail went cold. But Brack said break-ins from December through March in Halton and Brampton bore the distinctive signature. Detectives made an arrest during a burglary in Vaughan on Sunday night. Brack said of the 7,000 break-ins in Peel last year, only 37 were through second-floor windows, “so they really stand out.” Sean O’Leary, president and owner of Safetech Alarm Systems, said he’s not surprised the burglar was able to break into the homes undetected since the standard in his industry is to simply protect the basement and main floor. “It’s usually just door alarms and one or two motion detectors — small installations that are inadequate,” said O’Leary. “If the home is bigger, you’re going to need more devices. You should do all doors and windows, and at least a couple of well-placed motion detectors.” At minimum, O’Leary suggests placing a motion detector at the top of the stairs or in the second-floor hallway. That way, even if a someone gets into the house, it’s not likely they’ll be able to snoop around undetected. “Even if they break in through a window, they’re not likely to leave that way — they’re going to have to get close to that staircase at some point and the alarm will pick them up,” he said. Const. Ashley Kimlin said most police forces offer in-home security assessments to let residents know where they are vulnerable to break-ins. “Alarm systems are great, but you still have to be aware of the second floor,” Kimlin explained. “And there’s only so much protection anyone can have unless you want to live in Fort Knox. You need to balance security, safety and what you can realistically live with.” Ali Hussein Abu-Khalil, 45, also known as Ali Ramadan, is charged with 50 break-ins. He is also sought by police in Dearborn, Mich., for a home invasion in 2003. The Toronto Star

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Taking Security Pre-cautions isn’t Paranoid (Metro) https://safetechalarms.com/company/in-the-news/taking-security-pre-cautions-isnt-paranoid-metro/ Sat, 29 Aug 2015 11:30:00 +0000 http://egmtest.com/stech/?page_id=2001 Kevin Reid for Metro Dreamhomes A security system can deter thieves from stealing your possessions. With advances in protection technology evolving faster than ever, securing your home is rapidly becoming a 21st-century staple rather than a sign of worry. In...

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Kevin Reid for Metro Dreamhomes Taking Security Pre-Cautions - SafeTech in MetroA security system can deter thieves from stealing your possessions. With advances in protection technology evolving faster than ever, securing your home is rapidly becoming a 21st-century staple rather than a sign of worry. In fact, the market is growing so quickly that it can be difficult to sort through what security options are right for your house or condo. Sean O’Leary, president of Safe-Tech Alarm Systems in Toronto, helped to clear the path. For condo owners, a large part of your security needs are taken care of when you move in. Secured ground entrances, pre-wired alarms, 24-hour video surveillance and dedicated concierges are now standard features of many new condominiums. Each building may be different in the level of service it provides (be sure to investigate this when shopping for a condo), but aside from securing your own main entrance and patio with a simple motion-based alarm, the condo dweller has a distinct security advantage. The greatest burden of protection decidedly falls on the homeowner’s shoulders. If you live in a house, start from the outside in with a do-it-yourself dose of common sense. Make sure your environment is working with you, not against you. Trim any hedges that might otherwise give a would-be burglar a cover for dastardly deeds. And beware of tree branches that could grant a nimble intruder second-storey access. A set of lights linked to a motion detector (approximately $25) is one of the most easily installed and most effective crime deterrents, illuminating any late-night visitors. Remember, home security isn’t about catching a crime in progress — it’s discouraging it from ever taking place. As O’Leary plainly states, most burglars will take the path of least resistance. The cost of security rises on the inside, depending on how many entrances you have to cover. The larger the home, the more dear it will be to protect. Keypad installation and manned monitoring services are still reasonably priced, averaging a monthly rate of around $25. Retractable gates and bars are available at a higher cost (window bars now come in white for the aesthetically minded), but they naturally offer a higher level of protection. And don’t rule out the simple psychological edge of seeing that alarm system sign on the lawn or in your window. O’Leary also pointed out the recent advances in video surveillance, which make it an increasingly popular option. Gone is the era of the clunky VHS-based system with its dozens of tapes that need constant rotation. Digital video recorders, motion detector technology, and rapidly growing data storage capacities can give a home months of autonomous surveillance for around the $1,500 range. You can even watch your cameras in action on the Internet from wherever you are. But despite all the impressive crime prevention tools out there, O’Leary places equal, if not greater, emphasis on the need for fire and carbon monoxide detectors, also available with 24-hour manned monitoring. They say fortune favours the bold. But in this instance, it’s the cautious who will come out smiling. Metro Dreamhomes

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