Newsletter Archive

Home Surveillance Cameras: Using Cameras to Catch Daylight “Distraction Thefts”

Footage released by police shows distraction theft in Vaughan. This footage shows the importance of surveillance cameras for homes.

York Region Police have released footage from surveillance cameras in hopes of catching the suspect in a “distraction theft” that took place recently. The robbery took place during the day and involved a woman approaching another woman and engaging in a conversation.

The video demonstrates the crucial importance of surveillance cameras for homes. In the footage, the suspect is then seen placing a necklace around the woman’s neck. The suspect apparently told the victim that the necklace was a gift, given as a thank you for helping her. While she placed the necklace on the victim, the suspect removed and stole the more expensive necklace that the woman was wearing. She then walked away and entered a white Jeep that just pulled up.

In addition to home surveillance cameras, other cameras caught similar crimes in the region. A nearly identical crime happened to a man outside a Vaughan grocery store several months ago. After viewing the recent footage from surveillance cameras, the man recognized the suspect as the same person who had robbed him. York Regional Police say there have been more than 35 reported distraction thefts so far. In each case, a suspect approached a victim and either asked for help, directions or started another conversation of some type. After speaking with the victim for a while, the suspect then either gave the victim a hug or offered them a cheap necklace as a gift. In the cases, the suspect used these distractions to remove the victim’s existing jewellery without being detected.

The Importance of Surveillance Cameras for Homes

These thefts highlight two important security truths. The first is the importance of being aware at all times. A number of different crime techniques involve distraction. For example, criminals are known to strike up a conversation with a person while one of their friends steals the victim’s purse or wallet. While it may be difficult, it’s always important to ensure that you are aware of your surroundings and the actions of those around you. If someone seems to be trying to distract you with a long conversation or another technique, be aware and pay close attention to your belongings and valuables.

Another fact is that, home surveillance camerasare important, They are a wonderful management tool and police aid. They are ultimately the best way to prove your loss and to catch the perpetrators of it. Footage from surveillance cameras can reveal the identity of a criminal, establish when and where the crime took place, how many participants are involved and record thieves in the act.

The video recently released by police was the type of footage that can only be recorded by home surveillance cameras. Not only does this footage help identify the suspect, but it also provides details as to how the crime was committed. These details are important for police investigations but they also warn the public about criminals still at large and their tactics. This is why surveillance cameras for homes are important.

For information on how surveillance cameras can help protect your home or business, please contact SafeTech Alarm Systems today. Our Loss Prevention Team can assist you with surveillance cameras and any other security needs you may have.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors Save Lives

Carbon monoxide detectors are important. In fact, carbon monoxide detectors save lives. To show how important they are, Ontario has created Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week. The very first Ontario Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week takes place between November 1st and November 8th.

Carbon monoxide is an invisible, colourless, tasteless and odourless gas that can cause serious health issues and even death. Due to the potential danger that this gas can cause, the Ontario Legislature passed a bill in 2013 that declared the week beginning on November 1st in each year as Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week.

This bill, Bill 77, also expands the scope of the Fire Protection and Prevention Act of 1997, reinforcing the importance of carbon monoxide detectors.

The bill updates the Ontario Fire Code to make the use of carbon monoxide detectors mandatory in houses, condos, apartments, hotels and university residences that have a fuel-burning device such as a fireplace, gas stove, water heater or furnace as well as in homes that are attached to a garage.

Carbon monoxide detectors are required near all sleeping areas in residential homes and adjacent sleeping areas in multi-residential units. This is because it’s proven that carbon monoxide detectors save lives.

How Monitored Carbon Monoxide Detectors Save Lives

SafeTech Alarm Systems recommends monitored carbon monoxide detection systems. We recognize the importance of these systems and know that carbon monoxide detectors save lives. Unlike traditional carbon monoxide detectors, a monitored system sends an alert to a central monitoring station when carbon monoxide is detected in the home. The central station can then take action to alert the residents of the home, potentially saving their lives. Residents can opt to receive alerts by phone, text or email. Alerts received while away from home can prevent dangerous exposure to the gas upon one’s return. This is another reason carbon monoxide detectors are so important.

Plus, if the Central Monitoring Station is instructed to do so beforehand, staff can even contact emergency professionals such as paramedics or the fire department directly and arrange for an emergency dispatch.

While standard carbon monoxide detectors save lives as well, a person needs to be able to hear the alarm in order to take action. Unfortunately, this is not helpful for people who are asleep or those who have been rendered drowsy or unconscious by carbon monoxide.

Carbon Monoxide Special: SafeTech will install carbon monoxide detectors in your home at 50% off our regular price until November 20 2014. *With purchase of standard 36 month monitoring agreement from $25.95 per month. Speak with a SafeTech Loss Prevention Expert for more details.

Halloween Security for Everyone

Halloween security is important. Halloween is a fun time filled with enjoyment and laughter. However, it can also be a time where criminals attempt to strike. One of the ways that criminals use Halloween to their advantage is that they utilize costumes in their crimes. Halloween is a time where wearing a mask or a disguise in public isn’t considered strange. Some people – like one man in Michigan – use this opportunity to break the law.

An armed man wearing a Halloween mask held up and robbed three gas stations in Berrien County, Michigan in the span of six hours. He stole an undisclosed amount of money from two of the gas stations, but left empty-handed from one station. This shows the importance of Halloween security.

While footage of the man was captured by cameras in at least one of the stations, the fact that he was wearing a mask makes him very difficult to identify.

This crime spree is an example of why Halloween security and being vigilant on and around Halloween is crucial. It’s generally a very fun time for nearly everyone, but that doesn’t mean that you should let your guard down. You need a Halloween security to protect yourself.

Tips for Halloween Security

One way to protect yourself and your property is to request that anyone entering your commercial property removes any masks they are wearing before entering. Post signs at the front of your store stating that you will not allow anyone wearing a mask to enter the property. This will drastically cut down on the number of people walking in with masks and make it much easier to identify people inside your location. This is a great Halloween security idea.

It’s also a good idea to have security guards on location. On Halloween, there are many more people out in the streets at night than there usually would be. This makes security guards incredibly important.

Halloween security guards can help keep your business safe and secure even if there are larger-than-usual crowds in the area. Halloween security guards can also stop criminals such as the man who robbed the gas stations in Michigan. If you have a “no masks allowed” sign on your front door and someone does not comply, a security guard will prevent this person from entering your business. Implementing good policies and using the presence of a security guard will keep your business secure over Halloween.

There is no substitute for physical security. For more information on security guards, please contact SafeTech Alarm Systems today and speak to one of our Loss Prevention Professionals about Halloween security.

Monitored Security Cameras Deter, Detect & Catch Thieves

Monitored security cameras are an important part of a home security system. A recent Toronto home invasion shows why. Toronto Police are searching for two suspects after a home in the North York area of Toronto was broken into and the residents were threatened and robbed.

The home invasion took place on October 8th, just after 4 am. Two men burst into a home in the Weston Road and Finch Avenue area. They threatened the residents with knives and guns and then stole jewellery and cell phones from the property.

Police officers spotted a vehicle leaving the home, but the suspects managed to get away. One person in the home suffered minor injuries, but thankfully no one in the home was seriously hurt.

A home invasion is a terrifying situation to be involved in. Thankfully, having additional security tools – such as monitored security cameras – installed in your home can prevent home invasions and keep you safe.

In addition to monitored security cameras, physical security tools such as window bars and security gates on doors can reduce the likelihood of a home invasion. So can reinforced doors, dead bolt locks and interlocking doors. In addition to physical security, having a monitored alarm system and monitored security cameras installed is crucial.

The Importance of Monitored Security Cameras

Installing security cameras is important. These cameras are connected to a central monitoring station, which provides extra protection and additional peace of mind. The video footage recorded by monitored security cameras can even be used to identify criminals and prosecute them for their crimes.

Monitored security cameras are watched over at all times by trained staff. When a trouble condition is spotted, the central staff can take steps to resolve the situation. They can view live and pre-recorded video to determine what is taking place at the home. They can even contact the authorities directly and explain the situation to them. This ensures that the police will arrive quickly, since they’ll know that an active crime is taking place.

Protecting your home with a centrally-monitored alarm system and security cameras is a proven way to deter criminals from striking, as they know that the alarm and cameras are likely to catch them in the act and make escaping without being identified significantly more difficult. For more information on monitoring services, monitored security cameras and to find out how to best protect yourself, family and property, please contact SafeTech today.

Event Security Advantages: More than $50,000 stolen from a Wedding Reception

Event security is very important so here are some event security advantages to keep in mind. For an example that shows why, consider what happened on Saturday October 4. On that day Paul Peragine married his fiancée Pamela. The newly-married couple threw a big reception at an events venue in Woodbridge, Ontario. However, at the end of the night they realized that a box holding cards and gifts from their friends and family had been stolen. They did not have any event security guards on hand.

The family believes the box contained about $50,000, mostly in cash.

According to the family, a man at the reception offered to help clean up following the party. He is suspected of stealing the cash.

“Just because he was so comfortable helping us and stuff, we assumed that he was part of staff,” said Joey Peragine, brother of the groom. “The next thing we knew, he was nowhere to be found and the cards with all the money were gone too.”

Security footage from the venue shows a man wearing a hoodie and jeans popping in and out of doorways and later signalling to someone. Family members say that he had asked the family where boxes and bouquets of flowers should go while he was “helping” them. It’s now believed that the man was asking questions to find out more information about where the gifts and cash were located.

Event security could have prevented the situation by keeping an eye on all guests in attendance.

“At large weddings, there’s a lot of people going in and out not everyone knows each other,” said York Regional Police Constable Laura Nicole. “Some criminals see that as an opportunity to blend in and potentially steal a large quantity of cash like in this case.”

This unfortunate situation shows the event security advantages and importance of having security guards at your wedding. When there are hundreds of people in attendance, it can be very difficult to keep track of who’s who and to properly identify everyone. It can also be difficult to keep an eye on all of the valuables and gifts.

Why You Should Have Event Security at Your Wedding

Event security guards can ensure that your gifts and other valuables are safe and protected at all times. They can also make sure that those who are not authorized to attend the reception are not allowed to enter the room.

A trained event security guard can work with you to create a detailed security plan for your event. Guards always dress and act appropriately to blend into your event while still maintaining an authoritative presence. For example, at a wedding we can deploy an event security team made up of a low-profile individuals dressed in blazers and dress pants to keep an eye on guests and valuables.

These are few event security advantages to keep you safe. For more information on event security guards or for assistance in creating a security plan for your wedding or other event, please contact SafeTech today.

Security Technology: A High Tech Pen Could Help Police Fight Crime

A new type of security technology called the TRACE Pen makes it easier for police to identify valuables stolen in a robbery.

The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) is touting the benefits of this new piece of security technology that makes it easier to identify the owners of stolen items. Individuals can use the pen to mark items with a unique set of numbers that can only be read under black light by a magnifying camera. Once a person uses the pen to mark personal items, he or she can then keep a log of these items and their unique numbers in a database. This database is accessible only by the property owner and the police.

Using this method of number identification, stolen property recovered by police & law enforcement officials can be returned to its rightful owners.

The TRACE Pen security technology works by applying an adhesive to an item when it is used. The adhesive contains phosphorous (which allows it to be visible with a black light) and thousands of microscopic plastic discs that are etched with a unique number. This number is permanently linked to the property owner. The high tech pen is new to the market and it can be used to mark up to 50 items.

Using Security Technology to Prevent Crime

In 2013, there were more than one million incidents of property crime reported to police in Canada and the majority of those incidents were break-and-enters. OACP is hopeful that the pen will be a valuable piece of security technology and that it will reduce the rate of breaking and entering and property theft since marking items will make them less desirable for resale. OACP is encouraging pawn shops to use black lights to detect items marked with the high tech pen and refuse to buy and sell them. The company that makes the TRACE High Tech Pen security technology has already provided black lights to many pawn shops and second-hand stores.

The pen is just one of the ways that you can protect your home and your valuables. Other forms of security technology are also important. A monitored alarm system installed on your property along with video surveillance cameras and other physical security barriers will deter criminals and make it more likely that they will be caught and made to pay for their crimes.

For a detailed analysis of what you can do to protect your home and your valuables and how additional security technology can help you, please contact SafeTech at 416-229-9902 for a Free Risk Assessment. A member of our knowledgeable loss prevention team can work with you to help you secure your home.

How to Prevent Thieves from Stealing your PIN Code

It’s important to stay up-to-date with current security safety tips. Unfortunately, criminals always seem to come up with new ways to commit crimes. There is a new technique that is becoming pretty popular and, shockingly, this technique makes it pretty easy to steal an ATM PIN code using only an iPhone.

Thieves are using a new iPhone attachment that displays infrared, which allows thieves to “see” the temperature of things. To steal a PIN code, a criminal waits behind you in line. When you make a debit or credit transaction, your last step is usually inputting your PIN. Once you’ve done this and stepped away from the keypad, the criminal steps forward, points his or her phone at the keypad and uses the infrared viewer to see the last PIN that was typed in. It works by displaying the heat that was generated by your body as you touched the keys, so that means one of the most common security tips – shielding the key pad when you type in your PIN – won’t help.

A study on this technique showed that people using an infrared device were able to figure out their victims’ PIN code 80% of the time if the image was taken right after the code was entered.

This technique can work for more than just PIN codes in stores and on ATM keypads. It can also be used on cars and door entry systems that use a keypad and PIN. You will need to be aware of this crime and use security tips in order to prevent it from happening to you.

The Security Safety Tips That Will Keep Your PIN Safe

So what security safety tips can you use to you protect yourself from this crime?

One piece of good news is that this technique doesn’t work on metal keypads. Another piece of good news is that you can protect yourself by simply resting your fingers on other keys of the keypad while entering your code. By resting your fingers on other numbers (but not pressing them) it’s possible to fool the infrared camera. It won’t be able to tell the difference between the heat left behind on the keys pressed and the heat that remains on the keys that you simply rested your fingers on.

This is just one of the security safety tips that you should keep in mind.

This latest crime technique shows how important it is that you are always aware of your actions and surroundings when you are in public. This is especially true while handling financial matters. Criminals are always looking for new ways to steal PIN codes and other financial information, thus so it’s important that you remain diligent and on top of the latest criminal techniques.

Hamilton Gun Store Robbery Video Footage Released

Video surveillance camera footage shows shocking crime and the effectiveness of alarm systems and security tools.

A Hamilton gun store was robbed when three men drove a stolen car through the front window of the property. Surveillance camera footage recently released by Hamilton Police shows the suspects driving the vehicle directly through the front window of the store at around 1am on March 10, 2014. Police released the surveillance camera footage on Wednesday September 17 in hopes that it would lead to tips from the public that would identify the criminals.

After driving the car through the window, the three men are seen stealing three shotguns from the store. However, the suspects ditched the guns in a nearby alley and they were later recovered by police. Police believe that the alarms set off in the store may have scared the suspects into dumping the weapons.

This situation shows the power of alarm systems and surveillance camera footage. The alarm system managed to scare the criminals into abandoning the stolen weapons, which is incredibly important for public safety.

“Who knows what could have a happened with these guns in the wrong hands?” said Staff-Insp. Emidio Evangelista. “We want to catch these guys.”

How a Surveillance Camera Protects your Business

It also shows how a surveillance camera can be utilized by police to investigate crimes and identify criminals. Having a video surveillance set-up at your business can provide police with crucial details regarding a crime and those who committed it.

This crime also demonstrates the importance of physical security tools. Security bars and gates drastically reduce the likelihood of a break-in. They can be installed on the interior or exterior of a business property and can help prevent “smash and grab” robberies by putting a physical barrier between the criminals and the inside of your property.

Reinforced doors and doorframes are also excellent physical tools that make it significantly more difficult for criminals to break into a location. They work well when combined with a surveillance camera set up. Door and door frame interlocking systems not only reinforce your door frames, but also interconnect the doors and the frame when a door is shut and locked. This greatly improves security and makes smash and grab robberies significantly less likely.

For more information on how physical security tools can work in conjunction with your existing alarm systems and surveillance camera systems, please contact a SafeTech loss prevention expert today.