Newsletter Archive

Reinforced Door Frames Keep Criminals Out

Why should your home or business have reinforced door frames? When people think of security services, their minds typically jump to alarm systems, surveillance cameras and security guards. All of these security services are important and they should all be a part of your home or business security set-up. However, it’s also crucial that you don’t overlook physical security tools. Physical security tools such as reinforced door frames prevent access to a property and make break-ins significantly less likely.

One physical security tool that should be installed in every home and business is reinforced doors and reinforced door frames.

One of the main ways that criminals break into properties is by forcing their way in. Many break-ins are “smash and grab” robberies where criminals use force to get into a property and steal as much as they can before the authorities arrive. Even properties that have strong doors with dead bolts installed and locked can become victims of smash and grab robberies. Reinforced door frames are needed to improve security.

Remember that a physical security set-up is only as strong as its weakest link. In many homes and businesses, the door frames are a weak link. Criminals take advantage of weak door frames to break doors from their hinges and gain access to a property.

How Reinforced Door Frames Stop Crime

When you have reinforced door frames installed, you prevent criminals from easily tampering with or damaging your doors and door frames. In fact, you can even install door and door frame interlocking systems that not only reinforce your door frame, but also allow you to interconnect the door and the frame when the door is shut and locked. This greatly improves the security at your home or business since it makes it significantly more difficult to break through a door and gain access to a property.

Interconnected reinforced frames prevent the door frame from splitting or being removed from the frame. This greatly improves their effectiveness and makes properties that have reinforced door frames much more difficult to break into.

Interlocking reinforced door frames can be installed on any existing door, making this a convenient yet powerful way to protect yourself, your property and your family. The hinges, locks and dead bolts do not have to be replaced, which makes installation fast and efficient. It also means that the interconnected reinforced door frames cannot be seen with the door closed, so the look of your home or business is not affected.

The loss prevention team at SafeTech Alarm Systems can help you secure your home or business property. For more information on reinforced door frames and other physical security solutions, please contact us today and speak with a SafeTech loss prevention expert.

Smoke Monitoring & Fire Alarm Monitoring for your Home

It’s now easier than ever to add fire alarm monitoring and smoke monitoring to your entire house. You can now monitor all of the smoke detectors in your home with just one convenient device – FireFighter™. This device makes this type monitoring convenient, which makes your home safer. Fires and smoke can damage properties and even kill. With this service, fires are detected and responded to in a faster and more effective manner.

With a traditional smoke detector, if no one is home to hear it sound, your home could burn in a fire without anyone knowing until it is too late. However, with fire alarm monitoring and smoke monitoring from this new device, our monitoring station is notified as soon as a fire is detected. Our monitoring station can then contact you or the authorities directly, sending help much more quickly. This is a huge advantage that this system provides.

The FireFighter™ Provides Smoke Monitoring

In the past, smoke monitoring was often difficult. It was sometimes complicated or costly to install several monitored smoke detectors in a home. This is no longer the case. Smoke detector monitoring is now easy and convenient. The FireFighter™ can monitor ALL of the interconnected UL smoke detectors in your home with just one device. This makes your interconnected smoke detectors more effective than ever and provides your home with smoke monitoring services that could save your life.

Only one device needs to be installed near one of your interconnected smoke detectors. This device listens to the unique sounds of your smoke detector and provides your home with full household fire and smoke monitoring. When a smoke alarm sounds, the device sends a notification to the security panel right away.

This reduces response times and potentially saves your property, your pets, your valuables and maybe even your life. This is the easiest and most cost-effective way to add fire alarm and smoke monitoring to your alarm system. However, it will only work with certain alarm systems, so call a SafeTech Loss Prevention Specialist for more information on how smoke monitoring can work in your home.

SafeTech Home Security Tips

Home security is important. Why? Because criminals look for easy targets. They want to strike locations that look unprotected and easy to break into. In order to deter criminals and prevent your home from turning into a crime scene, you can apply safetech home security tips and tactics your property. Home security tips can be used to show criminals that it’s not worth breaking into your home making it more likely that they’ll move on, leaving your house untouched.

“I’ve seen a lot of break-ins,” said Inspector Chris Rheaume, of the Ottawa Police Services while speaking to TD Insurance’s “The Smart Life” newsletter.

“A lot of times, these break-ins were preventable.”

So how can home security keep your home safe and prevent these crimes? What can you do? Here are three important points to follow.

How Home Security Tips Can Protect You

Here are a few great home security tips.

1. Cut curb appeal for thieves

As mentioned, criminals want an easy break-in. They want to find a home that provides them with as little resistance as possible and they want to operate where they won’t be spotted.

Home security tips are used to make your home less attractive to criminals. To do so, make it hard for thieves to hide. Placing lighting around your property and cut trees and hedges so that all entry points can easily be seen. A criminal won’t want to be spotted and he or she will likely move on from your property.

“A broken light on the front or back porch or tall hedges around your house make it easy for a thief to break in without anyone noticing,” says Rheaume.

Another aspect of home security is making it look like someone is always home. Even if you’re only going to be away for a short period of time, set your lights on timers to fool criminals. If you’re going to be away for a longer timeframe, arrange to have your mail picked up, your grass cut and your snow shoveled.

You can also help with home security by not making big purchases visible. When you buy an expensive television or computer, don’t leave the boxes on the curb where everyone can see them. This just invites criminals to your home. Instead, break down the boxes or return them to the store if possible.

2. Make breaking in more difficult

“Unfortunately, it isn’t possible to stop all thieves – especially if they have time to get in – but you can make it harder for them,” says Rheaume. “And that could save you from being robbed.”

A key part of SafeTech home security tips is having an alarm system that makes noise. You want to alert as many people as possible to a potential crime. This will likely scare the criminal off. Having your alarm watched over by a central monitoring station is an even stronger crime deterrent. When you are protected by alarm system monitoring, criminals know that the authorities will be on their way soon after the alarm sounds. They won’t want to take that risk.

Make sure that all of your exterior doors are solid and that all door hinges are on the inside of the house, where criminals can’t easily tamper with them. You’ll also want to make sure that the gap between the door and the doorframe is sealed. This makes it much more difficult for a criminal to pry the door with a crowbar or other weapon. As for the locks on your doors, invest in some good-quality dead bolts and insure that they are properly installed.

Remember to secure and lock all points of entry, including all windows (don’t forget basement windows!), pet doors and your garage. This is a big part of home security!

3. Secure your valuables

Criminals want to get in and out of a home quickly. Placing your valuables out in the open makes this easy for them. To reduce the likelihood of a break-in and improve your home security, close your curtains and blinds to keep criminals from seeing your possessions through the windows. Make sure to keep cash, wallets, credit cards, purses and jewellery out of sight. Place your most valuable items in a safely deposit box or a safe.

Keep records of serial numbers on items that have them (such as bikes) and engrave expensive items with identifiable marks. This will decrease their resell value on the black market and therefore reduce the likelihood of them being stolen.

For more information on SafeTech home security tips and preventing crime at home, contact us. You might also speak to your local police department about home security. Some police departments run crime prevention services that can help you out. You can also contact the loss prevention professionals at SafeTech Alarm Systems for a free risk assessment of your property in order to improve the home security situation at your property.

Security Window Film Prevents Robber’s Escape and Police “Catch A Thief” in the Act

Security cameras are incredibly important parts of any business security system. They are so important because they catch criminals in the act of committing a crime. When combined with other security tools – such as security window film – they help keep businesses safe and secure and prevent theft, damage, vandalism and other crimes. A perfect example of this is a situation that recently took place in Utah.

A man broke into a jewellery store in Sandy, Utah on February 12, 2014. He broke into the building that housed the store, then climbed into the ceiling and made his way into the jewellery store where he dropped down from the ceiling. The break-in and the criminal scouting the location were all captured by video surveillance cameras. The footage shows the man inside the store trying to break the glass jewellery cases. It shows him managing to open a case and removing several watches from it.

How Security Window Film Trapped this Criminal

The store’s security alarms sounded due to the break-in and police were dispatched to the scene. At this point, the criminal tried to escape the store. He was unable to leave the store the way he came in, so he attempted to escape by breaking through the windows and doors of the store. However, the windows and doors were all covered in transparent security window film made by 3M and he wasn’t able to escape before the police arrived. The security window film was so strong that it trapped him inside. He was arrested by police and is now facing felony burglary charges.

The building’s security cameras, alarm system and security window film worked together in perfect harmony to apprehend a thief and prevent the criminal from leaving the scene with any merchandise. Ultimately, saving this jewellery store a great deal of money!

The business had been broken into several years prior, before the security features (such as the security window film) were installed and at that time the thief got away with approximately $75,000 worth of merchandise. It was this loss that prompted the store owner to install the new security features. As you can see, these security options (such as the security window film) helped save the day!

“This business was prepared and this individual got caught, which was a good thing”, said Sgt. Jon Arnold of the Sandy Police Department.

Monitored Alarm systems, surveillance cameras, security window film, bars and gates and strong doors and locks work more effectively to prevent crime when combined. SafeTech offers all of these different security tools and more to deter thieves and prevent property loss. Our experienced Loss Prevention Specialists understand how to strategically combine these different security tools in order to achieve the lowest rate of loss possible and keep your property safe.

Call a SafeTech Loss Prevention Specialist for a free security risk assessment @416-229-9902 or to inquire about any security tools such as security window film.

SafeTech Loss Prevention Expert for more details.

A Monitored Carbon Monoxide Detector Can Save Your Life

Having a monitored carbon monoxide detector in your home is incredibly important. In fact, having one installed can save your life.

In a tragic carbon monoxide poisoning situation that took place recently in Brampton, three people were killed and two others were hospitalized. The family’s furnace had broken and they were using propane heaters to heat their home. This led to a high concentration of carbon monoxide inside the property. The family did have a working carbon monoxide detector in the house, but it was located in the basement. The three family members who were killed by the gas were sleeping on the third floor. They were unable to respond to the signal from the carbon monoxide detector in the basement. In addition, another carbon monoxide detector that was installed on the main floor of the home was faulty and not functioning at the time of the tragedy.

It is important to ensure that working carbon monoxide detectors are installed on every level of a home and especially outside all sleeping areas. A monitored carbon monoxide detector are watched over by a central monitoring station at all times. In the event of an emergency situation, the central station can contact the homeowners and alert them of the situation. This provides 24-7 protection and saves lives.

Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odorless and tasteless gas that is toxic to humans at high concentrations. Unfortunately, the properties of the gas make it difficult to detect until it is too late. Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs when a person inhales high amounts of carbon monoxide. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include dizziness, confusion, headaches and more severe symptoms such as central nervous system problems, heart issues and even death. Hundreds of Canadians are killed or suffer serious injury each year due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Having a monitored carbon monoxide detector installed can protect you and potentially save your life.

Using a Monitored Carbon Monoxide Detector Effectively

A monitored carbon monoxide detector can alert you if there are high levels of carbon monoxide in your home, giving you the chance to escape before serious harm is done. When you have a monitored carbon monoxide detector installed, the central station telephones the home when high levels of carbon monoxide are detected. This alerts everyone in the property, even those who are not located on the same floor as the alarm.

Installing a monitored carbon monoxide detector is very important since many people who are killed by carbon monoxide poisoning die in their sleep without knowing that there are toxic levels of carbon monoxide present. When you have a monitored carbon monoxide detector installed, you can be sure that you will be alerted by the central monitoring station when there are potentially toxic levels of carbon monoxide in your house. A monitored carbon monoxide detector can save your life.

Special: SafeTech will install a carbon monoxide detector in your home for FREE with the purchase of any monitored alarm system*.

*With purchase of standard 36 month monitoring agreement from $25.95 per month. Speak with a SafeTech Loss Prevention Expert for more details.

Medical Alarms: Protect Yourself & Have Peace of Mind

How can medical alarms protect you?

The long winter is finally coming to an end, and that means that more and more people are starting to venture into their backyards, gardens and porches. They are also generally becoming more active and enjoying the warmer weather. However, a more active lifestyle can be scary for seniors as well as worrying for their loved ones.

Unfortunately, many seniors are afraid to step into their backyard or head out to the garage to look for tools or other possessions. This is because they worry about slips, falls and medical emergencies that could take place. These fears often leave seniors confined to their homes and, in some cases, even too worried to step into the bathtub or shower or to walk up or down stairs by themselves.

Thankfully, personal medical alarms can solve many of these issues. Personal medical alarms are emergency systems that provide immediate two-way voice contact with a central monitoring station. Having medical alarms in your home means that you are never more than a button press away from help. These devices allow senior citizens to live their daily lives without worry since they know that they are being safeguarded 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

How Personal Medical Alarms Help

Personal medical alarms also give family members and loved ones peace of mind. Many people worry about an elderly relative or friend. They fret about leaving them at home alone due to the fear of something happening to them. With medical alarms and their pendants, this worry is gone. If there is an emergency, a simple button press is all it takes to be connected with a ‘Live operator’.

Personal medical alarms from SafeTech offer the best range in the industry. This means that they can communicate with the central station when they are many hundreds of feet away from the base station. This feature allows them to provide coverage throughout the average house as well as into the front, back and side yards. You won’t have to be confined to your home any longer!

Personal medical alarms are also water-resistant, so they can be taken into the shower, where serious accidents can happen.

Spring Special: SafeTech will provide you or a loved one with a medical alarms in the form of a personal emergency response system and 24/7 medical alert monitoring at no charge*.

*With purchase of 12 months medical alarm monitoring agreement at $29.95 per month. Speak with a SafeTech Representative for more details.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors and Winter Safety & Security

Protect yourself and your family from carbon monoxide with carbon monoxide detectors. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and tasteless gas and it can become a silent killer very quickly. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, weakness, and confusion. Severe cases can result in serious injury or death. This is why carbon monoxide detectors are so important. In winter, the cold temperatures, early sunset and unpredictable weather can provide a number of different safety challenges. Here are a few tips that should help keep you safe and happy during the winter months.

During the recent ice storm and power outage, carbon monoxide poisoning was blamed several deaths. These deaths could have been prevented with carbon monoxide detectors. In one case, two Ontario residents died when carbon monoxide fumes from a generator running in a garage got into their home. In another situation, a family of four in Toronto were rushed to hospital after contracting carbon monoxide poisoning. The gas apparently came from the family burning coal inside to stay warm. Many others were also taken to hospital with signs of carbon monoxide poisoning during the storm. Toronto officials said that emergency services received six times more carbon monoxide poisoning calls a day during the storm than they typically receive.

How Carbon Monoxide Detectors Save Lives

Carbon monoxide detectors can be used to detect carbon monoxide in a home. Make sure that your carbon monoxide detector is equipped with back-up power in case of a power outage and be sure to test it regularly. If your detector sounds, leave your home immediately. In addition tocarbon monoxide detectors, there are other things you can do to protect yourself. It is important to keep grills, camp stoves and generators out of your home, basement and garage when you are running them. Do not use these devices in enclosed spaces even if you leave the door open.

You need to ensure that all such equipment is more than 25 feet away from your house at all times when it is running. Fire safety is also very important. Make sure that you use wood-burning stoves, fireplaces and heaters safely during the winter. Ensure that these devices are regularly checked and do not use any heating equipment that appears damaged in any way. Keep space heaters away from furniture, drapes, bedding, clothes, paper and other hazards. Place heaters on a stable, level surface and make sure to never leave them unattended. During the winter, you don’t just have to worry about fire safety and carbon monoxide detectors. Winter is also a peak time for break-ins and burglaries. Criminals take advantage of the longer nights to operate under the cover of darkness.

Having a proper alarm system is one of the keys to preventing winter break-ins. You can give your home additional protection by installing motion-activated lighting on your properly. These lights turn on whenever someone approaches your home, which ensures that criminals aren’t able to work in darkness. This deters them from striking. By following a few important tips and guidelines, you can ensure that you, your family and your home stay safe during the winter. Remember the importance of carbon monoxide detectors all year round, not just in the winter.

Alarm Systems Technology to Prevent Home Invasions

Alarm systems technology save lives. They also keep you, your property and your loved ones safe. Installing alarm systems and other types of security technology in your home is the key to safety and security.

Unfortunately, homes that do not have alarm systems technology installed can become targets. On Saturday January 11, a home invasion took place in Toronto. The crime happened around 10:30pm, near Midland and McNicoll avenues. Several men with guns entered a home forcefully and stole a number of items including computers and cash. An 80-year-old woman was home at the time but she was unhurt in the home invasion. Toronto Police are currently looking for as many as seven suspects in the crime.

This shows home important alarm systems are.

Another home invasion took place on January 19 in Calgary. Two men forced their way into a woman’s home, held a machete to her throat and stole a number of items. The woman was not injured and she later called police to report the crime. Calgary Police arrested a “suspicious man” a short while later. They found a machete nearby under a vehicle.

A home invasion is an incredibly terrifying crime. Your home is supposed to be your sanctuary and a safe place for you and your family. When someone forcefully enters your home, it is very scary and unsettling. Not only could the people entering your home physically harm you, but a home invasion also destroys your feelings of safety and security. Alarm systems keep you safe and secure and provide peace of mind.

Using Alarm Systems to Prevent Crime

Thankfully, you can help protect and secure your home with alarm systems technology, better window and door locks, encasing locks in steel, reinforcing door frames with steel plates and home alarm monitoring. By properly combining different security tools along with your alarm systems technology and by adding barriers to entry, you can improve the level of protection at your house.

Combining different security tools with alarm systems provides additional safety.

For example, by installing bars or gates on your windows or iron/steel screens on your doors you will improve the physical security of your house and make it much more difficult for criminals to break into it.

The Advantages of Monitored Alarm Systems

Monitored alarm systems can provide an additional layer of protection. If a crime does take place, the staff at the monitoring station will know about it almost immediately. They can then contact the appropriate authorities to investigate the crime and send the police to your home. Having additional security tools such as monitored alarm systems installed on your property greatly decreases the likelihood of a crime taking place and ensures that the authorities are notified and can come to your aid if a crime does occur.

In addition to alarm systems, a wireless panic button can also help you in the event of a home invasion. These tools make it easy for you to activate an audible or silent alarm as soon as an intruder or threat is encountered. This is a fast and convenient way to call for help in an emergency. You can even install alarm systems that utilize an outdoor siren or strobe to notify the entire neighbourhood of a crime in progress.

SafeTech Alarm Systems is currently offering free, no obligation consultations and free security risk assessments. By speaking with our team of experienced loss prevention professionals, you can find out what security weaknesses may be present in your home and learn how to eliminate these weaknesses with a variety of different alarm systems, security tools and solutions. If you have any questions regarding home security or if you would like to speak directly to our loss prevention team, please contact SafeTech Alarm Systems today.