All right, you’ve purchased an alarm system, you’ve set it up around your home just the way you want it, everything is turned on and working properly, and you’ve established a healthy security routine. What’s next? Read more
Home security systems are a good solution for the elderly, especially those who are staying at home or moving into an independent living area on your property. In many ways, today’s smart security systems are even more advantageous for the elderly than they are for busy families. Here are some of the most important benefits that your older family members can appreciate in their security systems. Read more
When homeowners think about security systems or devices, they usually think about what those systems can protect — their homes, their valuables, and their safety. Sure, that is the main function of a security setup, but there are a lot of additional benefits you may not know about. Here are the other perks when installing a new system. Read more
These days, many parents feel that technology is their worst enemy when it comes to parenting their kids. But when it comes to the home security system, parents have an opportunity to make technology work in their favor. Here are some ways your home security system can be your “best friend” (or at the very least, an ally) for parenting teenagers.
Teenagers love gadgets, and not just because they’re fun to play with. Many times, teens are also motivated to use technology by the feeling of empowerment that comes with learning a new gadget.
For that reason, learning how to operate the wall panel of the home security system can do this for them. And if you have upgraded to home control, they can gain even more confidence by learning how to secure your home from their smartphone. See what we mean by making technology your friend?
Unfortunately, being a teenager is not synonymous with having great judgment. You may think your child would never let a threatening person in the house – but remember, not all threats appear that way at first. Even if you aren’t concerned that your teen is at risk of letting a dangerous individual into your home, it’s important to teach them about the duress code on your system. By entering that four-digit code, he or she can silently activate this panic alert the moment a visit inside the home becomes threatening. And if the intruder demands for the system to be disarmed, your teen can claim to be disarming the system with the phone while actually entering the duress code, secretly sending a signal to the monitoring center.
If you own a home security system, then teaching your teens how to operate it and use it to their advantage should be a regular part of family life. Just by investing in a home security system, you’ve already done the “hard” part; showing them how to use it can actually be the fun part. You may be impressed by how eager your teen is to learn about operating the system, especially if they are interested enough to ask questions. Teaching your teen about home security tools is one more way to help them become well-informed, streetwise adults.
Since 1967, Boyd & Associates has been providing total security for homes, businesses, and communities of every size and type. We combine advanced systems, responsive service and rigorously trained security teams to create a strong, nimble and formidable force that deters, detects and responds – for total security.
While your home is being renovated, you have contractors and suppliers coming and going, which means your home is frequently unsecured. Is it being exposed to potential theft and vandalism? Even a minor renovation project such as, replacing a roof or adding a backyard patio, can increase your risk of exposure.
A home under renovation can be a gold mine to potential burglars! It is not just your personal property that burglars are interested in. Renovation sites have construction materials and tools that are very attractive too.
There are things you can do to protect your home, the job site, and any materials or tools so that your project does not end up costing you more than the labor itself.
By taking the proper steps, you can protect your home while it is being renovated – whether you are occupying the home or not. This includes:
Contact your local Ventura alarm company and security experts for more tips on how you can protect a home renovation site. Our Southern California home security company offers no obligation consultations. We can come out to your home and recommend the right security products.
A groundbreaking new study by a researcher at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte examines hundreds of convicted offenders to gain an unprecedented look inside the mind of a burglar, providing a remarkable insight into an intruder’s motivation and methods.
The survey, entitled “Understanding Decisions to Burglarize from the Offender’s Perspective,” was conducted by Dr. Joseph B. Kuhns of the university’s Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology. Funding was provided by the Alarm Industry Research and Educational Foundation (AIREF), which is the tax-exempt foundation that serves as the research arm for the electronic security industry with support from the Electronic Security Association (ESA).
According to the study, a majority of burglars considered the presence of deterrents such as alarms, outdoor cameras and other surveillance equipment when choosing a potential residential or commercial target. Approximately 83 percent of the offenders said they would attempt to determine if an alarm was present before attempting a burglary, and 60 percent said they would seek an alternative target. Among those who discovered the presence of an alarm while attempting a burglary, half reported they would discontinue the attempt, while another 31 percent said they would sometimes retreat. Only 13 percent said they would always continue the attempt even after an alarm had been discovered.
The presence of video surveillance was also an effective deterrent. Nearly 60 percent of the burglars said they would consider the presence of cameras or other video equipment when selecting a target and more than 40 percent said that would be a factor in prompting them to choose another target.
In addition to Kuhns at UNC Charlotte, other researchers are Dr. Kristie R. Blevins, Easter Kentucky University; and R. Seungmau “Zech” Lee, Western Illinois University. For more information and to read the study in its entirety, go to www.AIREF.org.
Boyd & Associates is a premier full-service security firm with more than 600 associates serving homeowners, businesses, and gated communities throughout Southern California. And while the company has changed since 1967, it continues to stay true to its roots of striving for excellence for its customers and setting the standard for service within the security industry.
While even basic digital cameras provide higher resolution than the images from the standard CCTV systems that are used to identify criminals and terrorists, high definition cameras take it one long stride forward. While old-fashioned surveillance camera systems were based on the transmission and recording of images from 30-50 years ago, it’s technically impossible for the video cable to process high-resolution images. The typical homeowner, however, is no longer stuck with those limitations today.
Modern digital technologies present new opportunities. There has been a huge emphasis on developing megapixel technology and transmitting video streams via modern computer networks in the past few years. Sending high-resolution images over the Internet is now easily possible. The process of recording, compressing, and storing the image sequences has been integrated into the cameras themselves. This gives high definition cameras a huge advantage over any other home security configuration.
One of the best advantages of the modern networked camera technology is the ability to access live and stored images while the camera is recording. With the right home security system, this can be done remotely over the network, from anywhere in the world. So any incident or suspicious behavior even neighborly hijinks – can be investigated without the need for someone on site or having to stop the recording to view the stored sequences.
In the past, video technology was limited by a low refresh rate that resulted in cloudy images during playback. As a result, criminals were not always prosecuted to the full extent of the law because facial recognition was not a positive match. These days, the low playback rate has been fully overcome with high definition cameras. Facial recognition with plenty of detail is possible – a fact that is great news for homeowners. Not only can they be certain who is entering their home and when, but they can review it from multiple cameras.
For more about high definition security cameras with 24/7 monitoring, call Boyd Security today to learn how we implement surveillance cameras to protect your family and your home.
The holidays are a time to enjoy family and take a relaxing break from work. They’re also a time to be vigilant about the increased chance of a household fire. Read through these fire safety tips and review them with your family so that everyone stays safe during the holiday season.
Candles are a hallmark of the winter holidays. As pretty as they are, however, candles are responsible for two out of every five home decoration fires. Never place a candle next to a flammable object such as holiday decorations, and always blow out lit candles when you are not in the room or when you go to bed.
Half of holiday decoration fires occur because the decorations are too close to a heat source. Shop for flame-resistant and flame-retardant decorations, and hang them far away from sources of heat such as the heating vent, fireplace, and lights.
To avoid a fire hazard, do not hang outdoor lights indoors, and vice versa. If you notice any loose bulb connections or a patch of cord that is worn or broken on your lights, replace them. Read the instructions provided with your lights to be sure that you aren’t stringing too many lights together. When hanging the lights, use clips rather than nails to avoid damaging the cords.
You should test your smoke alarms several times throughout the holiday season by pressing the built-in test button. If the smoke alarm chirps, it means it is running on low batteries that need to be replaced immediately.
Sometimes, following all of the advised fire safety tips is not enough to protect you from a fire. At Boyd & Associates, we offer advanced fire alarms that detect both heat and smoke and that alert us to call the local fire department on your behalf as soon as a fire is detected. Contact us today for a free consultation!
The massive Thomas fire, which has burned through Ventura County for over a week and entered Santa Barbara County over the weekend, has now scorched 234,200 acres and is 20% contained, fire officials said Tuesday.
So far, according to an LA Times article, 2.4 million gallons of water and 1.2 million gallons of fire retardant have been used to fight the Thomas fire, the fifth largest in state history.
Unfortunately, several of our alarm service customers have lost their homes in the recent destructive fires. Thankfully, to date, no one was hurt.
To help in the recovery process, Boyd & Associates will respond immediately and at no cost install a workable security system in their temporary quarters.
When the owners decide to rebuild the cost of a new alarm system should figure into the insurance settlement. This is an opportune time to upgrade and take advantage of the many improvements now available for home security systems. Closed circuit television, remote access and home automation are just some of the improvements available. An expert from Boyd & Associates will assist you.
Boyd & Associates will donate ten percent of the cost of the new alarm system to The American Red Cross. If you have any questions concerning this solution, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Since 1967 Boyd & Associates has built a strong reputation for being one of the best full-service security and alarm companies in Southern California. It is through our tireless pursuit of perfection and our unwavering commitment to the latest technologies that we have been able to exceed the expectations of industry leaders and homeowners throughout Southern California!
Enjoying the season of giving is what the winter holidays are all about. However, because thieves know that homes during the holidays are filled with gifts, it should also be a time of vigilance. Take these precautions to ensure that your home is protected from a holiday break-in this winter.
Always close and lock the doors and windows of your home if you’re leaving, even if just for a short trip. The garage door is also a popular entrance point for thieves, so keep it closed even when you’re home. Don’t forget to lock the door to the garage in the event that thieves gain access to the garage. Be sure to never leave a spare key outside the house—thieves know where to find them.
Automate your lights in and around your home and put them on a schedule (using your Alarm.com App) to come on at certain times, for example at sunset. This will serve as an excellent deterrent whether you are away from home for a brief period of time or out of town on vacation. If you leave town, have the mail and newspaper picked up by a neighbor or request to have it stopped. You may even want to hire a house sitter for extra protection.
Jewelry and other small objects of great value should be kept inside of a safe. If you don’t want to have a safe inside of the home, use your bank’s safety deposit box to keep items you don’t regularly need.
Nothing will deter a thief like a cutting-edge, professionally installed home security system. A high-quality system should include motion detection triggers, video surveillance, and central monitoring features.
Since 1967, Boyd & Associates has been providing total security for homes, businesses, and communities of every size and type. We combine advanced systems, responsive service and rigorously trained security teams to create a strong, nimble and formidable force that deters, detects and responds – for total security.
