Home Security System Review Awards

Home Security Systems Reviews – Who’s Hot, Who’s Not

Each year we review dozens of home security companies and some stand out above the rest while others trail behind. You’ll find the best home security companies for 2012 at the top of the list awarded accordingly with Gold, Silver and Bronze awards. This year’s home security systems reviews resulted in awarding FrontPoint Security as the top home security company. Click on the name of each home security company to view their full home security system review. To view the full 2012 Home Alarm Awards visit our homepage.

	FrontPoint Security – 1st Place FrontPoint Security has outstanding customer service, an excellent BBB Rating and a top of the line home alarm system with cellular monitoring. We ranked them the all-around best home security company that we reviewed. FrontPoint Security has an overwhelming amount of positive customer reviews. Home security system shoppers should give them a call and see why we ranked them as number one. Cellular Monitoring 30-Day Guarantee GE Equipment A Rating with the BBB
	Protect America – 2nd Place Coming in a close second place is Protect America. They earned their spot from their Free Equipment, competitive price matching and good BBB rating. Protect America pioneered the do-it-yourself home security system model and they have an extremely competitive offering. Call Protect America to learn more about their wireless home security systems and competitive price matching. Cellular Monitoring Free Equipment Price Match
	ADT Security – 3rd Place ADT Security is the largest home security company in the market servicing over 7 million customers. They have been in the home security systems market for over 130 years. They offer a vast array of services and have some great features with their ADT Pulse offering. Professional Installation Longest in Industry Honeywell Equipment
	Vivint – 4th Place Vivint was awarded 4th place this year due to their innovative home security and home automation systems. They have a world-class control panel and home automation features. If you are looking for a top-notch system with robust home automation capabilities then check out Vivint. Professional Installation Home Automation Touch Screen Control Panel
	LifeShield Security All around great company with a very high BBB Rating. They use their own equipment for the home security systems. LifeShield Security is a great alternative to the top rated home security companies. DIY Installation Proprietary Equipment Good BBB Rating
	Broadview Security Formerly known as Brinks but is now under the ADT umbrella. You’ll receive the same service and warranty as ADT Security. Broadview Security requires a professional installation service. ADT owned Professional Installation
	Guardian Protection Services Guardian has a great BBB rating and happy customer base. They mostly target new construction and offer many different services other than home security. You’ll have installation fees with Guardian as they require a professional installation. Great BBB Rating Professional Installation Good for New Construction Limited Geography
	Pinnacle Security Pinnacle Security uses GE equipment for their home security systems and requires a professional installation. A poor BBB rating kept them out of the top home alarm companies. Poor BBB Rating Professional Installation
	AlarmForce AlarmForce is based out of Canada and they have a large customer base. AlarmForce uses their own home security equipment. Canadian-based Proprietary Equipment
	Xfinity Home Xfinity Home or Comcast’s home security offering is new in 2012. It is broadband only and carries with it hefty installation and setup fees. We only recommend cellularhome security systems so Xfinity Home failed to make the best home security company list. Expensive Setup Fees Broadband Only Proprietary Equipment

Best Home Security System

This years award goes to FrontPoint Security for their friendly customer service, clear pricing and outstanding user reviews. FrontPoint is BBB Accredited and holds an A Rating. Congratulations FrontPoint Security for winning the 2012 Best Home Alarm Award!

Home Security Systems Reviews

Our home security systems reviews are not biased and are independently conducted. There are a lot of factors that go into awarding a company for a combination of the best home security system and best home security company. Dozens of home security companies are reviewed and ranked each year. The best home security companies stand out and receive awards.

Home Alarm Systems Reviews

Our goal and BestHomeAlarmSystemsHQ.com is to provide you with unbiased home alarm systems reviews that not only save you time when conducting your research but provides you the insight you need to purchase the best home security system for your family. We review both the home securitycompany as well as their home security system. It’s a complete package since you each securitycompany includes monitoring we look at every aspect of the company like customer service, equipment, pricing, technology, monitoring plans and warranties.

Home Security System Review Awards

During the review process our editors rank the home security companies and their systems on many factors. In the process of ranking them several home security companies stood out in various areas.

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Home Security Systems: What to Look For

Home Security Systems: What to Look For

All home security systems have the same objective of safeguarding your family and home from various threats. However, the type of services and security devices these systems are equipped with can vary, and some systems may be more apt for your home than others. We used the following rating criteria to determine the best home security systems, and we recommend that you keep them in mind when you search for the perfect security system for your home.

Monitoring Services
Home alarm systems come with a variety of services that enable constant and versatile monitoring. These include 24-hour monitoring, home automation services and an online account that allows you to manage your system on the web. Some systems also have remote monitoring from your smartphone or tablet and a two-way intercom that allows you to communicate with the security company through an installed control panel.

Security Devices
A home security system should entail more than just an alarm to detect unauthorized entry; it should include a wide spectrum of security devices that monitor all facets of your home. The brain of a home surveillance system is a control panel, which essentially runs all the peripheral security devices on the system and wirelessly transmits information (including when a device is triggered) to the security company.

You can connect multiple security devices to your system, including motion sensors to detect intruders when you’re gone, smoke detectors to protect you from fires, and door and window sensors to prevent unwanted entry into your home. There are a number of other devices available to protect your family and possessions, including temperature sensors, carbon monoxide detectors, security cameras and glass-break sensors. Many of these devices are wireless, so they are easy to install and don’t require any hardwiring to connect to your security system.

Aside from residential security systems, many companies also provide surveillance systems for businesses and customizable systems that allow you to build a system tailored for your specific security needs.

Help & Support
A home security system is an important and sensitive purchase. Therefore, it should be accompanied with comprehensive customer support options to make both installation and use of your system as simple and effective as possible. Available support options security companies should offer include online tutorials, FAQs and a minimum one-year warranty on security devices. The company should also include several channels for contacting support representatives, including email, telephone and live chat.

Some of the companies in our lineup provide wireless security systems that you install yourself, while others have trained technicians that provide installation. Regardless of which type of system you choose, a home surveillance system provides professional monitoring of a wide array of potential threats. This around-the-clock protection can give you and your family elusive and much-needed peace of mind.

Via: www.weontech.com

Keep your home safe

How to boost your home security

Windows open to catch a breeze. Doors unlocked while you work in the garden. Wallets, purses, and other valuables left in plain sight. All those things make summer the peak season for home break-ins. Here are some simple, inexpensive ways to keep burglars at bay during the summer and year-round.

Kickproof your doors. Many burglars kick in doors to get in. But unless your door is hollow, the door is not what's allowing burglars easy entry. We tested solid-wood, fiberglass, and steel doors with increasingly hard blows from a battering ram and found little difference among the door materials. All eventually failed because the doorjamb split near the lock's strike plate. You can strengthen any exterior door by using a 1-inch-long deadbolt lock and a reinforced metal box strike. The latter cost about $10. Use 3-inch-long screws to mount them so they lodge in the framing beyond the doorjamb. And don't overlook the door that leads into your house from the garage. For more information on entry doors, read our buying advice.

Choose the right locks. About two- thirds of the keyed door locks we tested managed to withstand our kick-in test; others needed a reinforced strike plate. The Weslock 671 ($45) and Emteck Low Profile 8455 ($36) were CR Best Buys among keyed locks. High-security locks from Medeco, which cost about $175, also resisted drilling and picking. (See our Ratings of door locks, available to subscribers.) Remember to use a pull-apart key chain so your home keys stay with you when your car is valet-parked or serviced. (Learn about two interesting products from Kwikset, the SmartScan and SmartKey door locks.)

Secure glass areas. Security or safety window film can resist blows of up 400 foot-pounds, according to manufacturer claims. 3M's 28-ply Ultra Safety and Security Clear Window Film costs $7 to $9 per square foot or about $105 to $135 for a 3x5-foot window. It should be installed by a pro, which will add to the cost.

Beef up existing window locks by inserting removable eyebolts in holes drilled into the sash where they overlap, or by adding locking scissor gates or fixed metal grilles. Finally, secure window air conditioners with sturdy screws through wood or metal framing elements so burglars can't push them in. In all cases, check that added barriers won't violate fire-safety codes or manufacturer warranties.

Keep it bright. Illuminate areas around doors, windows, and blind spots. Install lights high upon exterior walls so they can't easily be disabled. Our tests have found that solar-powered lights are too dim to provide enough light for security. But easy-to-install, low-voltage light systems and pro-installed,120-volt lights can be connected to motion detectors and whole-house security systems. Compact fluorescent lightbulbs made for outdoor use saved energy and outlasted regular bulbs in our tests, so you won't have to change them as often. But they take longer to reach full brightness and they don't all work with motion- or light-activated fixtures, so check the package.

Landscape wisely. Tall foundation plants or high fences can provide cover for criminals. Trim tree branches that might provide access to windows, roof, or skylights. Gravel beds around the house make it easier to hear anyone lurking outside. For more landscaping and yard-care information, see our Complete Lawn & Yard Guide.

Organize your neighbors. A neighborhood watch won't cost you anything but some time. For tips, go to the National Crime Prevention Council's Web site. Staying connected is simple. Create an e-mail list or a free wiki system at www.pbwiki.com or www.mindtouch.com. You can also use these tools to coordinate agendas for meetings with police groups and archive meeting minutes.

Add an alarm. Some central-monitoring systems will call your cell phone if they can't reach you on your landline. Radio-based alarm systems that use dedicated UHF frequencies can be used as a backup or as a stand-alone solution that elimi- nates the need for landlines. Switching to an Internet-based phone service? Make sure it's compatible with your alarm. See “Scam Alert: Don't Get Ripped Off by an Alarm Company” for tips on choosing an alarm company.

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The Security Of A House Through Home Alarm System Read more: The Security Of A House Through Home Alarm System

Nothing can equal the comfort provided by your home. This is where many memories are created and this is the place where you grow up, a place where you enjoy full relaxation. Since this is the place where you can have extreme solace, it is very important that your house is endowed with privacy and safety.

Any homeowner wants to protect his home from intruders and burglars. However, the crime rate pertinent to burglary is on the rise. This is the reason why many people found installation of home alarm systems very helpful and necessary. Home alarm system had already been available since decades ago. And during those times, only the wealthy found it necessary to be protected by this device. But, this is no longer the case today because even ordinary homeowners need home alarm installation.

Today, the advancement in technology had paved way to more modern ways of protecting your homes, better and more efficient home alarm systems. With the advent of the wireless system, home alarm system had also been developed with this feature. And with wireless home alarm system, a homeowner enjoys more beneficial protection.

Unlike the hard-wired alarm, the wireless is used sin cables which makes the surrounding tidy and devoid of crawling messy wires. The wireless system makes use of radio wave frequencies which are responsible for the detection of motion. Then the detected movements will be transmitted instantly to the control unit. Depending on the kind of system, the unauthorized intrusion will be relayed to the homeowner, to the monitoring unit or the law enforcement office.

Unlike the wired system that is powered by electricity, the wireless version makes use of lithium batteries as source of power. And because this is battery-operated your device will not be affected by brown outs or power failure.

Another advantage attributed to the wireless feature is the ease in installation of the wireless types. Without the wires, you do not need to run the cables in every entry point in the house. This type is very portable and is able to penetrate almost all kinds of walls. There will be no holes to drill.

One other benefit from the wireless technology is the possibility of upgrading your system. If you have limited funds, you can merely install the basic alarm. Then as you accumulate funds, the system is upgradable to have other features like fire alarm. Or, you can extend the alarm protection to your outdoors and garage.

More protection is afforded to you by the central monitoring unit. Having integrated this feature, you can rest assured that your house is safeguarded even if you are out-of-town for a long holiday. The system will function when intruders try to burglarize. The alarm will be relayed to the monitoring system.

Available home alarm systems are the wired and the wireless. With technological innovations, more and more people are shifting to the use of the wireless alarm system. More benefits are afforded to the homeowner when the wireless home alarm system is chosen over the hard-wired style

Via: www.weontech.com

Home Security Systems

Security for your home is vitally important for a vast number of reasons. First and foremost most people will consider home security systems as critical for protecting their assets, investments and finances. Here the cameras and other security systems are put in place in order to ward off potential thieves both during the night when you and your family are sleeping, and while you are away on holiday or out at work. This then means that when someone tries to break in through your door they will set off alarms and be registered by your camera and that will mean that people are alerted to their presence and can come and intervene. At the same time even if they do break into your home, you will have footage of this taking place and that will mean that you are able to better aid the police in their investigation meaning that they are more likely to safely retrieve your items and get them back for you.

However home security systems are also very important for your own personal protection and for that of your family. It's not just thieves or vandals that threaten to break into your property, but also those who could be potentially aggressive or dangerous. Of course thieves themselves can often be dangerous if they think there is a chance of getting caught and arrested. At the same time though others can break into properties actually intending to cause harm and this is of course a serious danger and it is highly worth investing in something to keep these people out.

There are many aspects of your home security that you need think about. The first and most obvious aspect here is to look into your lock and there are lots of locks that provide particularly high amounts of protection. Digital locks for instance are very popular as they cannot be picked, but also because they allow for integration with other systems, and are very easy and practical open. At the same time both 'protector' locks and 'detector' locks are designed to be particularly hard to open without the correct key.

Many home security systems also include some form of CCTV and here you need to choose the best camera for you in terms of resolution and frame rate among other things. Digital CCTV is the best option as it allows you to record from multiple tracks and again allows for extra features and integration. IP CCTV means 'internet protocol CCTV' and that means that you can place the cameras anywhere and they will be attached wirelessly making them more versatile.

Alarm systems are also a good idea, and these can serve to alert others to an attempted security breach or to alert you and your family. Here you can choose to put the sensors just on doors and windows to prevent unauthorised entry, or you can tie it in to other sensors - such as using your CCTV to employ video analysis and motion detectors to go off only when the cameras detect something similar to a human presence.

Via: www.dztimes.net

ADT’s Google Plus Hangout: Senior Safety and Fall Prevention

Did you know that one-third of the population, over the age of 65, falls each year? Did you know that falls in the elderly can be greatly reduced by simply getting the right kind of exercise? Each year thousands of older Americans entrust their safety to caregivers. Senior safety, especially fall prevention, continues to be their number one concern. Join ADT’s senior care experts as we host a live question and answer Google+ hangout created to give caregivers some fall prevention tips and help them secure the safety of our senior citizens.   

 

Come back and watch ADT's Hangout on September 13^th 2012 at 3:30 pm  

 

Meet our Senior Safety Experts:  

Martin Levenson is the Director of Program Development for ADT’s Home Health Division, responsible for distribution channels in the government and provider partnership areas. The government program works with several hundred area agencies on aging in nearly 30 states across the country that provides personal emergency response services to their clients.  Martin also develops mutually beneficial partnerships through a provider network of home health and home care agencies, hospitals, rehabilitation centers and other health professionals who want to keep their clients safe and independent in their own homes. 

  

Jill Poser is a preeminent voice on safety, wellness and a certified ‘Aging-in-Place’ specialist sponsored by ADT Security Services. She currently enjoys her work with Lifespan Health Services, a leader in geriatric mental health services and Nostalgic America Magazine, South Florida’s premier publication for baby boomers and active seniors. Her passion expands into philanthropy, and she is most proud of being co-founder of ‘Times of Your Life,’ the charity gala for the Southeast chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association early 2011. Currently Jill serves on the Caring Hearts Auxiliary and A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts. 

  

ADT Hangout Participation Guidelines 

In order to take full advantage of what our Google+ Hangout has to offer, please read over the following guidelines:  

Welcome to ADT’s Google+ Hangout! Our Google+ Hangout program is intended to discuss relevant topics that are related to our customer’s concerns regarding popular topics about safety and security. We encourage you to participate in our hangouts by leaving us comments and questions, sharing our video and posting relevant content to facilitate the conversation. However, we do not condone any form of harassment, written attacks, insults, vulgarity or indecency in any User Content, whether in writing or in the transmission of images. For ADT’s Social Media Terms of Use, please visit: http://www.adt.com/about-adt/legal/social-media-terms-of-use  

Do: 

· Send us your questions. We want the conversation to revolve around your concerns.

· Invite friends! The more, the merrier. 

· Share the hangout link on your social networks. 

· Be respectful of other participants. Come prepared to discuss senior safety tips. 

· Participate in conversation. We’re excited to learn from you and your experience.

 

Don’t:  

· Share what isn’t yours. Please don’t broadcast any copyrighted material (music, videos, images, etc).

· Use profanity or threatening language. Let’s keep this fun and educational.

· Interrupt conversation. Please keep your microphone muted unless you’re speaking.

 

  

Google+ Hangout Disclaimer:   

Google is not affiliated nor does it endorse ADT’s Google+ handout program. Although there’s no limit on the number of viewers, not every participant will be “active” in the hangout. Only 10 people can be live (including the moderator and expert). Please know, the hangout will be recorded and may be used by ADT in the future. ADT does not necessarily support the views expressed during the hangout by the expert or participants. We ask that participants please review and adhere to Google’s policies & principles for Hangouts On Air

*Content expressed in Home Security systems by ecoffeeonline.com does not represent the thoughts and opinions of ADT Security Services, Inc. unless explicitly indicated. Bloggers featured on ecoffeeonline.com are paid professionals. Please visit our Community Guidelines. page for additional details.

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Famous Cars VS. Thieves: Who Would Win?

Everyone worries about how secure their car is from break-ins. It’s no fun to come out to your car and see smashed glass and a trashed interior. So, which type of car could prevent petty theft, and which famous cars are sitting ducks? Read below.

Flintstones Car

We love the Flintstones’ car, but how secure is this thing? Just about anyone could hop in it, run very quickly and escape. Made of stone and animal hides, it also seems very easy to take apart. We’re not sure why the cars are so basic and foot-powered when the Flintstones use animals for every other technological advance— pterodactyl airplanes and wooly mammoth dishwashers. Why couldn’t they have a saber tooth tiger carriage or something? Plus, isn’t the point of cars to not be walking? Anyway, we don’t deem the Flintstones car secure at all, and they were lucky they never had the darn thing stolen.  Plus, it doesn’t look like it would work out well in the real world.

KITT

 

Hyper-intelligent crime-fighting rover, the modified Trans Am known as KITT always sounded mildly pissed with his human counter-part, Michael Knight (David Hassellhoff). In addition to the ability to see, hear and smell, KITT also came equipped with the a slew of other features:

• Computer AI -- KITT is essentially an advanced supercomputer on wheels that could think, learn, communicate and interact with humans.


• Molecular Bonded Shell -- KITT is armored with “Tri-Helical Plasteel 1000 MBS” plating which protects him from almost all forms of conventional firearms and explosive devices.


• Pyroclastic Lamination -- KITT is protected by a thermal-resistant coating that can withstand sustained temperatures of up to 800 degrees.


• Turbo Boost - This allows KITT to accelerate to incredible speeds in excess of 200 mph.


• Etymotic Equalizer -- This system allowed KITT to hear sound.


• Olfactory Sensor -- KITT can “smell” via an atmospheric sampling device mounted in his front bumper.


• Silent Mode - KITT can run silently.


• Grappling Hook and Winch -- KITT has a hidden winch and grappling hook system.


• Oil Jets/Smoke Screen -- KITT can spray an oil slick and a plume of smoke from under the rear bumper.


• Flame Thrower -- KITT has flame throwers mounted under his bumpers


• Seat Ejection System -- KITT had two front ejection seats.

And this is just a smattering of all the cool things he can do. Simply put, don’t mess with KITT.

The Batmobile

 

You’d have to be an idiot to try to steal this car! In its earliest incarnations, the Batmobile was mainly just armored, but in the 21^st Century, the Batmobile has become much more than a car and is rather another weapon in Batman’s arsenal.

In later comics, the Batmobile has been modified into a tank-like armored riot control vehicle, complete with machine guns, a large cannon mounted on the front and large tank treads in place of tires. According to Batman’s narration, the only thing that can penetrate its armor “isn’t from this planet.”

In recent films, the Batmobile has a pair of autocannons mounted in the nose of the car between the front wheels. Other devices include:

• Rear flaps for brake


• Front autocannons


• Rocket launcher


• Landing hook to Sprung landing stabilization


• Integrated fire-extinguishing system


• Integrated safety connection to gasoline control


• Jet engine on back of car for quick boosts/rampless jumps


• Caltrops are deployed from the rear of the vehicle. B


• Stealth mode, which turns off the car’s lights and reduces the engine sound enormously, making the car very hard to find in dark places


• atman uses this to immobilize a police vehicle following him.


• Front of car is heavily armored, so the car can crash into and destroy objects, and also protects the driver (Batman) while in the prone driving position/”Attack” mode


• Both front wheels can eject when the vehicle is damaged to form the Batpod, a bat-cycle like vehicle (the rest self-destructs).

In other words, don’t try to break in or steal this car, or you will regret it. This is perhaps the coolest car on this list. A BATPOD. We rest our case.

Wienermobile

 

We’re not sure how easy it would be to swipe the Wienermobile. It must have some sort of advanced security, no? But imagine how hard it would be to hide that car—it would be impossible to find a place to store it, let alone find a buyer without getting caught. We think car thieves would have to be nuts to try to jack this car.

Some history about the Wienermobile: The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile evolved from Karl Mayer’s original 1936 vehicle to current vehicles seen on the road today. Although gas rationing kept the Wienermobile off the road during World War II, in the 1950’s Oscar Mayer created several new vehicles using a Dodge chassis or a Willy’s Jeep chassis.

These Wienermobiles were piloted by “Little Oscar,” who would visit stores, schools, orphanages, children’s hospitals and participate in parades and festivals. In 1988, Oscar Mayer launched its Hotdogger program, where recent college graduates were hired to drive the Wienermobile through various parts of the nation and abroad. Using a converted Chevy van chassis, Stevens Automotive Corporation built a fleet of ten Wienermobiles for the new team of Hotdoggers. In 1995, the Wienermobile grew in size to 27-feet long and 11-feet high—that would be very difficult to maneuver, let alone pilfer.

In 2000, the big dog was given the power of a 5700 GM VORTEC engine. The most recent version of the Wienermobile, built in 2004, has been updated to include a voice activated GPS Navigational System, an audio center with a wireless microphone and a horn that plays the Wiener Jingle.

There are 6 Wienermobiles currently in existence.

1981 DeLorean

 

Originally an ill-fated Irish sports car in real life, in Back to the Future, the DeLorean DMC 12 was capable of breaking the laws of quantum physics. Modified with a flux capacitor and a strategically placed nuclear generator, when traveling at precisely 88 mph, the DMC 12 was capable of time-travel.

Now, if you were in a car chase with someone, or a thief wanted to carjack you, the DeLorean would be a good fit for escaping, since you could merely jump to another time once you hit 88 mph. However, the same could be said for someone who wants to steal your car. They could easily—if they know how to use it—set the date on the display and travel to another time. Although, they would need to know that this baby doesn’t run on regular fuel.  You need a nuclear reaction (which was produced by plutonium borrowed/stolen from a group of Libyan terrorists) to generate the 1.21 “gigawatts” of electricity needed. Unless the DeLorean already has its Mr. Fusion generator supplied by the future. Then any thief would be good to go. Sorry, Doc—we hope you have a great home security system on that baby.

Grave Digger

 

The most popular truck currently running, Grave Digger is considered to be one of the most influential monster trucks of all time.

Grave Digger was originally conceived in 1982 by Dennis Anderson. This first truck was a red 1952 Ford pickup truck, which was converted to a silver and blue 1951 Ford Panel Truck. The truck received its name when its owner, amicably trash talking with his fellow racers, said the famous line, “I’ll take this old junk and dig you a grave with it.”  Anderson gained a reputation for an all-or-nothing driving style and quickly became popular at local events. At one show, a scheduled monster truck failed to show up and Anderson, who already had large tractor tires on the truck, offered to crush cars in the absence of the full-size monster. Grave Digger was an instant success as a car crusher.

In 1986 Grave Digger underwent a transformation to complete monster truck and first received its famous black graveyard paint scheme. In 1987, Anderson beat Bigfoot, which was the first major victory for Grave Digger.

With a points championship now in place, Anderson moved to Grave Digger 2 in 1989, with a new 1950 Chevy panel van body. It was during this time that the reputation for wild passes was developed, and the popularity of the truck increased.

Throughout the 1990s, the popularity of the truck grew and forced Anderson to hire other drivers to run other Grave Digger trucks.

Perhaps the most visible trademarks of Grave Digger are the red headlights which glow menacingly whenever the truck is in competition. The lights were first used when Anderson was building a transporter out of a school bus and removed the red stop lights. After realizing they would fit in the headlights of the van, he installed them and the truck has had them ever since.

It would be quite a feat to even launch yourself up into the cab of this truck if you were trying to steal it. We’d save Grave Digger is pretty safe from criminals. Maybe it could just crush those in its way.

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Home Security: Creating a Risk Assessment for Your Home

What Is a Risk Assessment?

A risk assessment is a sort of investigation that helps you take a hard look at yourself, your home, and your neighborhood to determine what kind of crimes or accidents you're most likely to encounter.

You should do a risk assessment before you consider purchasing any kind of home security system. This will help you determine what kind of protection you need. A risk assessment can keep you from a spending unnecessary money on a super complex home security system that you might not need. Instead, it shows you exactly what would be a good idea for your home.

Steps to a Doing a Risk Assessment

Step 1: Gather Facts

In this step, you're going to talk with the pros (police, fire, and insurers can often give you detailed statistics on crimes that have occurred in your area along with accidents such as fire and natural disasters). You'll also want to talk to your neighbors, especially if they have lived in the area longer than you, in order to find out what sort of crimes or vandalism they've noticed or been victim to. This could be anything from burglars breaking into homes to kids spray painting on walls. 

Don't rule yourself out as a source. When you're working on your risk assessment, you'll want to write down your observations on the condition of your house and neighborhood and how far away you are from police and fire stations. Also note personal habits--predictable routines can make you easier for criminals to target.

Step 2: Analysis

In this stage, you're going to want to look at the facts you recorded in step 1 and rank problem areas depending on how likely you believe you are to fall victim to them. A book like The Complete Idiot's Guide to Home Security can really help in this stage because it shows you how to rank things and even provides some worksheets.

Step 3: Identifying Your Weaknesses

At this point in your risk assessment you should know what kind of security problems (not just crimes but accidents like fire) that are most likely to trouble you. You should also have a basic idea of how likely these things are to happen and how bad they'll be (i.e. if there's a fire station down the block, it's very likely you'll be serviced quickly in the event of an emergency).

Some risks you can probably live with (i.e. having your mailbox vandalized), but some risks are intolerable (i.e. injury or worse) and you must work at eliminating those kind of risks completely. What will it take to eliminate that risk? These are the kinds of things you need to think about when shopping for home security systems and taking measures to make your house is as fire- and accident-proof as possible.

Note:
Detailed Risk Assessments Can Lower Home Insurance Costs

Performing a detailed risk assessment of your home and neighborhood may actually help you reduce your insurance rates. Such careful planning shows your insurance company that you're serious about protecting your home and assets. Write down your risk assessment and also a security plan detailing what you have done to make your house more secure, then ask for a meeting with your insurance agent. If he or she brushes you off (won't consider reducing your rate), let them know you'll be looking for an insurer who can.

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At the Movies: Crimes Will Take You to Court For

We see a lot of movies—a lot meaning sometimes six or seven in one month. So, considering how many movies we’ve seen, it should also come as no surprise then that we’ve encountered a ton of criminally bad moviegoers. Sure there are the loud talkers, but did you know there are other crimes you can commit at the theater?

And if you’re guilty of any of the following, Ann Richards might have to rise from the dead and take your ass out.

 If you want to protect your house and family try aquiring a home security system.

Loud talkers/obnoxious laughs/stage whispers

An audible whisper is the same as talking, so go ahead and ask your friend whatever you were asking. Along with ringing cell phones, this is the No. 1 most offensive crimes to perpetrate at the theater. Nothing you ask or say to your friend is going to be as interesting or funny as the movie, so don’t even bother. We especially hate the bad audience members who keep asking what other movies a particular actor or actress has been in. Mom, we’re talking to you!

 

Line repeaters

This is in a separate category from just talking loudly because it is four times more obnoxious than merely talking loudly. We’re talking about the guy who will laugh at a line in the movie and then repeat said line to his companion. We get the joke, buddy, we’re watching the same exact movie here. We hate sitting next to one of these criminals.

Texting during the movie

We all know that talking on our cell phones is a big no-no during the movie, but even remotely pulling your phone out is unacceptable. The blinding white light of your cell phone really detracts from what’s happening on the screen. This category means that you cannot text or even check your phone during the flick. We make exceptions for doctors—you’re allowed to at least check that thing.

This category also applies to movie critics with the clicky light pen. You don’t need those to take notes. You can see the notebook perfectly fine. Not only is the light annoying, but that little “click click” is pretty awful too. Thank you.

Having an offensive odor

Besides sitting next to a loud talker or line repeater, this is one of the worst offenses. If you smell bad, don’t sit next to someone. We’re not just talking B.O., folks. We mean anyone who smokes a lot, chooses not to wear deodorant or anyone who’s eaten anything stinky in a while. Have a friend sniff test you to see how offensive you are just to make sure.

Showing up late and asking us to move

We are very punctual movie goers. We love watching the previews; we stake out the perfect seat—which we’re told is three quarters of the way back, directly in the middle for optimum sound and audio; we hit up the bathroom; we keep our seats warm. It’s an exact science by now. So, nothing is more off putting then when moseying latecomers barge into the theater, eye the seats to the left and the right of us and not-so-politely ask us to shift. Sure, we’ll move—we don’t want to look like the villains, after all—but we don’t like it one bit, and we’ll certainly not make eye contact with you. Do us a favor and show up early. You have been warned.

Eating loudly

Popcorn is a fairly quiet snack. A pickle is not. We love pickles at the movies, yet even we know how loudly they can be when you’re eating them in a theater, so we’ve honed a perfected pickle eating method, which consists of very little loud chomping. We also tend to take bites during loud scenes and avoid chewing during quiet and/or romantic scenes. Please pay us the same courtesy.

Also, if you’re going to sneak food in, the No. 1 thing to NEVER EVER bring into a theater is an apple. We kid you not, we sat next to someone who brought an apple into a movie and ate it during some very quiet scenes. A pickle may require some loud chewing, but it has nothing on how loud an apple can be.

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