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Sandra Bullock stalked and burglarized

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Gee, even the rich and famous can be burglarized. Recently a man apparently broke into the West Los Angeles home of Sandra Bullock; he’d also been stalking her. He pleaded not guilty to the charges which include weapons possession—one of the weapons was a machine gun—all found in his home.

1SDAll in all, bail was set for $2 million, and it has yet to be determined if there’s enough evidence for him to go to trial.

HE got onto Bullock’s property in the wee hours of the morning by climbing a fence. Bullock locked herself in a room once she became aware that someone was on the premises. A call to 9-1-1 was made from inside the house, and he was arrested at the scene.

Whether you’re a wealthy movie star or an average Joe or Jane with an average income, there are security measures you should take. After all, you don’t have to be famous to be the target of an intruder.

  • A surveillance system should be set up inside your house, complete with an ear-piercing alarm.
  • A home security system will also contact the police should you not be there or be rendered incapacitated by the intruder.
  • A would-be intruder will think twice before trying to penetrate your home upon sighting the security company’s decals and signs on your property.
  • Have a surveillance system protect the entire perimeter of your property.
  • Imagine you’re away from home and your smartphone alerts you that there’s an intruder on your property. This technology exists. Security cameras, upon detecting motion, can send an alert to your mobile device. The cameras can also set off a siren or lighting that would send an intruder running.
  • Not only can your smartphone receive an alert, but there are apps that allow you to view your home through your mobile.
  • If you have the money, or are resourceful, build a “panic room” aka “safe room”. Google it.

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist to BestHomeSecurityCompanys.com discussing burglar proofing your home on Fox Boston. Disclosures.

Rihanna’s Home Targeted by Burglars

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Chances are, if you own a $12 million home like Rihanna, someone with bad intentions is going to want a piece of it (or something in it). But you don’t need to be rich to be the target of a burglary. Millions of less extravagant homes are burglarized every year.

BET reports, “The singer’s Cali mansion, valued at $12 million, is equipped with a security system, including cameras along the private road leading up to it (and a sign that reads, ‘Smile, you’re on camera.’). The intruders were caught on tape, and although they were successful in trespassing, the would-be burglary was cut short when the break-in sounded off the alarm. The noise caused them to flee.”

“Equipped with a security system…the noise caused them to flee.” That statement warms the cockles of my heart.

Famous people are no strangers to home break-ins. Celebrities are targeted because of their notoriety and vast wealth. They also travel quite a bit, so their homes are often unoccupied. There’s even a movie about it, inspired by real events that took place in the Los Angeles area over five recent years. The Bling Ring is about a bunch of L.A. kids who rob celebrities’ homes. It started as a group of fame-obsessed teens who used social media to track celebrities’ everyday activities, such as when they were home and not home. They also determined what they wanted to steal from the celebs’ homes based on photos of their stuff the celebs posted on their social pages. When the Bling Ring (that’s the name they gave themselves) knew the celebs were out, that’s when they burglarized their homes.

I’ll guarantee you that the security systems the majority of celebrities have aren’t much more advanced than ones for everyday people; the technology is pretty much the same, and maybe because the owners have a bit more money the systems have a few more bells and whistles. So…be like a celebrity and get a home security system.

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist to BestHomeSecurityCompanys.com discussing burglar proofing your home on Fox Boston. Disclosures.

High-end, High-tech Home Security

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There’s really no limit to how much money can be spent on home security if you want to ensure the very best home security for your family and money isn’t a huge concern. Note that while some of these options are affordable, others are very expensive.

  • Keyless door locks: As you might expect, keyless door locks don’t need any keys to open. Some require a pin code to open, and others may work with wireless Bluetooth or can be controlled via the internet.
  • Remote-controlled home alarms: Remote-controlled alarms are almost a standard offering today. Remotely controlling an alarm system can be done online from any internet-connected device or via a keyfob within 200 feet of your home.
  • Robotic camera: Very expensive, but I WANT ONE! GroundBot™ is a robotic mobile platform that hosts cameras and sensors. GroundBot can be remote controlled by hand or programmed to navigate by GPS.
  • Remote monitoring: This involves real-time human remote monitoring of your property via sound and video 24 hours a day, all year long. (Gas stations employ systems like this.) If a robber comes in, the dispatcher would warn the robber over the speaker system that he is being filmed and law enforcement has been dispatched.
  • Bulletproof everything: If flying bullets are a concern, you can install bulletproof doors, bulletproof glass and steel plating in your walls.
  • Safe rooms: A safe room (or “panic room”) can protect you from natural disasters like a hurricane or tornado or man-made ones like bombs, and is effective against home invaders too. High-tech ones are equipped with such features as satellite phones, internet, food, water and even oxygen.
  • Sixteen- or 32-camera CCTV: An eight-camera system today can be had for under $500. Sixteen- or 32-camera digital video recorders are still a little expensive, but with a system of up to 32 cameras, there won’t be a spot outside or inside your property that won’t have an extra pair of eyes on it.

Home security is a must for everyone. Whether you drop big money or small change, the peace of mind you will receive is priceless.

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist to BestHomeSecurityCompanys.com discussing burglar proofing your home on Fox Boston. Disclosures.

Home Invader: ‘I Have Torn Apart Families and Ruined Lives’

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Home invasions are the nastiest of all burglaries. They usually involve some type of force, and there is often a weapon involved. In this one particularly brutal and deadly home invasion, the perpetrator and his cohorts used a machete.

Back in 2010, the Boston Globe reported, “A woman hacked to death with a machete and knife in her home was alive for all 32 slash and stab wounds that split open her skull, sliced through bones and pierced organs, a medical examiner testified.”

Steven Spader, who created a gang called “Disciples of Destruction,” was 17 years old at the time of his murderous rampage. Spader’s gang broke into the woman’s New Hampshire home while she and her daughter slept.

Spader, who stated, “Through my impulsive actions, I have torn apart families and ruined lives,” was resentenced last month to life in prison plus 76 years. His resentencing was required due to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that mandatory life sentences for those under the age of 18 at the time they killed amounts to cruel and unusual punishment. It’s amazing to me that any law would consider any punishment of any kind for this kid as cruel and unusual.

Superior Court Judge Gillian Abramson stated on the April court date, ‘‘The circumstances of these horrific crimes and the extent of the defendant’s planning and participating warrant the imposition of life without parole and maximum consecutive sentences.’’ Senior Assistant Attorney General Jeffery Strelzin stated that Spader is a ‘‘psychopath. It’s not a phase. It’s not something he’s going to grow out of; it’s who he is.’’

The chances of something this nasty even happening to you is slim. But there is a chance, so at least install a home security system and keep it turned on while you are at home.

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist to BestHomeSecurityCompanys.com discussing burglar proofing your home on Fox Boston. Disclosures.

Brazen Burglars Broke into the Same House Three Times in a Week

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In the first hit they made off with a television and four-figure sum of cash, plus a key to the garden shed.

They came back, let themselves into the shed, and took garden tools but were spotted by the returning home owners.

The GazzetteNews reported the homeowner investigated after noticing the shed door was open, and saw four people in the park behind the house, two of them were holding the tools stolen from the shed and the group ran off.

The burglars then made a third attempt on the house and caused damage to the property.

Local law enforcement well aware of the ongoing break-ins assembled a team of detectives to thwart the property crimes and to try and break the pattern.

Their strategy is to visit well-known suspects, keeping tabs on their whereabouts and doing what they can to “divert” these individuals from crime.

“They also work closely with victims, providing them with support and giving them advice on home and personal safety.” “Anyone who has had to deal with a burglary will know that it’s not just the financial loss that is difficult; more often than not, items of huge sentimental value are taken, so it also has a huge emotional impact too.”

“This is completely unacceptable and the teams will be doing all they can to prevent this from happening to residents in our communities.”

Bravo to all involved in the effort to preserve the sanctity of citizen’s rights to safety and security.

But what’s missing in this story is the homeowner being proactive and doing something to keep the burglars out in the first place. Often a home alarm monitored at a dollar a day will do the trick. In my case, first my cameras see them coming day and night and that notifies me with an audible alert. Second, once they get close enough the German Shepherd lets me and them know she is ready. Third, the doors and windows are all locked. Fourth they need to get through the home alarm system and if they trip it, the local police are called.

If they do make their way in, the Shepherd knows what to do next. Me? If I’m home I’m taking the family out of there as quickly as possible and heading to safety, then pizza.

Robert Siciliano personal security expert to ADT Home Security Source discussing Home Security on NBC Boston. Disclosures.