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Tips to prepare for Power Outage

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Don’t wait to be in the dark to find out you’re in the dark. Are you equipped for a power outage? A power outage can even occur in perfect weather, thanks to a construction team “hitting a wire.”

BeOnBatteries. Don’t have these scattered haphazardly in some drawer. Battery holders are sold that you can hang and place batteries in “pockets” for tip-top organization.

Communication.

  • Have the power company’s phone number somewhere that it won’t get lost so that you can find out the estimated time of power recovery.
  • Even in this age of smartphones, you should always have a landline phone, because a power outage can cripple cell phone towers. Yes, the primitive phone system can save the day.
  • Know how to use your car’s battery to charge your cell phone, just in case your landline doesn’t work.
  • Have a self-powered radio on hand, but you’ll have batteries on hand so that you won’t need one, right?

Lights. Designate an easily-accessible compartment in your house to store light-yielding devices including headlamps and flashlights. This compartment should be labeled with glow-in-the-dark stickers for easy finding.

Candles. Forget candles; they can start fires. Keep glow sticks on hand, too, but in the freezer so that they last longer when it’s time to use them.

Sustenance. Designate a section in your pantry for emergency food—items that are to be used only in the event of an outage. Bagged and canned items can last seemingly forever. And don’t forget a can opener—one you use by hand, of course. Also keep plenty of bottled water in this section.

Like the good life? If during a power outage you don’t think you’d take to living on a limited diet very well, then have on hand a gas camping stove, but chances are, you’re not going to be too picky about the menu when there’s no power.

Got kids? A power outage could throw them for a loop, so have a plan ready to keep them calm and collected. This can be any number of board games in stock, or more creative ways to pass the time like seeing how many braids you can put in your daughter’s hair by LED light.

First aid kit. Keep this in an easy-to-find location and know exactly what’s in it.

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist to discussing burglar proofing your home on NECN. Disclosures.

11 ways to Let Santa in and keep Bad Guys out

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You’ve heard of “dumb criminals,” right? Well…unfortunately, there’s at least as many dimwitted homeowners as there are criminals. Be a smart homeowner and use smart technology along with smart security tips and smarten up!2B

  1. The holiday season has arrived. Are you going to display a huge Christmas tree in your biggest window, shades up, so that thieves casing the neighborhood can see all the presents piled under it? “Those people have valuables,” they’ll think.
  2. Get a home security, video monitoring and automation system like Piper that allows you to get alerts on your iOS and Android mobile devices when activities occur and gives you full access to your home via a 180-degree, panoramic camera.The Piper + Z-Wave Pack comes with window and door sensors along with a smart warning sticker.
  3. Get more signage.“Beware of Dog”, “This home is Alarmed” “Video Surveillance in use” etc. Find out where you can get the signs; eBay, hardware stores etc.Thieves don’t like to take chances that you’re bluffing.
  4. Don’t underestimate thieves who case neighborhoods. Though some criminals are truly dumb, many are smart enough to cleverly case houses before breaking in, such as wandering around dressed like the water meter man, carrying a clipboard, posing as an inspector when instead he’s looking to see whose homes he could easily get into. They knock on doors, and if no-one answers, they jiggle the door knobs. They’ve even been known to put reflective stickers on the homes front door so they remember which house is unlocked.
  5. And back to that Piper home security, video monitoring and automation system. Set it to send you notifications or call you when events occur in your home, like when doors are opened or rooms are entered. You can even set Piper to capture a video clip of the event when it happens, so you always know what’s going on when you’re not home.
  6. Keep your doors locked at all times until you must go through them. There’s always enough time to lock a door after you use it. My doors are locked all day. It’s not about being “paranoid,” it’s about being in control of your families security.
  7. Ask yourself if there’s any logical reason why your shades must be up when it’s dark outside—when anyone could look in and see what you have or how vulnerable you may be—then make a habit of shutting the view before it gets dark. Ideally, keep curtains and blinds/shades down during the day, too, at least in rooms where you don’t have to have the light coming in from outside.
  8. Just went Christmas or Chanukah shopping? Close the garage before you unload all the expensive goodies from your car so nobody can see.
  9. Never post in social media your vacation plans or information about recent purchases of things that thieves love. Does someone you barely know who lives 400 miles away need to see your new diamond earrings?
  10. Make sure your social media pages don’t contain personal information like your e-mail address or phone numbers.
  11. Be careful about the inane things you post, such as “I’m sitting here at the car dealership all day while my car is being fixed.” You never know who might read this and decide to rob your home.

Robert Siciliano, personal and home security specialist for Piper, the All-In-One Home Security, Video Monitoring and Automation Device, discussing burglar proofing your home on Fox Boston. Disclosures.

Father nabs Daughter’s Kidnapper

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So if your family goes to bed, and a sociopath walks in at 4:30 in the morning (because you left a door unlocked!), and grabs your child while you’re asleep …you’d better hope your guardian angel is on steroids.

2BAn Associated Press article reports that a Utah man managed to rescue his 5-year-old daughter as an intruder was carrying her across the lawn after kidnapping her at 4:30 am.

The parents left a door unlocked! The father never heard screams, but was a light enough sleeper that he heard the front door opening, then heard the child talking.

The time lapse between when the front door opened and when the father caught the intruder outside is not clear. But there was enough time for the sociopath to get into the girl’s basement bedroom, pick her up, exit the house, and make it partway across the front lawn before dad came out and demanded he hand her over to him. The intruder did so, then fled. If dad had been a few seconds delayed…this could have been another “missing child’s body found” story.

The intruder is Troy Morley, 48. He was stupid enough to break into another house shortly after this incident, just a few blocks away, entering through a doggie door. Good thing he wasn’t bright enough to figure that a doggie door means a dog lives there and will start bark its head off at his presence.

And yes, that’s how the house’s owner knew he was there; the dogs barked. By this time, police were already nearby searching for the scumbag, and a police dog bit him in the shoulder after the house’s occupants called out for help.

Police said that the attempted abduction was random and still don’t know if Morley knew ahead of time a little girl lived there, or if he decided to kidnap her on a whim upon discovering her bedroom while looking for things to steal.

Though one account says that the little girl was “talking,” a neighbor says that her younger sibling heard screams. The girl’s family is keeping a low profile and trying to get on with their life as normally as possible. No doubt, the parents will never go to bed with an unlocked door ever again.

It took this incident to inspire a couple down the street to consider a home security system. April Parry has three kids and says in the AP article, “That is your biggest fear as a parent.” But don’t wait till someone tries to abduct a child down the street to get an alarm system! Get one NOW. Sociopaths aren’t waiting for you to get smart.

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

The Futuristic secure and Smart automated Home is here

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A burglary occurs every 15 seconds. The chance of your home being broken into is higher than you’d think. The good news is that today’s alarm systems are “not your father’s alarm.”

BeOnTwenty years ago, a contractor had to spend a week tearing up your walls ceilings, and windows to retrofit a messy, hardwired security system. These alarms were so expensive that they were mainly used by businesses and rich people.

Since then, home security systems have dropped in price. They are now mostly wireless, right down to the cellular phone signal. But what makes home alarms even more exciting is that the majority of the functions are intuitive and smart.

Here’s how you can put together a home security system without the klunk and expense of 20 years ago.

  1. Did you know that a non-reinforced door can be kicked open by a 105 pound woman? The point is that a non-reinforced door is worthless even if it’s locked. Doors should have a guard plate. Next, they should have a door jam reinforcement made of steel. Make sure you have a top-flight deadbolt system. These days, deadbolts come with amazing features.
  2. If you have lots of shrubbery around doors and windows, trim them back so that they don’t conceal prowlers. Also add lighting to these areas.
  3. Years ago I witnessed some teen punks hurl bricks at a house down the street in the dark. I heard windows shattering. On the market today is shatter-proof film that will stop a brick from penetrating a window. Even if a blood-thirsty burglar manages to crack a filmed window, he’s not going to get in.
  4. Consider a wireless garage door opener that you can control with your smartphone. Otherwise, never leave your garage door opener in view inside your car.
  5. With your smartphone, you can watch your house in real time to see if there’s any suspicious activity. Wi-Fi monitoring systems will alert you via phone if the surveillance cameras detect movement or sound. Then you can see if someone is creeping around on your deck—even if you’re a thousand miles away.
  6. One of the best ways to deter crime is to make your house look occupied. You’ve certainly heard of timed lighting systems, but BeOn takes this a few steps further. Install BeOn and it will “figure out” your family’s light usage pattern, then duplicate this when the house is empty, tricking burglars who’ve been watching your house into thinking you’re still home. Now that’s smart! Check out their Kickstarter campaign and invest in the future of smart security.
  7. In addition, leave a TV or stereo on loud enough for any prowlers to hear. BeOn is developing a sounder module that will also make the home seem occupied during the day (similar to leaving TV or stereo on as previously mentioned).

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist to BeOn Home Security discussing burglar proofing your home on NECN. Disclosures.

Swatting is potentially deadly

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No, not deadly to a fly that you swat at, but to the homeowners who are subjected to aggressive police searches after the police receive a 911 call that someone was shot at the house. But the call is a hoax.

7HThis happened to Jesse Vanremortel at 3:30 am, says an article at theoaklandpress.com. He and his girlfriend were jarred awake by noises, then next thing they knew, lights were shining under the bedroom door. A police officer crashed through, pointing an assault rifle at Vanremortel, 28. Police searched his house, and of course, found nothing, because this was a “swatting call” incident; the third in one week’s time in Oakland County.

The phony 911 call was by a woman claiming that shots had been fired inside a house on the street. Then she hung up. Thus far, police believe there’s a connection between the callers and the targeted victims. Strangely, Vanremortel says he doesn’t know the woman whom the police are investigating as a suspect.

It doesn’t help when the house’s occupant slept with the doors unlocked. Oddly, the teacher, on summer break, never awakened to a ringing phone shortly before the police entered the house—the call was from the police. So maybe the second lesson to learn is to put your radar on when you go to bed so that you don’t sleep through a ringing phone. My phones on, always, this is essential. If you don’t want to be awakened by a ringing phone, put it on mute, but not advised. But for Pete’s sake, lock up the house!

Vanremortel’s girlfriend and two roommates were held at gunpoint while the house was searched. You can see how swatting can turn deadly.

In other incidents, a caller said he shot his wife and rigged his home with explosives, then said he shot his neighbor. In another, a caller said he shot his mother.

At a minimum a home alarm in these situations would make law enforcement aware the property was in “secure” mode which may send a flag to approaching officers that the 911 dispatch might be fraud.

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

Bolster your Belongings on TV and This is what happens

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How did a burglar know that Theresa Roemer had a 3,000 square foot, three-level closet that was crammed full of very pricey items including jewels and furs? Well, apparently, he caught wind of the “she cave” on TV, then perhaps Google Earthed it and (believe it or not) the evening he decided to bust in, the house alarm wasn’t on. And the closet wasn’t locked.

3BThe burglar stole $1 million worth of jewels and designer handbags from the enormous closet in Theresa Roemer’s mansion in The Woodlands, a Houston suburb.

While she was out dining with her husband, the thief filled three handbags with loot, and each handbag is worth $60,000. This was like a young kid in a candy factory.

Nobody really knows why the alarm was turned off.

Roemer has hosted many parties for charity inside the closet, which also includes a champagne bar. In addition to the handbags, furs and jewels are rows of shoes, boots, hats, clothes and beauty products. If you saw the move “Bling Ring” which was based on real events and often filmed in what was supposed to be Paris Hiltons closet, then you’d get the idea.

Roemer stated that she really doesn’t care about the replaceable items and refers to these as “crap.” She has expressed angst that some of the stolen items are heirlooms. Most people who lose stuff in a fire feel the same way.

The mansion’s surveillance cameras recorded the burglar, and it’s only a matter of time before the thief is identified. And even if the surveillance cameras eventually lead to an arrest and conviction, nobody wants to experience coming home to find that it’s been invaded and that valuable items have been stolen.

If you’re going to bother with having surveillance cameras, then also bother turning on the alarm when you’re gone and even when you’re home. But let’s not also forget that Roemer revealed her closet of riches on TV…a big mistake.

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

Myth: My gated Community is Secure

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How many times have you heard someone say, “I don’t have to worry about crime; I live in a gated community”? Yeah, the electronically-locked gate may stop criminals from driving in, but not from walking in!

5HThat stylish gate is more of an ornament than a crime deterrent. It may very well be a lure to thieves, since it suggests that there’s a lot of valuables in those houses. The gate may even suggest complacence with tougher security measures among the homeowners.

The big iron gate may even encourage residents to leave entries to their houses unlocked or windows to their child’s first floor bedroom open overnight. Any reason a pedophile can’t slip through the gate while it opens for a resident? And that assumes the perp isn’t bright enough to just walk into the premises.

The giant gate may as well have a neon sign overhead that says, “Welcome! We Have Lots of Valuables in Our Homes!”

Might a burglar assume that every home has an alarm system? No. He’ll avoid those that have signs of an alarm system, but he’ll continue poking around till he finds evidence of an unlocked house. An alarm system is worthless if it’s turned off and a door is unlocked. This risk-reward calculation is too juicy for a thief to pass up.

And here’s another formula to consider:

Gated community = more money = more empty homes while residents are on yet another vacation.

Still think that gate protects your community? How often have you forgotten your code or the keypad malfunctioned, and you waited for the next resident to open the gates, and you slipped in right after them? How easy was that?

How often has the gate mechanically been broken and you zipped right on through? Even a gateman who buzzes people in may not be on the ball. And even if he is, you should assume that many service technicians are given entry codes. It’s not an issue of how or if a thief can get in, but who.

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

Early Detection Will Save Your Life

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Early detection. What do these two words bring to your mind? A grain-sized speck on a mammogram? A colonoscopy?

6HHow about a house fire? Without early detection of THIS killer…you could, well…DIE.

House fires can be detected early with an advanced, well-designed fire alarm system. This will help save not only lives, but valuables, which sometimes cannot be replaced (there’s only one photo of you and Great Grandpa on your third birthday a month before he passed away).

Furthermore, losing “everything” in a fire can mean taking up to two years to resettle. Why wait for this to happen when you can have a fire alarm that will trigger a call to a dispatcher ASAP?

Seconds count for the escape, because you have less than one minute to get your entire family and pets outside to safety once that fire erupts. A smoke detector can double your chances of survival.

Have you taken precautions to prevent, or to detect early, a life-threatening actual disease that kills less than 3,000 Americans a year? Why not also take measures to prevent dying from a house fire—which kills 3,000 Americans every year? Of these fatalities, 40 percent involve homes without a working smoke alarm.

Most fire fatalities are from smoke inhalation rather than being engulfed in flames. Your view to the exit can be blocked by furiously thick, choking smoke. How often do you hear a report that says, “So-and-so died of smoke inhalation?” vs. “So-and-so died from third-degree burns over 90 percent of his body”?

Though people DO get trapped and their bodies burn, autopsy reports usually show that they were dead from smoke inhalation before their bodies became consumed by flames. Awful. Drowning in smoke.

Preparation

  • Safety begins by getting a smoke detector that always stays activated, even when you’re cooking. The device is designed to detect smoke first, not fire, for a reason. If the alarm goes off, get out of the house/apartment before your lungs get poisoned. And stay out.
  • Call 9-1-1 from outside.
  • For the hearing impaired and heavy sleepers, smoke detectors are available that flash lights and set off a vibration beneath a pillow.
  • What about retrieving family members and pets? You won’t need to if you’ve previously run fire drills for the entire family.

Fire Drills

  • For every room, establish two ways to escape (e.g., window and door). Then have all household members physically practice as fast as possible these escapes—which all lead to a single, predetermined meeting place outdoors.
  • Run the drills in the middle of the night, during heavy rain, frigid cold, sweltering heat, because a fire doesn’t care how comfortable or awake you are.
  • The escape plan should take into consideration babies, children, the disabled and elderly, and of course, Prince and Cupcake.
  • Make sure that everyone knows how to get out of a second story window. Have a collapsible ladder on hand.
  • Don’t forget about your smoke alarm. No fewer than two times a year, clean it and push its test button. To remember to change the batteries, coincide this with changing your clocks. If you’ve had an alarm all along, replace it if it’s more than 10 years old or you’re not sure of its age.
  • The National Fire Protection Association says that pets can start a fire. A cat might start playing with an electrical cord, knocking down its lamp, which is already turned on…need you read more to figure out how this ends?
  • A dog, cat, even a bird can knock over a burning candle. It’s hard to keep a candle out of reach from a cat unless it’s in storage. So either don’t use your candles or get rid of them.
  • Cats also jump onto stoves. Of course, you can’t get rid of your stove. But you don’t want to get rid of Cupcake, either. There are several devices on the market that can train cats to stop jumping on things. A stove knob can be accidentally turned by a cat. See if you can remove these knobs.

Heaters can be knocked down by dogs and cats, though this won’t be a problem if the unit has an automatic switch-off that’s triggered when the device is knocked down. If your heaters lack this sensor, replace them with units that have it.

Home Monitoring Products go Mainstream

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With the explosion of security-based home surveillance products/apps, there’s a growing trend in getting surveillance systems that monitor users themselves.

1HPiper

This product’s wide-angle camera allows you to view live video of your home, from anywhere, right on your smartphone. It can:

  • Detect motion
  • Control lights, temperature and appliances
  • Record short videos
  • View inside the home

Canary

Similar to Piper, it provides:

  • Live video and audio
  • Motion detection
  • Night vision
  • Air-quality monitoring

Doorbot

This app allows you to see who’s at your house’s door, regardless of where you are.

  • Better than a peephole.
  • Consider it “visitor ID.”
  • You can answer the door remotely.

There’s no need to do anything while these home monitoring systems nonchalantly collect data. Imagine all the advantages of such technology: catching a burglar is the best benefit, but what about catching a spouse cheating; catching your kids doing drugs; seeing that your kids came home from school safely; learning who in the household keeps drinking up all the soda. Though such surveillance can start out as very annoying, people can become quite used to it, say experts.

Some experts claim that this technology may bring the entire clan closer together. Others insist that it’s spying: checking up on someone without their permission. I have similar systems and use them to watch the home while on business along with check in on the family having dinner. It makes being apart not as difficult.

When this kind of technology becomes the standard and not the exception (and you can count on that shift), it will be the new normal, something that people will know about from an early age, the way life is. It may seem potentially intrusive now because it’s new; it’s not our normal, yet.

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

Protect Your Home without a Gun: Effective Ways

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Yes, you can protect your home without a gun. Having been in the security industry for many years, I have instructed homeowners on proven ways to protect their home without using a firearm. Here are proven ways to protect your home without a gun.

5HPepper Spray

This stuff works. Just getting the mist in your face from it being carried upwind will make you cough and your eyes burn. Imagine what this chemical will do when sprayed directly into the face of a home intruder.

House Watching

  • Have a house sitter stay at your place while you’re on vacation.
  • Arrange to have trusted people drop by occasionally as well.
  • Use a monitoring firm that will send help if an intruder trips an alarm.

Exterior Fortification

  • If possible install flood lights, particularly near secluded portals.
  • Employ a motion sensor that flips the lights on.
  • Plant thorn-bearing brush under windows and other areas where a burglar might creep around.

Get a Dog

  • Not only will the homeowner be awakened by even a tiny dog’s frantic barking when it hears/smells a stranger on the premises, but it will get the attention of neighbors. Many a burglar will flee when little Princess begins yipping like mad, let alone Duke.
  • If the dog alarm goes off, call 9-1-1.
  • Grab the baseball bat or golf club (that you have at your bedside) to prepare for possible defense.
  • Don’t get ahead of yourself with swords or weaponry you’re not trained to use, or that look effective but can’t be swung in limited space.

Cameras

  • Arm your perimeter with a complete surveillance system.
  • Security cameras, when detecting motion, can emit a siren or lighting that can alert the homeowner via a smartphone.
  • Use apps that allow you to view your home from your mobile device.
  • Install cameras inside your house as well.

Home security system

  • A home alarm screams when you can’t.
  • Home security systems call the police when you aren’t able.
  • Home security alarms deter intruders who fear they might get caught.

If guns make you feel unnerved, you just learned how you can protect your home without a gun.

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