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10 Things To Put In A Fire-Resistant Safe

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Your house isn’t going to catch on fire, right? Well, you hope not, so maybe you even fool yourself into believing it can’t happen. But I’ll bet you have fire insurance, and maybe a collapsible escape ladder, and a fire extinguisher or two. I have all this, and I also back up all my digital data in the cloud, including pictures and documents.

And I have a fire-resistant safe.

All this preparation is so that if there ever is a fire, I can reduce or eliminate any risks to lives and valuables.

Most documentation is replaceable, but certain things are not. Sometimes, when documentation is replaceable, getting duplicates can be a nightmare.

Mementos: Photos, love letters, children’s drawings, and so on. You probably have a box full of things that you like to browse through every ten years or so. Or photo albums on a shelf. If these items were incinerated, you’d be very unhappy.

Insurance papers: Home, auto, life, health, and business insurance papers should be protected.

Health related information: if you have health issues and multiple files, records, and prescriptions, they should be protected.

Financials: Documentation regarding investments, bank account numbers, stocks, bonds and coins should be protected.

Wallet: Photocopy everything in your wallet front and back and put the copy and extra credit cards and cash should be protected.

Identification: Birth certificates, passports, driver’s licenses, Social Security cards, insurance cards, and any other identifying documents should be protected.

Titles: Deeds, boat, and automobile titles should be protected.

Wills: Any and all documentation related to a will should be protected.

Jewelry: Most insurance providers require a safe in order to obtain insurance coverage.

Extras: I have an extra passport, extra credit cards, extras set of keys, extra emergency cash, and extra identification, all protected in my safe.

Robert Siciliano is a Personal and Home Security Expert for SentrySafe. See him Discussing burglar proofing your home on Fox Boston. Disclosures.

A Safe Alternative to Theft and Fire

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People steal. Therefore, safes exist. There has always been a need for a place to hide, store, and lock away valuables in order to protect them from thieves.

Hundreds or even thousands of years ago, safes were constructed from materials such as wood, granite, cement, brick, and even clay. Today, safes are made with some type of metal, combined with other materials. Safes have basically always incorporated a lock of some kind, and, to make things more difficult for criminals, have often been built to be either intentionally heavy or permanently installed.

Throughout the 19th century, as cities were developed and more and more houses were built, fires became an issue in overcrowded areas. Fire codes as we know them today didn’t exist. This created a need to protect valuables from more than thieves. New technologies were added to protect safes from fire damage. It wasn’t unusual for a safe to be lined with brick, asbestos, or plaster to slow down a fire.

Once high-quality, fire-resistant metal safes were introduced, banks and wealthy people snapped them up. But it wasn’t until the early 1930’s that SentrySafe introduced and perfected the fire-resistant safe as an affordable alternative for average people’s home security needs. Today, millions of SentrySafes like the Big Bolt Fire Safe are being deployed in homes and small businesses worldwide. Having a safe is just smart. Go to SentrySafe to learn more.

Robert Siciliano is a Personal and Home Security Expert for SentrySafe discussing home security and identity theft on TBS Movie and a Makeover. Disclosures.

Protecting Your Green

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By green, I mean what you might call your cashola, mula, peso, mark, deniro, bread…or just money.

I have a few, possibly contradictory philosophies about protecting one’s money. But hear me out.

First and foremost, never, ever fight a burglar, mugger, robber or home invader over money. If some whacko wants your dough, give it to him. I recommend keeping “chump change” on your person, or even at home, which you can easily hand over in the event of a violent demand. Toss it in one direction and run screaming in the other.

Keeping money under a mattress is generally not a good idea. Criminals flip over mattresses and slice them with knives. Often, criminals target a victim who they know has a mattress stuffed with cash, because the target told the wrong person about the mattress’s contents, and that person turned rat for a cut of the loot. Mattresses are also flammable.

A safe deposit box is a good idea, but not entirely practical. It usually costs money to have one. A safe deposit box certainly has its value. It’s generally located in a fire-resistant area of a bank, and is protected by a key. But there are drawbacks. Ask your bank how much your box is insured for, if insurance is even available. Also, keep in mind that safe deposit boxes are often located below ground, in areas that may be prone to flooding.

Banks are the best option for storing your money. Keeping your money in a bank account is the safest, as far as your personal security is concerned. Banks do “go under,” and money has gone missing, like at banks in third world countries, but here in the United States, banks are FDIC insured. And while a total meltdown of the banking system can negatively affect your cash position, you should put your money in the bank.

A safe is great. A SentrySafe Big Bolt is better. If you keep money in the house, it is essential it be stored in a fire-resistant safe. Having money sitting in a drawer or stuffed into a wall makes it vulnerable to thieves and fires. The caveat is that you really shouldn’t keep an excessive amount of money in your home. But I definitely recommend having emergency cash around.

If something like a natural disaster or serious power outage were to hinder your ability to get cash from banks or ATMs, having a smart but not excessive reserve can get you out of a jam.

Robert Siciliano is a Personal and Home Security Expert for SentrySafe discussing Home Security on NBC Boston. Disclosures.

Are Your Kids’ Friends Trouble?

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From childhood on, throughout life we develop relationships starting with your neighbors, classmates and eventually through work and of course through friends of friends. In high school I met this kid through my girlfriend’s girlfriend. He was a talented kid with lots of potential. I’m not using his real name, so let’s call him John.

John was great to hang with. He was fun and girls loved him. We got to know each other and were great friends, so I thought.

Then, items in my house began going missing. A coin collection, silver ounce bars, jewelry, watches, and a few sentimental items all vanished. I felt like I was losing my mind, assuming I was misplacing everything. None of it was very valuable, but it had value to a 16 year old.

One day when I came home from school, I found my father was freaking out that a ten-pound piggybank full of coins was missing from the kitchen counter. As soon as he saw me, he asked where John was. It was the first time he’d ever indicated that he had a bad feeling about my friend.

My dad called John’s mom, who said he had stayed home sick from school that day, but that she was at work so she didn’t know if he left the house. To this day my dad is certain — and I agree — that John went to my house and took the piggybank, in addition to all my missing items.

That was the last day I talked to John. It was also the day when I learned home security systems and safes are integral to any personal security plan.

Since that time, I have invested in SentrySafe fire-resistant safes. Their new Big Bolt Safe is the best they’ve made in 80 years. Check it out.

Robert Siciliano is a Personal and Home Security Expert Expert for SentrySafe discussing burglar proofing your home on Fox Boston. Disclosures.

Burglary from another Perspective

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I don’t see any signage saying “Home Security System”, and your front door is mostly glass and you sometimes leave the doors unlocked for bike rides.

I see you go to bed around 10 to 10:30. Most of your lights are off by nine. You rarely pull the shades down. You often leave a light on downstairs either in the front hall or over the kitchen stove. But when you leave the house for a night out all your lights are on until late night.

You have a newspaper delivered a 6:30 am and you’ve probably never met your paperboy because he only leaves you an envelope and picks it up without you two ever coming in contact.

You have that little dog and let it out around 7:30 am. Sometimes your kids walk the dog at 8 and I’m pretty sure you leave the door open for them when they come back.

During the day you have cleaners come at least once a month, It’s usually the last Monday of the month, they have their own key.

When your kids get home from school I sometimes see them flip up the mat at the front door if they forgot their key.

Every time you leave for work I see you are half way down the street before your garage door closes. I think it’s on a timer.

I looked up your family’s phone number in the directory, it’s listed. I’ve called a bunch of times from a payphone in front of the convenient store down the street and pretty much know when someone is home based on when they answer the phone.

It’s easy to follow you on Facebook, your names on the mailbox, all your kids and spouse is connected. I pretty much know who your extended family is and who your friends are and a bit about your plans. You can’t stop posting your whereabouts.

I’m not telling you all this to creep you out, although I know it’s creepy. But I can’t help pointing these things out. It’s my nature, I’m observant and I’m a burglar.

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist to Home Security Source discussing self defense and rape prevention on NBC Boston. Disclosures.

68 Year Old Grandmother Shoots Home Invaders

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In Nashville where smoked ribs, country music and 68 year old grandmothers sleep with shotguns, a take no prisoners Nana picked off two home invaders breaking in as she slept. She was quoted saying “Never in my whole life have I ever harmed anything or anybody, but I’ve never been put in that position.”

Well now she has and two men are full of lead as a result.

Her husband is wheelchair bound so when she heard them kicking the door she grabbed her gun. Apparently she has had a shotgun next to her bed her whole life and has had people laugh about it. Today nobody is laughing.

She also has a home security alarm system, which is definitely a layer of protection. I wonder if she had any signage outside alerting the home invaders. So as soon as the door came crashing in the alarm went off and so did the shotgun.

One guy was shot in the face, another in the chest and lost part of his finger.

She has no regrets she said. She did say she is glad she didn’t kill them as she would have felt bad about it forever.

I’m not saying you should or shouldn’t have a shotgun next to your bed. Either way as long as you survive you’ve done the right thing.

Additional measures of protection might be a big dog bowl outside, men’s army boots near the door, signage saying ADT Home Alarm, and in this case signage saying “Forget the Dog, Beware of Owner!”

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist toHome Security Source discussing Home Invasions on Maury Povich. Disclosures

Teens Trash Ex-Besties House When Away

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My assistant sends me this:

“Here’s a story that you can use for a Home Security blog if you want:

Jodie (my daughter) gets a phone call Friday night from her best friend Audrey about their old best friend Nancy. Nancy was Jodie and Audreys best friend up until 6-8 months ago when Nancy started hanging with “the wrong kids”.

Apparently this weekend Nancy decided it would be fun if her and her boyfriend and 2 other couples partied in Audrey’s house while Audrey and her family were away. It was easy for Nancy because she knew where the family hid the spare key.

So Nancy and her boyfriend and the 2 couples broke in to Audrey’s house, drank their booze, used their bedrooms and trashed the house.

Then the neighbors noticed something going on and knew the family wasn’t supposed to be there. Cops came, kids ran, they caught 2 who rolled on the 4 others. The police contacted Audrey’s parents who were asked by the police to press charges. Well Audrey’s parents didn’t press charges because they were friends with Nancy’s parents. Who have been oblivious to all of Nancy’s shenanigans as of lately.”

OMG! I’m not sure what amuses me the most about this story. On one hand we have the drama of “best friends”, on the other hand we have “teens gone wild” and on the other hand we have “Nancy’s shenanigans as of lately”!! Someone strap a video camera to that kid! MTV needs a new show!

Jodie’s best friend Audrey’s parents who are friends with Nancy’s parents could have avoided their home being used as an unauthorized teen social soiree if they:

Realized everyone including burglars, the mailman and especially Nancy knows where you hide the spare key.

Prohibited their child from socializing with anyone ever for any reason and kept her in the basement until she was 30.

Had a home security alarm system equipped with home security cameras to alert them to an unauthorized intrusion.

Just sayin’

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist toHome Security Source discussingADT Pulse on Fox News Live. Disclosures

Predators: Nurture or Nature?

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Have you ever watched a flock of seagulls on the beach? I live in close proximity to the ocean, and I see them all day: fishing, eating, and ultimately stealing from each other. Usually a more aggressive seagull chases and screams at a gull that’s just cracked open a clam. Sometimes the aggressor will snatch a fish right out of another’s beak, midflight. While this behavior may be cruel and unfair, it is natural. In the animal world, the strong thrive and the weak perish. It’s survival of the fittest.

Humankind has the conscious ability to discern that stealing is wrong, and the civilization to enforce laws against stealing. Nevertheless, there have always been thieves, many motives that go beyond hunger.

Theft is generally motivated either by greed, drug addiction, or survival instinct. Some thieves are born predators, wired that way from the start. Predators, by nature, fail to see any reason to refrain from harming or robbing others. To them, victimizing you is an entitlement. They can conjure a hundred reasons to explain why you deserve to be violated.

On the other hand, some predators are nurtured. These are people who may have been born into a destructive or abusive home, and over time, under the influence of others, developed drug or mental health issues. Their circumstances and confusion force them into survival mode. To hunt, harm, and rob their fellow man.

The chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime are real. It is essential that you be able to recognize predators all around you, in their different forms. They may look and act like us, but they think very differently. They have no respect for any boundaries between themselves and you, your home, or your small business. It is therefore essential that you protect what is yours.

That includes protecting yourself, through self-defense skills, and your stuff, with home security alarms, layers of protection, and a fire–resistant Big Bolt Safe from the best in the business, SentrySafe.

Robert Siciliano is a Personal and Home Security Expert for SentrySafe discussing home security and identity theft on TBS Movie and a Makeover. Disclosures

Barefoot Bandit Gets a Movie Deal

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Colton Harris Moore was busted for committing over 100 burglaries in the Pacific Northwest. He stole cars, speedboats and airplanes (at least 3). He is known as the “Barefoot Burglar” because he kicked off his shoes running from the police through the woods.

He was a “door knob jiggler”. Most of the homes didn’t have home security systems installed.

You may recall the Barefoot Bandit was arrested in the Bahamas after a boat chase that came to a halt when cops shot out the boats motor. This 19 year old has never taken a flying lesson but stole a plane in Indiana and crashed it off Abaco Island and he was hunted ever since.

This young adult achieved celebrity like status with over 20,000 Facebook fans. However, Harris-Moore isn’t one to be celebrated. He stole as much from the average hard worker as he does from the dot-com rich. And he admits it:

“I did things that were not only a violation of law, but also of trust, I can’t undo what I did. I can only try to make things better.” This was via a written statement provided by his lawyers.

He just signed a movie deal to make $1.3 million with 20th Century Fox. However he won’t earn any money from this, as all the funds will go to restitution.

  1. Lock your doors and windows
  2. Install a monitored alarm system. Consider ADT Pulse.
  3. Give your home that lived in look
  4. Leave the TV on LOUD while you are gone
  5. Install timers on your lights both indoor and outdoor
  6. Close the shades to prevent peeping inside
  7. Use defensive signage

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist to Home Security Source discussing burglar proofing your home on Fox Boston.

Snow Shovel Bandit Busted

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I know the last four letter word you want to hear is SNOW. But everyone needs to know the Snow Shovel Bandit has been sentenced to 6 years in prison!!

This guy generally broke into homes without home security alarms occupied by single women.

For a small time crook, this guy had a pretty solid and innovative business plan. The 51 year old basically undercut all the 9-12 year olds in the neighborhood that generally shovel snow for all the local single ladies.

He would approach the home owners and under charge them to shovel driveways and then ask for a few more bucks for spreading rocksalt. His scheme was to gain their trust while he was casing their homes.

So basically these women were paying this guy to shovel snow and case, and then burglarize their homes.

Sometimes moments after they left he’d kick in a door and rob the place, other times he’d do it at night when they were home!

Police checked with the local pawn shops for items that were stolen and were able to track him down.

This is a guy with a long criminal record with extensive burglary convictions. Obviously if he keeps getting caught he’s not that good at it. But achieving “Snow Shovel Bandit” status is quite an accomplishment. Take THAT Billy The Kid!

So I guess Rule #1 is if the person knocking on your door to shovel your driveway was born before 1990, I’d be suspicious. Accuse me of profiling; I’m just making a point.

Further, don’t open the door to strangers! Especially 51 year olds with shovels!

Install a home security system and keep it armed around the clock.

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist toHome Security Source discussingADT Pulse on Fox News. Disclosures