How Home Alarm Monitoring Can Save Your Life

While most homeowners understand that a monitored home alarm is a great tool for catching a burglar in their tracks, many are still unaware that this is a tool that can proactively save your life. Maybe people think dangerous events at home just don’t happen anymore. But the numbers tell a very different story when it comes to events like these.

Burglary and Home Invasion

Home burglaries have become so commonplace that the FBI now has four separate categories of burglary: completed burglary, forcible entry, unlawful entry without force and attempted forcible entry.

But aren’t most burglaries non-confrontational events? Not necessarily. According to a Department of Justice report, a member of the household is present for approximately 28% of burglaries, and 7% of these burglary victims experienced some type of violent crime during the episode. It could happen to anyone, and your home alarm monitoring is designed to help prevent it.

House Fire

Everyone thinks their house won’t catch on fire, until it does. “Aren’t house fires only for irresponsible homeowners?” “Don’t house fires only happen in bad neighborhoods?” The answer to both of those questions is no. U.S. fire departments respond to an average of 355,400 home structure fires per year, resulting in 2,560 civilian fire deaths. House fires can happen because of a variety of factors, including environmental ones. Even responsible homeowners in the best neighborhoods are not immune.

Your home alarm monitoring service is designed to get emergency responders to your home in minutes, without you having to alert them yourself. You will get an alert to your smartphone, but the 24/7 monitoring center will be notified at the same time – and they’re already getting help to the scene, working to save your home and your life.

Other Life-Threatening Dangers

An intelligent home monitoring service is also designed to intervene when dangerous environmental factors are present. If deadly carbon monoxide is detected in the home, your system will alert you so you can get everyone out of the house before they start experiencing symptoms. If a tornado is approaching, a smartphone alert can prompt you to get the family in the car and flee to a safer destination.

Remember, home alarm monitoring technology no longer relies on wires and cables to work. Instead, a dedicated cellular connection ensures you get the lifesaving alerts you need, along with an immediate signal to the monitoring center. That’s all it takes for help to be on its way, and that’s why you need monitored home security. Wilmington homeowners, call Security Instrument if you’d like to learn more. We’ll be happy to speak with you.

About Security Instrument

Security Instrument is a full-service, independently-owned security integrator that offers numerous electronic security options. We serve thousands with commercial and home security in Delaware, MD, NJ & PA.

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Professional vs DIY Home Security: 5 Reasons To Contact A Local Alarm Company

The do-it-yourself movement is here to stay, it seems – but when it comes to home security, you don’t want to go it alone. Installing a security system is on a whole different level than your average DIY home improvement project; here are some of the most important reasons why you don’t want to attempt it.

You need a customized security solution.

A DIY home security project is an enormous undertaking. From the moment you get to your local retailer and see the choices in front of you, you’re baffled and overwhelmed. Guess what? It doesn’t get any better from there.

Your store’s sales people don’t specialize in home security, and that means they can’t help you choose the right system for you. It also means they can’t give you reliable advice on installing it.

Now, compare that with the experience of a professional home security installation. A security installer starts by providing a consultation at your home; it’s that appointment that gives them the ability to recommend a customized security solution especially for your property.

You need clean, accurate installation.

A wireless home security installation is less invasive than a traditional system, but it still requires proficiency to complete. One thing a DIY home security job is likely to leave is a mess – but with a professional installation, your installer completes the job quickly and cleanly. The system will be tested before he leaves, so you can rest assured the installation is accurate and the system will work properly. A DIY installation doesn’t offer this simplicity, and that will end up costing more in the long run.

You need support long after the installation.

So, you bought other devices to go with your security system: sensors, cameras, maybe other smart devices to integrate. That’s great – but what happens when something goes awry with any of them? Even if your purchases are warrantied, you’re not likely to have a lot of support from the manufacturer or the retailer. But if your installation was performed by a security provider, you’ll have access to support anytime something goes wrong. And if they provide your monitoring services, you’ll have support for that too.

To learn more about professional installation vs. DIY home security, Wilmington homeowners can contact Security Instrument. We will be glad to provide a free home security consultation.

About Security Instrument

Security Instrument is a full-service, independently-owned security integrator that offers numerous electronic security options. We serve thousands with commercial and home security in Delaware, MD, NJ & PA.

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What is Alarm Monitoring and Why Do You Need It?

It’s one thing to have an alarm. It’s another thing to have your alarm monitored by a professional monitoring center. Read on to find out why there’s no substitution for a monitored alarm.

Everyone needs help in an emergency.

No matter what someone does for a living, how skilled they are at self-defense or how tough the man or woman of the house is, everyone needs help when there’s an emergency. People of all professions – including fire fighters, law enforcement and military members – need help like anyone else if there’s a break-in or fire. Help is exactly what a monitored alarm will send in these events. Without a connection to a monitoring service, an alarm system is far less effective. An unmonitored alarm will sound in the event of a break-in, but the help stops there.

An emergency can happen to anyone.

Maybe you think a burglary or house fire could never happen, but the numbers tell a very different story. Nationwide, there were an estimated 7,694,086 property crimes in 2017; that’s according to the most recently available FBI statistics. And when you consider that property owners suffered losses estimated at $15.3 billion as a result (not counting arson, which would add on even more losses), these clearly are not victimless crimes. A break-in is no small matter, and it can happen to anyone. Likewise for fire: Government statistics show that U.S. fire departments respond to an average of 355,400 home structure fires per year, resulting in 2,560 civilian fire deaths. When you consider these numbers, it’s clear an emergency can happen to anyone.

An emergency doesn’t give you time.

When an event becomes an emergency, there’s no more time to waste. If an intruder breaks in or a fire breaks out, you may not have seconds to spare. That means no time to call for help, including calling 911. How does a monitored alarm solve that? If there’s a break-in, it springs into action by contacting the monitoring center immediately. If there’s a fire, it does the same thing the moment the smoke is detected. When your monitored alarm sounds, that’s the moment the agents at the monitoring center are sending help. Because you just don’t have time to call for it.

These are the reasons you need a professionally monitored alarm – one that’s connected to a center where trained security agents are standing by 24/7 to protect your home security. Wilmington homeowners that want to learn more, please call Security Instrument. We will be glad to answer your questions.

About Security Instrument

Security Instrument is a full-service, independently-owned security integrator that offers numerous electronic security options. We serve thousands with commercial and home security in Delaware, MD, NJ & PA.

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Home Security: The Indispensable Elements That Make Your Life Better

It’s no secret that choosing a security system can be overwhelming. With so many configuration options, how do you know what the indispensable elements are? Rest assured, we have you covered. The indispensable elements of a security system are:

Motion Detectors

Motion detectors are used to detect the opening of doors, windows and other vulnerable entry points on your property. When the detectors sense motion around them and the system is armed, they send an emergency signal to the central station so the alarm will activate and the security operators will respond.

In addition to making sure all doors and windows are protected by motion detectors, some homeowners decide to add extra detectors for their drawers, safes, sheds and other areas they want to make less vulnerable. This can be a good strategy, particularly if you have a large property. 

Professional Alarm Monitoring

Professional alarm monitoring is the inarguable, number one essential of home security. Without the monitoring service, there’s nowhere for the motion detectors to send a signal to; the only thing your system will do is sound an audible alarm. If you want help to be sent to your home, then monitoring is crucial. When they receive the signal, the trained security operators at the monitoring center will respond and send help right away.

Cellular Connectivity

The home security system of your childhood was hardwired into the infrastructure of the home, including the landline phone. Now that you’re a homeowner and no longer own a landline, you need a home security system with cellular connectivity. This ensures a few things: first, that the connection can’t be cut with scissors or other burglary tools. Second, it has a battery backup so it will still work if there’s a power outage; that system you grew up with didn’t work if power lines went down. And third, it can be installed wirelessly and easily.

These are the indispensable elements of today’s home security systems. To discuss your specific needs for home security, Milton homeowners can request a free home security consultation from Security Instrument.

About Security Instrument

Security Instrument is a full-service, independently-owned security integrator that offers numerous electronic security options. We serve thousands with commercial and home security in Milton, Delaware and its surrounding areas.

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How Schedules and Scenes Help Run Your Smart Home

Today’s homeowners have busy schedules: work, kids…and somewhere in there, relaxing. No wonder families are looking to devices like Alexa, Google Home and Amazon Echo to help them manage all of it. Fortunately, your security system can play a role too. If you’ve chosen to integrate smart home technology, then the built-in features on your home security app can help out with your household management. Those features Schedules and Scenes. Let’s look at what they can do.

Run Your Smart Home with Schedules

Open up your app, and find the Schedules feature. Decide what you want it to do for you, and it will use your past security data to make it happen. Want the cameras to start rolling only in certain situations? Your Schedules feature can do that. Don’t want the camera to record the kids running outside to play? Schedules is the place in the app to program that. You can even adjust your smart thermostat ahead of time using Schedules, which can help homeowners save money on utilities.

Run Your Smart Home with Scenes

There’s another feature on your home security app that can help you run home more simply. It’s called Scenes, and it lets you manage your whole network of smart home devices with one-tap commands on the app.

You can even adjust your smart thermostat ahead of time using Schedules, which can help homeowners save money on utilities.

 

How does it work? There are four pre-set scenes that are already programmed in your app: Home, Away, Sleep and Wake Up. Although each scene already features certain commands, you can add or delete commands as you see fit. Any of your scenes can have commands added or deleted to control when lights, locks, thermostat and alarm do what you want them to do. You can even create your own custom scenes, which is another great way to get more control over your home. And your Alexa, Google Home or Echo devices are connectable.

Schedules and Scenes offer you even more control over your home via smart home security. Willington homeowners who want to learn more, please call Security Instrument. We would be happy to answer your questions.

About Security Instrument

Security Instrument is a full-service, independently-owned security integrator that offers numerous electronic security options. We serve thousands with commercial and home security in Delaware, MD, NJ & PA.

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Home Security: Why are Wireless Keypads Better

Do wireless keypads really offer a big advantage in home security? Yes! For those who are still attached to an outdated, hardwired home security system, here are the reasons you should consider upgrading to wireless from the keypad up.

The installation is less aggressive.

Older home security systems required everything to be hardwired to the home’s infrastructure. This was an aggressive installation, with the unavoidable hazards of drilling and electrical work included (and, the added labor made for a more costly installation appointment to boot). But with a wireless home security installation, everything from the keypad to the sensors are less invasive on the home and more affordable for the homeowner.   

The technology is more reliable.

The technology required to support an older home security system isn’t just outdated; it’s also unreliable. What happens if the landline phone service is interrupted, or a home invader cuts the cord? The system is immediately rendered ineffective. The same goes for a power outage; no power, no home security.

But with a wireless keypad and wireless home security, these unfortunate events don’t disturb the system. Wireless security detaches your system from the technology of yesterday, and your family will be better off because of it.

The problems are easier to solve.

No system is perfect, and even wireless home security has the occasional need for maintenance or repair. The good news is, wireless technology allows most problems to be solved remotely rather than with an expensive service call. If your wireless system is experiencing problems, we may be able to troubleshoot and repair the issue without a visit to your home.

Wireless home security is more than convenience; it’s money-saving, home-preserving technology that just makes sense. To learn more about wireless keypads for home security, Wilmington homeowners can callSecurity Instrument. We will be glad to give you more information.

About Security Instrument

Security Instrument is a full-service, independently-owned security integrator that offers numerous electronic security options. We serve thousands with commercial and home security in Delaware, MD, NJ & PA.

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Show Some Love to Your Home: A Guide to Home Control

It’s often called the most romantic time of the year, but that loved-themed holiday in February isn’t just for that kind of love; it can also be about taking better care of the things we value most, like our homes. One of the easiest ways to do this is by making the home security upgrade to home control technology. Here’s what it can do for your home.

Make Activity More Transparent

Transparency is at a premium these days – but when it comes to your home, you can have it thanks to home control. For those of us who are unable to be home during the day, seeing what’s going on is possible because of the smart cameras that can be viewed anytime you want. You’ll also receive a video alert to your phone when someone is captured near one of the cameras, whether it’s someone knocking on the door or the kids coming home from school. Want to watch them later? You can keep them as long as you need to.

Make Your Habits Memorable

We’re talking about making your daily habits memorable to your system. It can memorize your household activity and patterns, and you can program it to only send alerts when people are captured on camera at unusual times of day. If you want to turn alerts off for the weekend, you can do it. Home control is about intuitively managing your home security so it works for your family without inconvenience.

Make Motion Detection Matter More  

Although a standard home security system comes with motion detection, the power of that detection is multiplied when home control is introduced. Motion detection is more intelligent with home control, and it packs an even bigger punch when you factor in the smartphone alerts you’ll get when your motion detectors are triggered. Whether it’s a break-in or activity around a protected area of the home, receiving an alert from your home control makes your motion detection really matter.

If you want to turn alerts off for the weekend, you can do it. Home control is about intuitively managing your home security so it works for your family without inconvenience.

Make You Aware of Hazards

Not all threats are related to home security. Some are environmental, like fire threats that can destroy your home, rising water that can flood it, freezing temperatures that threaten your plumbing pipes, and deadly carbon monoxide in the air. Home control sends an alert to your phone as soon as those things are present, so you can intervene quickly and appropriately.

Undoubtedly, home control is a great way to show your home the love it deserves. To learn more about this great tool for home security, Wilmington area homeowners can contact Security Instrument. We will be glad to answer your questions.

About Security Instrument

Security Instrument is a full-service, independently-owned security integrator that offers numerous electronic security options. We serve thousands with commercial and home security in Delaware, MD, NJ & PA.

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Mobile Apps and the Future of Home Security

The complicated home security system of the past has been replaced by easier, more user-friendly mobile app management. Managing your home security system with a mobile app is the future, and it’s a future that homeowners can embrace. Here’s why.

Apps are already in our lives.

We already use mobile apps to do all kinds of things – conduct our banking, pay our bills, shop for our homes, and even order in dinner. Why wouldn’t we trust a home security app to help us lock and unlock doors, arm and disarm the system, and view our security videos on demand? As your security integrator, we can show you how to use your home security app to do all these things and more.

Apps are simpler than traditional websites.  

People have been using the web to accomplish their personal checklists for a long time. But as the years go by, we start expecting those tasks to get easier and easier – after all, isn’t that how technology is supposed to work? Unfortunately, many websites simply aren’t there yet. But a well-designed home security mobile app is there, with a single point for quickly performing your tasks. Rather than a protracted login process, an app sends you to your home security panel in a few quick taps. It’s simpler than the web, and even more effective.  

Apps meet our fluctuating security needs.

Our home security needs will develop over time, and there should be a simple way to make the system acclimate to them. One great example is hiring help around the house. Whether it’s a house sitter, childcare worker or cleaning service, you’ll need to give them temporary access to the home with user codes that can be deactivated when they leave. With a traditional home security system, that was a difficult process – but with a mobile app, it’s simple.

We already use mobile apps to do all kinds of things – conduct our banking, pay our bills, shop for our homes, and even order in dinner. Why wouldn’t we trust a home security app to help us lock and unlock doors, arm and disarm the system, and view our security videos on demand?

These are just some of the great reasons to use a mobile app for managing your home security. Wilmington area homeowners, contact Security Instrument if you would like to learn more. We would love to answer your questions.

About Security Instrument

Security Instrument is a full-service, independently-owned security integrator that offers numerous electronic security options. We serve thousands with commercial and home security in Delaware, MD, NJ & PA.

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Ex-Con Confessions: What Burglars Don’t Want to See

Sometimes, reporters ask reformed criminals to give their tips on preventing break-ins. They may ask questions about what the burglars saw as good opportunities for breaking into a residence, vs. what things might have stopped them from making an attempt. In this case, our tips are based on those things that stop burglars – those things they absolutely hate to see when they attempt to break in to a home. Those things include:

Locked Doors and Windows

With one-third of all home invasion crimes classified as “unlawful entries” – meaning there was no forced entry applied to get into the home – it makes sense that burglars hate it when doors and windows are securely locked. After all, an unlawful entry is when the perpetrator gets into the home through an unsecured opening. And when the doors have antiquated locks that require keys to open, it’s too easy for a homeowner to unintentionally roll out that red carpet. How? By forgetting to lock up the house when leaving.

How do you make sure this doesn’t happen to you? With a smart home security system that lets you lock your doors from anywhere, using a simple home security app on your smartphone. Controlling your system through the app means you can even close intruders’ favorite “secret” entrance: the garage door. Whether you do from the car, the office, or anywhere you happen to be, you can easily secure these important home entrances.

Homeowners Who Stay Home

Practiced burglars will surveil a house for days to see what the homeowners’ coming-and-going patterns are. It helps them prepare to strike at the right time, normally while the homeowner is at work. This is why so many home burglaries happen during weekdays. Yes, there’s broad daylight – but a burglar can learn to work around that as long as the house is empty.  

With a smart home security system, you can reduce the risk of being targeted while you’re at work during the day. You’ll know instantly about any uncommon activity at home while you’re away, and your video alerts can even show you what’s happening in real time. If there is a forced entry, your alarm will sound and the monitoring center will send help right away.

Effective, Smart Home Security

Burglars really do hate home security systems. One study of convicted burglars revealed that 83 percent of them checked for home security systems when looking for new houses to target, and 60 percent said they avoided homes altogether when it appeared there was a home security system. Those stories you hear about burglars disabling alarm systems? Those are outdated, hard wired alarms — not the wireless, smart home security systems of today. If you’re still using an outdated system to protect your home, it’s time to consider an upgrade.

Take it from ex-criminals: Home security systems are the best tools for keeping burglars at bay. To learn more about high quality smart home security, Delaware Valley homeowners can call Security Instrument for a free home security consultation.

About Security Instrument

Security Instrument is a full-service, independently-owned security integrator that offers numerous electronic security options. We serve thousands with commercial and home security in Delaware, MD, NJ & PA.

 

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Why Does Your Home Security System Need Glass Break Sensors?

Yes! We highly recommend glass break detection. While motion detectors may be enough to stop an intruder in his tracks, consider this: If the intruder decides that breaking the glass on a door or window is his ticket to entry, the glass break detectors will most likely be the only thing stopping him from going any further.

But why would an intruder break the glass?

Why would a burglar or other criminal break the glass on a door? He may do it in order to reach in and unlock the doorknob. And then, there’s that longtime favorite entry point of trespassers: the sliding glass door, especially if it’s located in the year of the house facing the backyard. If a burglar or other intruder decides to use either of these entry methods, then having glass break detectors in your system is critical.

How do glass break detectors work?

Glass break detectors are sensors that monitor for the sound and vibrations of breaking glass. Effective glass break detection is tamper-proof and features dual shatter recognition technology, meaning it picks up on both high and low frequencies. Because this advanced signal processing will pick up on both the initial blow to the glass and the sound of the subsequent shattering, this greatly reduces the risk of false alarms. If your system has older glass break detection, this superior technology may be just one reason to consider an upgrade.

These things considered, glass break detectors are critical to home security. Delaware homeowners who are interested in glass break detection and other home security technology, call Security Instrument for more information.

About Security Instrument

Security Instrument is a full-service, independently-owned security integrator that offers numerous electronic security options. We serve thousands with commercial and home security in Delaware, MD, NJ & PA.

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