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Home Security For The Holidays
The holidays are here, and whether you’re hosting the festivities or going out of town, you want to make sure your home is secure. First and foremost, if you don’t have them already, you may consider installing a home security camera system. A home security system will alert you if and when your alarm system is triggered or motion is detected, and security cameras can record pertinent footage as necessary. Should these alerts indicate criminals are on or around your premises, you can quickly contact authorities. For those of you who will be away for the holidays, an empty home is prime target. You should employ measures to make it seem like someone is home. The following are some security tips and advice to safeguard your property and avoid being targeted by thieves.
Hire a house or pet-sitter.
If possible, and if you feel comfortable with it, hire an overnight house-sitter. Before hiring, be sure to do a background check. Depending on your needs and instructions, duties may include mowing the lawn, taking the trash out, shoveling the driveway, or feeding and walking pets. If you are not comfortable with a stranger staying in your home, you may want to enlist a trusted friend or relative to either stay at your home or stop in regularly to handle these tasks.
Put your mail/newspaper subscription on hold.
Nothing screams “we’re away” more than mail and newspapers piling up. Ask your post office to hold your mail or have someone collect and sort your mail daily. If you have a newspaper subscription, pause delivery or inquire about switching to an online subscription.
Make use of curtains.
As previously mentioned, for burglars, there’s nothing more alluring than an empty home. For small windows, you want to close the curtains to shield your home from prying eyes. But you also want to keep some curtains ajar as curtains closed all day and night may look suspicious.
Set up sensors and timers for lights and sprinklers.
Along the same lines, invest in timers and sensors that can turn on and off at random intervals or that you can control remotely. These can help with the illusion that someone is home and are more cost and energy efficient than leaving your lights on.
Unplug electronics.
Avoid any potential accidents by unplugging your electronics and appliances. That way you can rest easy knowing you didn’t accidentally leave something on.
Leave a radio on.
Much like the lights make it appear that someone is home, the sound of a radio will do the same. An inexpensive, battery-powered radio should suffice.
Turn down the doorbell volume.
Some burglars are bold and will go so far as to ring the doorbell to confirm whether someone is home or not. If you lower the volume of your doorbell, and possibly have a radio on, they might assume the homeowners just can’t hear someone at the door.
Don’t leave spare keys at home.
Hiding keys around your home never a good idea when you’re away. Be sure you’ve collected all your keys before you leave. If you worry about losing them while on vacation, leave them with a trusted family member or neighbor.
Double and triple-check your doors.
You want to check all your doors and windows and any other point of entry before you leave to ensure they are locked and secure. Be sure your locks are working properly. If possible, install two or three locks on your main and back doors for added security.
Light up your surroundings.
Keeping the exterior of your home well-lit will help to keep intruders away. Most like to sneak around in the dark so installing a few motion-sensitive lights around your home should deter them from approaching.
Be wary of sharing information.
Social media is a fun way to keep your friends and family up-to-date on what’s going on in your life. Unfortunately, thieves like to watch social media for any easy targets. Try to avoid announcing when you will be away, constantly checking in and sharing status updates about your trip, especially if your accounts are public.
Invest in a security safe.
A quality safe hidden in your home can keep your valuables (ex. jewelry, important documents) safe. A safe will reduce the chances of burglars making off with anything valuable. A secure combination can stall them until police arrive, and bolting your safe down will add extra security.
Don’t leave a portable GPS in the car.
These days, most cars have built-in GPS systems, but if you utilize a portable GPS, do not leave it in plain sight. This is especially important if you’re leaving your car at the airport or somewhere else. Often times, when thieves break into your car and access your portable GPS, they may figure out how to get to your unattended home.
Share your own home security tips with us and your peers on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest!
For a great selection of security cameras and CCTV surveillance equipment, visit SecurityCamExpert.com. Call 800-203-6294 to speak with a representative and inquire about our free quotes and site surveys.
Happy New Year From SecurityCamExpert.com!
It’s been another great year providing you with the quality security cameras and surveillance systems you deserve. We have had the great pleasure of serving our fine customers, both old and new, and look forward to continuing this into the New Year.
What were your greatest achievements of 2016? What do you look forward to the most for 2017? Share with us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
As a friendly reminder, we will be closed on Monday, January 2, 2017. We appreciate your understanding, and from everyone at SecurityCamExpert.com, we wish you a happy and prosperous 2017!
SecurityCamExpert.com Sends Warm Wishes For The Holiday Season!
The holiday season is here and everyone at SecurityCamExpert.com is grateful for another year filled with your loyalty and support. We value each and every one of you, which is why we are always working hard to provide you with the quality products and service you deserve.
As a reminder, we will be closed on Monday, December 26, 2016, in observance of the Christmas holiday. Our normal business hours will resume on Tuesday, December 27, 2016. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
From the SecurityCamExpert.com family to yours, we wish you a happy and safe holiday season!
Essential Features For Your Home Security Cameras
The holidays are here, which means it’s time for things like holiday shopping and family vacations. Unfortunately, this also means it is the best time for burglars to strike. You want to protect your home and the expensive gifts under your tree, but you can’t be home all the time. Lucky for you, security cameras can be. These security camera features will help you get the most of out of your home surveillance system.
Motion Sensors
Motion sensing technology is extremely important in identifying suspicious or unusual behavior. Without motion sensors, your surveillance would need to be on 24/7, which can waste precious power and storage space on mundane recordings. Motion sensors allow your system to kick into action as needed. Mobile alerts are usually offered in conjunction with this technology. Aside from motion sensors, audio sensing takes your security system much further by alerting you or recording when sounds are detected around the security camera.
Two-way Audio
With two-way audio, you can communicate with people who may be in or outside of your home.
Investing in a security camera with speakers enables communication between you and whoever may be near your camera. For example, if someone is knocking at your door and you’re not home, you can instantly communicate with them through your connected device. Or if someone has broken into your home, you can alert them that they are being recorded and that authorities are en route.
Field Of View
The field of view depends on what you value more – detail or wide view. A camera with a narrower field of view will obviously capture less, however, it will offer more detail. A wide field of view makes the camera seem farther away but offers more viewing range without having to reposition or angle the camera (think panoramic view). Knowing where you want to place your security cameras will help you understand which field of view will work best.
Video Quality
Video quality has greatly improved over the years. These days, most security cameras come with 720p resolution as the standard, and go as high as 1080p resolution for recording and streaming. But before you go ahead and splurge on that high definition security camera, you must first be sure that your Internet connection can handle it (1080p feeds can use up lots of bandwidth).
Power Source
You can go wired or wireless, depending on your personal preference and what your environment allows. Wired solutions simply need an outlet, and possibly extension cords, depending on the location. Other security cameras offer PoE capabilities, and some are battery operated.
Low-light/Nighttime Settings
Low light security cameras can make the most with a faint hint of light. The technology works to create a brighter image with discernible details, however, without a light source, the camera will not work. Most cameras with this technology will emit their own near-infrared energy while remaining relatively inconspicuous.
Thermal imaging, on the other hand, does not depend on light. Instead, it uses heat to monitor an area. While thermal imaging can work in total darkness, it does lack fine details and color.
Cloud vs. Local Storage
Surveillance storage is an important aspect of security systems. Without archived videos of an incident, you have no evidence to prove that a perpetrator did anything wrong. With local storage, your footage is saved directly to a nearby storage drive. Sometimes this is built into your DVR or NVR, other times you may have an external hard drive. The downfall to this type of storage is that you may run out of space quickly, especially if you do not have a motion detection feature.
Cloud storage is relatively unlimited (in the sense of availability), however, you may be charged fees depending on the Cloud service. Also, cloud storage usually dumps old footage after a specified amount of time, so if you would like to keep your video clips, you will have to offload it from your cloud account to your local drive or another cloud account.
Now that you know what to look for in your home security cameras, feel free to shop our selection online at SecurityCamExpert.com or call 1-888-203-6294 to speak with a representative directly. And don’t forget to connect with us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and Pinterest!
Fireworks Safety Tips For National Safety Month
Here at SecurityCamExpert.com, we care about you and your safety. With the 4th of July holiday upon us, it is important to remember that fireworks are fun, but they can also be very dangerous. In fact, on the holiday, two out of five fires reported are started by fireworks (via National Fire Protection Association).
Before you start your Independence Day celebrations, please review these fireworks safety tips.
- Sparklers burn at 1200°F. Who doesn’t love sparklers? While they seem like innocent fun for kids and adults, improper handling can result in avoidable injuries.
- Leave the fireworks to the professionals. Consumer fireworks pose a threat to your safety as well as the safety of others around you. Not to mention that fireworks are illegal in most cities.
- Safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public display conducted by trained professionals. Why not sit back, relax, and enjoy a beautiful fireworks display with your loved ones? There is no shortage of fireworks displays, especially for the holiday.
- Never pick up fireworks after a display – may still be active. Children are especially curious, so be vigilant of your kids and aware of the surroundings to avoid any potential accidents.
Feel free to share any other safety tips with us and your peers on our social media – Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and Pinterest.
We hope you enjoy a fun and safe holiday weekend. Happy 4th of July from your friends at SecurityCamExpert.com!
Valentine’s Day Fun Facts
With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, the stress may be setting in for the procrastinators out there. To lighten the mood, we’ve decided to share ten fun facts about the love-filled holiday.
1. In 1537, England’s King Henry VII officially declared Feb. 14 the holiday of St. Valentine’s Day.
2. In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who would be their Valentine. They would wear this name pinned onto their sleeves for one week for everyone to see. This was the origin of the expression “to wear your heart on your sleeve.”
3. The Italian city of Verona, where Shakespeare’s lovers Romeo and Juliet lived, receives about 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet every Valentine’s Day.
4. The red rose was the favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love.
5. Each year, over 50 million roses are given for Valentine’s Day worldwide.
6. In order of popularity, Valentine’s Day cards are given to teachers, children, mothers, wives, sweethearts and pets.
7. 220,000 is the average number of wedding proposals on Valentine’s Day each year.
8. Richard Cadbury created the first Valentine’s Day candy box in the 1800s.
9. About 8 billion candy hearts will be produced this year; that’s enough candy to stretch from Rome, Italy to Valentine, Arizona 20 times and back again.
10. Over $1 billion worth of chocolate is purchased for Valentine’s Day in the U.S.
Bonus Fact: Were having a sale! Starting on Monday, February 9, 2015 until Valentine’s Day, when you spend $300 or more at SecurityCamExpert.com, you’ll receive a complimentary box of chocolates. Consider it our way of showing our adoration for you; a little Valentine’s Day gift from us to you.
This offer applies to both phone orders and online orders, however, you must mention the promotion when ordering. For online orders, please use the Order Comments box to note the promotion. This offer applies to website pricing only, and orders of at least $300 or more. This offer may not be combined with other offers; limit one per customer. Offer valid February 9-14, 2015.
Which facts were surprising to you? Do you have any facts to share? You can reach us on our social networks – Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and Pinterest. And be sure to act fast – our special offer ends on Valentine’s Day!
Happy Thanksgiving From SecurityCamExpert.com!
SecurityCamExpert.com wishes you a Happy Thanksgiving! We are truly thankful for each and every one of you and your support. We work hard to provide quality products to keep you safe.
We will be closed on Thursday, November 27, 2014 and Friday, November 28, 2014 for the Thanksgiving holiday. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Our normal business hours will resume on Monday, December 2, 2014.
We appreciate your understanding and hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend!
Holiday Layaway Angels
The holiday season is usually a joyous time, when families and loved ones reconvene and spend quality time together. But for some, this can be a stressful time as it’s also the season of gift giving. For those struggling to get by, it may seem near impossible to provide their loved ones with gifts they want or need.
Some stores offer layaway plans, allowing people to somewhat reserve an item and pay in installments. This is helpful for those who live paycheck to paycheck, offering a way to pay off items a little bit at a time rather than paying one lump sum upfront.
But some people really get into the spirit of giving and have been nicknamed “Layaway Santas” or Layaway Angels”. These are people who, whether anonymously or not, pay off strangers’ layaway accounts. This phenomenon gained popularity in 2011, when the first of the “Layaway Santas” struck – the person put down $500 to pay off three layaway accounts.
Since then this generous act has gained attention and many are following suit. Just this year, one Florida man spent $20,000 paying off 76 layaway accounts at a local Wal-Mart store. There is even a website set up (http://payawaythelayaway.org/) where people can donate as little or as much as they want.
The best testimony comes from the families on the receiving end of these holiday miracles. For them, a weight is being lifted off of their shoulders. Even if it is temporary, stress is relieved and the families can enjoy a blessed and blissful holiday.
The bottom line is that these people have earned their titles as “Layaway Angels”. By helping families in need they are spreading joy and cheer. And isn’t that what it’s really all about?