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View Security ONE Alarm Systems Blogs. News updates, Home Health blogs, and business security information will be displayed in order to help you…

  • Help Identify Arsonist

    Help Identify Arsonist

    Windsor Police are looking to identify suspects involved in an arson investigation at 781 Erie Street East.

    The fire broke out early Thursday morning and caused $500,000 in damage. The preliminary investigation findings indicate the fire was intentionally set.

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    Police say that their ongoing investigation has revealed two suspects involved in the arson. A white male suspect and a black male suspect were seen acting suspiciously around the building. Smoke was seen coming out of the building and the black male exited the building with one pant leg on fire. The male managed to put out the fire on his leg and he got into a black vehicle and they both drove off.

    Police say that these males were also seen by the building days prior and utilizing an older model red pick-up truck.

    They are described as male black, approx 5’6, with short dark hair,and in his late 20’s early 30’s. He was last seen wearing a grey hoodie, blue jeans and a white hat.

    The second is a white male, approx 5’7, with a mustache.

    Anyone with information is asked to contact Windsor Police at 519-255-6700 ext. 4330, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 519-258-8477 (TIPS), or online at www.catchcrooks.com.

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    To learn more adding smoke detectors to your security system, call 1-800-265-5317, or just CLICK HERE.

  • New Features of Total Connect 2.0

    New Features of Total Connect 2.0

    Security ONE’s Total Connect 2.0 from Honeywell has been enhanced with a number of exciting new features that help provide a dynamic user experience, and keep you connected to the things that matter most..

    Smart Scene with Wizard Guide*
    An intuitive wizard guides you through scene set-up step by step—making it easy to automate scenes for energy savings, comfort and security. This convenient, time-saving feature will help you make the most of your connected home.

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    Expanded Test Drive with Tool Tips
    The expanded Test Drive demo is now compatible with smartphone and tablet devices and NOW includes tool tips — informative pop-ups that accompany and explain each and every feature.

    Touch ID*
    If you have a mobile device operating on an iOS you can use Touch ID – an easy, highly secure feature that uses your fingerprints to act as your passcode.

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    Other Highlights
    The app is a sleeker, cleaner, more modern interface that’s a delight to look at and to use. Smart auto-syncing on Lynx Touch 7000/5200/5100 models simplifies operation and updates occur automatically within seconds.

    To learn more about adding Total Connect to your security system, call 1-800-265-5317, or just CLICK HERE.

  • Social Media Posts

    Social Media Posts

    Many people post on social networks to share information with friends and family, to have conversations, and to show the world how their lives are going. However, when you post online, it’s important to remember that people other than your intended audience could see your posts. Unfortunately, criminals frequently look to social media for opportunities to rob unsuspecting victims. Even if you have strict privacy settings on your accounts, the information that you post can still get out.

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    One of the most common ways that criminals use social media to commit crimes is by researching when people won’t be home and taking this opportunity to break into their properties.

    By sharing holiday plans in real-time online, you let criminals know that you’ll be out of town for a while. They can use this information to rob your home when they know you won’t be around.

    It’s much safer to share vacation details after the fact, once you have arrived home safely. Tell individual friends and family members in person the dates that you’ll be away and don’t post these details online.

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    How else can you protect yourself? By ensuring that you have a monitored security system installed that will alert you (and the authorities) if a crime takes place at your property while you are away. A home alarm system that also includes video surveillance camera monitoring is an even better set up. This way, even if you are away from home, your property will be watched over by a central monitoring station. In the event of a crime or other trouble conditions, both you and the authorities will be notified right away.
    To learn more about adding video surveillance to your security system, call 1-800-265-5317, or just CLICK HERE.

  • Spring Flooding

    Spring Flooding

    Flood damage is the leading cause of property damage in North America. In order to prevent a basement flood, there are a few things that you can do. These steps include:

    • Making sure that eavestroughs and downspouts are cleaned and positioned to direct water away from your house

    • Checking to ensure that there is appropriate drainage below your window wells

    • Inspecting your walls and the exterior foundation and repairing any cracks

    • Installing a sump pump as needed

    • Ensuring the ground slopes away from your home

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    Catching potential drainage issues or leaks is important. The sooner you spot an issue, the smaller the issue will be and therefore, you should be able to handle it more easily. Watch for water stains, peeling paint and, of course, visible water inside the basement.

    To learn more about adding a flood detector to your security system, call 1-800-265-5317, or just CLICK HERE.

  • Benefits Of Monitoring

    Benefits Of Monitoring

    A recent Statscan report shows there were 200,000 break-ins in Canada, or 15% of all property related crimes. 61% of all break-ins in 2010 were residential; 28% were commercial. But, why is monitoring a security system important?

    1. Home Automation
    • Security systems are have come a long way in the last few years. They can be fully integrated with your lights, thermostat, & door lock creating a fully Connected Home.

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    2. Energy Management
    • With a Connected Home, a security system can put your utilities into energy management mode. That helps you to go green by reducing your carbon footprint.
    3. Save Money on bills
    • When your utilities are managed through automation, home owners can see a saving of up to 20% on the bills over the course of a year.
    4. Save On Home Owner’s Insurance
    • Most insurance companies offer a discount between 5%-20% on homeowners insurance for houses equipped with monitored security systems.
    5. Door Chimes
    • Even when you are home and the system is off, it will inform you when a door a window opens with a little dinging sound. The kids can’t sneak out. Their friends can’t sneak in. And if the family pet nudges a door open you will know right away.

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    6. Life Safety
    • Smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and flood sensors are an integral part of your home security protection.
    7. Real Time Check-In
    • Security systems can let you log on from anywhere and see exactly what’s going on in your home as a “nanny cam”, to check on your pets while you’re at work, or arm and disarm remotely.
    8. Protect your belongings
    • Whether you are traveling on vacation, at the cottage, or simply at work for the day, know that your home is secure with a monitored security system.

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    9. Peace of mind
    • Having an alarm system in place will help you to rest easy knowing that your home and loved ones are better protected.
    10. Monitoring
    • If your alarm goes off, the monitoring service will alert the proper authorities or dial a list of numbers that you have supplied them to make sure everything is okay.

    To learn about our Protect A Friend Program, call 1-800-265-5317, or just CLICK HERE.

  • Fire And Spinkler Systems

    Fire And Spinkler Systems

    Many homeowners do not consider installing a fire sprinkler system. Swayed by common misconceptions as well as perceived aesthetic issues, even safety-conscious homeowners sometimes steer away from sprinkler systems. That’s beginning to change, however, as more homeowners learn about the benefits of the systems and as less conspicuous sprinklers become available. In addition, some communities are beginning to mandate the installation of sprinkler systems in new homes.

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    Many people believe that sprinkler systems will cause more damage to a home than the fire itself, but that is not true. According to the Scottsdale Report, a fire sprinkler system delivers eight to 10 times less water than the hoses used by firefighters to put out the flames, resulting in less water damage to a home. A fire hose dispenses up to 250 gallons of water per minute, while a typical residential sprinkler head will release just 15 to 20 gallons of water per minute. Typically, only the sprinkler closest to the fire will activate — spraying water directly on the fire. According to industry experts, 90% of fires are contained with just one sprinkler head.

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    There are other advantages to installing sprinkler systems besides the obvious ones of saving lives and property. Some insurance companies offer discounts for homes with fire sprinkler systems and homeowners may also qualify for a tax rebate. In addition, sprinkler systems can increase the resale value of a home. Today’s prospective homeowners are much more conscious about health and safety issues, and they may be willing to pay a premium for a home with a sprinkler system.

    Some important facts to consider regarding sprinkler systems:
    • Sprinkler systems can contain and extinguish a fire in less time that it would take for a fire truck to arrive at the scene.
    • Home sprinkler systems use a fraction of the water used by fire department hoses and create about 70% less damage to the home.
    • Modern sprinkler systems are inconspicuous; many are mounted flush with the wall and ceiling.
    • Each sprinkler head is designed to go off when it senses significant heat change.
    • Typically, only the closest sprinkler to the fire will activate.
    • With a fire sprinkler system, the risk of dying in a fire is cut by about 80%.

    To schedule a no-obligation evaluation of your premises from our Fire and Life Safety Division, call 1-800-265-5317, or just CLICK HERE.

  • Caught On Camera: California

    Caught On Camera: California

    A brazen California burglar was seen along every step of an alleged home invasion Tuesday, captured in footage recorded by 16 surveillance cameras. Authorities now hope the footage will help them nab the person responsible.

    San Jose resident Heidi Quezada said she was awaken by rustling outside of her home before 2 a.m. and used a phone app to look at some of the surveillance footage. Video shows the man checking out a window of the home, and popping a lock on a sliding door to get inside.

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    “I was just petrified,” she said.

    Quezada called 911 and crouched in her closet. As the home’s alarm sounded, the burglar could be seen walking through the home, unfazed.

    “I can hear him rattling around, and I’m telling 911, ‘He’s in the room next to me,’” Quezada said. “I was trying not to hyperventilate. I was trying to whisper and I was trying to tell them, ‘Please hurry.’”

    Quezada says she was motivated to react after the man wiggled the doorknob to the master bedroom and pushed against the door, trying to get inside.

    “I came out of the closet at that point and started banging on the door from the inside, yelling at him and saying, ‘Get out of here, the police are coming, they’re going to shoot you,’” she said.

    The man fled after Quezada yelled, leaving the home and climbing over a fence. The intruder was seen on a neighbor’s surveillance cameras, escaping on a skateboard. By the time police arrived the intruder had gotten away. But with his face splashed across social media, authorities are hopeful that the burglar will soon be captured.

    With Security ONE’s award winning Total Connect app from Honeywell, you can view your cameras in real time even when you are not home. To learn more, call 1-800-265-5317, or just CLICK HERE.

  • The Wrong Smoke Detectors

    The Wrong Smoke Detectors

    Most houses have smoke detectors installed but many of them could be the incorrect type—and potentially deadly.

    There are two major kinds, ionization and photoelectric. Ionization are the most common. In fact the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says 90% of all smoke detectors are ionization.

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    Ionization alarms use a small bit of radioactive material to trip the alarm when it detects large burning particles, have been shown to be less able to detect slow-burning or smoldering fires, such as those caused by cigarettes, frayed wires, and sparks from a still-smoldering fireplace.

    Statistics show 30,000 people in the U.S. have died since 1990 because they relied on ionization detectors. That’s because an ionization alarm can sometimes take between 20 and even 50 minutes longer to activate than a photoelectric smoke alarm.

    So why do ionization alarms get placed in homes?

    Answer: They’re cheaper.

    So what’s the best way to protect your family—besides not smoking and otherwise fireproofing your home and holding regular exit drills?

    Invest in photoelectric alarms in bedrooms and hallways, and leave the ionization alarms in the kitchen, if at all.

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    In addition, make sure they are properly placed high on walls or ceilings, are hardwired (preferably by a licensed electrician), which means they don’t rely on battery power, and are interconnected so if one sounds they all sound.

    To add photoelectric smoke detectors to your security system as a monitored zone, call 800-265-5317 or just CLICK HERE.

  • Spring Safety Tips

    Spring Safety Tips

    With spring officially here, there are two safety concerns the Chatham-Kent police are hoping to bring to your attention.

    First, there are the dangers that exist near streams, rivers, ponds and lakes around this time of year. Children and pets particularily should stay away from the edges of all waterways.

    Warmer temperatures, rain, melting snow and ice contribute to higher, faster flowing water in our rivers. Slippery and unstable banks and extremely cold water temperatures can also lead to very hazardous conditions close to any body of water. This also contributes to thin ice on ponds and lakes. Keep off them this time of year.

    You may also notice an increase in car/deer collisions at this time of year as deer become more active.

    Ensure your headlights are on at dawn and dusk and keep your eyes on the road, scanning the sides of the road as well.. When there is no oncoming traffic, switch to high beams to better reflect the eyes of deer on or near the roadway. Be especially aware of any distractions that might take your eyes off the road, even if only momentarily, such as cell phones, adjusting the radio, eating or passenger activities. Watch for “Deer Crossing” signs that mark commonly-travelled areas, and be aware that deer typically cross between areas of cover, such as woods or where roads divide agricultural fields from woods. If you see a deer crossing the road ahead, slow down immediately and proceed with caution until you are past the crossing point. Deer usually travel in groups, so if you see one deer, there are likely to be others. Slow down and blow your horn with one long blast to frighten deer away. Do not rely on devices such as deer whistles to deter deer, as these devices have not been proven to reduce car/deer collisions. Do not swerve to miss a deer. Brake and stay in your lane. Losing control of your vehicle, crossing into another lane, hitting an oncoming vehicle or leaving the roadway and hitting another obstacle such as a tree or a pole is likely to be much more serious than hitting a deer.

    If you hit a deer, stop at the scene, pull your car off to the side of the road if possible and call police. Do not touch the animal or get too close. And remember to always wear your seatbelt.

    To see the full article, go here http://www.thepost.on.ca/2015/03/25/safety-tips-for-spring-time

    Flooding basements are a problem at this time of year, and Security ONE has the solution. Add a flood detector of sump pump monitor to your security system. Call 1-800-265-5317 to learn more, or just CLICK HERE.

  • Dumb Criminal: Drywall Doofus

    Dumb Criminal: Drywall Doofus

    Dumb Criminal

    A burglary suspect who cut through the drywall of Seattle apartment building to try to escape capture got stuck in an air duct and had to be rescued by firefighters.

    KIRO reports that a resident of the complex caught the man Tuesday night stealing quarters from a soda machine in the laundry room.

    The burglar blocked the door and tried to get away by cutting through drywall.

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    When he ran into a basement masonry wall, he tried to crawl out a vent but got trapped and had to call for help.

    Firefighters cut him free.

    He was provided minor medical attention, room and board in the Clink, and a spot in our Dumb Criminals Hall of Fame.