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If you are thinking of getting your home or business secured with a monitored alarm system there is no shortage of alarm companies that will offer to install and monitor your security system. One of the biggest differences between most of the companies is that some will provide a quote over the phone, while others will push to come onsite and do an in-person security assessment. What are the benefits of having an onsite security consultation as opposed to having a quote provided over the phone or online?

When onsite, the Security Consultant can assess the needs of the location. They can see firsthand where the vulnerable points of entry are. The in-person seeing of the location allows the Consultant to understand the security concerns and then create a proper security solution.

Think of it this way… think of your home – the size, and physical layout. How many points of entry are there? What’s the foliage like outside? Is there external lighting? Where are the windows located on the main floor? Are there any points of entry into the basement? Where are the valuables located inside your home? What’s the route a burglar would take to venture to the main bedroom?

Think of how many questions need to be asked to get some of the answers above, and then even with the answers being given, information may be missed or misinterpreted by the other person. Only a portion of the reality is given.

Now compare that with being at the location in person. Being able to see the physical layout and understand the external lighting and entry points. Seeing firsthand where inside needs to be protected. Where should equipment be placed inside the home to create the most effective security solution? All of this can only be done with a Security Consultant at the location.

Any company that says they don’t need to send someone to the home to properly assess your alarm needs is incorrect. They are misleading you into agreeing to a haphazard lazy sales process. By having an alarm company figure out your security needs over the phone, you will end up getting an inferior alarm system.

Purchasing the right alarm system is an important decision. Security systems protect your home and family, and selecting the right company requires proper diligence. If any alarm company refuses to send a Security Consultant to your home to truly understand your needs, then in turn refuse to consider them as a viable choice for your home protection. Don’t settle for an inferior alarm system. It’s only when a Security Consultant comes to your home to build a proper security solution that you’ll be truly protected.

Almost all detached homes have a garage. Regardless of being physically connected to the home or an independent structure, garages may be targeted by burglars. It doesn’t matter if you park your car in your garage or simply store things like bikes and equipment in there, it’s important that your garage is protected. Here are 3 simple ways to secure your garage.

Make Sure Your Garage Has Good Outdoor Lighting

One of the best ways to protect your garage is to equip it with quality lighting. Bright external lights provide a fantastic deterrent against would-be burglars. Thieves don’t want to be caught and proper lighting at night dramatically increases the likelihood of them being detected. You can use either motion-controlled lighting or static lights that stay on throughout the night. A well-lit area around your garage will dramatically lower your odds of any potential break-in occurring.

Use a Locking Garage Door

Traditional garage doors are easy to open. Some older garage door openers will trigger and open when pressure is made, while others may be more difficult but still can be opened by a would-be burglar.

Some newer garage door openers come with power locking controls, meaning that when the garage door is closed it is also locked. This adds an increased level of protection, making it extremely difficult for a burglar to enter the garage. Chamberlain offers units that come with a built-in camera and backup power unit, so you’ll always be able to enter your garage. Moreover, Chamberlain also sells a power locking kit that can be added to any garage door. Beyond that, many of their newer garage door open.

A good garage door opening system, that comes with a locked setting, will help always protect your garage.

Make Sure Windows Have Blinds or Bars

Windows in your garage provide burglars with the ability to see what you have stored inside. They can see if you have anything of value in there (bikes, sporting equipment, etc) and understand if there is an entranceway into the home. Beyond that, windows can also act as an entry point, as they can be broken and potentially entered through.

If you have windows in your garage, make sure that they are covered with blinds or tinting. This way burglars won’t be able to see what you have stored inside the location. Not knowing if there is anything of value inside your garage, may make the burglar think twice about entering. Potentially instead they’ll move on to the next home instead.

If the window is large enough for someone to gain entrance through, then make sure you add metal protection bars to the window. This way it will be virtually impossible for someone to come in. Often the visual of bars on windows alone is a strong enough deterrent for any potential burglar.

Telus is one of Canada’s largest cable companies with operations across most of Canada. They have approximately 14 million customers and employ over 90,000 people globally. While Telus has dabbled in the smart home and security space for years, over the past few years they have expanded that part of their operations significantly. Overall, smart home makes up a small part of their overall business, however, they are the largest alarm provider in Canada (most monitored accounts nationally).

Telus was originally based in Edmonton, Alberta and then merged with BC Tel in 1999. The company initially focused operations in Western Canada, however in the early 2010s the company began expanding operations in Ontario and Quebec. Telus now operates in most areas of Canada, providing internet, cell phone and TV service, along with also having a presence in both healthcare and media.

Telus began offering security services throughout the mid 2010s, however, in 2018, Telus senior management, Darren Entwistle (President of Telus) and Jason McDougall (President of Telus Smart Security & Automation) decided the company should make a large push in the Canadian security space. The thought was by customers adding smart home and security in a bundle, the customer would be less likely to cancel their internet and other services. The bundle would make customers stickier and less likely to attrit. Plus, it would allow them to compete with other national cable providers like Rogers that were more invested in offering security services.

In 2018, Telus made a significant push in the alarm space by purchasing AlarmForce’s western Canadian customer base and operations. This cost Telus $66.5m and was purchased from BCE which then made Telus one of the three largest alarm companies in Canada.

While the company continued to purchase and absorb smaller Western Canadian alarm companies, it was in October 2019 that Telus made its biggest purchase, ADT Canada, for approximately $700m. At the time ADT Canada had approximately 500,000 accounts and employed around 1,000 people. This purchase instantly made Telus the largest alarm provider in Canada.

Telus provides security and smart home services for residential and commercial locations. This includes traditional monitored alarm systems, video surveillance systems and connected smart home devices. Telus requires customers to agree to a multi-year contract for most security services.

Throughout Southwestern Ontario, it’s common for car owners to park their cars outdoors. This could be either on driveways when at home, in parking lots or on the street when they’re at work or shopping. In 2019, over 24,000 cars in Ontario were broken into. Your car is one of your most valuable possessions and a necessity in your day-to-day life, so regardless of where you are parked, it’s important to do what you can to protect your car and belongings. Here are some tips on how to protect your car when parked outdoors. 

The first and most obvious tip is to make sure your car is locked when parked. Seems simple, right? It’s surprising how often car owners forget to lock their doors. This is essential, as the first thing a car burglar does is a test to see if the car doors have been left unlocked. Locking your car doors dramatically lowers the chances of your car being broken into. In addition, many models automatically activate anti-theft systems when the car doors are locked.  So always do this basic first step. 

If you are parking outdoors at night, make sure there is adequate lighting.  Effective lighting is a great deterrent to would-be burglars. Outside your home, lights can be motion triggered or remain on throughout the night. Cars that are parked in areas that are dimly lit or unlit have a significantly higher chance of being broken into than those parked on well-lit driveways. 

For even more protection, place an outdoor video camera pointed toward your parking spot. If the area is properly lit, then the video camera not only will record whatever activity occurs, it also acts as a great burglar deterrent when coupled with lawn signs and window decals.  A potential burglar will most likely move to another car/home where there’s less chance of being detected and apprehended. 

When you park your car, make sure to take all valuables with you. Too often people leave appealing items in plain sight inside their vehicle. Articles like laptop computers, cash, sunglasses, and wallets are very inviting to burglars. Make sure that there is nothing visible in your car when you park, and if you must leave things inside your vehicle, hide them under the seat, or in the trunk and out of sight.