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Tag: Windsor Security

  • How to protect your car when parked outdoors 

    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.  

  • 3 Simple Home Security Tips for When You’re Traveling

    3 Simple Home Security Tips for When You’re Traveling

    Everyone loves a vacation. While you’re away it’s important though to properly protect your home when you’re away. It doesn’t matter if it’s one night or an extended vacation, a break-in can occur anytime you are away from your home. Here are 3 simple home security tips for when you’re traveling. 

    Make it seem like you are home when you’re not 

    Burglars target unoccupied homes. The goal of a burglar is to enter a location, take valuables and leave quickly and undetected. No burglar wants to be caught, which is why they target vacant locations. By making it seem like you are home when you’re not, you will dramatically lower your home’s chances of being targeted.  

    Having timed smart lights come on at night, making sure mail doesn’t pile up and having a neighbor leave tire marks on your driveway after snowstorms are all great ways to make it seem like you are home when traveling. 

    Limit blind spots around your home 

    A blind spot is an area that is hidden from the street. Blind spots are often caused by shrubs, bushes or other foliage and are dangerous when they are in front of windows that lead into the home. A blind spot provides a burglar with coverage from the street, making it easy for them to enter your home without being noticed. 

    Some great ways to protect yourself against blind spots are limiting plants that cover these areas or by putting bars on those hidden windows. This will make entering through these entry points more difficult. Beyond that, place motion-controlled lights in high-risk entries around your home. This will create a spotlight on those areas, making it harder for burglars to hide and enter your home undetected. 

    Get a monitored home alarm system 

    Monitored home alarm systems are a fantastic burglar deterrent. They provide 24/7 peace of mind because they react and notify emergency services to alarm events regardless of where the homeowner is. Burglars avoid homes with monitored alarm systems (homes with alarms are 3 times less likely to have a break-in than those without). Burglars don’t want to be caught, and a monitored alarm systems reduces their chance of a success break and enter. 

    Make sure to have a lawn sign outside your home and window decals placed on various windows throughout the house. This will show any potential burglars your home is protected.  

  • When is the Best Time to Buy an Alarm System?

    When is the Best Time to Buy an Alarm System?

    You’re thinking about getting an alarm system for your home or business. You know it will provide additional security and you understand the protection an alarm system brings. You’re not sure though if it’s the best time to go forward with your purchase. Will there be a sale? Promotion? Maybe your cash flow will be better next month. There are always considerations in any financial decision and purchasing a security system is no different. So, when is the best time to buy an alarm system? 

    The answer is that there is never a better time to purchase and install an alarm system than right now.  

    Alarm systems work. Homes and businesses with monitored alarm systems are 3 times less likely to have a break-in than those without. Alarm systems are fantastic burglar deterrents and provide unparalleled peace of mind. You’ll also save on your insurance, as insurance providers give a discount on home or business policy premiums. 

    Too often people wait until after a break-in occurs to get an alarm system. This is unfortunate, as there is a significant chance that the burglary wouldn’t have happened had an alarm system been installed beforehand. Burglars don’t want to be caught, and they know that alarm systems will increase their odds of being detected and ultimately apprehended.  

    Waiting for a sale or promotion, while providing savings, also adds time that your property is at risk of an undetected break-in. Why jeopardize the protection of your home or business? Speed to install a new alarm system should be prioritized over any potential promotions. 

    An alarm system is an important purchase and should be prioritized. Security systems provide value and peace of mind. Regardless of the size of your home or business, every location should be protected with a monitored alarm system. And the best time to buy that alarm system is right now. 

    Find out how you can be protected by a Security ONE alarm system today by calling 1-800-265-5317. 

  • Why Do Churches Need Security Systems?

    Why Do Churches Need Security Systems?

    All residential and commercial locations may be targeted for break-ins. Stores, homes, offices, burglars will target any location that contains valuables and can be entered undetected. But a burglar wouldn’t target a church, right? Sadly, burglars will often target churches, as they know that often these locations include valuables and are often unoccupied. 

    In 2020, churches in Saskatchewan saw a 60% increase in break-ins, while churches in Nova Scotia also saw a string of break-ins (4 break-ins over a weekend). More recently, in 2021, Vancouver churches saw a spike in vandalism. This is why all churches should have monitored alarm systems.

    A monitored alarm system provides unparalleled peace of mind as they deter and detect burglars. This means that when a burglar enters a location with a monitored alarm system, they will trigger the alarm, which will sound, as 24/7 response will be notified and respond to the alarm signal. This instant connection and response greatly increase the chance the burglar will be apprehended. 

    Churches are typically easy to protect with a monitored alarm system. This is because they often contain large open areas, where motion can easily be detected. Beyond that, while they may have multiple points of entry, usually only one is used during day-to-day operation. This means that churches can be protected cost-effectively with the proper placement of alarm equipment. 

    Most importantly, all churches should have video surveillance placed both outdoors and inside the location. Video is a fantastic deterrent, especially if combined with proper lighting. Video systems let any potential burglar know their actions are being recorded, which not only lowers the chance of a burglary from happening, it also dramatically increases the chances of burglars being caught afterwards.

    Whether your church has a 30 person or a 3000-person congregation, all churches should be protected with a monitored alarm and video surveillance system. A proper, professionally installed and monitored alarm solution will dramatically lower the chances of break-ins occurring and will provide unmatched peace of mind. 

  • 3 Security Tips to Keep Your Windsor Ontario Home Safe

    3 Security Tips to Keep Your Windsor Ontario Home Safe

    You live in the city of Windsor and want to keep your home safe. You understand that security for you and your family is paramount. Your home is your largest investment and deserves quality protection. The question though, is how can you effectively keep your family and home secure? Here are 3 security tips to protect your Windsor Ontario home:

    Lock Your Outside Doors

    Windsor is the 16th most populated metro area in Canada. While the city is quite safe, as with all larger-sized Canadian cities, houses located in Windsor may be targeted for burglaries.

    One of the easiest ways to lower your risk of a break-in is to lock all external doors. Keeping all external door locks instantly dramatically lowers the ease of a burglar entering your home. This is for both when you are inside the home and when you are away.

    It doesn’t matter if you live in Downtown Windsor or outside the city in a less populated area like Leamington, keeping your doors locked will dramatically lower the ease of a burglar entering your home.

    Get a Monitored Alarm System

    Did you know that homes located in Windsor equipped with monitored alarm systems are four times less likely to have a break-in than those without? Monitored alarm systems are an effective deterrent for would-be burglars. No criminal wants to get caught and targeting a home with a monitored alarm system significantly increases the chances of them being detected and arrested during their burglary. The reason why insurance companies give reductions in homeowners’ premiums to homes that have monitored alarm systems is that they are effective!

    It is important to remember that for a monitored alarm system to work, the homeowner must activate the alarm system, so turn your system on when you are away or at nighttime.

    Also, consider that not all alarm systems are created equal. You need the proper amount of equipment, placed in the right locations to best protect your home. Find a local alarm company like Security ONE that is in Windsor. This way a security expert can come to your home and do an in-person security assessment. Not only will you be supporting a local Windsor company, but you’ll also maximize the protection of your home with the most advanced technology available.

    Make It Seem Like Your Home When You’re Away

    Burglars target unoccupied homes. You could be at a Windsor Spitfire game or away for a weekend in Leamington, your chance of having a break-in increases significantly if a burglar can clearly identify that you’re not home. To combat this, it’s incredibly important to make it seem like you are home when you’re not.

    Make sure that mail does not pile up when you’re away. If there’s a snowstorm in Windsor while you’re vacationing in Florida, have a neighbor drive on your driveway to leave tire marks. Have your lights on timers, so this way your home isn’t dark at night.

    Regardless of where in Windsor your home is located, confusing a burglar into thinking you’re home when you’re away is a key tool to home security.

  • What is the difference between a monitored and self-monitored alarm system?

    What is the difference between a monitored and self-monitored alarm system?

    The goal of all alarm systems is to detect burglars. Detection could occur when a motion detector is tripped, or a burglar opens a door armed with a door contact. While all security systems provide the same basic function, an alarm’s effectiveness is predicated on whether it is monitored or self-monitored. Only a monitored alarm system provides true protection in all security situations.

    The biggest difference between a monitored and self-monitored alarm system is that a monitored alarm system is proactive, while a self-monitored system is reactive. When a monitored alarm system is triggered, a signal is sent to a central station where an actual person can respond to the event. The Central Station Operator can assess the situation that is occurring. They can then respond accordingly. If it’s an actual break-in, police can be contacted. If there’s a medical emergency, then an ambulance can be called. If there is a homeowner-generated false alarm, then dispatch can be canceled. The response is real-time and done by an actual person.

    A self-monitored alarm system requires the user to respond to a situation. When the alarm is triggered, the user is notified that an event has occurred. This could be a door contact opening or a motion detector sensing motion. The user then must react to the notification text message or email.

    Imagine if the homeowner is at work or on a plane traveling. How are they going to respond to the limited information given through text or email? Then if they do contact the police because of the notification, what actions are the police going to take? They have no idea what situation is occurring at the home. It’s a blind signal with no information as to if there’s an actual break-in or a false alarm. The byproduct of this is typically a slow response by police or no response at all.

    Only a monitored alarm system can provide first responders with enough information to make sure a proper response is given. Monitored responses allow for emergencies to be responded to better than false alarms. Insight can be provided to emergency services to let them properly deal with whatever situation is occurring. 

    Proof that a monitored alarm provides superior value to a self-monitored alarm is that insurance companies give discounts to homeowners protected with monitored alarm systems. This is because a monitored alarm system provides higher security, leading to fewer break-ins and fewer insurance claims.

    If you want to protect your home and family, then you need a monitored alarm system for your house. A monitored alarm system provides 24/7 protection, regardless of whether you are in or away from your home. A self-monitored alarm system is a gadget, not a security product.

  • Where are the most dangerous areas in Windsor Ontario?

    Where are the most dangerous areas in Windsor Ontario?

    Windsor is the 16th most populous city in Canada and the 9th most populous in Ontario. While Windsor is a very safe city to live and work in, certain neighbourhoods have higher crime rates than others. Here are the most dangerous areas in Windsor, Ontario:

    For 2024, the most dangerous area in Windsor was Sandwich. Total crime, violent crime and property crime were all significantly above the national average for Canada. Sandwich experienced a yearly growth in crime of 4% and most alarmingly, violent crime for the area was 67% higher than the Canadian national average.

    Ford City is the second most dangerous area in Windsor. In 2024, total crime, violent crime and property crime in Roseville Gardens were all significantly above Canada’s national average.

    The third most dangerous area of Windsor in 2020 was Walker Farm. The area was significantly above the Canadian average for total crime, violent crime, and property crime. Property crime is 61% above the national average.

    South Central was Windsor’s fourth most dangerous area in 2024. Similar to the previous wards, South Central was above Canada’s national average for total crime, violent crime, and property crime.

    The fifth most dangerous area in Windsor is Walkerville. In 2024 violent crime in the area was 60% above the national average for total crime, violent crime, and property crime. In 2024, crime in downtown Windsor increased 4%.

    As of August 2025, overall property crime in Windsor is up 6.9% over 2024. While crime levels vary across Windsor neighbourhoods, there are proactive steps every homeowner or business owner can take to strengthen their security:

    • Upgrade entry points: Reinforce door and window locks, and ensure outdoor lighting eliminates dark hiding spots around your property.
    • Leverage community resources: Join or start a neighbourhood watch, stay connected with local policing programs, and report suspicious activity promptly.
    • Adopt layered protection: A monitored alarm system remains one of the most effective deterrents against break-ins. In Windsor, “local monitoring” means your alarm signals go straight to a nearby Security ONE monitoring centre — not a call centre across the country — ensuring faster response and peace of mind.
    • Stay informed: Regularly check Windsor Police Service crime dashboards to understand current trends in your area and adjust your security habits accordingly.

    Whether you live in the areas above or any other area in Windsor, a monitored alarm system is key to protecting your home and business. A monitored alarm system dramatically lowers your chance of a break-in by deterring and detecting any would-be burglars. And be sure to choose a local alarm company like Security ONE, where a security representative can come and match your home’s security needs to the most effective monitored alarm solution.

    Take Action Today

    Don’t wait until it’s too late—secure your property with a trusted, locally monitored system from Security ONE. Schedule your consultation today.


  • What are the Steps for Cancelling a Telus Alarm System?

    What are the Steps for Cancelling a Telus Alarm System?

    Telus is a communications and cellular provider located in Canada. Along with cellular, internet and cable TV services, they also provide security systems for both homes and businesses. While Telus has been an alarm provider for many years, it instantly become Canada’s largest alarm provider when they purchased ADT Canada in October 2019.

    With so many alarm customers across the country, many are unhappy with their services for a variety of reasons. Maybe they don’t want to be protected by a national cable company. Or perhaps they are unhappy with pricing and service. Regardless, what are the steps for cancelling a Telus alarm system?

    The first step to cancelling your Telus smarthome alarm is to contact Telus at 1-866-558-2273. You’ll want to connect with the customer service department, specifically for smart home alarm services. Once you are speaking with a Telus representative, tell them you are calling to cancel your Telus security service.

    The goal of the Customer Service Rep is to get you to rethink your cancellation. They’ll offer various offers to stay with Telus but each retention offer comes a new contractual term. Agreeing to a new term will lock you into a multiyear agreement with Telus alarm services. If you’re unhappy with service, price, or any other issue, avoiding a new contract is key.

    Telus alarm systems require a 3-year contractual term for alarm services. Whether you are a newer Telus alarm customer or an older ADT Canada customer, you should know if the term of their service has expired or if they are still under contract before cancellation. If the contractual term has expired, then the customer can cancel without any financial penalties. If the Telus alarm customer is currently under contract, then there will be a penalty to cancel.

    The cancellation fee for Telus alarm systems depends on which plan you have. The Telus SmartHome Smart Camera package will charge customers $10/month for the remainder of the term. TELUS SmartHome Smart Automation packages. will cost $35/month for the remainder of the term. And lastly, TELUS SmartHome Secure packages will cost $35/month for the remainder of the term. Your alarm cancellation will not be processed until the final payment has been made.

    Once this process has concluded, you’re officially done with Telus/ADT Canada smart home alarm services. You’ll be able to use your alarm hardware with multiple other alarm companies.

    Local Experts. Proven Protection.

    Ready for true peace of mind? Contact Security ONE for a free consultation and discover how our locally monitored systems keep your home and business safe. Consider having your system monitored by a local alarm company like Security ONE. You’ll get exceptional protection and customer service. Call Security ONE at 1-800-265-5317 for a free security quote.