Burglar Alarms

If you’re like most of us, you’ll have wondered now and then about how secure your home is, and whether it needs a burglar alarm or home security system.  Statistics show that no matter where you live, crime is random and affects all neighborhoods sooner or later.  It’s also clear that home security rises after taking a host of home security tips into account.  If you’re thinking of having a burglar alarm installed, or just improving your overall home security, why not begin with a thorough security evaluation of your location, your home and your property to fully understand your current level of home security?

The first thing to look at when considering a burglar alarm and home security is the location of your home.  Homes situated close to a park, wooded area or a major highway are often a mark for criminals.  Dead-end streets, as well as those with little traffic, are prime targets for experienced burglars. Another aspect to consider is whether your home is unoccupied at regular times every day or week.  If offered in your area, organizations like a neighborhood crime watch can be effective in break-in prevention because, in conjunction with a burglar alarm, they alert the authorities to any unusual or suspicious occurrences.  If there have been more than four burglaries in your neighborhood in the past year, installing a burglar alarm is a sound investment in your home security.

When it comes to home security, your burglar alarm and break-in prevention, it’s also key to examine your habits as well as the condition of your home.  If you leave a spare key under a flowerpot or mat, or leave your windows open, you’re practically inviting burglars into your home.  Keeping your tools in your garage is another risk factor when it comes to break-in prevention; according to experts, a surprisingly high rate of tools used in burglaries is found in the homeowner’s garage.  Do you turn off all the lights when you leave or go to bed after dark?  A well-lit space is much less likely to suffer a break-in than a space that offers darkness as a cover for burglars.  The condition of your home can be an important factor in deciding whether to install a burglar alarm.  Home security often begins with doors, and unless you have solid doors with deadbolt locks and reinforced strike plates, you’re at risk.  Displaying your valuable artwork or electronic equipment in full view of windows is another risk to home security.  All these factors are fixable and when properly addressed, can add an extra level of home security, especially in combination with a good burglar alarm.

The exterior of your home is where the first line of your home security and a good burglar alarm begins.  Without a burglar alarm, factors such as tree limbs and bushes that obstruct the vision of windows and doors from a neighbor’s house or the street can make it easier for burglars to enter your home unnoticed.  Leaving expensive gardening equipment such as lawn mowers unattended outside invites criminals to investigate what valuables the home may contain.  Installing a burglar alarm and cultivating a common sense attitude to the overall condition of your property significantly enhances your home security.

Taking these factors into serious consideration is a good first step to determining whether your home security would benefit from a burglar alarm.  Don’t allow yourself to be complacent or overly optimistic; evaluating your home security and burglar alarm needs objectively could make all the difference in break-in prevention.  In reality, your personal comfort level with your home security is best encouraged by taking a number of active steps, in which installing a burglar alarm is only one important step.

Photo via lost_mitten

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The average value lost in a home burglary is approximately $2000 USD.  A typical burglar might pat himself on the back for obtaining such an amount.  He would not be quite as proud however, if he knew how his success pales in comparison to large scale bank jobs.  Here are three of the largest grossing burglaries:

#3  Banco Central

In 2005, the Banco Central in Fortaleza, Brazil was robbed.  The group of burglars made off with the equivalent of approximately $94 million USD in crisp, uninsured Brazilian bank notes.  The phrase “made off’ is slightly indescriptive due to the fact that the currency weighed about 3.5 tons.  How did they do it?  Digging.  Three months prior the group rented a nearby property and began to dig a tunnel to the bank’s vault.  Operating under the guise of a landscaping company, the group was able to move truckloads of soil, and the loot, without arousing suspicion.  Brazilian authorities have apprehended many of the people involved.  However, it is unknown how many still remain at large as only $8.93 million has been recovered to date.

#2  Knightsbridge Security robbery

Led by career criminal Valerio Viccei, a group of burglars hit the Knightsbridge Safe Deposit Centre in Knightsbridge, England on July 12, 1987.  The group stole an amount equivalent to $174 million USD by taking the contents of various safety deposit boxes.  Their method of entry was less flashy than the Banco Central robbery.  They walked into the Safe Deposit Centre and requested to rent a safe deposit box.  When they were shown the vault they simply withdrew their pistols and performed an old-fashioned hold-up.  Viccei and his accomplice then put a sign on the front door to signify that the Safe Deposit Centre was temporarily closed.  Along with several more accomplices, he broke open the deposit boxes and hauled the contents away. Viccei successfully escaped to Latin America but was eventually caught when he returned to England to ship his Ferrari to his sanctuary overseas.  He was convicted and spent the remainder of his life in prison before his death in a shootout with police.

#1  Central Bank of Iraq

In the lead as the top grossing burglary is the robbery of the Central Bank of Iraq.  On March 18 2003, one day before the United States bombed Baghdad, the equivalent of $1 billion USD was taken from the Central Bank of Iraq.  The events surrounding the robbery are unclear.  There are unconfirmed accusations that the money was withdrawn on orders from Saddam Hussein.  There are even people who point the finger at certain U.S. government agencies.  Regardless of the real circumstances, one truth stands: that this was the largest grossing heist in history.  At $1 billion USD, this robbery will be hard to top.

To read about bank heists around the world and see how they match up, goto:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bank_robbers_and_robberies

Photo via AtomComedy

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A great way to be proactive about home security is to form a neighborhood watch.  Such organizations have been shown to successfully reduce the crime rate in neighborhoods where they form.  Co-operation between a unified set of neighbors and law enforcement agencies raise awareness and preparedness which is the first step in stopping a crime before it starts.  USAonwatch.org is the face of the National Neighborhood Watch Program and provides resources into starting and maintaining a neighborhood watch.  Beginning a watch program is simple but requires enthusiasm and dedication.  Development of a neighborhood watch occurs in phases:

Phase 1:  Meet the Neighbors

Whether urban, suburban, rural, there is a tendency nowadays to never acknowledge one’s neighbor.  In order for a neighborhood watch to start, someone must break the ice and introduce themselves.  Opening the lines of communication will help you recruit as many neighbors as possible into the watch program.

Phase 2:  Hold an Initial Meeting

Find out the specific concerns of each household.  Talk about the strengths and vulnerabilities that each household brings into the program.  Choose the most interested and able leaders.  This initial discussion will get everyone on the same page and promote the unity required for a successful program.

Phase 3:  Contact Your Local Law Enforcement Agency

Forming a partnership between your organization and local law enforcement is an important step in forming a watch.  Many law enforcement agencies have programs that assist in the development of a neighborhood watch.  Some agencies even have training programs for the citizens who act as leaders in a watch.  This partnership is crucial in preventing crimes and reacting to crimes in progress.

Phase 4:  Make an Action Plan

Based on the needs of the neighbors and the resources of the police, decide on what specific actions will be implemented.  Brainstorm and be creative.  Some neighborhoods have gone as far as hiring private security, or even patrolling on their own!  Always continue to grow and gather crime prevention knowledge.  Registering your neighborhood watch on USAonwatch.org will allow your group to access useful resources.

Phase 5:  Hold Meetings and Train Regularly

Now that the program has begun, maintain its integrity by holding formal, regular meetings.  Discuss current issues and adapt your action plan as needed.  Training regularly will allow for quick response times when a real situation occurs.  Ask your local law enforcement agency for available training programs.

Whether you live in a sparse rural area, a city suburb, or a crowded downtown apartment building, a neighborhood watch is an excellent and proactive way to lower the crime rate in your area.

Photo via Bravo Six Niner Delta

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I sit in a visitors booth anticipating the arrival of my new found acquaintance.  I’m wondering how much force it would take to break the security glass in front of me.  I suppose I would have to speak with the manufacturer.  That’s the best way to get information.  Straight from the horse’s mouth.  That is, after all, why I have come to visit this prison.  To get information straight from the horse’s mouth; to speak one on one with a convicted burglar and gain insight into home security.

In walks Sam, escorted by a prison guard.   He sits down and grins deeply, exposing the monstrous gums of a thoroughbred.  I can’t help but crack a smile; straight from the horses mouth indeed.  Sam picks up the phone receiver.  I half expect him to chomp into it like Mister Ed into an apple.

Sam: Welcome back.

Joe: Thanks, I can’t seem to get enough of your stories. I’d like to hear another one if you have the time.

Sam: All I got is time, kid.

(We both crack a smile.)

Sam: How ’bout I tell ya ’bout the easiest job I ever did?

(I nod expectantly.)

Sam: So I’m casing this joint for a few weeks.  Nice little piece of suburbia.  Perfect street for a hit.  I’m parked in my van right on the street like an amateur and no one even notices.  No suspicious folks taking photos of my licence plates.  Nothin!  Never even seen neighbors say a word to each other. Beautiful!

Joe: Wait, what makes that beautiful?

Sam: Think about it kid, if neighbors can’t even be bothered to say hello to each other, you can bet they aint formed no neighborhood watch.

(I mouth a silent ‘oh’ and nod.)

Sam: So I choose the juiciest house on the block, not the most expensive, mind ya, but this lovely little home.  Got mail piled a mile high.  Must be on a vacation I’m thinkin.

Sam: So I wait till dusk and I get inside the privacy fence that surrounds the yard.  I just love it when I have some privacy to do my work.  I stroll around the house looking for an entry point.  When I get to the front door I find that the morons stuck the key right under a potted plant on the porch!

(Sam laughs)

Joe:  You got lucky!

Sam: Luck had nothin to do with it kid. You’d be surprised how many chumps hide a key in an obvious spot.  Under a plant, or under a doormat.  They always seem to hide it right near the door.

Sam:  So I head on in, and seeing no signs that I triggered an alarm, I head straight for the bedrooms.  That’s where the good stuff is always hidden.  Jewellery, cash, private information, it’s always right there in the bedroom.  Always.

Joe: My folks never did that, we always had a secret place somewhere else in the house to hide valuables.

Sam: Good thinkin on their part kid, where’s the secret place?

(I playfully make a hand gesture commonly employed by drivers. Sam grins and continues.)

Sam: I’m real big on laptops, easy to carry away and a quick to sell.  So easy to hide those little beauties but people never do.  I always feel a bit bad when I scoop one up.

(My expression displays intense curiosity and confusion, he notices and explains.)

Sam:  I mean about the photos kid.  Nobody develops film no more, nobody backs up their family photos and videos and hides ’em separately.  They just leave it on the hard-drive.  Now I’m a family man myself, so I feel a bit bad about stealing memories, but then again, hey…

(Sam cuts off his sentence with a ‘hey’ that expresses his submission to the way the cookie crumbles.)

(The prison guard calls on Sam.  Time’s up.)

Sam: That’s my cue kid, gotta go, my cell-mate is waiting for a game pinochle.

(There’s a dry humour underlying his tone of voice.)

Joe: Sam wait!  You haven’t told me how you got caught.

(Sam unleashes a mighty grin, and just as I expect him to release the victorious neigh of a Kentucky Derby champ, he relaxes his face.)

Sam:  Let’s just say that not every suburbanite is as naive as those folks.

Photo via Frostey

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“Lure with bait, strike with chaos.” said the strategist Sun Tzu.  Police are taking this idea to heart and currently employing it as a tactic against burglary.  The ‘house trap’ is one of the latest weapons being used by police against burglary; a simple idea that has proven to be very successful.

A house trap lures an unsuspecting burglar by presenting an easy target.  An open window with a few expensive objects lying within arm’s reach is very tempting for a prowling burglar looking for a score.   Once the bait is taken, hidden cameras record video footage of the event, which is used to identify the culprit.

Oxford police have used this technique to identify and convict burglar Jason Medley, a repeat offender.  When the Oxford campus was hit by a wave of break-ins, Oxford police decided to use a house trap to catch the burglar.  The bait was an open window of an unoccupied dorm room.  Various objects, such as a laptop, were placed within arm’s reach of the open window.  The bait was taken, and the hidden cameras recorded him in action, and provided a clear image of his face.

In the initial phases of the trial, Medley denied any involvement in such a crime.  However, once shown the clear footage of him in action, he had no choice but to admit his guilt.  The footage helped authorities to secure his conviction and a three year sentence.  In the time period that followed, the Oxford campus showed a massive reduction in break-ins.  Furthermore, break-ins dropped 15% in the Oxford area.  It is believed that the threat of house traps has repelled would-be burglars in the area and therefore decreased the rate of occurrence.

Many police forces are now actively using this technique and searching for other innovative ways to reduce the crime rate.  Some say that the house trap concept is philosophically unsound; that the burglar would not have committed the crime if he had not been tempted by police.  It is important to note that the video footage from a house trap is only one piece of evidence in a trial, and is used to assist in the conviction of burglars who are responsible for other actual robberies.  The house trap is a very simple technique.  It is so simple that one might argue against calling it ‘innovative’.  However, be it a scientific discovery, a technological breakthrough, or a clever football strategy, the most innovative ideas always carry an air of simplicity.

Check out a burglar caught red handed in a house trap:

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6341935n

Photo via West Country Camera

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Did you know that 60% of home burglaries occur when the occupants are at home?  That was the bad news.  The good news is that most burglars have their eye on the prize and would rather avoid a confrontation.  This makes conflict unnecessary most of the time.  So what is one to do during an unauthorized entry?  That depends on the circumstances of the situation.  Knowing your options and making preparations will increase your success rate and help you make the right decision in the heat of the moment.

Top Tips Regarding Confrontation:

1.  Run Away

Running away is an excellent tactic.  In fact, it is probably the optimal strategy given an available escape route.  Developing efficient escape routes and routines can increase your chances of getting away safely.  Remember, you know your home better than the burglar, you have the home field advantage.  Unfortunately, this tactic fails when you are backed into a corner, or there is something that you need to protect (e.g. family members).

2.  Choose Your Weapon

Look in your immediate area for an object that can assist you.  Memorize the locations of these objects and visualize using them in a confrontation.  Improvised weapons in the form of blunt objects, such as a cane or a frying pan, have proven successful in many real world situations.  Take Gwyneth Davies for example.  At 86 years of age, she repeatedly whacked a 26 year old intruder with her crutch and held him at bay until the police arrived on the scene.

3.  Become a Karate Master.

You don’t really need the title of ‘Karate Master’ to reap the benefits of martial arts training.  Training martial arts can be beneficial for your health, and your personal security.  Regardless of age, gender or body type, martial arts can be fun and extremely educational.  Within the martial arts community there are many unique paths of study.  It is highly suggested that you consider training in Krav Maga, an easy to learn and effective defence system that is taught worldwide: www.kravmaga.com

4.  Never Risk Your Life Protecting Material Objects

Preparing for such a situation can be empowering, but the purpose at the end of the day is to survive.  Usually, confrontations can be avoided by walking, or even running away.  Burglars are interested in the score; they rarely enjoy a conflict.  When in doubt, run away and live to take flight another day.  Never take an unnecessary risk for personal property, let the insurance take care of it.

Photo via id-iom

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On behalf of Content Venture Networks Security Systems, we’d like to present some important actions that you can take to secure your home from burglary. Burglary is known as intending to commit an offense, like theft, after entering a building. The first step in preventing any kind of robbery is to install a high-technology security system, like the variety of  home security systems personalized to suit the specifications of your place of residents. There are also several additional steps you can take to preventing the loss of your items, and we here at Content Venture Networks believe that knowledge supports safety. Below is a review of the most commonly overlooked steps that people failed to take to prevent burglary.

Take an inventory of your personal items.

Do you know what’s in your jewelry box? Do you know how many necklaces, bracelets, and priceless heirlooms you store on your dresser? How many watches, mp3 players, and cameras do you own? These may seem like easy questions, but once posed, sometimes a person cannot easily list all of the electronic and personal swag they possess. Today we have many options for things to purchase, and we are able to accumulate many of them. A proactive step you can take to furthering your protection is to know what you own. Type out or handwrite a list of what you have, and how many of it sits on your shelves and in your drawers. How many credit cards are in your wallet? Where do you keep your USB storage device? These are the questions that burglars are asking, and you can stay one step ahead of them by knowing what you own. Also note: store this list in a safety deposit box in your bank, so the robber doesn’t have his own checklist!

Lock your car door.

Locking your car door may not seem to fit in an article centered on home protection, but this is one step that many Home Owners overlook in preventing their home from being robbed, and possessions stolen. In many cases, a burglar will try to enter your home through a garage door, and the first place they will look is your unlocked car. Home Owners will leave expensive possessions like iPods, CDs, laptops, and shoes in their car, with the assumption that the purchases will be safe overnight. Sometimes, a resident will even leave a spare set of keys in the car, granting the burglary anytime-access to everything in your house! Always remember to lock your car door when you come home from work, school, or an out-of-the-house activity. This simple step can prevent a major, life-altering event that leaves you without the fruits of your hard earned money.

Close your windows.

Throughout our busy days, we sometimes forget to do the simplest things, and one of the simplest preventative measures is to check to make sure burglars do not have an easy way inside your home. Burglars can enter your home through bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen windows while you are at work, school, or even sleeping. The cool air from an open window is refreshing, but it’s also refreshing to a burglar when he does not have to force his way in.  They can easily cut a screen out with a knife. It’s even better for them when there is no screen at all! Before you leave your house for work or school, make sure there are no open windows.

Do you have an alarm?

The most commonly ignored step that residents take in keeping their home safe is not installing a high grade security system. Content Venture Networks manufactures top of the line security. In the case you do forget to take the preventative measures listed above, Content Venture Networks is the watchful eye that keeps your family protected while you’re working hard in the office or school, away from your valuables. Don’t let a preventable incident contribute to the loss of your financial investments. Call us immediately at 555-555-555 to immediately find out more about your home security system, or reach us at our website, www.securitysystems.com. Protect your home today!

Photo via Stephen Poff

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Ten thousand years ago one of our early human ancestors, at the demand of his spouse, took out the trash.  This is a ritual that we continue today on a weekly basis.  Instead of taking the trash to the curb of a paved street, our unwashed and grunting ancestor threw his trash in a pile on the outskirts of his community.  Minutes later, a nearby pack of wild wolf-like creatures perked their ears as they picked up the interesting scent.  They tracked down the trash pile and began to feast on the strange food items prepared by the mother-in-law of the caveman in question.  To the good fortune of the wolves, the caveman detested his mother-in-law’s cooking, and so the pack was well fed.  The pack began to scavenge the trash pile on a regular basis.  There was no longer any need to hunt or scavenge elsewhere.  The wolf pack and the human started to run into each other frequently, and over a very long period of time, they began to tolerate each other’s company.  Ten thousand years pass, and the ancestors of the wolf pack and the ancestors of the caveman, are best of friends.

Dogs not only provide inter-species friendships, they can also provide personal and home security.  If you are looking for a canine companion that can also protect you and your home, these are some of the breeds you should consider:

1.  German Shepherd

Tried, tested and true, this breed is a favored by police.  With training, their level of discipline is unrivalled, yet they retain a friendly and playful personality in the absence of threat.  They are highly intelligent, and produce a fearsome bark that will raise the hairs on the neck of any human.

2.  Rottweiler

Power, is a single word that might describe this breed.  They are strong, trainable and fearless.  Well raised and properly socialized Rottweilers can be friendly household pets in spite of the bad press they receive.  Well raised ‘rotties’ can quickly befriend household children and make great protectors; any perceived threat against their little human friends will be met with force.

3.  Doberman

With the speed and agility of a Greyhound, and the power of a Rottweiler, this breed is considered by many to be the perfect guard dog.  Their aggressiveness has made them the popular choice in guarding commercial properties.  If there is any doubt in your mind about their abilities as a guard dog, just take note of the instinctual fear you experience on sight of one of these creatures.

4.  Husky

Calm, intelligent, and at times mischievous, Huskies have no problem emulating their wolf cousins when a threat arises.  It is their genetic proximity to a wolf, and their intelligence that makes this breed an excellent guard dog.  Not blindly jumping to aggressive action, Huskies walk softly and carry a very big stick.

Seek good breeders, socialize them early, obtain expert advice, and you can earn yourself a worthy protector, and loyal friend.

See http://caninebreeds.bulldoginformation.com/guardian-dogs.html for more breeds.

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In November of 2007, Canadian born Gerald Blanchard stood in a Winnipeg courtroom shaking hands with police detectives; thanking them for all their efforts.  He was sentenced to eight years in prison for burglary.  It might seem strange that a burglar would shake the hands of the detectives responsible for his imprisonment, but Gerald Blanchard is strange breed of human being.  He is gentleman, and a thief.

Described by police as one of the most gifted criminal masterminds they had ever seen, Blanchard is responsible for the execution of many high-profile, high-tech, and non-violent heists.  One of the most famous is his 1998 heist of the Si-Si Star, a piece of jewellery formerly owned by the Empress of Austria.  After posing as a tourist in the Schönbrunn Palace to complete his surveillance of the famous piece of jewellery, Blanchard parachuted from a small aircraft during the night and swapped the real piece with a replica purchased in the tourist shop.  The Si-Si Star was only recovered after Blanchard gave police its location during his trial.

“Blanchard seemed to care very much about the people he was involved with.”  said a Winnipeg police detective.  “He is not of the same ilk as the criminals we normally deal with.”  he added.  Both Blanchard and the police detectives involved seemed to have a genuine respect for each other.  Furthermore, the police were impressed by Blanchard’s abilities: “His ability to plan, his ability to surveil possible criminal targets, his knowledge of electronics… the way he carried out his business, the way he organized his own criminal organization… the various offences and crimes that he was involved in, the diversity of them, is something that we’d never seen…”.

Blanchard has attributed his success as a thief to his ability to surveil: “I just had the ability to look around me and realize where the flaws are in everything. That’s why I was so good at walking into a bank, looking around and knowing exactly where the flaws are and taking advantage of it.”

Eventually everyone makes a mistake.  During a bank job, Blanchard rented a van in his own name and parked it nearby.  A local business owner reported this information, and three years later it lead to Blanchard’s arrest.  Gerald Blanchard’s high-tech heists, along with his suave manner and likeable personality, has made him a legend in the eyes of many.

Blanchard is currently released from prison and is beginning a career in the field of security consultation.

Photo via Mass Distraction

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