Story here:

Ultimately stats are just numbers and do not protect a family or business, prevent an intrusion or heal a victim.

Take steps to better prepare yourself in the event of an emergency:

1. Read about steps you can take to protect yourself from crime and violence www.MyNTX.com/blog
2. Make a commitment to be an active participant in your own crime prevention program - in other words, put action to what you learn.
3. Request a Free Security Review from the security professionals at NTX Security.

At NTX Security we offer free security related information and suggestions to our community and our potential clients through our website, security blog, news articles and our free on-site security evaluations. Please feel free to send this article to someone you care about or whom you feel could benefit from this information. Click here for Business Security or here for Home Security.

Criminals are will to go to extreme measures to get your property. How far are you willing to go to protect it? 

Please take advantage of our Free Security Review to find out how to better prepare your business and home.  

See the story here:

At NTX Security we offer free security related information and suggestions to our community and our potential clients through our website, security blog, news articles and our free on-site security evaluations. Please feel free to send this article to someone you care about or whom you feel could benefit from this information. Click here for Business Security or here for Home Security.

Just in case you haven't heard, NTX Security has a newly updated Facebook Fan page where we will offer special advance notice of events, promotions and other related goodies.

To kick off our Fan Page we are having a drawing for a Vado VF0570's Palm Cam when we reach certain fan levels. (See fan page for more details.)

Dallas Security Company shares how to change your user codes (If you have a DSC PowerSeries Security System (PC-1616,PC-1832, PC-1864 etc.))

DSC Access Code Programming:

In addition to the Master Access Code, you can program up to 32 additional User Access codes. 

Press [*][5], plus your Master Access Code.  The Program or System indicator will begin to flash, and the Armed (padlock symbol) indicator will turn on. 

Enter the 2-digit number to be programmed (i.e. 06 for user access code 6; enter 40 for the Master Access Code). 

When using the PK5500/LCD5500, use the [<][>] keys to find the specific code and press [*] to select.  Enter the new 4-digit access code, or press [*] to erase it.  When programming is complete, enter another 2-digit code to program or press [#] to exit.

For systems using multiple partitions/areas, access codes can be assigned to specific or multiple partitions/areas.  Please contact NTX Security or your alarm company for details.

Access Codes

[*][5][Master Code] (when disarmed)

The [*][5] User’s Programming command is used to program additional access codes.

User Codes (Access Codes 1-32)

Master Code (Access Code 40) – The Master Code can only be changed by the Installer, if programmed.

Supervisor Codes (Access Codes 41 & 42) – These codes are always valid when entering the [*][5] User Codes Programming section.  However, these codes can only program additional codes which have equal or lesser attributes.  Once programmed, the Supervisor Codes receive the Master Code’s attributes.  These attributes are changeable. 

Duress Codes (Access Codes 33 & 34) – Duress codes 33 and 34 are standard User Codes that will transmit the Duress Reporting Code whenever the code is entered to perform any function on the system.

NOTE: Duress codes are not valid when entering [*][5], [*][6] or [*][8] sections.

NOTE: No codes can be programmed as a duplicate of another code.

NOTE: Duress codes cannot be programmed as a duplicate or as a “Code + 1”.

At NTX Security we offer free security related information and suggestions to our community and our potential clients through our website, security blog, news articles and our free on-site security evaluations. Please feel free to send this article to someone you care about or whom you feel could benefit from this information. Click here for Business Security or here for Home Security.

Dallas Home and Business Security

Are all burglaries being counted in Dallas? Do city leaders hide the true numbers to make their cities more appealing to home and business owners?

Thanks to TANYA EISERER and STEVE THOMPSON of The Dallas Morning News

One night this summer, Tony Briones fell asleep on the living room couch inside the apartment he shares with his wife and son. He awoke to the sound of someone kicking in their front door.

Briones stood up and saw a stranger stepping into his apartment.

    
"The moment that he saw me get up, he basically ran off," Briones said. The Oak Cliff man felt he was the victim of an attempted burglary.

Dallas police didn't agree. They classified the July 5 incident as a case of vandalism.

Full Story here

Video Here

Lewisville Business security company asks, is your break room secure?

Is break room security a concern? Just ask these Harvard Researchers.

Recently in the news we hear of Harvard researchers poisoned by pranksters Story here:

Although this may be an extreme case of break room abuse, if someone was tampering with food or supplies, wouldn't you want to be able to identify the vandal? 

A break room camera can increase your awareness of:

1. Break room abuse - too much time on break
2. Food tampering
3. Theft - if they are stealing lunches, what else are they stealing?
4. Vandalism

Quick Tip: Make sure that you do not add a camera anywhere privacy is to be expected, and clearly post your intentions of video surveillance, and add a break room camera to monitor the activity (or lack there of) in your break room.

See privacy rules here:

Audio Statutes - Texas

Video Statutes - Texas

Audio Interception Federal Statutes

At NTX Security we offer free security related information and suggestions to our community and our potential clients through our website, security blog, news articles and our free on-site security evaluations. Please feel free to send this article to someone you care about or whom you feel could benefit from this information.

If you are experiencing longer than expected wait times getting your City of Dallas Alarm Permit, Katie Fairbank from the Dallas Morning News may have an update. Story here

Here is the link to the City of Dallas Alarm Permit - Web Site.

At NTX Security we offer free security related information and suggestions to our community and our potential clients through our website, blog, news articles and our free onsite security evaluations. Please feel free to send this article to someone you care about or whom you feel could benefit from this home security information.

Dallas Texas Security Company notes Police Officer deaths down sharply

FBI: Police officer deaths fell sharply in 2008

By DEVLIN BARRETT (AP)

WASHINGTON — The number of police officers slain in the line of duty fell sharply last year, according to FBI data released Monday. Link to story here

This raises an interesting question; "What can you and your security company do to reduce police officer fatalities?"

Here are three tips to reduce false alarms:

1. Use only factory trained, licensed security professionals.
   NTX Security’s technicians (install and service) are licensed by the State of Texas. Our installation and service technicians are factory trained by the manufactures that we service. 
2. Request a service call. Have a technician review that the system is working as it should. While he or she is there, make sure that you are using the system properly. A refresher never hurts and you may find a more efficient way to protect your assets. Ask if the technology has changed and you may be able to upgrade your system and protection for very little upfront cost. DSC Equipment user manuals here  
3. Audio and Video Integration – See and hear what you have been missing. Consider upgrading your existing system with a system that uses audio and video to help determine if the alarm is a crime in progress, or simply a user who forgot his/her code.
   Any other thoughts are welcome below.

At NTX Security we offer free security related information and suggestions to our community and our potential clients through our website, blog, news articles and our free onsite security evaluations. Please feel free to send this article to someone you care about or whom you feel could benefit this information.

Free advice is usually worth what you pay for it. However, there are exceptions to the rule. 

Part of our Free Security Survey that we perform in businesses and homes around the Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex is to offer recommendations on how to increase  security by making simple adjustments in daily activities. Many times there is not any cost beyond time and attention to these money saving and safety increasing tips. If I could rank the most essential recommendations I provide, my number one piece of security advice is simply: Lock your doors and windows. This is an ongoing effort that requires regular attention.

Daily homes and business are entered illegally from a door or window left open or unlocked. Being secure is a process, not a destination. It involves activity and participation.  

Here are a few quick reminders to help get you back on track.

• Everyone: Double check all doors and windows after a contractor or stranger has been through your home or facility. This is essential. Many service men and women are attentive, hard working and well-meaning individuals. But it is impossible to know for sure. It may have been an accident that a back door or window was left open - the consequences are the same either way. 
• Businesses: At a minimum, assign a shift manager at the shift change to check all doors and windows (as applicable) to ensure that everything that should be closed and locked is closed and locked. This simple strategy will save you untold fortunes that are currently walking out the back of your facility un-checked. Many times as I perform a security survey with a place of business we will discover a door that has been propped open or left unlocked, likely for the convenience of one worker, but in turn placed the entire facility at risk for theft or worse yet, violence. Train employees at all levels to be aware of the dangers of an unsecured building - ensure that all vulnerabilities are corrected and / or reported immediately without fail.
• Homes: When should you lock your doors? The answer will vary slightly, but ultimately whenever you are not using that door, keep it closed and locked. If you vent your windows to enjoy the weather, then secure the window with a thumb screw or brace to ensure that someone will not be able to free the window by reaching through the opening.
• Finally, there are only two times that I recommend you lock your car doors: When you are in it and when you are away from it. Simple... yes. Effective... most certainly.

At NTX Security we offer free security related information and suggestions to our community and our potential clients through our website, blog, news articles and our free onsite security evaluations. Please feel free to send this article to someone you care about or whom you feel could benefit this information.

We welcome your comments below. 

5 Low Tech / Low Cost ways of protecting your office or suite from Office Creepers.

1. Require everyone to sign in and out when they leave the building. Yes, your employees will hate it, but it has to be 100% in order for it to be effective. This is also helpful in the event of an emergency.
2. Require every employee to present a customized PVC Photo ID badge when signing in daily. This ID badge should be worn prominently throughout the day while at the office (not in a purse or wallet). Stop anyone you see in your office without a badge. Owners and managers - this starts with you. I have seen many security measures blown off by management only to become the "Program of the day" by employees.
3. Issue a customized ID badge to be worn prominently to every visitor. You could take this to the next level by having badges color coded by different days of the week to assist in identifying an impostor. (Blue = Monday, Green = Fridays etc).
4. Provide employees a place to lock personal belongings (i.e. a desk drawer or locker).
5. Incorporate security and safety awareness in weekly staff meetings. Office Creepers not only impact your employees, but your customers, and ultimately, your company as well. No one wants to make a call to a customer to inform him or her that a laptop with their private data has been stolen.

• Ensure that you have a face shot of all visitors of your building or suite.
• Every entry and exit should have a  camera with an effective angle and clear shot.
• Place cameras in all common areas and main hallways .
• At all entry / exits and periodically throughout the facility, post that Video Surveillance is in use.

Please call 888-696-8926 or here to request our free security risk assessment.