NTX Security offers 12 days of Christmas Security and Safety - Day 11 - Time to Wrap it up

It's almost time time to "wrap it up" but we have 12 more tips to help you this and every season.

1. A quality deadbolt lock on all perimeter doors is always your first line of defense. A door is most often the point of entry for an intruder. If you don’t have a quality lock the perpetrator knows that a good blow will break the non-fortified wood that is holding the door lock cylinder in place. A quick entry and closing of the door hides the damage, as it will be on the inside.
2. If you just moved in to your home or business, you should change the key cylinders on all locks, as you don’t know who has a copy of the key.
3. Cut the cord handle off your electric garage door openers. It’s easy to push the top of your garage door in enough to put a wire hanger in and hook the release handle. By pulling on the handle, a burglar will override the screw or chain drive and be able to manually lift the overhead door. Once protected by the privacy of your garage, entry to the home is inevitable. Be sure to leave just enough cord so that you can use it from inside if needed, but not enough to reach the top of the overhead door! 
4. Turn down the volume on your answering machine so that burglars can’t hear that no one’s home if the phone should ring. 
5. Leaving ladders and tools outside your home can trigger a burglar’s impulse, even if that was not on the schedule today.
6. Remove or place a light on shrubs that can easily conceal a waiting burglar from site.
7. Install a peep hole viewer, if you do not have a convenient window to check who is at your door before opening it to a stranger.
8. If someone asks to use your phone for an emergency take the information through closed doors and inform them that you will make the call for them.
9. If you see signs of entry, DO NOT ENTER the house. Go to the neighbors, to call for help and be on the lookout for strange cars or people near your home.
10. Always keep your cell phone in your bedroom with you. If the phone lines are cut you will need it to call for help.
11. Don’t leave a purse, wallet or laptop on the counters that can be seen from a window. This will almost always trigger a forced entry.
12. Generic security signs without corresponding security company stickers on the windows, may lead a passing burglar to believe that you don’t really have an alarm system installed.

NTX Security offers 12 days of Christmas Security and Safety - Day 7

The Grinch is calling; he wants to know if you will be home this Christmas… If you can, call forward your home phone number to your cell or neighbor for the duration of your absence. Don't leave descriptive telephone answering machine messages like, "You've reached the Wilson's...we're away skiing for the Christmas holiday...please leave a message." Don't give information on answering machines. It is best just to say that you are busy at the moment and to leave your name and number and you will return the call.

To be Continued... 

Arm your Home Security System or keep your bathroom clean.

Would-Be Texas Burglar Breaks Into Home, Takes A Bath

Police caught a would-be burglar in the tub of the Texas home he had broken into.

TYLER (December 13, 2009)--A 25-year-old man suspected of breaking into a house in Tyler was in jail Sunday after police caught him taking a bath in the tub of the home he’s accused of breaking into early Sunday morning.
Police Sgt. Matthew Smyser says a resident called to report that a man had kicked in the front door of the house in a blue-collar neighborhood in the northwest part of the city.
While en route, officers were advised the resident had fled, but that the intruder remained inside the house.
Officers entered to find the man had stripped and was taking a bath.
After a brief struggle, the man was arrested.
He was booked into the Smith County Jail.
He faces a misdemeanor criminal trespass charge. 

Resource: http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/79173837.html

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.

On the Second Day of Christmas (security tips)

Security 101 – Basic Christmas Security Training - Do not hide door keys under mats - the first place a burglar will look for a house key is under a mat. Rocks, flower pots and door ledges are next on a burglars search list, so don't get caught being security complacent.  If you must leave a key for emergency purposes make sure that you leave it with a trusted friend or neighbor. Make sure that you lock all windows and doors, even if just leaving your home for a few minutes. Burglars only need a few seconds to ruin your day. Intruders prefer to enter through unlocked doors or windows. Sliding windows that are not secure can be seen from a distance. Don't forget to arm your alarm system every time you leave and when you retire for the evening. Always check all door and window locks when a stranger has been inside your home i.e. repair man, "friend" of a friend etc.

More Security Tips Here

Day 1 of Security and Safety Tips 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.)

A Home Security Company in Austin, TX warns users of popular social network sites like Facebook, Twitter, etc., to resist revealing all personal information even your friends and family. 

Too often social networkers forget just how vulnerable they become when they post seemingly innocent information about themselves or their activities. Just setting your security levels to reduce those who can view your page is not enough.

Here are some quick Do's and Don'ts to get you back on the safe and narrow:

Do:

• Take advantage of the security settings available to you from your preferred social outlet.
• Scrutinize available information about your children i.e. Schools etc.
• Think before you post - Could this come back to haunt me? If yes, then don't post.
• Log out of Facebook. Google your name followed by Facebook to see how others may see you (Ex. John Smith Facebook).
• Have a good time and enjoy social networking - just be safe.

Don't:

• Post private information about your schedule or upcoming trips. (EVEN if only friends can see your profile.)
• Put your home address on your profile or page.
• Post pictures that reveal sensitive data i.e. house number, license plate number, childrens school etc. 

Here are some interesting links for reference:

Think Twice: That Facebook Update Could Get You Robbed

Burglar Steals Laptop, Gloats via Victim's Facebook Account

Facebook Security

10 Solid Tips to Safeguard Your Facebook Privacy

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.

FORT WORTH, Texas --

An intruder attacked a Fort Worth woman inside her garage after she had come home from dropping her children off at school, police said.

Visualize a birds-eye-view of your home. Mentally draw a circle around your home. This circle represents where your home security system starts. Here are 5 tips to prepare your home to help prevent a hostage situation like the story above:

1. Walk around the perimeter of your home. Trim bushes or remove / modify structures that provide a good hiding place for an potential attacker.
2. Do the sides or back of your home offer a place for an intruder to conceal himself from the street? Use motion activated lighting on all sides of your home.
3. Get a home security system from a reputable company, and place yard signs and window stickers around the perimeter of your home. This is your first line of defense from an intruder.
4. When purchasing a security system, request to have the overhead garage doors included. This helps protect you from forgetting to close your garage doors and in the case of the home intrusion above, could have notified the police earlier of the emergency.
5. Request to have a remote panic button. This will help you in and around your home should an emergency occur. In many cases the remote "key fob" will accommodate several functions including arming and disarming your system.

Denton is a little safer today thanks to the fine efforts of the Denton Police Department and Denton County Sheriffs department - Denton Record Chronicle article

Five Free Home Security Tips:

1. If you see signs that your home has been broken into - Do not enter! Go to a neighbor's house and call the police.
2. If you see the intruder(s), don't confront them. Panic can sometimes turn a burglary into a more dangerous crime.
3. If a stranger wants to use your phone don't let them inside. Take down the information and call for them.
4. Never tell a stranger you are home alone. Also don't mention this in public places like the checkout line etc.
5. Representatives from legitimate companies have ID cards. (See our verify a representative feature)

This is a great tool for the residents of Dallas. The best way to fight crime is knowledge.

http://www.dallaspolice.net/mediaaccess

Thankfully the kids are ok.

A Fort Worth brother and sister survived a frightening ordeal at the hands of robbers this week when thieves broke in to their house while the siblings were home alone.

For the complete story > Fort Worth Home Invasion