Frisco Security Company Posts: Frisco Alarm Permit Update

Frisco, TX has recently made changes to their alarm ordinance.  We have listed a few of the changes below but recommend each user review the ordinance.

Some changes are listed below. 
 
1.  No outdoor sounding devices
2.  No inside alarm sounders permited to be heard more than 50ft from the alarm site. 
3.  Permit fee changed from $25.00 to $35.00
4.  False alarm fee's start after the 3rd false alarm.
5.  ECV required by monitoring companies - two different numbers are called before a dispatch is made on burglary signals.

Useful Links:

Frisco City Ordinance

Frisco Home Security Company

Frisco Business Security Company

McKinney Security Company Posts: McKinney Alarm Permit Update

McKinney, TX has recently made changes to their alarm ordinance.  We have listed a few of the changes below but recommend each user review the ordinance.

Some changes are listed below.
 
1.  No Permit - No Response
2.  Permit cost - $50 Residential, $100 Commercial
3.  No Response after 8 false alarms, class & reinstatement fee
4.  ECV required by monitoring companies - two different numbers are called before a dispatch is made on burglary signals.

Useful links:

McKinney Notify Letter

McKinney Alarm Permit Info

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.

Frisco Business Security: Watch for Burglars Targeting Business with Flat Screen TVs

Frisco Business Security Company offers 5 tips to protect your business from these flat screen bandits.

1. Take extra effort to secure TV's to the wall. Anything you can do to delay its removal will deter thieves from taking the time to steal it.
2. Have a 24/7 fast response monitored security system with a GSM Cellular backup communicator in case your phone lines are disabled.
3. Use glass breakage and motion detectors. Glass breakage detectors are essential if used properly as they will detect the intruder while he or she is still on the outside of your facility. Motion detectors are used to pick up any interior movement once the intruders are inside the building.
4. Use exterior sirens and strobes where applicable. Strobes should reduce police response time by helping them find the location faster.
5. Invest in a professionally installed video surveillance system that includes cameras with Wide Dynamic Range capabilities. This allows the user to have a face-on shot of exterior glass without the back lighting nightmare caused by many inferior solutions. (See Example Right)

**Bonus - Call today 888-696-8926 to schedule your Free, No Obligation Security Evaluation  **

NTX Security is a Frisco Business Security Company. For more information about NTX Security visit our website or call 888-696-8926.

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.

Plano Business Security Company warns businesses to be extra careful during the holiday season.

We are seeing news reports daily of crimes involving businesses from petty theft to violent crime. 

The Washington Post and others are blaming the economy for the recent spike in shoplifting.  (See article excerpt below)

NTX Security is a Plano business Security company that encourages all retail business owners and managers to take 5 simple steps to help protect their business during and after the holiday season.

1. Post a greeter at all entry / exits. This provides an extra element of customer service and reduces risk for shoplifting, especially if they check receipts vs. purchases.
2. Have a clear face shot of all persons entering the building. This is accomplished by using a quality high resolution zoom varifocal camera.
3. Direct traffic in and out of the store to reduce opportunity for grab and go crimes.
4. Coach employees on what to look for, and more importantly, how to respond to a potential theft.
5. Schedule your FREE Risk Evaluation with NTX Security today.

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By Ylan Q. Mui

Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 24, 2008; Page D01

Retailers have blamed the global financial crisis for a litany of ills over the past year: slumping sales, mass layoffs and bankruptcy filings. Now, they are looking to the economy to explain recent spikes in shoplifting from their stores.

Though individual retailers do not publicly report crime data, a survey of 52 national chain stores released this month by the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), a trade group, showed that 84 percent reported an increase in shoplifting since the recession began. About 80 percent said organized retail crime had also jumped, and more than half said robberies and burglaries have risen, as well.

Read Full Story Here

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Business Security:

Businesses Say Theft by Their Workers is Up

Companies find that trusted employees often commit the crimes, and they believe the recession is to blame.

By SARAH E. NEEDLEMAN / WSJ

In October, an accountant at 321 Takeoff Inc. in New York became suspicious after an employee who normally filed weekly expense reports for around $80 began requesting $120.

When Alona Fromberg-Elkayam, the branding agency's president, approached the employee, she says she was met with flimsy excuses. She fired the employee, a midlevel designer.

Read More Here

In 2006, the American workforce accounted for 47% of all inventory shrinkage. Although this number itself is staggering alone, 16 out of the 24 types of retail businesses reported employee thefts well above this average.

The Top Five Retail Markets for employee theft:

1. Convenience Stores - 82.5%
2. Optical - 61.5%
3. Electronics/computers/appliances - 60.4%
4. Furniture - 53%
5. Discount Stores - 52.4% 

Take steps today to reduce your exposure to employee theft by scheduling your FREE Security Risk Assessment here or call 888-696-8926. 

Stats provided by 2006 National Rertail Security Survey - University of Florida

Dallas Business Security

Crime affects businesses and charities alike. It hits especially hard during the holidays.

Let NTX Security help your business or organization stay secure 24/7 with a custom designed 3-D Security Package.

3-D Security is a multifaceted approach to protecting you property.

1. Deterrent - Use signs and window decals notifying everyone that your premise is protected by a professional security company. Many businesses are starting to use digital deterrents that use a recorded voice when motion is detected after hours notifying the individuals their activity is being monitored.
2. Detection - This is your custom designed business security system. At NTX Security, we like to start with perimeter detection that announces when someone is attempting to break in. Perimeter detection notifies all parties before the the intruder has actually entered the property, likely chasing the criminal off. We also recommend interior traps and panic buttons, along with exterior strobe lights and sirens where applicable.
3. Documentation - No security solution would be complete without video surveillance. Although not at the foundation of a security "pyramid", there is no more versatile security component than a professionally designed video surveillance system. Your video surveillance or CCTV system should help you not only protect your business by documenting illegal behavior, but additionally, it will help you manage your business remotely and potentially save you thousands in insurance expenses and claims. Moreover, by combining the security system and the CCTV system, we can virtually eliminate false dispatches and provide the authorities a verified alarm (Crime In Progress) that reduces response times. Quicker police response means catching more criminals -in the act!

Call today at 888-696-8926 or go here to schedule your free no obligation security risk assessment. 

There are many reasons why you should protect your business with a professionally installed video surveillance system. We have discussed many of those in previous posts; however in a "effort" to be fair and balanced, here are the Top 10 Reason Not to Protect Your Business. 

   ... Drum roll please....   

10) Being profitable is not in style. Wall Street is in the tank, why not go with the flow?

9) You like paying too much for your GL and Workers Comp insurance.

8) You like the perks of running a non-profit entity.

7) Your employees are perfect and never need supervision while you are away.

6) Vacation? Who wants to spend time with their family anyway?

5) If someone is stealing from you, they probably need it more than you... consider it a gift!

4) Your employees don't really want big raises, better benefits, and increased job security that a more profitable business would provide.

3) Training and Quality Control is for amateurs. "I've been running my business for (insert time here) and we are as efficient and effective as possible!"

2) Nobody really slips and falls intentionally or while horsing around... do they? 

...And the number one reason not to protect your business with video surveillance...

1) Profits means paying more taxes; and you HATE paying taxes

If the above seems as irrational as it was intended; please contact us today for a FREE no obligation security survey and we can help you restore your for profit status!