NTX Security offers 12 days of Christmas Security and Safety - Day 4 - Holiday Decorations

A Season for Sharing in Fire Safety (US Fire Administration) – Continued http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/citizens/all_citizens/home_fire_prev/holiday-seasonal/holiday.shtm

Holiday Decorations:

1. Use Only Nonflammable Decorations
2. All decorations should be nonflammable or flame-retardant and placed away from heat vents.
3. Never Put Wrapping Paper in a Fireplace - It can result in a very large fire, throwing off dangerous sparks and embers and may result in a chimney fire.
4. Artificial Christmas Trees - If you are using a metallic or artificial tree, make sure it is flame retardant.
5. Candle Care – 
   * Avoid Using Lit Candles
   * If you do use them, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be easily knocked down. Never leave the house with candles burning. 
   * Never Put Lit Candles on a Tree
6. Do not go near a Christmas tree with an open flame - candles, lighters or matches.
7. Finally, as in every season, have working smoke alarms installed on every level of your home, test them monthly and keep them clean and equipped with fresh batteries at all times.
8. Know when and how to call for help. And remember to practice your home escape plan.

 

December 14, 2009

DOJ Releases Updated K-12 School Crime Stats

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Justice Programs Bureaus of Justice Statistics just released Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2009.

This annual report examines crime occurring in school as well as on the way to and from school. It also provides the most current detailed statistical information on the nature of crime in schools and school environments and responses to violence and crime at school.

Full Article Here

DOJ Report Here

NTX Security offers 12 days of Christmas Security and Safety- Day 3

 A Season for Sharing in Fire Safety (US Fire Administration) http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/citizens/all_citizens/home_fire_prev/holiday-seasonal/holiday.shtm

Each year fires occurring during the holiday season claim the lives of over 400 people, injure 1,650 more, and cause over $990 million in damage. According to the United States Fire Administration (USFA), there are simple life-saving steps you can take to ensure a safe and happy holiday. By following some of the outlined precautionary tips, individuals can greatly reduce their chances of becoming a holiday fire casualty.
1) Preventing Christmas Tree Fires
a. Christmas Tree Fire Hazards - Special fire safety precautions need to be taken when keeping a live tree in the house. A burning tree can rapidly fill a room with fire and deadly gases.
b. Selecting a Tree for the Holiday - Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the needle should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. The trunk should be sticky to the touch. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground. If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut too long, has probably dried out, and is a fire hazard.
c. Caring for Your Tree - Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks. Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree. Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.
d. Disposing of Your Tree - Never put tree branches or needles in a fireplace or woodburning stove. When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly. The best way to dispose of your tree is by taking it to a recycling center or having it hauled away by a community pick-up service.
e. Holiday Lights – Maintain Your Holiday Lights. Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up. Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory.
f. Do Not Overload Electrical Outlets - Do not link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet. Make sure to periodically check the wires - they should not be warm to the touch.
g. Do Not Leave Holiday Lights on Unattended

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

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.

 

 

At NTX Security it is our hope that you have a safe and secure Christmas holiday season. To help celebrate this season of giving, we offer you these Twelve days of Christmas Security and Safety (tips). For the next twelve days we will highlight a concern and offer a relevant security or safety tip. We hope you can use this information year around, but especially during this special time of year.

First day of Christmas Security:

It’s not just window shopping… burglars appreciate knowing that you have expensive gifts inside for them to steal.

Don't openly display your Christmas tree and gifts in the front window so it's easily visible from the street. It's too tempting for an intruder to smash the window and grab the wrapped packages. However if you must place your tree in front of the window, make sure that you don't display gifts under it until closer to Christmas. Burglars look for an easy entry with good escape routes.  

 ***A "Christmas Bonus" Tip***

After Christmas day, don't pile up empty gift boxes from your new computer, DVD player, or stereo receiver on the street for trash pickup.  Break them down or cut them up to conceal the items better and make sure that you place the pieces in dark plastic bags.

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.

Fort Worth Home Security Company notes FBI's Uniform Crime reflects residential burglaries are up for 2008.

Kevin Campbell of SDM Magazine

The latest edition of the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports, 2008 Crime in the United States, published last month, offered the latest snapshot of the crime level in the U.S. While the numbers for violent crimes made some modest declines, the statistics on burglary illustrated more of a roller coaster effect.
 
The national rate for burglary in 2008 was 730.8 per 100,000 inhabitants. Total burglaries were 2, 222,196, up 2 percent from 2007 and up 3.6 percent over the five-year span dating back to 2004. The news was especially discouraging if you're a homeowner, landlord or renter. Residences took a significant hit in 2008, burgled 1,562,976 times, up 5.4 percent from 2007 levels and accounted for 70.3 percent of all burglary offenses.
 
Interestingly, the largest increase in residential burglaries was those that occurred during the day. Daytime burglaries of residences jumped 8.3 percent, up to 805,193 from 738,654 in 2007. In comparison, residences were burglarized 437,007 times at night in 2008, an increase of just 3.5 percent from 2007. 
 
"People aren't home during the day," said James Alan Fox, Lipman professor of criminal justice at Northeastern University, Boston, explaining the higher number of burglaries during the daylight hours. "You have single parents or two-career households; mom and dad are at work, the kids are at school, and nobody's home.

Full 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.