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Understanding Your Alarm Contract

Posted by Peter M. Rogers at 10:00 am 1 Response »

May 082012

You might think the primary purpose of your alarm company’s contract (aka “Subscriber Monitoring Agreement”) is to hold you to a payment schedule for a prescribed period – but that’s just part of it. Lots of services with a monthly fee require a contract: cell phones and cable are good examples. However, your home security subscriber agreement deserves a closer look, because there’s a lot more to it. Not all alarm companies take the same approach, so I’ve compiled a short list of the issues that you should research in advance. But first, here’s a link to a story of an alarm customer who was snared by a contract detail.

Adams is the first to admit that he should have read over that contract more thoroughly before signing on with another company. But, what he says really pushed his buttons is the way the company responded to his request for cancellation. “They told me if I didn’t pay it within 10 days they would send it to a collection agency, very inappropriate,” said Adams. “People need to really read their contract thoroughly and understand how the renewal process is going to occur and maybe they can avoid these extra fees,” he said. Read More »

Wireless Home Security - Top Tips for Safe Gun Storage

Posted by Peter M. Rogers at 10:15 am No Responses »

Apr 272012

I’ve posted on guns as being high on the list of items frequently targeted by burglars. Guns often mean ready cash, which is what most burglaries are about. And sometimes the guns that are stolen end up being used in other burglaries, which is what scares me the most about guns being left unsecured. In this article from Denver, Colorado, a skilled carpenter and gun owner provides some great advice on guns in the home – and how to increase your peace of mind as a weapon owner.

I learned to shoot and to handle firearms safely as a teenager. My father was a police officer and also competed on the police force’s pistol team. I can remember always having guns around the house. My brothers and I were all taught the safety fundamentals at an early age. I still feel that education is the best tool for keeping weapons safe. Households that have very young children, however, need to take additional firearm storage measures, as curiosity often trumps learning and common sense.

Cabinets, Safes and Locks

One way to ensure that firearms are safe is to lock them away in safes, or lockable cabinets, or install locking devices on the guns themselves. These are the preferred methods for those who have small children in the home, or the potential to have children visit. Read More »

8 Great Alarm Notifications

Posted by Peter M. Rogers at 10:08 am 1 Response »

Apr 262012

Wireless home security has really started to evolve over the past few years. The best alarm systems can now do a lot more than just use your phone line to send an intrusion alarm to the monitoring center. This doesn’t mean that every alarm company is using the latest technology, but at least the advanced products and features are available – from the right alarm company!

There are monitored sensors for every condition now: fire, water, temperature, and carbon monoxide.

The way alarm systems communicate has also changed, increasingly switching toa GSM cellular link for the highest level of safety and reliability.

Alarm Notifications

But the “leading edge” of home security doesn’t stop with new sensors and cellular monitoring. People also want remote control, video services, free apps, and – probably the favorite next-generation feature of all – notifications. With this popular feature, your alarm system can notify you by text or email no matter where you are, about any event happening at your home.

8 Great Alarm Notifications:

Standard Alerts – When the kids get home from school, or other family members come and go. Whenever a sensor monitoring a door opening or closing is triggered, you can know that one of your family members is entering or leaving. Read More »

Residential Crime Update – Even the Safest Towns Aren’t So Safe Anymore

Posted by Peter M. Rogers at 6:59 pm No Responses »

Apr 172012

I recently wrote on crime statistics and consistent trends over the past several years: gradual decreases in most types of crime, but a corresponding increase in residential crime. Even in those few jurisdictions where residential crime has gone down, it has gone the least of any criminal activity. And that means more burglars across the US are more active, which is fueling the rise in home security sales. In fact, there are roughly 2 million new home alarm systems purchased every year – and that number is growing. And as this article from Maplewood, Minnesota demonstrates, even a historically safe town in the heartland is feeling the pain of increased crime.

It was the usual morning rush at the Maplewood home, where father and husband Dave was trying to get his kids ready to be driven to school. Dave was first to step into the attached garage, noting distractedly that there was a hand tool lying on the step. “Huh. One of the kids must have left that there,” he thought. Rounding the side of one of the cars parked inside, he saw that wasn’t the case. Items from both the family’s vehicles were strewn all over the garage floor. Tools and equipment had been examined and tossed aside. It was all pretty clear, especially with the morning sun streaming in through the open garage door — which Dave realized must have been left open all night. Read More »

Wireless Home Security – Colorado Police Think High Gold Prices are Behind Burglary Spike

Posted by Peter M. Rogers at 5:11 pm No Responses »

Apr 142012

FrontPoint isn’t just known for advanced interactive monitoring and best-in-class service: we also provide a ton of useful information about how alarm systems work, what makes some alarm technologies (and alarm companies!) better than others, and what to think about when you are shopping for peace of mind. We think it’s part of our responsibility as a home security services provider to educate as well, and that includes relaying information from around the US on residential crime: where it’s increasing, who’s responsible, and what’s behind it. And this story from Pueblo, Colorado is a great example – discussing how police there are connecting the recent increase in burglaries to the fluctuating but still stratospheric cost of a certain commodity.

The high price of gold could be linked to a rash of home burglaries that has plagued Pueblo recently. About 240 forced-entry burglaries have been reported since July. Pueblo police said suspects are striking during the day and taking, among other things, mainly jewelry. Read More »