Security Surveillance Systems-Alarm Security Systems Save Lives

Do you think a Security Surveillance System would have helped me on this night?

It was a warm summer night around midnight or later when I heard the noise coming from the garage. I was terrified that someone was in the garage, but I swore I was not going to be a victim to my fear, so I ran in the bedroom, grabbed the handgun and the dog who was barking like crazy, and with a shaking hand took hold of the garage doorknob.

There was no time to call the police at that moment because I knew that it was only a matter of minutes before whoever was outside tying to get in would be inside the house. I figured they thought nobody was home so I threw the door open wide, flipped on the garage lights with one motion, let the dog loose and yelled loudly, "Come on in, Mother F@#%&! I've got a gun and a dog and I'm not afraid to blow your F@#$#!! head off!  It never occurred to me that I might hit and kill another human being.  My only real concern that night was whether or not I could drag them back in the house if I had to shoot them outside.  

Then it stopped. All the noise took one final boom and I heard footsteps running away. I turned on every single light in the house - outside and inside, ran outside with the gun, yelling, went back inside and then I called the police. Yes, I know how to use a handgun.

Whoever was trying to break in only got away with slashing my garage window screen. I phoned my then boyfriend and he drove over and nailed nails facing upward on the bottom of the garage windows and made a few other custom surveillance system modifications to the house - especially designed for burglars.

I went around to the neighbors houses in a three block radius the next late afternoon and informed them about what had happened to me and one of the neighbors told me that there had been someone trying to sell a cleaning product door to door that week and she had tried to get rid of them, but they did everything but force their way into her house. Plus they came back after she threatened to call the police and were using abusive threats against her.

Another neighbor told me that he walked to work past the house nearly every day and that he would keep an eye on things from now on.

• Most homes are not robbed by professional thieves, but inexperienced male teenagers.
• The average thief lives only a mile or two from the homes he burglarizes. 
• In the U.S.A. a burglary occurs once every 14.6 seconds. 
• Most home robberies occur during the day when home owners are working. 
• The average burglars spends approximately 8 to 12 minutes shuffling through your things. 
• 34% of the time thieves walk through the front door in broad daylight. The next most popular points of entry are: First-floor windows - 23%; Back door - 22%; Garage - 9%; Unlocked entrances & storage areas - 6%; Basement - 4%; Second floor - 2% 
•  65% of burglaries occur in residential neighborhoods. 
•  Not having a security system triples your chances of being robbed. 
• First stop for a burglar is your master bedroom - where you typically keep all your valuables. 
• Trees and shrubs planted near the house will only give burglars more places to hide. Keep Large vegetation of this kind cleared away, along with ladders or tools that can be used to break windows or gain entry into your home. 

I moved later that year. I was too upset to stay and had a hard time sleeping there after that. I learned a valuable lesson, though, and that is to always be aware of your surroundings. When I was growing up we knew all the neighbors, played with the kids in the neighborhood, left doors and windows unlocked and even left keys in cars.  As I got older, I became less inclined to know my neighbors. Since that break in, meeting my neighbors Is a habit I got into.

Common sense tells you that:

• You never want to leave your place looking unoccupied.
• Keep your doors locked
• Keep your window shades closed when you are gone
• Don't be predictable - get yourself some lights that will come on when you are gone
• If you suspect someone in your home, garage or yard, grab your car keys and set off your car alarm system for good measure.
• Get wasp spray to blind a burglar to give you escape time. It works better than mace and they have to go to the hospital for an antidote. Wasp spray works from 20 feet way, unlike mace that has to be sprayed directly.

• Make your home appear lived in to lessen your chances of being robbed. Install exterior motion lights, always have a car in the driveway, have radios and TVs on timers so that they may occasionally go on even when you're not home, and stop newspaper delivery and mail when you're not around.
• Burglars don't want to spend any longer than 60 minutes breaking in and getting out of your home. Your job is to make this as difficult as possible. Install deadbolt locks, bars on the windows, pins on sash windows, and place a 2 x 4 in the track of the patio door so that even if they get the door unlocked, it won't open. A barking dog, no matter the size, also helps discourage break-ins.
• The most popular items for stealing include cash and anything else that is easy to sell, such as jewelry, electronics, silver, gold, and guns.  A safe may not open, but a small safe can be carried away.

Genuine burglars cite 21 things your burglar won't tell you in posts all over the internet and the posts are compliments of:

"Convicted burglars in North Carolina, Oregon, California, Kentucky, security consultant Chris McGoey, who runs www.crimedoctors.com; and Richard T. Wright, a criminology professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, who interviewed 105 burglars for his book Burglars on the Job."

If you don't know this reference, I strongly suggest you look it up on the internet. Here are the top three:

"1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.

2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.

3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste...and taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have inside."

If you use outside sources for services, make sure you get people with references. Check out those references-sloughing off this step could cost you dearly.

If someone has to use your bathroom, make sure you follow them in, follow them out, lock the door to let them in and lock doors after they are in, then re-lock doors when they go out again and once they are outside, don't forget to check the room when they leave it - for windows left open, or locks left unlatched.

Keep your front yard area (especially) tidy of toys and games and equipment. I know, you are a busy parent to an active toddler, but make a game out of picking up and pretty soon it won't be a problem, but a good habit instead.

Best alarm security system, anti-theft protection device is truly a dog that barks. The next best anti-theft device is to know who your neighbors are so that you can form a sort of block watch. Step away from the TV and spend half an hour a night going around and introducing yourself. If you take a loaf of banana bread, you'll even make a few good friends along the way.

When Attacked Fight Back.

When faced with violence you must chose! Even With a security surveillance system you may need to fight back if someone comes into your home. Make sure you are mentally prepared with the tools you need to be a success!

In the past there was a theory that if you do not fight back you are safer and may avoid harm.

New schools of thought and Recent studies suggest the opposite - That fighting back may actually save your life.

When you fight back you no longer become a victim and an intruder is challenged by your assertiveness and power. In other words, you become a bit 'scary' to them and they may feel less incline to 'mess with you." Don't just fight back - Be LOUD! Yell and Scream too! And use whatever tools you have at your dispense - Just be aware that those same tools can be used against you (in any battle).

Being 'nice' is not appropriate when you are fighting back - Poke out eyes, break a nose, a leg, damage someone's hearing by clapping their ears hard - Then run like hell to safety. Just make sure if you fight back that you do it with all your heart. It's your life that you could be saving if you do.

Break ins are a terrifying experience. Mine left me feeling vulnerable, frightened, disrupted my daily and nightly peace of mind and left me feeling exposed and violated and angry.

There is no place like home. Where safety and peace of mind count, investigate the security surveillance systems available in your area. As an added safety measure, call the police and fire department to find out if there are any reports of home invasions in your area.