Can your home security system withstand rough handling from your curious kids?  Learn the tips to keep it safe and functional.

Kids are naturally curious creatures. It’s just their way to learn and appreciate things and parents are actually more than happy to accommodate them. However, there are times when children’s active and healthy curiosity is not always appreciated, especially if they tend to damage items around the house. And your home security system may just be on their list. To keep it safe from kids’ curious minds AND hands, here are tips you can use:

Keep the home security system out of kids’ reach
In the hands of a curious two-year old, this system will survive, no matter how well-constructed it is. Little hands always have a way to get in between metal seams and around the tiniest screws. Pretty soon, settings on your home security system will mysteriously change or the system itself will begin to malfunction.

To keep kids’ curious minds and hands away from your home security system, have it installed at a location that is out of their reach. An active two-year-old, for example, will find it impossible to reach the gadget if it’s installed three to four feet above his reach. If it’s out of his eye level, this system may just remain safely ignored for several years.

Keep the home security system inside a cabinet
Most homeowners keep the main panel of their home security system inside a cabinet. Be careful in choosing the location for the panel and make sure it is out of reach of your kids. A sturdy wooden or steel cabinet equipped with a lock will keep curious hands and minds away. If you have older children, keep the keys to the cabinet in a place where they will not be found easily.

Familiarize them with the system
Kids are so curious they will tear or take apart things around the house just so they will understand how things work. By doing so, they often damage items, particularly electronics. In some cases, though, kids will often leave an item alone after they’ve familiarized themselves with it.

A good technique to try with older kids is to introduce them to the home security system while it is being installed. Explain what it is, how it works and why your home needs one. Once kids understand how important the system is, they will be less likely to try to take it apart or play with it.

Keep kids in mind when designing the layout for a more complicated home security system
Look for ‘kid-safe’ areas and nooks in the home where you wish your system installed. Get on your knees (crawl if you have to) so you can see the room from your child’s point of view. If you can see a component of your system and get to it from where you are, your child will, too. Try to plan the installation based on your kids’ limitations to minimize the risk that your tiny toddler will damage your expensive home security system.

A metal detector is simply the equipment used for detecting the presence of metal and metallic materials. This is an exceptionally sensitive equipment that is capable of detecting metal through heaps of different materials such as wood, fabric, soil or other non-metallic based substances.

It is used in a wide variety of situations. For one, it is a standard feature in airports used to detect and prevent unauthorized movement of weapons such as guns and knives; it is a must in treasure hunting; metal detector is also widely used in removing bio-degradable wastes, like in bodies of water; and even in detecting land mines.

All metal detectors work in the same manner, through the use of electromagnetism. Each comes with a battery that powers the transmitter, which then emits the magnetic field. This magnetic field is then used when a metallic item is passed through the impression of the metal detector; the metal becomes magnetized, and thus is detected by the sensors.

Just like anything, with time and continuous usage, metal detectors also break down and will require some measure of maintenance and repair. To prolong the life of your metal detector and to maintain effectiveness, proper maintenance should be put in place:

- Metal Detectors should always be cleaned – accumulated dirt and other fine particles at the bottom of the detector should be removed. The main unit must be cleaned with hot water less than 40 degrees centigrade with mild detergent and non-abrasive cloth. The conveyor belt must also be cleaned gently with a neutral detergent and plastic brush. No need for a specialized cleaning agents or solutions.

- Search Coil must be protected – it is the metal detecting part of the detector, and the most prone to damage. The best way to protect it is with a search coil covers. These are plastics, and they don’t interfere with the detection signal. These are inexpensive protections that will surely prolong the life of the metal detector.

- Proper Storage – use and store the metal detector only in normal temperature environments. Temperature extremes can shorten the life of the equipment and distort plastic parts. Batteries must also be removed when not in use to ensure that no leaking or corrosion occurs.

A metal detector is a sensitive piece of equipment so it should be treated with due care and maintenance. Whether in use or in storage, continuous attention must be given it for long life and service that it could give you.

Ever wondered what spy supplies are available?  Learn the top 5 spy equipment you can buy to start or complete your collection.

People buy spy gears not just to help them create a more secure environment at work and at home but also as some sort of hobby.  Many people collect spy gears these days, finding their designs and features very fascinating and useful in many ways.  If you’ve been thinking of gettin a few spy equipment yourself, here are some of the most useful spy supplies you can find on the market:

Spy cameras
These are easily the most popular spy supplies being sold today.  Spy cameras come in all sorts of forms and designs.  These are mini cameras — small enough to be disguised and installed easily.  They are so small that they can even be worn as buttons or pendants and still remain unnoticed.

Spy cameras also come in a wide variety of forms, making them easier to disguise.  These days, you can find spy supplies like mini cameras in the form of stuffed toys, air humidifiers and alarm clocks.  Recording time varies; some models can record for only about 20 hours while newer ones can go as long as 60 hours.

Infrared camera
Another popular spy supply is the infrared camera, another version of the spy camera.  This is the preferred camera for use in low-light situations or total darkness.  This is a specialized function, although it can also be found in certain models of spy cameras being sold today.

Keyloggers
Keyloggers function as stealth recorders of activities performed on computers.  Once plugged or installed onto a computer, keyloggers will track, monitor and record all texts typed using the computer unit — that means every letter, number and symbol will be recorded, including passwords.

Use keyloggers with care, though.  Used improperly, the installation of a keylogger can be considered illegal, particularly when used without consent of the computer’s owner, if deployed in the workplace without the knowledge of management or if the intention is to steal information.

Digital voice recorders
Digital voice recorders are excellent for recording audio surreptitiously.  Most digital voice recorders are equiped with built-in storage, which means they can be used independent of any other equipment.  As long as the storage chip can be retrieved, the audio may be reviewed.

There are also digital voice recorders that can transmit voice data remotely, making live listening possible.

GPS Logger
The GPS logger keeps track of someone’s location at any given time.  It can keep track, monitor and store data independently, which means it can be used even without a third party service.

Law enforcements worldwide are finding increasing use for metal detectors for deterring criminal activities and solving cases.

Great Britain Goes After Knife Crime
Using hand-carry metal detectors, which are commonly seen at airports, is one of the courses of action taken by Jacqui Smith, Home Secretary, as part of the Tackling Violence Action Plan.

Other preventive and protection measures that have been included in plan are providing parents access to criminal records and other pertinent data of pedophiles as well as procedures that are expected to deter binge drinkers from committing any acts of violence.

Metal detectors to be used are actually not handheld but made of collapsible and portable mobile arches. They can be stored inside the trunks of police cars then taken out whenever they’re called for. They are expected to be used outside schools, night clubs, pubs, and other establishments where knives may be potentially used for perpetrating crimes of any kind.

Fears of knife-related crimes have grown as statistics show an increase in such incidents. In 2005-2005, 219 knife-related cases have been reported. This has grown to 258 for the next year.

Knife crime, a Home Office spokesperson says, is something that “the government…takes very seriously.” Maximum sentence for individuals caught carrying a knife has been raised from two to four years. £1m has also been spent for a youth campaign against carrying weapons, one that would hopefully make clear to teenagers that carrying a knife only makes it a greater possibility for them to become a victim of violence themselves.

Handheld detectors, however, will be also used. At an underground station in East London, law enforcement officers have been seen to scan commuters for weapons as they get off the train.

While the use of metal detectors is hoped to deter armed individuals from using their weapons, the government is also determined to take other measures that would make the use of metal detectors unnecessary. Another part of the Tackling Violence Action Plan is devoted to discourage and punish retailers who plan to or have been caught selling alcohol to minors as well as confiscate liquor carried by minors.

Metal Detectors Provide Evidence to Break-In
In Princeton, Maine, Department One of the Washington County Sherriff had successfully recovered stolen handguns upon receiving a tip. Of the twelve guns reported missing from the break-in at the Four Corners Rod and Gun Shop, eight had been retrieved overall.

Deputy Tom Chambers sent the dive team of Department One to investigate and with the help of underwater metal detectors, Dive Master Dennis Dorsey was able to recover a handgun from the stream bottom.

Since the 9/11 attack, airports, malls, schools, and other establishments and institutions open to the public have been more stringent with their security. Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to see walkthrough metal detectors located at entrance and exit points or security personnel carrying handheld metal detectors, which are also known wands. When used properly and strategically, metal detectors can go a long way in keeping monitored areas safe from potential threats.

Level of Detection
The effectiveness of security metal detectors largely depends on their range of sensitivity.

Level 1 metal detectors are capable of determining the presence of knives and small hand guns. Level 2 metal detectors, on the other hand, can go as far as detecting the presence of handcuffs and razor blades. And as for Level 3 metal detectors, these are capable of detecting the presence of even a single .22 caliber bullet or minute metal shanks.

Some metal detectors are designed for use in other fields. Professional metal detectors, for instance, are utilized for hunting buried treasure. A basic metal detector, on the other hand, can be used in everyday situations for finding misplaced items like house keys, coins, or jewelry. Some are designed to work even underwater.

How Security Metal Detectors Work
The technology used is also another key factor in determining the effectiveness of security metal detectors.

Metal detectors using “very low frequency” or VLF are also referred to as “induction balance” due to their use of transmitters and receivers. These devices create electromagnetic fields and changes in the electromagnetic field are interpreted and relayed to the metal detector in order to determine the presence or absence of metal in the scanned item.

Metal detectors using VLF technology are the type most widely used for security purposes because of their ability to distinguish the different kinds of metals.

Metal detectors utilizing “pulse induction” or PI technology use currents to create yet another field. This time, however, it’s the reverse of what VLF metal detectors create – an opposite magnetic field, to be more specific. The said currents generate reflected pulses and a sample circuit monitors the amount of time in which these pulses last. If it’s longer than usual then it means metal is present.

Finally, there’s BFO or beat-frequency oscillator, a technology that has been pioneered by the Garret company. Metal detectors using BFO technology have oscillators that generate offset pulses. The differences between these pulses are transformed into certain sounds which would then let you know if metal has been detected or not. It may sound complicated, but it’s actually by far the easiest to use.

There are many factors that contribute to making the home safe to live in – the neighborhood, the location and the vigilance of the homeowners and their neighbors.  A good home alarm system really is just a backup to ensure security and  is an excellent way to boost safety.  Most people rely on their home alarm security to keep them safe, discourage an attack, prevent a burglary and generally deter crime.  But did you know there are limitations to this system?  Here are the most common pitfalls of using a home alarm system that you should know about:
Frequently, home alarm systems need some sort of power backup
Probably the most reliable home alarm system is one that is run by electricity.  This is because the homeowner will always be assured that the system is running and that their home is protected.  Unfortunately, there are certain pitfalls associated with this feature.  These include:

- Sudden loss of power, which could occur during a blackout or power outage
- Tampering of the power line by a potential burglar
- Mechanical failure in the system itself due to power surges

To correct this, most home alarm systems may come with an alternative source of power, such as batteries so the system will continue to run.  The only drawback is that if the homeowner is too careless or unmindful of his home alarm system, batteries could run out of power and the system will simply not work.  Should a burglar come around at this time, the home will be very vulnerable to an intrusion.

There is a gap between the trigger and the reaction
There are monitored home alarm systems in which the homeowner’s system is connected to a third party, usually a company that provides an alert service.  In case the alarm is tripped due to a burglary, the company will call the homeowner, wait for a confirmation that it is not a false alarm and then alert the nearest security personnel (usually a police department) to check on the premises.

In this system, there are pitfalls that homeowners should be aware about.  First, the third party usually waits for up to 45 seconds before calling the homeowner for confirmation after the alarm is tripped.  That’s usually enough time for a burglar to steal a few things and leave before the homeowner confirms the integrity of the alarm.

Second, it could take the police several minutes to arrive – enough time for a skillful burglar to make off with some of the valuables he finds in the house.

Third, if the third party does make that call, there is no guarantee that it will be answered 100% of the time.  The homeowner may be sound asleep, unable to come to the phone or the phone may be defective due to mechanical or electrical failure.

To avoid this pitfall, the homeowner should ask about an option such as using a mobile phone or even a radio to confirm with the third party.  This will ensure that his home and valuables are safe, the occupants are protected against physical harm and that his home alarm system is working properly.

In Penhold, Alberta, parents of a sixteen year old girl were extremely relieved to have their daughter back after several days of harrowing anxiety since they reported their daughter missing. Accounts from the victim as well as information obtained from the investigation led to the successful arrest of the girl’s abductor.

According to the victim’s father, the girl had been abducted at from the back of their home, about 135 kilometers north of Calgary at approximately nine-thirty in the evening last Thursday. Their daughter had left to drive to a nearby store at the gas station to purchase treats.

Later on, the father found his daughter’s truck twenty minutes later, parked behind their home, the headlights still on, and with keys on the passenger seat. Items purchased from the said store as well as her purse was also found in the truck, but her mobile phone and wallet were missing. This prompted the family to report the girl missing.

Using the last signal picked up from the girl’s mobile phone the night before, search and rescue crews together with the RCMP mounted a massive search in a wooded area in Red Deer while volunteers numbering in the hundreds handed out flyers containing the girl’s picture door-to-door in the city.

Finally, almost two days after the girl had been reported missing, the family received a call at approximately 8:30 in the evening. The victim had managed to escape from her abductors and used a pay phone in a mall to contact her father for help. According to the dad, the girl had sounded “very, very scared” and that “she had to beg for her life”.

The victim was taken to the hospital following an interview with the Red Deer RCMP. Video surveillance from the gas station contributed considerable help to the investigation, leading to the arrest of a hereto unnamed suspect.

Stay Recorded, Stay Protected: Safety Tips with the Help of Video Surveillance
If you are travelling alone, it’s best to frequent establishments that you are aware of being equipped with video surveillance equipment.  Do your best to stay within its focus. If anything were to happen to you, authorities could use resulting footage in identifying and capturing your assailant.

Not all video surveillance equipment, however, are installed for the public to see. Some operate covertly so you’ll have to know where and how to look for them. On the other hand, some stores simply use dummy video cameras to deter wrongdoers for causing mischief.

dome dummy camera w/ led image

Answers, solutions, or any simple evidence you need can come from the most unlikely places. You can, however, ensure that you don’t miss out on anything when you have surveillance cameras installed.

Surveillance Camera Footage Shows Arsonist Singing Proof of Her Crime
In Drexel Hill, Philadelphia, a pregnant teenager had been arrested for arson based on surveillance camera evidence. Police believed that the crime had been committed anytime between 3:00AM and 5:45AM. Of the seven fires she had caused, one had damaged the home of a family of four but everyone had been spared without injury. Prior to the incident, she had visited a local convenience store and had been taped singing, “The fire department is going to be mad at me”.  At present, Amanda Gessner is held on bail and believed to exhibit “pyromaniacal tendencies”.  She is expected to undergo mental evaluation soon.

Be Prepared with Surveillance Cameras
Surveillance cameras are not exclusive for use in the workplace. They, too, can be installed in your own home. They are effective in producing substantial evidence if and when an illegal or criminal activity has taken place in your property.

Video and Audio Recording
The best surveillance cameras are capable of recording video and audio footage of excellent quality. In adequate light settings, they may be able to footage in full color. At night, with infrared capabilities, they could produce sharp monochrome images or footage.

Undetectable
If you wish to hide the presence of your surveillance cameras, there are wireless models you can buy and often small enough to remain indistinguishable even in plain sight.  Advanced models are even capable of working without emitting any waves that bug detectors could pick up.  Best of all, they come with built-in recording and storing capabilities, making it unnecessary for you to use other devices to have a copy of the footage.

Spyglasses

In this day and age, you’ll never know when you’ll need a panic alarm.  Not only are panic alarms a necessity for people who have physical limitations, they are also important self-defense and medical emergency tools for those who might require immediate assistance.

What is a panic alarm?
Panic alarms are portable electronic devices that are used to trigger an alert – either in the form of an audible alarm or as a remote alert to a monitoring station.  As their name suggests, they are used in case panic situations emerge that may threaten or endanger an individual, his home or other properties.

Types of panic alarms

Handheld types
These panic alarms are directly controlled by the user.  In many handheld models, a trigger device such as an alarm button, switch or pin built into the panic alarm unit is pushed or pulled off.  This causes the panic alarm to produce a loud alert, such as a siren or a bell.

This type of panic alarm is handy enough to be carried in a purse or used as a key chain.  They are quite useful for individuals who wish to use panic alarms as self-defense tools to prevent an attack (such as during an attempted robbery, hold-up or sexual assault) and/or to call for help.

Once triggered, this type of panic alarm will require a reset.

Receiver-Transmitter types
This type of panic alarm is an excellent choice for home use by the elderly, the sick or very young children left alone in the house.  The transmitter device is either handheld or portable (such as those worn around the neck or wrist) or fixed (such as those installed on the wall).

The transmitter device can be triggered two ways – manually or automatically through a pre-set electronic signal.  In the case of a manual panic alarm, a receiver unit detects the signal and sends out an audible alarm. This alarm is usually loud enough to be audible to people within the same house or to the neighbor next door.  An automatic signal, on the other hand, is triggered by a sensor on the transmitter.

Monitored alarms
Monitored panic alarms usually require the assistance of a third party to work.  They are usually the alarm of choice for people who require emergency medical services.  The panic button or transmitter is usually worn.  When triggered, it will send a signal wirelessly to a receiver console.  The console will then automatically call a pre-set number of a monitoring center to alert them.

From hereon, there are different scenarios that could occur, depending on the service subscribed to.  The monitoring center could:

- dial the nearest 911 center to alert them of the user’s needs and current condition
- alert an emergency medical team who can assist the user
- call an emergency number specified by the user, such as a family member, friend or medical facility

Services and features can differ, offering users enough choices to customize the options according to their needs.

dual purpose personal alarm image

In Elizabeth City, North Carolina, authorities had begun to operate strategically located surveillance cameras as a way of deterring and apprehending crime.  Footage from the “eyes in the sky” is monitored not only from the cars of city police on patrol but also by police communication officers at the station and volunteers.  According to Police Chief Charles Crudup, the cameras had been effective not only in deterring crime but also in helping them solve several cases. City Councilwoman Volanda Watts, on the other hand, had shared how an Oak Grove resident had called to inform her about a noticeable decrease in noise as well as drug activity in her area.

Make Your Home Safe with a Surveillance Camera
As a private citizen, you may not have the right to install a similar security system for your neighborhood “you’ll have to wait for the local police for that” but you do have the right to protect your loved ones at home with surveillance cameras.

To Be or Not to Be Seen
It’s your choice whether or not to alert others to the presence of surveillance cameras you’ll install in your home. If you install it in a highly visible area, it could be enough to deter break-ins, robberies, or other crimes from taking place. But if you decide to use a covertly installed surveillance camera, you could use any resulting footage for establishing identities of criminals or delinquents that had come to threaten the safety of your loved ones.

To Be or Not to Be Connected
If your surveillance camera is connected to the Internet, you may be able to continue monitoring what’s happening in your home wherever you are.  Of course, this can only work if you’ve a remote network setup. Be aware, however, that allowing online access to your surveillance camera gives hackers greater chances of tapping into your security system and obtaining similar access to footage from your camera.

infrared digital surveillance camera