Look for an Increase in Crime During the Holidays

Holidays are a wonderful time for families to get together and share in the spirit of service and thanksgiving. However, for many people it is also a time for crime. Statistically, crimes normally increase during the holiday season.

There normally is an increase in crime rate during the week of Thanksgiving. It peaks around mid-December when people are traveling to visit family. Thanksgiving and Christmas are the worst time for fraud crimes.

Be wary of any potential scams that people may be using to gain your personal information. Keep yourself safe by being aware of your surroundings during the holidays. It doesn’t take a lot of effort or time to steal a credit card or bank account number, especially with today’s technology.

Protect your credit card number by keeping your card face down when you pull it out to use. Once it is scanned put it away quickly. A lot of people steal credit card numbers by standing behind someone in line while their credit card number is out and thumb the number into their phones for future use.

Another way to keep your personal information protected is to keep all potential information out of the trash. Shred all personal information before throwing it away. You also never know who will be digging through you trash looking for their next victim.

Many critics feel that the spike in criminal activity will be worse the next few years. The reason is because of the economy. Many people have been laid off or have seen a decrease in work loads, and statistically that means that less and less ethical choices are going to be made.

Break ins during the holiday weeks also increase. If you are traveling this holiday season, be careful to take precautions to safeguard your home. Be sure to alert your alarm company to let them know you will be traveling out of town.

The holidays normally are a busy time for most people. For criminals, it is also a perfect time to strike while people are sidetracked with shopping and traveling. Be careful this season so you don’t become a victim of these criminals.

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Remember to Stay Safe During the Holidays

No one wants to worry about crimes happening during the holidays. Yet, it is a real threat that can be intensified during the holidays. Here are some safety tips to remember this holiday season.

Be careful whom you share your holiday traveling plans with. Although it may be tempting to share your upcoming visit with your son’s family in Alaska when your cashier asks you about your holiday plans at the checkout counter, its best to leave traveling plans out of it. You never know who will overhear you and use it against you.

When you leave make sure your spare key is not in an easy to find spot. If you can quickly find it, so can a thief. Instead, leave the spare key with your house sitter or a trusted neighbor for any emergencies.

Be careful of your answering machine messages. You don’t want to leave a message saying you will be away for the holidays. If you would like to leave a festive message wishing the caller a happy holiday you can do so, just leave the traveling plans off of it.

Alert your alarm company of your holiday plans. Let them know how long you will be gone and your expected day of return. Give them emergency contact information and a way to get a hold of you in case of an emergency.

Don’t put an ad out for a house sitter. If you can’t find a family member or friend to house sit for you, find a professional house-sitting service. Putting an ad in the classifieds will make your home a target for potential thieves.

When your house sitter is chosen keep them up to date with all information they may need. Let them know your travel arrangements and who may be stopping by during their stay. Give them pictures so they can get familiar with family members, gardening crews, or neighbors that were asked to come by.

Don’t forget the small details. Replace exterior lights and keep them on while you are away. Don’t forget to stop your mail or newspapers and have someone come to mow your lawn if it’s going to be an extended holiday.

For more information about Home Security Systems contact Platinum Protection on their website at PlatinumProtect.com. Platinum Protection is one of the fastest growing Home Security companies. With customer service being a top priority, Platinum Protection offers top of the line Home Security Systems that will fit almost any application. Platinum Protection offers helpful Home Security Information and Tips on the Platinum Protection Blog.

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Most Common Entry Points For Burglars

Most criminals will access your home at two main entry points. They will enter through your home’s doors or windows. There are rare occasions when they might enter another way, but on almost all occasions a burglar will enter through these two options.

A lot of burglars will use your front door. This is why it is so important to make sure that your front door is strong and sturdy. Be sure that it is made out of solid wood and not plywood, or metal.

Be sure that your front door has a peephole. Also, the best locking system is a deadbolt. Be sure to place a deadbolt at least three inches deep for best results.

Thieves also like to use first floor windows. Windows are a popular choice because they are often left open or unlocked. All windows should be secured, but be especially careful of first floor windows.

Keep your windows locked. If your window uses latches, and not locks, you can use inexpensive wooden dowels or sticks to stop the window from sliding open for the outside. Home security systems also have glass break detectors to alert you of anyone breaking your window to gain entrance inside your home.

Don’t forget your backdoor as an entrance point as well. Many thieves will take advantage of fence and shrub cover that a backyard provides. It is important for you to take precautions for backyard entrance, such as installing motion detecting lights.

An alarm system can protect both your doors and windows. Wireless transmitters can be easily placed around your home. If anyone enters through your windows or doors the alarm will be activated immediately.

Never leave your garage door open, even if you are only going to be away for a few, short moments. Make sure that your garage door is secure and also has a deadbolt. Burglars can steal things from your garage, or try to break in through the side door to the home.

For more information about Home Security Systems contact Platinum Protection on their website at PlatinumProtect.com. Platinum Protection is one of the fastest growing Home Security companies. Platinum Protection offers top of the line Home Security Systems that will fit almost any application. Platinum Protection offers helpful Home Security Information and Tips on the Platinum Protection Blog.

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The Importance of Homeowners Insurance

Protecting your family and home can be a challenge. Using homeowners insurance is just one way you can bring extra protection for yourself and your home. When shopping around for homeowners insurance, it is important to know what you will be getting when you buy a homeowner insurance policy.

You can find homeowners insurance quotes online through popular websites if you would like to compare different companies. If you prefer, there are also local insurance agents that can help you. Whatever method you decide, be certain to get in contact with someone who understands your needs.

A homeowner’s insurance policy is meant to protect you, the homeowner, against certain issues that can come about. Most insurance policies are determined by perils that can happen to your home, and exclusions that can be made. Be sure to ask your agent or insurance company if any exceptions apply to your policy before signing up with them.

Homeowners insurance policies usually can be divided into two different parts. One part is meant for property protection. The other is meant for liability protection.

Property protection with homeowners insurance usually consists of details regarding your dwelling or home. It can cover your garages, storage sheds, or other personal property. You can normally receive additional coverage by adding endorsements to your policy.

There are many different types of endorsements that can be made. Endorsements are meant to be used to give you extra protection against specific perils. For example, you can receive an endorsement for extra credit card forgery.

Many home owners insurance policies provide additional coverage. You can find coverage for things such as removing debris or property removal. These additional coverage items are also handy in case of theft, illegal use of credit cards, collapse of your building, or other perils.

Liability coverage usually includes personal liability and medical payments. Personal liability covers you against a claim that may happen if an accident happens on your property. Medical payments are meant to help pay expenses for those that are accidentally injured on your property regardless of whose fault it was.

For more information about Home Security Systems contact Platinum Protection on their website at PlatinumProtect.com. Platinum Protection is one of the fastest growing Home Security companies. With customer service being a top priority, Platinum Protection offers top of the line Home Security Systems that will fit almost any application. Platinum Protection offers helpful Home Security Information and Tips on the Platinum Protection Blog.

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Christmas Tree Fire Safety

Christmas wouldn’t be the same without a beautifully decorated Christmas tree. Buying a real Christmas tree is a tradition shared by millions of Americans each year. If you are one of the many who buy real trees, here are a few safety tips to remember.

When Christmas tree fires occur they often spread fast. As a result they can cause serious injuries and inflict intense damage to the home. Christmas tree fires have been the cause of over $13 million in property damage.

The cause of most Christmas tree fires is usually because of shorts in electrical lights or open flames. Keep matches or open flames away from the tree. Dry Christmas trees can be a major problem if not carefully watched.

According to the Building and Fire Research Laboratory of the National Institute of Standards and technology, Christmas trees that haven’t been properly watered or taken care of are the biggest risk to Christmas tree fires. They have researched what happens when a fire does reach a dry tree in the home. They even have a video on their website to visually warn tree-owners how quickly a fire can spread.

According to their research, a fire can happen in as little as three seconds. Within 40 seconds the entire room is filled with harsh smoke and deadly fire. It is no wonder that 1 out of every 9 Christmas tree fires ends with a person’s death.

These statistics also show that Christmas tree fires that do happen are only a small amount of the Christmas trees that are actually sold. Be sure to keep your Christmas tree watered to prevent your tree from catching on fire. Another video from the BFRL shows how hard it is to catch a well hydrated tree on fire, even when trying to intentionally light it.

Even if you have a well-hydrated tree it is important to remember a few basic principles. When you put on Christmas lights to decorate your tree, follow the instructions and don’t use too many. Never use worn light bulbs or candles.

Be sure to put the Christmas tree at least three feet away from any other heat source. Keep your tree far away from a place that has an open flame, such as a fireplace, and keep out of direct contact with the sun for a long space of time. Keeping the tree away from heat will help it avoid unnecessary water loss to the tree.

For more information about Home Security Systems contact Platinum Protection on their website at PlatinumProtect.com. Platinum Protection is one of the fastest growing Home Security companies. With customer service being a top priority, Platinum Protection offers top of the line Home Security Systems that will fit almost any application. Platinum Protection offers helpful Home Security Information and Tips on the Platinum Protection Blog.

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Panic Room

When the words panic room are mentioned most people refer to the movie starring Jodie Foster. However many of us don’t know what panic rooms actually are. Why do people get panic rooms and what are their purpose?

Panic rooms aren’t built for the general public. A lot of panic room manufacturers do not give out a lot of detailed information about the panic rooms because their buyers are paying a lot of money for their privacy. Panic rooms are, however, meant to suit different people with their various needs.

Panic rooms often serve more than one purpose. Many panic rooms are made in response to risks that individuals may face with kidnapping or terrorist attacks. It serves as an added protection against these attacks, and give high profiled individuals another level of security.

Panic rooms have a lot of different safety features. Walls can be reinforced with hefty material to shield off invaders who are attacking. They also are designed to keep their occupants from being found if possible, so it serves as a hidden room in many respects.

Panic rooms are often fitted with high tech equipment. Their surveillance equipment can be connected to cameras around the home to provide the occupants inside an opportunity to see what is happening outside the panic room. Many panic rooms are linked with alarm systems once the room is opened that will alert the police or other security agents of any trouble.

Most safe rooms are not meant to be used by their occupants for an extended period of time. Other than in rare hostage circumstances, panic rooms are usually only used for a few hours or less. Unless an attack is anticipated to be for a long time period, safe rooms are often designed with a short stay in mind.

Lately, however, panic rooms are being used for other things besides home invader protection. A lot of people use panic rooms as a safeguard for their valuables. Panic rooms are great places to store rare books, precious artwork, and other valuable collections.

Panic rooms are also becoming popular because of their reinforcement capabilities. With the current trend of weather related catastrophes around the world, many people are using panic rooms to protect their families against tornadoes or hurricane winds that might attack their home. Many panic rooms are made with weather-resistant materials and are reinforced with steel and concrete for added protection.

For more information about Home Security Systems contact Platinum Protection on their website at PlatinumProtect.com. Platinum Protection is one of the fastest growing Home Security companies. With customer service being a top priority, Platinum Protection offers top of the line Home Security Systems that will fit almost any application. Platinum Protection offers helpful Home Security Information and Tips on the Platinum Protection Blog. Click here to visit our Blog.

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