You’re away from home and a burglar sneaks up to your house. He quickly breaks the glass on your front door and opens it. An alarm sounds within seconds. The burglar is spooked and runs away. Your cell phone rings and the alarm monitoring station alerts you of the situation. Shortly afterward a security guard arrives at your home to survey the situation and make sure everything is okay. This is how a monitored alarm system works.

But what really happens on our end? How does the situation quickly progress from a break-in to a response? Not everyone knows the details of exactly how an alarm system monitoring station handles your emergency.

SafeTech Alarm Systems has been providing home and business security systems for almost 20 years. We have the experience necessary to protect your property and we’d like to share the alarm system process with you.

When your alarm is activated, the alarm system monitoring station is alerted within seconds. If you home or business is equiped with security cameras, the monitoring station will be able to check the cameras immediately and assess the situation. Then, the alarm monitoring station will quickly telephone the numbers they have been provided with. If no one answers, police or security guards will be sent out to check for visible signs of forced entry.

SafeTech technical support is contacted on each alarm to help direct operators and provide a service history to the operator.

Even if someone does answer, the monitoring station will ask for a special code before reacting. This prevents burglars from disabling your alarm system by lying on the phone.

The alarm system process is set up to ensure your home stays secure. A big part of the process is having an accurate call list for the monitoring station to follow, so it is very important to keep your emergency contact list up to date!

Contact SafeTech Alarm Systems today if you would like to make adjustments to your emergency contact list.

Most people take precautions to secure their homes. Alarm systems, locks, surveillance cameras and other security services are definitely good ways to protect your property. However, there are likely several weak points and security flaws in your home that you’ve never even thought about. Securing these weak points is vital to the safety of your home.Your Garage
Always secure your garage. This is especially true if you can enter your home from within the garage, but it’s important in every home, regardless of the layout. Not only can burglars use your garage to enter your home, but they can also find tools inside. It’s much easier to break into a house if you have a hammer or a ladder, so lock your garage securely!

Your Lock
The quality of the lock on your door goes a long way to protecting your property. Many burglars enter homes through the front door, so it’s important to invest in a strong lock. Dead bolts are the best choice.

Your Back Door
Don’t just focus on the front door. The back door and any side doors need just as much attention. These doors are likely less visible from the street, so burglars will be able to spend more time trying to open them. The same goes for your gate or sliding door to your deck. All of these doors require proper locks and possibly bars or gates.

Your Lighting
Lighting is your friend and a burglar’s enemy. No one wants to be seen commiting a crime, so installing motion-activated lighting around your home and your property can save your house. Don’t forget to add lighting around your garage, your driveway and any other landscaping features. Criminals often use these places to hide.

Your Basement Windows

A basement window can be an easy entry point for a burglar. Adding security bars can eliminate this option for criminals. Remember, when installing security bars, make sure you have bars that can be easily removed from the inside in case of fire.The Second Floor
Many people forget about securing the second floor of their homes. The problem is that criminals can use ladders or ledges to break in to the windows on the second floor. These should always be secured.

Your Alarm System
Is your alarm system adequate for your protection? Is it tested regularly? Are there any areas that are not covered? It’s important to inspect your alarm system regularly and to keep an eye out for new technologies that can improve your protection!

To schedule a free security consultation with one of our loss prevention experts, please contact us today!