Make a policeman's day - catch an intruder red handed

Police need help Like many of the public services, the police are expected to do more with less. The situation is exacerbated by trivial phone calls for help when people should take responsibility for their own actions and not seek police assistance. In the case of home security, a problem arises.  For example, a homeowner installs an alarm that calls either himself or a monitoring company following activation. What to do next? It may be a false alarm, but it may also be a burglar. Unless the police are convinced that there is an intruder, they will not attend. The alternative is for you to face who knows what at 2 in the morning or employ a security guard. How much better to have a call and short video on your smartphone showing exactly what set off the alarm. If it really is a burglar, then you can call the police with confidence and confirm by video of an intruder. The police are far more likely to respond in these circumstances, a prosecution is more likely and you may not lose possessions. Even insurance companies make approve! To see how it all works we have put together a short video

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Can a burglar snap your lock?

What is "lock snapping" ?

As the title would suggest, this is where a euro lock cylinder is literally snapped in two by applying force to the cylinder.

Thieves have devised methods of snapping these types of cylinders locks in a matter of seconds and still be able to operate the lock to open the door.       

This threat can be considerably reduced simply by upgrading the cylinder to one that is specifically designed to prevent this method of attack. We recommend that all vulnerable doors using Euro-Profile cylinders be upgraded to incorporate 'Break Secure' cylinders.

Euro cylinders are mainly fitted to uPVC doors but some aluminium and wooden doors also use this type of lock.

Solution

Break secure, or anti-snap cylinders, are specifically designed to combat lock-snapping.

A cylinder has been designed that although it will snap, it will snap in a predetermined position leaving intact a portion of the cylinder that will still provide security and still require key operation to open, thus preventing the easy manipulating of the locking system.

This is a photo of a break secure cylinder - the cylinder is designed to break leaving the centre locking mechanism still intact and working.

We work with a qualified locksmith who can offer a full installation and upgrade service to meet your needs; or a replacement break secure euro cylinder can be purchased from any recognised DIY store.

Replacement lock cylinders should meet all parts of the exacting British Standard Kitemark (BS EN 1303:2005) accreditation scheme.

A new standard, TS007, is due to be introduced later this year, look out for details of this in the media and online.

The Master Locksmiths' Association website  www.locksmiths.co.uk also provides a list of registered locksmiths who will be able to provide advice and information and give you practical help to ensure your locks are suitable.

The minimum recommendation for wooden doors is five-lever mortice locks which carry the British Standard BS3621.

If you have traditional Yale locks fitted to your doors, do not rely on this as the only method of security. You must fit other locks, preferably deadlocks and install an alarm

General home security

The security around your home starts at the perimeter of your property and ranges from security lighting, external movement sensors, sturdy locking gates, to removing valuables and attractive items from view. 

Check list

• All the doors and windows are locked - even if I'm only popping out for a minute.

• Door locks meet British standards

• Neither my house keys nor my car keys are in sight or easy reach of my windows or doors, and that I don't keep them in an obvious place in the house.

• Key-operated locks fitted to all the windows.

• A visible burglar alarm from The Alarming Man is turned on whenever I leave the house.

• My spare keys are not left outside, or in the garage or shed.

• Lights and radio are turned on by a timer for the evening when I'm out If it's dark outside I draw the curtains.

• If thieves get into the garden despite a good fence surrounding the house and the side gate padlocked, a sensor from The Alarming Man sets off the alarm.  The garden shed is also locked and has a sensor.

• No ladders or tools are outside, which could be used to get into the house.

• Valuables like laptops, handbags, jewellery can't be seen from the window.

• Cash or any documents with my name, address or other personal details (such as a bank statement or bill) that fraudsters could use are not left lying around

• When going on holiday, a friend or neighbour collects the post and put the bins out.

2 in 1 burglars

Some burglars are looking for your car keys so they can steal your car. Make it hard for thieves. Don't leave car keys where they are visible.

Visible burglar alarms are good, and outside lighting puts burglars off. But make sure that your security lights are positioned out of reach of a burglar, and that they don't disturb your neighbours. Your alarm should call keyholders or your phone to attend in case it goes off when you're not there.

Mark your property

Mark important and expensive possessions (such as your computer or DVD player) with your postcode and house number using special security marker pens. Keep a record of the make, model and serial numbers of all your electrical equipment for reference too. If the police recover them after a burglary, this record will be proof that they are stolen goods - and that they are yours.

Your can register your property on the national database Immobilise

Log on to www.immobilise.co.uk

PUTTING A STOP TO METAL THEFT

Metal thieves did not stand a chance at a Kent construction site protected by RSI Videofied and VDT Direct's Webeye CMS. Within minutes of the intrusion the thieves were deterred with live two-way PA and had disappeared before the police even arrived at the scene. Kent-based installer Eyeview Solutions, who look after the site which cannot be named for security reasons, are ecstatic with the success of the product so far. Steve Dann, Managing Director at Eyeview says "[Videofied] is very unique. You don't need any power, it works using mobile telecommunications and it has no geographical limit, it is very flexible. Webeye is also very flexible as it enables you to get over the loading of software and it can be viewed anywhere. It's also nice for customers to be able to see their activations. "

One aspect of the Videofied system that Steve believes is most useful is the ability to rapidly deploy the devices. "Some of our customers have really high-value metals on site and with the use of Videofied, and the fact that you can move it around a site, means they can reposition it to protect metal at night."
During a recent incident, the system's ability for two-way voice challenging and the Webeye function that allows this action, proved most useful in the prevention of theft from a construction site. Within minutes of the activation a live voice challenge was issued and the intruders, who were hoping to steal high-value metal, hastily left the scene. Steve says "We've gotten lots of really good results where the voice challenge has scared people off and no damage has been caused. With Videofied and Webeye, you can see the activations and this limits false alarms. In the longterm, it's a very cost effective solution."
When asked if he would recommend the solution and why, Steve eagerly states "Definitely- and we do. It gives customers flexibility. The customer likes that he can check on his sites himself and check on the monitoring station. It is good value for money and works out less than a traditional system in the long-term because you can move it around easily. You can also put it on to a normal alarm panel- you can modify it to what you want it to be."

The equipment is supplied and installed in the Manchester area by The Alarming Man

Looking towards the future, Webeye is set to reach exciting new heights in the New Year with the introduction of app's for iPhone, Android and Blackberry that call smart phones when an activation takes place.
We want to ensure that Webeye leaves no gaps. If an intruder enters a site protected by Webeye, we want to guarantee they are caught.






For more information call David Cole on
0161 660 1636

Alternatively please call VDT on 0115 714 990 

HOW THE EVENTS UNFOLDED...

The intruders enter the site and cause the activation

They look around to see if there is anything of value to steal

As they are trying to steal an item of metal, they are interrupted by live 2-way PA

Following the live voice warning, the intruders leave empty handed

The police arrive minutes later to find that no damage has been caused.

Senior lawyer outlines '12 crimes of Christmas'

A senior Crown Prosecution lawyer has warned the public of the dangers of what he called the "12 crimes of Christmas" - serious misdeeds which tend to increase during the festive season. 

In a speech on Thursday, Nazir Afzal, chief prosecutor of the north-west of England, said that during the Christmas break his office saw an increase in domestic abuse, alcohol fuelled public disorder, burglary and sexual assault.

Afzal said there were also a spikes in:

• harassment and stalking, due to people trying to rekindle old relationships

• drink driving

• shoplifting

• street robbery

• drink fuelled assaults

• car theft

• making off without paying for services such as restaurant and bar tabs

• fraud, in its many offline and online forms.

He said other crimes also increased during the holidays, but that these crimes had the "greatest impact on the greatest number".

Afzal, who has chosen not to prosecute in recent cases where people used lethal violence to defend their homes against theft, said there was an increase in burglaries as criminals made off with easily available pickings under Christmas trees, and assured residents that they were "entitled to use reasonable force to defend yourself, your family and your property."

The Alarming Man has products that detect burglars both before entering a property and at the point of entry and devices that drive them away without the use of force, ( for business and residential).  

Reduce the chance of being a victim and call 01616601636 for a free survey in the Greater Manchester Area.

• The above was extracted from an artice by Shiv Malik on guardian.co.uk, Thursday 1 December 2011 18.38 GMT

Survey shows 13% rise in household theft.

The latest British Crime Survey (BCS) shows a 2% rise in crime, despite the police showing a 4% fall in recorded crime.
The biggest change, however is the quarterly crime figures, which cover the 12 months to the second quarter between April and June and do not include the summer riots. They show a 13% rise in "other household theft", which covers thefts from gardens and sheds, the apparent 10% rise in burglary, according to the BCS.
The Alarming Man suggests alarms that detect intruders in outbuildings and the grounds should be installed.  Existing alarms may be updated to include external sensors or upgrade to a system that tackles today's problems.
Protect yourself as the police may not have the resources!! 

Paul McKeever, the chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: "The latest crimes statistics show that burglary and robbery continue to rise and, unfortunately, this comes as no surprise to us.

"Of particular concern is the rise in knife-related crime by some 7%. The statistics collated across England and Wales support a trend we were already seeing in London.

"We have warned again and again that property crime and robbery will rise during times of economic hardship, and today's figures paint a bleak picture.

"The government simply must heed the warnings and reconsider the planned 20% cuts to policing. We can only protect the public if we have enough police officers on our streets. Therefore the prospect of losing 34,000 officers and police staff by 2015 cannot be ignored."

Caravan Security

This is the time of year when families take their caravan or motorhome on holiday and realise that they are not quite as secure as they wished.

Often without an alarm, who knows if the van has suffered a burglary.  
If an alarm is fitted who will respond?

A standalone wireless system is now available that:-

• Is completely stand alone
• Uses batteries that last 2-4 years
• Wireless sensors mean no wires, no mess, no fuss
• Sends a video of the alarm activation using mobile phone technology
• Armed and disarmed with fob or keypad
• Two way audio communication from your mobile phone or land-line
• Easy to move to new van

Fo more information contact The Alarming Man

346 burglaries each month in Stockport (UpMyStreet figures). Don't be a statistic

Wireless alarms are typically installed within 4 hours with no mess and no fuss. As easy to operate as locking the car with a fob. Provides security and can call keyholders when someone is in the garden - that's before they have broken in the property! 

With typical prices around £500 for a monitored system to property in the North West, you can be protected with high quality, performance systems.

Call now to have a secure home when taking that Easter break.

Be alarmed - there are those that hope your not.

Squatting to be made illegal

The Alarming Man has completely stand alone equipment that can prevent squatting by immediately reporting intruders and videoing their activity.  Call now 08456387585 for details

Reported in The Daily Telegraph

The Justice Secretary is to make squatting illegal for the first time in England and Wales in a bid to end the menace of the home occupiers.

And those who still force their way in to empty properties will face a prison sentence.

The new law will end the “nightmare” of home owners having to fight lengthy legal battles in the courts in order to evict squatters.

Instead the police will be able to force entry and arrest anyone who has occupied a property.

There are an estimated 100,000 incidents of squatting every year with victims including Guy Ritchie, the film director.

A senior Whitehall source told The Daily Telegraph Mr Clarke has made changing the law a priority because he is sick of seeing cases of law-abiding people fighting to regain possession of their properties.

The source said: “Ken has had enough of seeing hard working home owners battle to squatters out.

“He is determined to use the full force of the law to save people from the nightmare of having to fight to get their houses back.

“The days of 'squatters’ rights' will be over.”

Squatting is not currently a criminal offence in England and Wales and instead it is up to the owners to use the civil courts to enforce their rights, which can turn in to lengthy and expensive legal battles.

They must also prove to the courts that they are either a ''displaced residential occupier'' – someone who has returned from holiday to find squatters in their house – or a ''protected intended occupier'', who is intending to move into an empty property.

In contrast, squatters are also protected by other laws, including the Criminal Law Act 1977, which prevents a home owner forcing their way back in because it makes it an offence to use violence to gain access when there is someone on the premises who is opposed to entry.

They can also take advantage of the controversial law on "adverse possession", which can allow someone who has occupied a building for 10 years to claim ownership of it.

One squatter group, known as The Really Free School, has occupied a series of properties in London, including a building in Bloomsbury Square belonging to an antiques expert and a £6 million house owned by Mr Ritchie. Then they took over an empty pub near Oxford Street before moving on to another near Leicester Square.

Earlier this year, businessman John Hamilton-Brown was reduced to begging through his own letterbox for squatters to leave his £1 million home.

In 2009 squatters moved into David Blunkett's former grace and favour mansion in central London while others took over a £33 million house close to Nigella Lawson's home in Eaton Square, central London.

Officials are now drawing up plans to such property invasions illegal with a likely maximum penalty of a custodial sentence.

Squatting is already a criminal offence in Scotland and someone guilty of it could be sentenced to 21 days in jail.

By Tom Whitehead, Home Affairs Editor at The Daily Telegraph  6:30AM GMT 18 Mar 2011

Be vigilant for burglars

RESIDENTS are being asked by many Police forces to keep their eyes out for the tell tale signs of burglary and not to ignore suspicious behaviour. 
After a rise in burglary figures, the new campaign asks people to be more vigilant and points out some of the things that members of the public should look out for. 
Burglary is an awful crime that not only deprives victims of personal and cherished possessions but also can leave them feeling vulnerable and scared. 
The Police are continuously working with its partners to tackle all forms of crime but with public acting as our eyes and ears we can reduce burglary and hold those responsible to account. 
By reporting things that are out of the ordinary they could well help us solve and prevent crime.
Many burglaries are committed during the day with burglars usually entering houses at the back, jumping over walls or fences and checking to see if anyone is in. 
Look out for people knocking on doors, hanging around by houses and driving up and down streets.  If you see something suspicious call the police.  
For greater protection in the Manchester and York areas, we can advise on burglar alarms and general home security.
01616601636

London Jeweller ‘Smash and Grab’ Robbery Foiled by Fog Bandit

‘Smash and Grab’ Robbery Foiled by Fog Bandit

On Wednesday 26^th January, late in the afternoon, raiders forced their way into Lombard Jewellers, a Jewellery retail shop in Islington, London. Jewellery display cabinets within the prestigious shop were targeted.

Almost immediately, the vigilant staff initiated the high speed security Fog Bandit which in just two seconds projected a 6 metre blanket of visually impenetrable yet harmless fog down the shop, screening the targeted display cabinets and forcing the raiders to turn and flee the shop, minimising the stock loss, shop damage and trauma to staff.

Michael Saunders, Director, Lombard Jewellers, explains;

“The Fog Bandit and its voice warning announcer did its’ job in quickly driving the raiders out of the shop, restricting the time and opportunity for the raiders to target the jewellery and limiting the staff exposure to this frightening experience”.

David Cole of The Alarming Man agrees with the comments of Neil Chrismas, Sales and Marketing Director, Bandit UK Ltd who added;

“The Bandit UK Team applaud the Lombard Jewellers staff for acting promptly in initiating the Fog Bandit and forcing the raiders to leave the shop. This is another example of the clear deterrent message to the criminal fraternity that targeting Jewellers with a Fog Bandit system installed in a fruitless exercise and heightens the likelihood of being caught”.

10 Items I Would Hate to Lose in a Burglary

Submitted by homealarmmonitoring.org/blog from one of their readers

Having been subjected to a burglary once, this should be to some degree an easy subject to write about.  First of all the idea that a stranger had been in my home and ransacked my house was disgusting and frankly sickening.  I did not want to sleep on the disheveled bed, I didn’t want to touch the bureau drawer’s contents that were strewn all over the room, or the closet items scattered through-out the house.  The general mess they left did make me wonder what kind of people they were that would try to destroy our home, yet not hurt our little dog!

My first thought was “Oh my goodness, my groceries are gone!”  I had gone to the grocery store that day for a couple weeks supply of groceries, and for a young growing family, it wasn’t a small amount of cash then and it sure wouldn’t be now.  I hasten to add, none of my groceries were gone, but a few other possessions were.

Now for items I’d hate to lose in a burglary?

1. Electronics
2. Jewelry
3. Cash
4. Tools
5. Collector items
6. Paintings
7. Automobile
8. Fuel from my car
9. Lawn equipment
10. Silverware

To put these in any kind of order would be left up to each individual.  Personally I would hate to start replacing any on the list.

Going on holiday over the Christmas break?

 Submitted by Intern on 7th Dec 2010 12:02:19

A new study by the UKs fastest growing online independent travel agent has revealed that 9% of British holidaymakers have been burgled whilst on holiday; whilst 81% of respondents admitted that they dont ask a friend or relative to check on their house during their time away.

Latest research from one of the UKs leading online independent travel agents has shown the dangers of leaving your home unsecured when going on holiday; with the founders offering advice on how to prevent burglaries when away.

Carried out by www.sunshine.co.uk; the study polled 1,962 Britons who had been on holiday in the past year to find out whether they'd ever been a victim of burglary when on holiday, either in the UK or abroad.

Almost 1 in 10 of the respondents, 9%, claimed they had been burgled whilst on holiday. These respondents were then asked if there were any contributing factors that led to them being burgled, aside from their house being unattended. 37% admitted that they hadnt left their house adequately secure, meaning that theyd either left a window or door open or unlocked.

81% of the total respondents to the study admitted that they dont bother asking a friend or relative to check on their house when they are on holiday. Of these, 26% explained that they didnt think they would need anybody to look in on their home when they are away; whilst 42% said they wouldnt want to put someone out by asking them.

Winter Months and Home Insurance Cover

Thought this entry of interest which was posted in home insurance, (bookmark the permalink) by Graham on the 23rd Novemeber 2010

Property owners throughout the UK should ensure they have the correct home insurance policy firmly in place to cover the wide range of issues that may arise in relation to the weather.

As reported in an article appearing in the News and Star, the harsh winter weather conditions can cause terrible and extensive damage to homes, requiring expensive repairs to be made, which many families simply would not have the money to pay for by themselves.

However, aside from the weather concerns, there is also that sad fact that many burglars and opportunist thieves choose to carry out crimes in the winter months, due to the long dark nights.  Clearly, adequate home insurance is crucial throughout the winter season and the rest of the year.