This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

Some experts estimate that around 14% of homes in the United States are protected by monitored security systems. However, a burglary occurs every 15 seconds in the US. When asked why they don’t have a monitored security system, many people often cite one (or several) popular home security misconceptions. Here are five common home security myths.

Myth #1 – Home Security is Expensive!
Surprisingly, home security doesn’t cost as much as you might think. Some security companies offer a basic level of monitoring for around $40 per month. However, you also have to factor in the discount that having a monitored security system gives you on your homeowner’s insurance. Most insurance companies will give you around a 20% discount for having a monitored security system installed. However, some companies offer up to a 40% discount! In some cases, you might find that having a security system pays for itself in insurance discounts.

Myth #2 – I’ll Always Have to Pay for Monitoring.
If you’re tech-savvy, you can design your home security system without requiring it to be connected to a monitoring station. Some people don’t like the idea of paying monthly for home security, and that’s completely fine. Instead, you should focus on designing a system of sensors that sends you alerts (email, text, call, etc) when the sensors are triggered. You can even set up a video surveillance system that you can view remotely while you’re away at work.

Myth #3 – My Pet Could Set Off the Security System.
Most monitored home security systems are now designed to accommodate for at-home pets. The sensors can be placed in an area above the pet’s height, or they may also be put at a setting that detects movement over a certain size. For example, some motion sensors can be set to only go off if they detect motion of an object over 50 pounds, which is more than most pets weigh. If you have a pet, talk to a home security company – there are probably many options available to you!

Myth #4 – I Won’t Get Burglarized.
Tough financial times are making more people resort to desperate criminal measures. The average person will lose from $1000 – $5000 from a burglary. Are you willing to take that chance? Spending money improving your home’s security is like buying “insurance”. Even if you don’t get burglarized, it’s impossible to put a price on peace of mind.

Myth #5 –  Installing a Home Security System is Difficult and Expensive.
If you purchase a monitored home security system from a company along with a monitoring package, in most cases you may be able to get the system installed free of charge. Free installation has become a standard for many home security companies. If you don’t plan to pay for monitoring, you still don’t have to be an expert to install a home security system in your home. Stick to wireless systems, which are much easier to set up and install. Most stand-alone systems come with detailed instructions that will walk you through the installation process.

This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

It’s a warm summer night, the last hints of twilight finally fading into darkness. You’re sitting at home alone, folding laundry while watching some nighttime TV. Your kids are asleep upstairs, and you’re just beginning to look forward to heading to bed yourself. Grabbing the basket of laundry, you begin to walk towards the stairs leading to your bedroom. Suddenly, you hear a small noise, and you freeze. A small, light tapping noise is coming from your back door, which is facing away from the street that runs by your house. Placing the basket of laundry on the stairs, you slowly walk towards the door to investigate. The tapping becomes more insistent, and you suddenly see the source of the noise. A dark, shadowy figure is jiggling the door handle, and has nearly picked the lock! What should you do?

No one wants to believe that they’re going to experience an in-home burglary. Many thieves make it a point to strike during hours when a house is vacant, but some burglaries do occur when the residents of a home are present. If this happens to you, what should you do?

Call 911.
Before anything else, if you suspect that someone is trying to burglarize your home, call 911. Many people don’t make the call, mostly because they’re worried about it being a false alarm. However, remember that it’s important to put your safety (and the safety of your family) first. Call 911 and request police assistance immediately.

Gather Your Family
If other family members are at home, quietly inform them of the situation. If your family members are asleep, quickly rouse them and ensure that your family stays together.

Leave Your Home
This might be one of the hardest things for any homeowner to do. However, if your home is being invaded – Don’t be a hero. It’s much more important that you are able to get your family out of your home safely. Find an exit that hasn’t been compromised, and won’t put you in danger of being seen by the potential burglar.

Stay Quiet
If you’re unable to leave, ensure that all members of your family stay completely silent. The burglar may be under the impression that your house is vacant, which may buy you some time to escape.

Find a Secure Room
If your home has a “Panic Room”, bring your family inside of that room, and secure the door. Be sure that you have access to a phone (either a landline or cell phone) while inside the room, so that you can still contact emergency services. If you don’t have a panic room, bring your family into a locking closet, bathroom or other secure area.

Don’t Panic
Though it may be extremely difficult, it’s very important that you try to remain calm. Judge the situation, and try to take any opportunity to escape. By keeping a clear head, you’ll help to ensure that your family will survive a burglary unharmed. Also, if you are able to remain calm, it will help keep other members of your family from becoming agitated.

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This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

Hollywood movies have been the source for an incredible number of popular myths. Did you know that silencers don’t turn handguns into stealthy spy weapons? Did you know that shooting the gas tank on a car may not make a huge explosion? Did you know that Piranhas will not always attack a human that invades their aquatic space? Here are a few of the security-related myths that were tested by Mythbusters on the Discovery Channel.

Disclaimer: These myths and techniques are shared only to help you better understand the vulnerabilities of your security equipment (and because some of them are pretty amazing!). These video clips are of trained professionals, and you should never attempt to try any of these experiments at home!

Is it Possible to Outsmart a Motion Sensor?

In movies featuring a heist, the thieves often are able to bypass the motion sensors with sophisticated technology. How much tech would it take to really be able to beat a motion sensor?

Click here to view the embedded video.

Answer: In this situation, it was possible to beat the motion sensor simply by holding up a white sheet when walking past the sensor. Also, the motion sensor was able to be beaten simply by moving extremely slowly through the detection range of the sensor. It’s possible (though not tested in the video) that a higher quality motion sensor would be able to pick up a slow-moving person, or someone hiding behind a sheet. The “scatter” suit (a furry suit  made of a cut-up rug) wasn’t able to beat the motion sensor!

Can You Really Beat a Fingerprint Lock?

In Hollywood, a fingerprint lock can easily be beaten by gluing fake fingerprints to a hand. With today’s sophisticated fingerprint locks, what would it really take to be able to fool the lock into opening for you?

Click here to view the embedded video.

Answer: Yes, apparently you can beat a fingerprint lock with a ballistics gel “finger”. A latex impression of a fingerprint glued to a finger is also able to foil the lock. In addition to this, the lock seems to be able to be beaten with a simple photocopy of a fingerprint! However, in order for the photocopy to work, the original print needed to be “fixed” (the fingerprint lines filled in with marker) and the paper needed to be licked before being applied to the fingerprint lock.

Can You Shoot off a Padlock?

In many popular movies, a hero (or villain)  is able to easily shoot off a padlock with a handgun. Is this really possible?

Click here to view the embedded video.

Answer: Yes, you can shoot a padlock off of a door. However, something as small as a handgun isn’t able to damage the lock enough so that it can be removed. In this experiment, it took the power of a shotgun (or a high-powered rifle) to break the padlock. Since this is an extremely noisy way to beat a padlock, it wouldn’t be practical for a thief to use while attempting to beat a lock.

Can You “Freeze” Locks with Liquid Nitrogen?

Liquid nitrogen has made for some interesting (and very explosive!) scenes in popular movies. Can you really freeze a lock off of a door?

Click here to view the embedded video.

Answer: Freezing a lock with liquid nitrogen does make the lock easier to break through with brute force. The reason for this is that the particles in metal are constantly in motion. When you simply use brute force to break a lock, you’re essentially “malforming” the metal, and moving around the particles. However, when exposed to liquid nitrogen, the particles in the metal freeze in place, and move much slower. This makes the metal brittle, and makes it much easier to break through the lock by using brute force. The metal doesn’t “shatter” into pieces (like in some popular movies), but it does become vulnerable at certain points.

Can You Blow the Door off a Safe by Filling it with Water?

A glass relocking safe implements additional locks if the delicate glass behind the door is broken. In one e popular movie, a glass relocker safe was beaten by filling it with water and detonating an explosive. Is this possible?

Click here to view the embedded video.

Answer: Yes, filling a safe with water does allow you to blow the door off. The reason that this works, is because the water does not compress when the explosive inside the safe detonates. When the explosion occurs, this creates dynamic energy that pushes evenly on all walls of the safe. Since the door of the safe represents the point where the safe would have the greatest structural weakness, this causes the door to be blown off. If you detonated an explosive inside of a safe without water, the air would simply compress, and there wouldn’t be enough pressure buildup to blow the door off the safe. However, for this to work, the safe has to be completely water-tight, and an explosive has to be lowered into the safe through the top. Also, the force of the explosion usually causes the contents of the safe to suffer extreme damage, making it not the best option for a heist.

Can You Climb An Air Duct With Magnets?

In some movies (such as “Firetrap”) the hero is able to stealthily climb up an air duct vent with magnets, granting access to an otherwise secure building. Is this really possible?

Click here to view the embedded video.

Answer: Yes, it’s possible to climb up a vent using magnets. However, it’s so incredibly noisy, that it wouldn’t be practical for any would-be thief to attempt. If someone heard that much clanging coming from their air duct, the intruders would be in cuffs before they were able to reach their destination!

Top photo source: http://www.pitchengine.com/brands/timewarnercableofthenortheast/images/100732/mythbusters2.jpg

All video content is copyright and the property of the Discovery Channel.

This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

Trying to improve your personal or home security on a budget can definitely be a challenge. Though it’s easy to get caught up in advanced security gadgets and sophisticated equipment – you don’t have to spend a lot to make small changes to your security. Here are a few useful gadgets to help improve your security – both at home, and in self defense situations.

Alarm.com iPhone App
While not technically a gadget in itself, the Alarm.com iPhone app definitely seems to be popular among iPhone users. This app allows you to tap into the video feed of your security cameras, as well as arm/disarm your system remotely from your phone. It also features a running “history” of your security devices, so you can see what activity has taken place over the past several hours. The best part about this useful app? It’s completely free for existing Alarm.com customers! If you’re not a customer of this company, don’t worry. Many other home security companies are now also offering free apps for iPhone, Android and other smartphones.

Kubotan/Kubaton
This cool little security gadget is quickly becoming a favorite among women, due to its small size and easy portability. It is designed to be held in the fist, usually as a self-defense technique against muggers. Many self defense classes for women are now teaching some of the standard kubotan defensive tactics. A basic kubotan will usually cost you anywhere from $6 – $10, and can be found in many online retail stores.

Personal Alarm
The great thing about personal alarms is that they’re legal to carry in most every area – including airplanes and banks. A personal alarm can be easily attached to your keychain, and is very lightweight. With a simple press of a button (or flip of a switch, depending on the model), you could activate a loud alert that might scare off a potential attacker. The other great thing about personal alarms is that they’re usually very inexpensive – around $5 – $10. Personal alarms can also be combined with other devices, such as a kubotan or pepper spray, to give you the edge in a self defense situation.

Window Alert Sensor
Since most window alert sensors are now wireless, they don’t even require many tools to install. Some window sensors only require you to peel-and-stick to your window and window frame.  A window sensor will usually emit a loud audible alarm to let you know that a window has been opened. Window sensors can also be used for doors, which makes them a great (and versatile) home security gadget. The best part? It’s possible to find a decent quality window sensor for around $9!

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This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

Living in the city definitely has its benefits. Many city residents live close to where they work, and are able to use public transportation. Want to see a movie? Odds are, there’s a movie theater right down the next street. Feel like shopping? Most cities have a variety of diverse and interesting venues for a great shopping experience.

However, if you do live in the city, odds are that you live in a high rise apartment building. The population density in major cities means that more cities are building high-rise apartments to keep up with population growth. For example, in Los Angeles, there are 2,750 people per square kilometer!

Though high rise apartments may have security measures, you should still make an effort to make sure that your building is secure. Here are a few security tips that can help you protect your apartment in a high-rise apartment building.

Checking the Fire Escape
When you move into a high-rise apartment building, be sure to note the location of your building’s fire safety escape. Some buildings only allow roof access to the fire escape stairwell, while others will have an entry point to the fire escape on each floor. Make sure your building’s fire escape is properly maintained, and doesn’t represent a security threat. For example, some burglars will use the fire escape to access apartments in a high rise apartment building.

Entry Points
When addressing issues relating to security, it’s essential that you evaluate any entry points that provide access to your residence. However, this is a bit more complex when you live in a high rise apartment building. Instead of classic home entry points (front door, ground-floor windows, garage, etc), you need to consider all entry points to be vulnerable. In many high rise apartment buildings, the main entry point is the front door (which may be the only way to enter the residence).

Burglary Statistics
The statistics for burglaries in high rise apartment buildings are based mostly on vague crime studies, but they’re still interesting enough to note. One study suggested that when a break-in occurs in a high rise apartment building, there may be as much as a 70% chance that the burglar also lives in the same building. Another study cited that a burglary may be committed by an employee working in the apartment building, such as a doorman or security officer. The reason for this is that these people become familiar with the schedules of the tenants living in the building, and may use this knowledge to commit a crime.

Assessing Stairways
The company that owns your high-rise apartment building should have security measures in place to track any undesirable activity within the building. For example, many buildings have security cameras that film stairways and elevators. Check with the security officers in your apartment building, to see if they have security measures that cover these areas.

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This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

After surviving the cold winter months indoors, many people like to spend the spring months cleaning, organizing and doing maintenance on their home. Aside from regular maintenance, spring is also a wonderful time to do some maintenance to improve the security of your home. Here are a few quick maintenance tips to put on your spring home security checklist.

Test Your Security System
Testing your system should be one of the first things that you do this spring. Most systems come with a manual that gives you specific instructions for testing your security system. In most cases, testing your system can be done directly through your security system’s control panel. Be sure to thoroughly read the instructions for testing your system – if you have monitoring, you don’t want to set off a false alarm to the monitoring station.

Check Your Windows
During the winter months, the security of your windows may have become compromised. The window or window frame may have warped, making it easier for a burglar to bypass your window lock. Be sure that your windows are still secure, and that there aren’t any gaps in between your window and the window frame.

Trim Your Bushes
It’s best to keep the non-thorny bushes around your house neatly trimmed, and the best time to do this is in the spring! Trimmed bushes provide a smaller area where a burglar may be hidden before breaking into your home. The exception to this is if you’ve planted “security” bushes underneath your windows. These security bushes are dense, thorny and do not provide a good hiding spot for burglars. You can trim your security bushes, though don’t forget to keep them high enough to prevent burglars from entering through your wondows.

Check Your Locks
It’s best to check the integrity of all of your door locks at least once every three months. During spring cleaning, write up a checklist of all of your door locks. Make sure that they’re all working properly, and be sure to replace any locks that aren’t functioning normally.

Test Your Security Lights
While you’re doing all of your other outdoor maintenance, it’s a great opportunity to also test your outdoor security lights. If you have motion-activated lights, be sure that they’re switching on when motion is detected. Check all of your bulbs, and make note of any dead bulbs that need replacing. Make sure that your security lights are still attached securely, and that they aren’t being exposed to excessive moisture.

Check Your Garage
The garage area is one of the most common areas that many homeowners neglect when it comes to home security. During the spring months, spend some time double checking the integrity of your garage security. Make sure that your garage door isn’t damaged, and can’t be pried open from the bottom. If you have a door in your garage that connects to your home, make sure that it’s secured with a deadbolt lock.

This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

A home invasion is every homeowner’s worst nightmare. For many people, their home represents safety, security and sanctuary. The idea that burglars could violate this sanctuary has been a topic explored in many articles, security videos and even in popular cinema. It’s true – no one wants to even think about the possibility of a home invasion. However, like with any break-in, it pays to be prepared.  Here are a few useful tips to help you protect your home and family in the event of a home invasion.

1. Make a Family Plan

It’s essential that you discuss the possibility of a home invasion with your family, especially with your children. Present the topic in a gentle but informative manner, telling your children that it’s extremely unlikely that a home invasion will ever occur. Make a family escape plan, and an assigned meeting place for any members of the family who are able to get out of the house. If possible, have “safety drills” on a monthly basis with your children, where you all exit the house and meet at the assigned meeting place.

2. Assign a “Danger” Phrase

A “danger” phrase is an easy-to-remember phrase that your family can use in the event that they’re in trouble. For example, if a family member calls during a home invasion, and the burglars instruct you (or any other family member) on what to say, you can use this phrase to indicate that you’re in trouble. Make it something easy to remember, and not too suspicious.

3. Use Your Monitored Security Features

If you have a monitored security system, there may be features included with your system that can be used in the event of a home invasion. For example, some security systems have a “panic” button, which can be pressed to automatically dial the monitoring station in speakerphone mode. This will allow the monitoring operator to listen in, assess the situation and contact the local authorities. Many monitoring stations will also have you set up a “danger” phrase, which can be used in the event that you’re forced to pretend that it was a false alarm. Familiarize yourself with the features of your home security system, and be prepared to use them in the event of a home invasion (or other emergency).

4. Invest in Protective Measures

If you’re concerned about the possibility of a home invasion, you can invest in certain security features to improve the safety of your home. For example, installing a safe room inside your home can provide a refuge for family members in the event of a home invasion. Having telephones easily available in most large rooms is another good investment. Reinforce your doors with security-grade deadbolt locks, and purchase a monitored security system for your home. All of these things can help ensure that your home – and family – will stay safe in the event of a home invasion.

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This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

If you were the victim of a home invasion, what would you do? What if you couldn’t get to a phone? Do you have a safe place from where you could contact your local authorities for help?

These questions are part of the reason why constructing a “safe room” can be a great idea for your home. While some people spend upwards of $50,000 building a high-tech safe room, it’s possible to build a basic, affordable safe room in your home. Here’s a quick guide on how to build an inexpensive (but functional) safe room.

Assess Your Home
The best way to save on constructing a safe room is to choose an existing closet as the foundation for your room. The closet should not have any windows or skylights, and should ideally have some existing reinforcement. Since you will want to communicate from your safe room, choose a closet that may easily be modified to add a phone jack. If you plan to use a cell phone, make sure the closet is able to get cell reception. If you want to be able to use your safe room for natural disaster protection (such as protection from a tornado), choose a closet that is in the central area of your home.

Installing the Door
Once you’ve chosen your closet, the first thing you should do is replace the door. A good safe room should have a solid core wood or steel door. Ideally, you should purchase the strongest steel door that you can afford.

Reinforcing the Frame
While you’re installing your new door, you should also begin reinforcing the frame around the door. You should install a sturdy steel door-jam, or reinforce the door frame with steel angle iron. This will help protect the door from being kicked in by unwanted intruders. When screwing in metal plating or other reinforcing material, it’s best to use at least 3″ screws.

Installing the Lock
The type of lock that you use for your safe room depends on your personal situation. Many people choose to install a dual-cylinder deadbolt lock, which can be opened with a key from either side. A spare key is always kept inside the safe room. However, since this will mean that you  need to keep a key for opening the room from the outside, it’s possible that your safe room key could fall into the hands of an intruder.  If you install a deadbolt that only locks from the inside, it’s possible that a child could accidentally lock themselves inside of the closet. No matter what type of lock style that you use, be sure that the deadbolt is made of reinforced steel, and extends at least 1″ into the door-jam. If you have a keyed lock, make sure that you keep the keys in an easily accessible location.

Building a Safe Room for Natural Disasters
Aside from protecting you from intruders, a safe room can also be constructed to help protect you from natural disasters. Here’s a quick video with some tips about constructing a safe room designed to withstand a natural disaster.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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In 2002, Jodie Foster starred in the thriller “Panic Room”. The entire plot of the movie focused on Foster’s character and her daughter having to elude three burglars who had broken into their home. One of the home’s primary features was the “Panic Room”, a high-end safe room that featured two-way communication and other equipment. Foster and her daughter are trapped in the room for the first part of the movie, which leads to a climactic finale.

Though the panic room in the movie was fictional, these types of rooms are often installed in high-end homes. A “safe room” can be any room that has been reinforced to prevent unauthorized entry. The reasons for having a safe room may vary, though most people install them to provide a safe area in the event of a home invasion.

If you have a safe room in your home, it’s essential (as shown by the movie “Panic Room”) to keep it well-stocked with appropriate supplies. Here are a few quick tips about what you should be keeping in your safe room.

Communication
The first priority for your safe room should be some sort of two-way communication method. This may be a land-line phone, or a trac-phone that never leaves the room. In the event that you are using a cell phone for your communication method, make sure that it has a full battery, and that you are able to get a cellular signal from inside of your safe room. Some home security systems also have features which allow you to call the company directly from your safe room.

Food/Water
In the event of an emergency, you want to make sure that there is enough food and water in your safe-room to sustain yourself and any family members who may be with you. It’s best to start with a three-day supply of food and water, since this lets you prepare for a “worst case” scenario.

Medical Supplies
Try to keep a well-stocked medical kit inside of your safe room. If any members of your family have special needs (such as diabetes or a heart condition), keep an extra supply of their medication inside of your safe room. If you use up this medication, replace it immediately.

Valuables
Your safe room should also contain essential items which you want to keep safe in the event of a burglary. Ideally, you should have a wall or floor safe installed inside of your safe room, which is used to hold your valuables. This ensures that even if you aren’t home (or the burglars are able to enter your safe room), your valuables will be difficult for them to steal.

Other Supplies
Try to imagine that your family is trapped in the safe room while burglars occupy your house. What would you want to have with you? If you have small children, you may want to keep familiar items or games to keep them occupied. You may also want to keep  sanitation supplies, or a portable toilet (if there isn’t an attached bathroom). Try to have at least two alternate methods of communication to call for help.

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This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

Many people don’t realize that buying a home security system is only one step towards improving the security of their home. While investing in monitored security is a great way to protect your family, it’s also important to make sure that your devices are working properly. Even if you’re not a tech guru, you can still perform some basic maintenance on the home security devices in your home. Here are four easy tips to help you with home security maintenance.

Test Your Locks
Aside from all of the electrical components of a home security system, the locks on your doors and windows are one of your primary defensive measures against intruders. You should be checking on your locks at least once every month. For deadbolts, make sure that the bolt extends at least 1 inch into the frame of the door. Secure any loose screws around your doors and windows (they may allow someone to gain entry to your home). Make sure that your window locks are secure, and can’t be opened from the outside.

Check Outdoor Devices
If any of the components of your security system are outdoors, you will want to check them at least once every week. Storms, severe weather and condensation may all damage the outdoor components of a security system. Even if your devices are rated for outdoor use, try to place them in areas where they will be the least affected by outdoor conditions. For example, for an outdoor home security camera, try to install it in an area where it won’t be exposed to rain, lightning and other potential hazards.

Test Your Security System
Like any electronic device, the components of a home security system may occasionally malfunction. In order to ensure that your home security components are still effective, run a test of your system at least once per month. If your home security system includes monitoring, you may need to call them in order to ensure that you don’t trigger a false alarm. Some monitoring stations will even run a diagnostic of your system from their location, which is usually free of charge.

Change Batteries Regularly
If any of your home security devices are wireless, they may be designed to run on batteries. High quality wireless devices will have an indicating feature that will let you know when it’s time to change batteries. If your device doesn’t have an indication feature, you can generally change batteries every 6 months on most small devices (2-3 months on devices with more power consumption). Also, testing your wireless devices is a great way to ensure that they still have working batteries.