The intended crime may not just be burglary but assault, rape, torture or even murder.

Just this past week there has been 4 HI’s here in the Bay Area resulting in 3 assaults and one murder. Most are gang related here. They are frightening because it violates our private space-our sanctuary. FIVE SECONDS thats all it takes to get in.

Home invasion robbers work more often at night and on weekends when homes are more likely to be occupied. They rarely work alone and use confrontation, violence and domination as part of their procedure.
The usual entry point is the front door. The bad guys are counting on any alarms or cameras you might have being off. Most folks answer the front door by just opening it without having a clue who is there. It only takes FIVE SECONDS to get in.

A lot of HI’s are perpetrated by scams. Here are some of them and how to avoid them.
PLEA FOR HELP. Your doorbell rings. You look outside and see a car with the hood up. You don’t open the door (good) but ask who it is. “Can I use your phone to call for a tow?” so the story goes. Kind hearted you opens the door (very bad) and the rest is history.

In a case like this either offer to call the police or get a phone # that you call but do not open your front door. It may be okay but it may not. DON’T TAKE CHANCES.
UNEXPECTED DELIVERY. There are variations of this one but to give credence the bad guys call ahead to tell you that you have a delivery. The call verifies you are home which is what they want. It puts you at ease since you are expecting it. They arrive and ring your bell. You confirm who it is and open the door. BAD NEWS!

In this case ask them to leave the package on the porch but don’t open the door.
TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE! The doorbell rings. It is a rep from an asphalt company. “Hi, we just finished a job at your neighbors’ and have some asphalt left over that we can let you have for a great deal” or something to that effect and all the variations thereof. “I just need your signature to okay it” BOOM he’s in.
In general keep doors and windows locked. Use any window or door alarms. Use your peephole to see who’s there. In case someone gets in have a game plan of what to do and who to call. This should be a practiced drill.

Lastly have some personal protection products around like stun guns, pepper sprays etc. just in case. You just never know when you might need them.

Know the caller - ask for identification right away. Unscrupulous companies, scam artists and criminals will likely have a good story ready, but one way to verify the call is to ask for a phone number (or get it from your caller ID) and tell the person calling that you’ll call them back. If they say it’s not possible for you to return the call, tell them you’re not interested. Before you dial, run the phone number through a computer database. There are plenty of free sites that offer reverse phone number lookups for free. Whitepages and Anywho are good options. If the phone number is a reputable company, they’re more than likely listed and you can verify that the phone number you’re calling is the XYZ Company, and that the number doesn’t belong to Mr. Smith in Nowhere, USA.

Beware of prizes - If you haven’t signed up for a weekend getaway, be ware of the marketer who tells you you’ve won one. If you have signed up, you probably gave them your address and all other pertinent information. Verifying an address they give you is one thing, giving them your address is another.

Be stingy with personal information - A company that is giving you a free prize shouldn’t need to know where you have a bank account, your social security number or any other personally identifying information. Never give bank account or credit card numbers over the phone unless you’re positive you’re dealing with a reputable company.

If it sounds too good to be true … - Your grandmother’s advice will stand you in good stead here. If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

When time is vital - One of the most common scams used by dishonest companies and criminals is that the deal is good only for the few minutes they have you on the phone. If they tell you that you have to agree now or they’ll pass the deal on to the next customer, you should probably pass. The “deal” may be that one partner plans to rob your house while you travel across town to pick up your free cruise ship tickets at a company office that doesn’t exist.

Just say no - It may start sounding redundant, but saying “no” may be your best defense against unwanted offers. In some cases, companies may say they’re recording the conversation. Then they may ask you to verify your phone number or address. When they rattle it off correctly, you’ll say “yes.” The company will then use that one word to change your long distance service provider, send your first shipment of books or sign you up for some other unwanted service.

Share safety rules - Everyone in the house should be on the same page when it comes to telephone safety. Be sure that even the youngest member of the household know the “just say no” policy.

One thing every homeowner should do at least twice a year is take a walk around and inside your home with a close friend or neighbor who is not that familiar with your house. Start outside and ask yourself “how could I break in the easiest way? The purpose of not going around the house alone is that your friend may spot things you’ll overlook. Return the favor and complete a survey for your friend.

Besides the obvious “lived-in” look, do not get into a habit of only doing certain things only when you are not home. Chances are good you can tell when your neighbor isn’t home. Remember it’s a burglar’s job to know the same things. Most professional criminals can tell nobody is home at least four or five houses away.

Several obvious things a burglar will notice are always closing the drapes ONLY when you’re not home. Having no garbage cans out collection day, or an empty can sitting at the curb are obvious tip-offs you are not home. So are closing up the house as tight as a drum in the hot summer months without the air-conditioner running. Turning on a certain light or two and every other room is in total darkness. The same goes for picking up all the children’s toys, taking in the dog, shutting the garage door if you frequently leave it open, and turning off the lawn sprinkler.

Many people before leaving turn on a so called burglar light which is the light over the kitchen sink. You might as well hang a sign on the front door you are not home! If you use an answering machine never leave a message that you are not home. Instead say you can not come to the phone right now or leave a message. If you do not have a machine, turn down the volume on your telephones before leaving so it can not be heard from outside which another dead giveaway indicating nobody is home.

2. Use Burglar Repellents

Crime officials will tell you its true! A dog is one of the best burglar deterrents. Not because it’s vicious, but it is heard. A dog with a menacing bark will scare away a lot of burglars, not only because they don’t know what kind of dog you have and what risk it would be to them if try tried to break in, but more likely because a noisy dog will create a disturbance and get attention - the last thing a burglar wants!

If you don’t have a dog there’s nothing stopping you from pretending. A Beware of Dog sign on your fence, a dog house in the back yard, even a loose dog chain or bowl can drive away a potential burglar. Companies that provide electronic dogs who bark none stop if an intruder trips a relay or otherwise signals his presence are effective also as long they are of good quality.

Other electronic devices that are effective besides the typical whole house alarm systems for windows and doors are infrared or motion detectors that sense movement or the heat given off by one’s body. Anyone approaching too close will trigger any number of attached devices. The most effective are powerful lights or burglar horns that either flood the area with light or fill the air with a deafening sound without notice. Just like a barking dog, the would-be burglar will usually run away for fear of being discovered.

To be effective, the sensitivity of such devices much not be set too high or stray animals will set them off too frequently which will get you on the wrong side of your neighbors. Also be sure such devices are high enough that they can’t be easily turned off or broken
given off by one’s body. Anyone approaching too close will trigger any number of attached devices. The most effective are powerful lights or burglar horns that either flood the area with light or fill the air with a deafening sound without notice. Just like a barking dog, the would-be burglar will usually run away for fear of being discovered.

To be effective, the sensitivity of such devices much not be set too high or stray animals will set them off too frequently which will get you on the wrong side of your neighbors. Also be sure such devices are high enough that they can’t be easily turned off or broken.

3. Make Doors Safer

Illegal entry through the front door occurs more often than any other points of entry in your house. All exterior doors should be of solid hard wood or steel reinforced. A good door does no good if the door frame is in bad shape or of inferior construction. Pay special attention to the door jams. Most inexpensive and expensive homes combined are made out of cheap pine. It does not take much force to “kick in” the door even if protected with dead bolts, if the strike plate is attached with only a couple of 1/2 or 3/4 inch screws. Secure doors by installing 2-1/2 to 3 inch stainless steel or nickel plated screws in all your exterior door jams.

4. Make Windows Safer

Burglars break windows as a last resort if they can’t enter through a door or from other outside means. The preferred method is cutting an access hole or slipping in a thin stiff wire and undoing the locking device. Most double hung windows have cheap locks which should be replaced by heavy duty sash locks or even keyed locks, if you can put up with the inconvenience. An old trick is installing a small eyebolt in either corner. If done correctly the window can’t be opened, with the eyebolt in place from the outside. You could screw the window shut by drilling a hole through the frame but it defeats the purpose of having a window, and presents a fire hazard. I recommended not doing this.

The safest windows are glass block. Almost impossible to break through, they of course can’t be opened and are not as pleasing to look at. However this is a good choice for basements or areas at or near ground level.

Another good protection is installed roll-a-way electric security shutters, or decorative security grates. The main down side is they can prove to be a serious fire hazard and prevent your escape. Newer models install on tracks or can easily be pushed open from inside to lessen their danger in the event of fire and the thick smoke sure to accompany it.

5. Take Household Inventory

The steps talked about above can go a long way to protecting your home but no matter how secure your residence is, if a professional burglar has targeted your home and is determined to break in, he will still probably succeed in breaking into your home. To aid law enforcement officials and greatly assist in insurance claims you should maintain a detailed inventory of all your household valuables.

It makes sense to “mark” important items with some permanent identifying mark. There are a variety of simple tools you can rent that will engrave serial numbers, a driver’s license number or some other unique marking into your valuables.

Remember most burglars sell stolen items in order to get cash, usually for illegal drugs. You’ll greatly reduce the chances of someone walking off with your TV, DVD or other valuables if it has a conspicuous ID number that can’t be removed, simply because it will greatly reduce its street value and make it too much work to get rid of and sell, and of course it is a lot easier to trace and return the property to the rightful owner.

Today, many people have a video camera. Sweep each room and record the contents from several different angles. Next, take close-ups of really important items. To tie-in, have a family member pose with the valuables. In a clear voice identify each item, the date of purchase, price paid and model and serial numbers. Remember to update the tape or disk every time you purchase something new.

If you don’t have a video camera, a regular inexpensive digital camera also works well. Make a companion audio tape to go along with it. It very important that the tapes or pictures be kept off the property or they may be stolen or damaged. Keep them in a safety deposit box at your bank. Now set aside an hour or so and complete the security check list on the following page. Correct weak points as soon as possible and your home and property will be more secure.

Sounds familiar?

Hollywood has done a terrific job in reenacting this horrific scene about home invasions in films such as “Wait Until Dark”, “Straw Dogs” and most recent “Panic Room”(2002). Truth is they could not have done a better job in recreating a real life situation that could cost you your life. Too often we hear about this horrific crime happening all over our nation without taking the necessary precautions to secure our homes.

Therefore, the question is what should we do to prevent a home invasion?

Here are some things we can do to reduce the potential dangers of a home invasion.

Number one inspect all doors in your home thoroughly to make sure they close and lock properly. Check bedrooms, bathrooms, closet and give special attention to your front and back door. Doors that are exposed to passbyers could be a vulnerable point of entry if the locks do not work correctly. You will be surprised how effective this could turn out, just imagine a person chasing after you with a knife, running into the first room you find and lock yourself in. I do not think a crook will spend valuable time into braking the door down to get to you instead he would grab whatever he can and run out.

Number two inspect all windows from inside and out of your home. Try opening one using a bit of force,(NOTE: Do not over do it, or you will find yourself buying a new window). If you are successful in any of the attempts replace the faulty window immediately with a more secure model. You should be able to find one that fits your needs in any home improvement store.

Number three install a house alarm system. This is probably the most expensive of all other options, but by far most effective. Once the security alarm system is installed the company will usually place a sticker logo on your front door or a sign out in your front lawn. The logo is a warning to criminals that you are being protected 24/7 and is not going to be easy if they try to break into your home. It takes a real professional to deactivate an alarm system and most likely is not going to happen.

Another way to prevent a home invasion and becoming a hostage in your own home is to build a security room; best known as a panic room. A panic room is a concrete room built specially to keep criminals out. It is built with 2″ rebar in between the cement walls with an underground phone line and a metal vault door with an internal release for outside access. Meaning you can lock yourself in Without having to use the combination and, at any giving moment you can unlock it from the inside to leave the room. You can also use a security room as a storm shelter or bomb shelter.

Whether you decide to fix the locks on your doors, replace broken or unsecured windows, install an alarm system or build a security room it is important to be conscious and well informed of the dangers surrounding our neighborhoods.
Lastly, and most importantly do not wait until something tragic happens to you. Prevention is the key.

The statistics are alarming (no pun intended). Between 1999 and 2003, residence robberies had increased by a whopping 18 percent. from 1999. (In contrast, the total number of overall robberies rose by only 1 percent over the same time period.) Most robberies happen on the street, but in 2003, about 14 percent of all robberies took place at a residence.

That residence could be yours.

If you are truly serious about protecting your home and your loved ones, you’re going to want to consider the purchase of surveillance cameras, placed around your house at entrances. Surveillance cameras are available in either wireless or wired models, and can be equipped with as many cameras as you feel you might need.

As our world progresses, everything seems to getting wireless these days. They are easier to set up, and your house will not have needless cords running everywhere. Wireless cameras transmit the signal to a receiver, either locally or at a remote monitoring station at a home security company.

The size of your home will determine the number of cameras you will need, along with the number of entrances, and how strong is your need to be protected.

Another thing to keep in mind is the fact that security camera systems are useless without a monitoring system. If there is no one to see the suspicious movement, then what is the point of them being recorded? It may provide good evidence in court, but it doesn’t prevent your home from being invaded or burglarized. Without monitoring which can lead to action, your loved ones and possessions are still at risk.

However, if you choose to put your cameras out in plain view, often that will be enough to change thieves’ minds about burglarizing your home. Hiding cameras, on the other hand, will make an important tool when determining who did it.

If you require maximum security, it will be necessary for someone to be on alert 24/7, watching for signs of suspicious activity. But for some people, this is something that just can not be done. In these cases, the main point of the cameras will be to either discourage burglars or to aid in recovery.

Surveillance equipment cannot stop theft by itself.

You have your responsibilities, too. You, or your professional home security company installing the system, must make sure the cameras are in good positions to cover all possible entry areas. You must check to see how often the batteries need to be replaced and be vigilant about that; a dead camera does no good to anyone.

Wireless security cameras are becoming more popular recently. They are used in many different areas. They can be put almost anywhere, since it is not necessary for them to be plugged in, and they are reasonably priced. The main drawback to wireless cameras is that the battery must be changed frequently. They do often come with multiple battery packs so you can have new ones charged and ready to go. There has also recently been some exciting new research on imaging chips and batteries which may soon remove this stumbling block.

The wireless security cameras work by transmitting signal to a receiver, which can be linked to a TV, computer, or other device. The receiver can pick up signals from up to 10 miles away, depending on the strength of the transmitter, and the signals can go through up to 8 walls of materials such as glass, plastic, wood, fiber glass, and certain metals. This means you are not limited if you wish to place the camera in particular spots. Sometimes, denser materials will make the signal weaker. It usually works best if the receiver is higher up than the cameras.

It is important to make sure you have a good view of the entire area you wish to view. Moving the camera a few feet can make an enormous impact on the viewing area.

Many people overlook the multiple purposes burglar alarms have, and people whom may think they don’t have enough valuables and possessions worth protecting may forgo having a burglar alarm fitted. But you must be aware that not every person who enters your house has intentions of stealing from you, many other serious and violent crimes can occur within you’re home because a burglar alarm didn’t deter the perpetrator. A burglar alarm serves not only to protect you’re property but also you and your family.

A good burglar alarm will be one which cannot be disarmed by simply unplugging it from the wall socket, as this is a major shortcoming of many older and less expensive burglar alarms. A good burglar alarm will contain the actual alarm in a nice neat case which you will fit on the outside of your wall, and have a light on also to act not only as a burglar deterrent during the dark, but also to attract attention to it when it goes off.

There are many types of burglar alarms, some are ones which are simply rigged up to go off should the front or back door be opened whilst the alarm is set, meaning unless the alarm is disarmed by using the correct code, the alarm will go off within a matter of a few seconds. The best burglar alarms however are ones which contain infra red sensors which are correctly placed and positioned in each of the rooms of the house to detect movement even in conditions of complete darkness. Of course, not all burglars enter through the main doors, but may gain entry into your house by other means. For instance, a burglar alarm system which has no movement sensors will be useless if a burglar gains entry by way of a window which has been left ajar, or if they are sophisticated enough to remove or break a pane of glass to gain entry without making sufficient noise to cause disruption. One final factor is the noise a burglar alarm makes. It must be a very loud noise to cause panic and to cause the burglars to leave, this may be an obvious point but you may be surprised by the amount of burglar alarm systems on the market which don’t produce a loud enough noise.

1) Advantages of Using a Hidden Camera
There are a variety of cameras available on the market today. Most are wireless and can be hidden in almost any type of household item from a plant to a stuffed animal. And the prices vary too from about $100 for a basic camera offering remote computer access to more than $500 for digital systems, which can send video images live via computer or cell phone. These hidden spy cameras give you the peace of mind and confidence in child care are reasons why some families opt to “spy” on their child’s provider through watching a video of what has gone when they are gone or at work.

2) Disadvantages of Using a Hidden Spy Camera
Studies and polls indicate that many care providers are not necessarily against video taping of child-provider interaction, it’s just that they want to know about it before hand. Care givers are increasingly sensing lack of trust and feeling of deception towards the service they provide and get anger when they are wrongfully accused of something.

3) Other Uses For Hidden Spy Camera Video

A mini spy cams or wireless spy camera can be used for many other reasons than just child care. A hidden camera device can be used while your home is being cleaned, for occasional in-home animal sitter services, and for other home surveillance security reasons. However, spy camera shops still indicate that the leading reason why people by these devices are to strictly monitor their care providers.

4) What Do Providers Think About Wireless Spy Cameras?

Do care providers support the use of spy cameras? Media stories abound on focusing on potential abuse and inattention. These are the major reasons parents should consider using a hidden camera and some sitters even report a camera can provide a positive connection with the families while the parents are at work. The problem seems to be when care providers are secretly taped and not told about it before hand.

5) Is It Legal To Use A Hidden Camera?

It is absolutely legal in all 50 states to use a hidden, wireless and mini spy cameras. It is however not legal to record speech without a person’s prior consent in the following 15 states: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington.

6) Are More Daycares Starting To Use Hidden Spy Cameras?

Reportedly, more and more public daycare centers are installing wireless spy cameras which provide nervous parents with the ability to periodically check and watch their child while at work which provides the added assurance that their child is safe.