As reported by the Houston Chronicle, a 15-year-old and his sister, 12, were alone when a pair of intruders entered their home in Houston, so he got dad’s rifle and defended their property. We think this kid showed amazing fortitude under some very serious circumstances! Good for him and his Dad for showing him what to do in the event of an emergency such as this. This type of courageous self defense definitely makes potential criminals think twice about breaking in if they were likely to be met by the end of a gun.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7087082.html

Crimes take place in Houston every day – don’t wait until your family is alone at home when intruders strike to realize that you should protect yourself with a home security system from Connect One. Call us today to inquire about the promotions we have running currently!

Many people believe that because they live out of the city limits they are safer from crimes such as burglaries and home invasions. It is worth noting that there are, in fact, dangers to living in an isolated area. For one, your closest neighbor may not be able to hear or be aware of any unusual activity that goes on at your home in your absence. Secondly, the police forces in small areas are often located farther away from your home, and usually have less police officers on duty at any given time. Home security monitoring is crucial wherever you live.

In denser populations, it is more difficult for a would-be burglar to be discreet. However, in an isolated area, they can take their time and be as loud as they need to be to access your home and valuables. Criminals are highly aware that most people are away from home during the day and are quick to use this fact to their advantage.

Due to more and more people spending time away from home and the rising median income of rural homeowners with decreased street-side home visibility, outlying areas are experiencing an increase in criminal activity.

As we hear on the news daily, we are living in very uncertain economic times. It is precisely at times like this that we need to be sure that we do not neglect to protect our homes and families from dangers such as these.

If you would like for a licensed professional to evaluate your property to insure you and your family are adequately protected, contact Connect One Security at
713-977-5887 so we can schedule your in-home security consultation.

Yes, it’s true. There was recently a man in the Dallas who posed as a possible home buyer to gain entrance into some of the finer homes in the area so that he can have access to their valuables.

Police already have a suspect, but this case poses a great opportunity to make a point about home security and the importance of awareness for would-be burglars. If you are trying to sell your home, be sure to use a trusted Realtor, and never let a potential home buyer have access to your home alone.

While it should go without saying that a Realtor should always be present, at times we are too easy to trust people who appear to be honest and sincere. At one of the Dallas burglaries the suspect was believed to have stolen over $20,000 in jewelry. Don’t let this type of needless crime happen to you. This could have easily been prevented had the burglar not been left alone. Fortunately, people with their homes for sale in this area have been put on alert, and by simply being more aware of the problem, it should decline.

It is also important to emphasize; however, that Realtors should always walk the homes with their clients and not allow them to wander through the home without supervision. In the past it has been customary to let potential home buyers have some time in the home to look for themselves and evaluate whether or not the home would work for them. However, with these sorts of crimes on the rise, we can no longer afford strangers the ability to roam through our homes alone.

Be proactive instead of reactive in potential crime circumstances such as this. Don’t allow yourself to be vulnerable, and be sure to let your realtor know what you expect when they are showing your home so that you don’t become yet another crime statistic. Contact us today at Connect One Security with questions or for a free consultation. Let us show you how home monitoring can keep your family and home secure.

With vacation season fast approaching there are some simple tips that we at Connect One Security would like to point out to help you protect your home in your absence:

1) Don’t forget to make sure that your home is secure in your absence. If you don’t already have a monitored home security system, let the professionals at Connect One Security come out for a no obligation consultation to help advise you on what would be most important and would work best for your home.
2) Many people go to great lengths to protect their home and property, and then go on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media outlets to announce that they are going to be away from home. This gives thieves and criminals the exact information they are looking for, and you become a very vulnerable target.
3) Do let a few trusted neighbors and friends know that you are going to be gone so that they can keep an eye on your home while you are away.
4) Don’t leave window blinds open that reveal valuables in your home. This simply serves to entice the would-be burglar to help themselves to your property.

And finally, after taking the time to insure that your home will be secured, enjoy peace of mind, and have a relaxing and well-deserved vacation!!

Home Security is a growing concern for the general public as crime rates continue to increase and the intruders become more and more technologically savvy. It is important to realize that while you may have public safety agencies close by in your neighborhood, there are far more homes to be protected than there are police officers to protect them, so it is important to do everything possible to make your home secure instead of simply relying on public service agencies such as police and fire departments.

One of the best ways to protect your home and family is to install a monitored home security system. In the event of an intrusion, the alarm will sound alerting you and your neighbors, and most often, the alarm will immediately scare off the intruder. The good thing about having a monitored home security system installed is that you do have the back up of the police, fire, and EMS services in the event that you need them.

Home security also has a lot to do with you and your lifestyle. If you have a large family and someone is almost always home, you may be less at risk than someone who is often away on business trips. Also worth considering is your proximity to the police and fire stations. Some neighborhoods are more at risk than others so take this into account when planning your family’s home safety plan.

Not only is it important to consider your family’s home, but also take note of your neighborhood and notice things that may be enticing to thieves such as a low lit street, valuables visible from the street, etc.
Lastly, don’t forget to include a fire safety and accident prevention plan in your overall security plan. Dangers such as these threaten not only your property but the lives of your loved ones as well. If you need help determining what would best suit your family’s needs for home and fire security, contact one of our home security experts at Connect One Security at 713-574-1539 for a no obligation consultation and they would be happy to help you address your home security needs.

So you thought your family’s guard dog would protect your home and property? Check out this video of a burglary in progress… 

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0409092boynton1.html

Contact Connect One Security at 713-574-1539 so one of our consultants can better inform you on more high tech ways to protect your home and family.

Houstonians are becoming increasingly aware of the growing crime rate on our streets and in our neighborhoods. Because of this, they are also realizing the need for a dependable and reputable home security provider. Residential home security companies such as Connect One Security have been aware of this increasing trend of crime in our area, and have been adjusting their offerings to include ways to better protect the public.

Evaluating your home security needs is the first important thing to consider when installing a new security system. Be sure to research your area to assess the crime rates, as well as the types of crime that are being committed. Look for things like outdoor street lights, fences, motion sensor lights, etc. that will deter crime. Be aware of having high value assets easily visible. All of these factors will affect your need for security, and will call for different types of equipment to secure your property. A Connect One Security consultant can help you determine which equipment is most appropriate, and design a system with you in mind.

It is important to make your home look like it is occupied at all times. A homeowner who has a predictable work schedule of being gone at certain times everyday should include additional means of security. Home lighting control is a great solution for the safety of your family. Also, it is unadvisable to leave an outdoor key where neighbors or people driving by can see you retrieving it frequently.

Things such as monitoring service frequency and response time, guarantees of products and services, costs of components, quality of equipment and installation, and reputation of the security dealer are all important considerations when choosing a qualified home security company.

Trust Connect One Security to design a home security system to meet your particular needs. We would be happy to address any questions you might have concerning the above issues.

Connect One Security was formerly Ranger American and has been in operation since 1989 in the Houston market. We consider ourselves fortunate to be one of the leading home security companies not only in the Houston area, but in San Antonio and Austin as well.

Contact one of our professionals at 713-574-1539 so we can schedule a free consultation to come to your home and advise you of your personalized options for securing your home and family.

A recent article written in San Antonio, Texas describes a family’s break-in and their belief that their home security company’s installer had something to do with the crime. While this is unfortunate, there are a couple of questions regarding whether or not the family has the right to sue the security company that must be asked:

1. What kind of research did this family do before trusting their home security to the company?

It is important to do your due diligence before hiring a specific company to come in and “secure” your home. If this family had checked with the Better Business Bureau, as mentioned in the article, they would have found that the company had a “C” rating and hundreds of filed complaints. The home alarm security company’s reputation is crucial when choosing a company to meet your family’s home security needs.

We would all like to think that any home security company with the ADT name on it is above reproach, but unfortunately there will always be those companies who do not follow ADT policy. Just buying a brand name is not enough; you need to know who will be installing the system.

At Connect One Security, also an ADT Authorized Dealer, we review technician procedures with the homeowner while on location. This provides structure and prevents misunderstandings between our company and the homeowner. In addition, at Connect One Security, our employees are drug tested, have complete background checks by state and federal agencies and are licensed by the Department of Public Safety. We do not use subcontractors.

2. Did the family in the San Antonio article have their home alarm system properly armed and ready to catch intruders?

Often times, after taking the time to secure their family with an ADT home alarm system, homeowners neglect to set the alarm. In cases such as this, it is impossible for the family to be protected by ADT’s equipment. This is one of the first questions addressed when discussing a break-in with a customer because the home security company cannot be blamed or found liable when a customer fails to use the equipment.

So, to reemphasize, be sure of your choice of home security company by insuring that they are a reputable company and ask questions about their procedures that are in place to address ALL homeowner issues that may arise during installation.