Using Video Surveillance in the Fight Against Door-to-Door Scams
Video Surveillance & Its Role In Protecting You Once upon a time, someone could knock on your door with a carpet cleaner in their hand and ask you if you wanted to see a legitimate demonstration of the product. This was a way in which many companies achieved sales and how salesmen made a living for their families. The door-to-door sales job was a real job and it could be lucrative for some. Unfortunately, things have changed and that has created a home security risk. Slowly, these jobs were phased out because of increases in scammers claiming to be salesmen when they weren’t. They have also gotten very good at their sinister craft over time, making themselves extremely convincing. They will have that vacuum or carpet cleaner on-hand, as well as a free laundry detergent sample or another free gift for letting them do an in-home demonstration. While there are still some true door-to-door salespeople out there, most are just there to case your home. Many are getting caught because people are realizing the importance of having video surveillance systems with cameras around exterior doors. Types of Door-To-Door Scams In Rochester, NY and other communities, there are solicitation laws. For instance, Rochester has a Peddling and Soliciting law that says a commercial traveler needs to acquire a license to commence operations within the city or Monroe County. The cost of that license is $250 and it is good for six months. However, it doesn’t stop there. A bond in the amount of $5,000 also needs to be executed by an insurance company or surety company licensed to do business in New York. The purpose of the insurance is to protect the citizens from fraudulent or false sales practices by the licensed people. It is wise to ask a door-to-door salesperson for proof that they are who they say they are. Talk to them through the door rather than opening it up. Many home surveillance systems have caught alleged salespeople pulling on the front door if no one answers, pulling on car door handles and looking in windows. These actions indicate that the person is up to no good. As for the types of scams, here is what Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo, and other parts of the country are experiencing: The meat company scam – A person comes to the door saying they are from a meat or food company and they want to make you a deal. The vacuum or carpet cleaner demo scam – Kirby still has some salespeople going door-to-door these days, but they will most likely have proof they are supposed to be there. Electric company scam – A person claiming to be from the electric company comes to the door and asks to see your bill for one reason or another. Security system scam – A legitimate security system company is never going to come to your door and ask to do a free estimate. Home improvement – Beware of a person claiming to be a construction worker comes to your door telling you they will fix your roof, siding, or fence for a portion of the money up front. You will never see them again. Syracuse, Buffalo & Rochester Video Surveillance Systems Protecting Your Family Having a video surveillance system installed around the doors of your home can prevent a fake salesperson from victimizing more people. In different parts of the country, the footage has even been shown on local news channels when it is determined the person is not who they say they are. They almost always get caught thanks to homeowners that take that extra step to protect what’s theirs. To learn more about how you can protect your home with video surveillance, call SPS Fire & Security at 585-770-0348 or complete the contact form below and we will get back to you ASAP.
Personal Security: Ride Sharing Safety in Upstate New York
Exercising Personal Safety & Security While On the Road The use of ride sharing services in Upstate New York is on the rise. More people are using these services because of convenience and the fact that this service has more privacy than the public transportation system. Ride sharing works well for when a person needs a designated driver or when the car is in the shop. It’s an affordable way to get a ride when it is needed. However, not all ride sharing services verify the driver’s license of their drivers or criminal records and this is a personal security risk. If you read the small print on the company website, you will find that the ride sharing company isn’t responsible for the safety of the vehicle or really anything about the driver. The company most likely doesn’t verify insurance coverage either. It is all up to you to make an informed decision that can have an impact on your personal safety. The good news, however, is that bad things don’t often happen with ride sharing services. The bad news is that a quick Google News search will show some incidents. Nonetheless, ride sharing is growing fast because it’s extremely useful. But you can never be too careful. Vetting Your Driver The best way to ensure your safety and security with a ride sharing service is to vet the driver. When you request service, you are most likely going to be connected with information about the driver. So do these things before you ride: Verify the driver. Look at their user profile to see how many rides they’ve completed and the type of feedback they have received. Send a message or begin a conversation over chat. This helps you to get to know your driver. Make sure you plan ahead. Know exactly where you are going so you can let the driver know. You should also notify your family and friends that you are using a ride sharing service and what route you will be taking. You ARE the navigator. Pick a public meeting place to be picked up and choose a public place to be dropped off. If you don’t feel safe, simply don’t go. You’re not obligated to get into the car. If your plans change or your route changes, text a friend or family member. If there is a reason to be concerned for your safety, contact law enforcement. Putting Your Safety First in Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo Whether at home or on the road, your safety and security come first. Never do anything you don’t feel right about. Ride sharing services can make life run a little smoother, but never sacrifice your safety in any area of your life. For example, you can make things more secure at home through a security system, surveillance cameras, motion sensors, and other features. By calling SPS Fire & Security, you can learn about how to secure your home as part of your journey toward securing your life. Give us a call today at 585-770-0348 or complete the contact form below.
How Security Systems and Sump Pump Maintenance Go Together
Alarm Systems That Cover Your Whole House Did you know that a home or business security system can detect indoor flooding? If you didn’t, you do now. It’s not always about keeping burglars out of your home or business, but about keeping everything safe and secure. Overall safety is why these systems can also detect fire and carbon monoxide. But let’s get back to this flooding thing. Flooding is something that happens in the Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse areas. All it takes is a good rain to overwhelm storm drains and cause waterways to break their banks. Broken pipes are another reason. When you have a basement, the potential for flooding is always there. Even if it seems watertight, all it takes is a leaky pipe to cause significant water damage. The good news is that having a functional sump pump can make a major difference. Simple Sump Pump Maintenance Even when security systems detect flooding so homeowners and business owners know sooner rather than later, the sump pump is going to be a very good friend best friend. It can immediately start pumping out the water that is accumulating in the basement so that damage is minimized. However, you have to make sure your sump pump is in good working order by performing annual sump pump maintenance. The following are steps you can take to make sure your sump pump works for you when you need it: Make sure the sump pump power cord is plugged into a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). Inspect the cord to ensure there is no wear and tear. Unplug the cord and take the pump out of the basin. Inspect the grate for debris and clean it. Too much debris can cause the sump pump to malfunction. Check the drainage pipes to make sure the joints are tightly connected and that they are draining to the proper area (pipe into the yard that points away from the foundation or main sewage line). All venting should be debris-free. Replace the pump and make sure it is upright and level. Test the pump by filling the basin with water. The pump should kick on immediately. If the sump pump fails to operate, you can have a plumber repair it or you can replace it. Sump pumps have a life span of 5 to 15 years. Usually, a sump pump under 5 years of age has a warranty. If it is between 5 and 15 years old, replacement may be your best option. Contact A Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo Security Company Your security system and sump pump can work together to minimize the damage in your home or business from flooding. The advanced warning given by the security system and the hard work of your sump pump can result in incredible cost savings when compared to the alternative. To learn more about these systems or any type of system you feel you need to keep your home or business secure, call SPS Fire & Security at 585-770-0348 or complete the contact form below.
National vs. Local Security Alarm Companies – Who’s Top Dog?
What’s the Difference Between National and Local Alarm Companies The struggle is real – Deciding between a national alarm company and a local alarm company can be taxing. But does it really have to be that difficult? You have large national companies throwing out catchy free system offers that the local security alarm company doesn’t have, but the local company offers a lower monthly rate. This is where the decision becomes hard. The good news is that you can figure it out. All you have to do is a little math. The first thing to look at is the value of the national company’s free system versus their monthly fee (usually less than $300 for a standard system). Consider that the national company is still making you pay for that catchy offer through a higher monthly cost than what a local alarm company charges. You can compare annual cost, but also look at the 10-year average lifetime cycle of a security system and you will find that the national guys cost more very early in the cycle. That puts that catchy free system offer into perspective, doesn’t it? Here’s an example: A national company installs a $300 security system in the home. The installation fee is $99 and the monthly fee is $48 per month. Now, let’s say they waive the $300 equipment fee. That leaves you with the $99 installation fee and the $48 per month. The cost is $675 in the first year and $576 for every year after. The local alarm company charges the $300 for the equipment, a $99 installation fee, and a monthly charge of $30 per month. The first year is $759, but the cost every year after is $360. You begin to see the cost savings of a local security company over the national company in just the second year. See the chart below reflecting the 10-year average of this scenario: National (year 1 cost plus $576 per year for total cost over 10 years) Local (year 1 cost plus $360 per year for total cost over 10 years) Year 1 (includes initial costs) $675 $759 Year 2 $1251 $1119 Year 3 $1827 $1479 Year 4 $2403 $1839 Year 5 $2979 $2199 Year 6 $3555 $2559 Year 7 $4131 $2919 Year 8 $4707 $3279 Year 9 $5283 $3639 Year 10 $5859 $3999 Total savings = $1860 The Service Level of Local Security Alarm Companies vs. National The differences between national companies and a good Rochester security alarm company keeps going. The home-town touch gives you the following: Faster response time – When using a national company, the signal from a triggered alarm most likely goes to another part of the state or somewhere else in the country. A local company usually has a 24/7 monitoring center much closer and can call the local police or fire department much faster. The typical response time when using a local alarm company is 20 minutes faster than when using a national company. Your neighborhood isn’t foreign – Your neighborhood can be a foreign land to a national company. Using a company that specifically serves Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo means your neighborhood is familiar territory. It’s good to have a local company that knows when a rash of break-ins is happening in the area. The dollars make more sense – National and local companies have their customers sign contracts, but the national company is more likely to have longer contracts with higher monthly charges. Those contracts usually say the rate can be increased at any time. You also have to deal with automatic renewals. Local alarm companies are easier to negotiate with so you can get more out of every dollar. A Local Alarm Company Serving Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo When working with a local security alarm company, you get the more personal customer service, more control, better rates, faster response times, and a company that knows your neighborhood and uses a knowledgeable monitoring center. To learn about SPS Fire & Security’s great prices and services, call 585-770-0348.
IP Cameras Versus Analog Security Cameras
Distinguishing the Difference Between Security Camera Types Analog security cameras have been around for a long time, which makes one wonder if an IP security camera is going to be worth the investment. Let’s look at the analog camera: On crime dramas, you see a group of officers gathered around the department techie, watching him as he goes through the footage. Suddenly, one of the main characters of the show stops the techie and tells him to zoom in on a specific area of the screen. In seconds, the extremely grainy image is as clear as a photo taken by an iPhone 7 on a sunny day. And that’s not how it works. Grainy analog video footage stays grainy and police struggle to make sense of what makes the person in the footage look like who they are. That is why some people get away with crimes despite the presence of security cameras. IP Cameras Are Changing Everything Fortunately, the days of grainy footage are becoming a thing of the past. Gone are the days of poor quality or narrowly focused images. Instead, you get clearer images that are more likely to lead to a criminal’s capture. This does come at a higher cost than analog, but not as bad as you may think. It is well worth the security and the peace of mind you receive because you have a security camera that is going to have decipherable footage. How are IP Cameras Different? These internet protocol cameras are different in a number of ways. Those ways include: Much better picture quality due to higher resolution Video analytics that allow you to flag specific events that happen within the camera’s view Lots of flexibility that allows you to connect to a DVR or even monitor your home or watch footage on your smartphone Scalability allows you to have an extensive wireless camera system You can keep track of what is happening inside and outside of your home Cameras come in different styles and sizes so you can properly monitor certain areas of your property You can make your cameras as obvious or discreet as you want It doesn’t even stop here. There are so many benefits and features that it is best to review them all with a professional so the features can be matched with your needs and wants, making finding the right fit a lot easier. Contact Our Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse IP Camera Installer So, is it all worth it? It is very worth it. Imagine being on vacation and looking at your phone to see what’s happening at home. If this sounds good to you, SPS Fire & Security can help you. Call us at 585-770-0348 to get a free quote or fill out the form below and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Carbon Monoxide Detection: Stopping the Silent Intruder in Its Tracks
Protect You and Your Family from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Cars, stoves, gas ranges, fireplaces, and furnaces all produce carbon monoxide because they burn fuel. If carbon monoxide builds up, people can be poisoned. This is why carbon monoxide detection is extremely important in keeping people safe. Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless, so a person isn’t usually aware that they are being poisoned. The key to avoiding CO poisoning is to become aware and know how to prevent the dangerous gas from building up in the home or business. Below are some tips for preventing being poisoned by CO. Preventing CO Poisoning in Your Home or Business Stick to the following and you can greatly reduce the chances of carbon monoxide poisoning: Running vehicles should never be left in garages or enclosed areas, even if the door is open. Use the flue when using your fireplace. Also, make sure the chimney is cleaned annually. Never use generators indoors because of lack of ventilation. Generators are meant to run outside via extension cords. Never heat your home with your oven. Portable stoves, charcoal stoves, or camp stoves should never be used indoors. Fuel-burning appliances need vents that lead to the outside. The HVAC system should be inspected yearly to ensure it is in good working order and that the ventilation is fine. A carbon monoxide detector needs to be placed on every floor of the home, particularly around the bedrooms. These detectors should have battery backup so they are operational during power outages. Have a security system installed that can detect carbon monoxide. This is a great form of carbon monoxide detection because emergency services can be immediately notified. That way, if you and your family are sleeping and the system detects carbon monoxide, a potentially fatal situation can be stopped in its tracks. Unfortunately, people most commonly die from carbon monoxide poisoning in their sleep. Know the Symptoms It is also good to know the symptoms, which include: Headache Confusion Nausea Dizziness Breathing issues Fatigue If you experience any of these symptoms, go outside immediately to see if the symptoms resolve. Protect Your Family – Talk to Our Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse Home Security Company Home security is more than just an alarm system that sounds when an intruder attempts to come through a door or window. Home security means protecting your family or your business from threats like fire, flood, and carbon monoxide. To learn more and to request a free quote, call SPS Fire & Security at 585-770-0348 today or complete the contact form below.
Business Security Systems and Their Role in Employee Safety
Commercial Security Systems Is the #1 Way to Protect Employees Employee safety is a very important aspect of business security. If you are wondering how this is possible, you may be quite surprised to learn the answer. Of course, robbery defense is one aspect. When business security systems are in place that include video surveillance, robbers are most likely deterred from following through with a robbery. Without such systems, Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse businesses would see more robberies than they do. SPS Fire & Security is an integral player in the business security system arena throughout the region, as the systems that are installed are state-of-the-art and reliable. Employee Protections Aside from protecting against robberies, business security systems protect employees in the following ways: If employee theft is occurring, the offending employee can be charged with the offense. Unfortunately, without good video surveillance and security measures, false accusations can occur. Business interests also suffer when unable to pinpoint exactly how the theft is occurring and who is behind it. More time and resources are required when a company has to buckle down on procedures for preventing employee theft when there is no idea who is behind it. Business video surveillance is good for when an accident claim is filed. If an employee is injured on the job, the video can show exactly what happened. If the employee did something to cause their injury, then this could be used if a workers’ compensation claim is filed. If the employee is injured due negligence that was not their own, the video will prove this as well. Merchandise Protection Business security systems can also contribute to shoplifting prevention. If a shoplifter knows there is a camera on them, they may not shoplift. If they do, the footage can be used to catch the culprit. If there is a burglary after hours, the alarm system will sound and alert the authorities. Once again, video can be used to try and catch the thief. Most of the time, the mere presence of an alarm system and video surveillance will deter a burglar. Furthermore, having security measures in place reduces monetary losses, which allows a business to not cut hours or freeze hiring in order to accommodate money lost to theft. This is another way in which employees are protected. Contact Your Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo Business Security Systems Company At SPS Fire & Security, we want to ensure the safety of your employees, your business, and your bottom line. Call today at 585-770-0348 today for more information or complete our contact form below.
Access Control Systems for Business
How Access Control Protects Your Business What is an Access Control System? An Access control System is a reliable, secure and convenient way to control the traffic flow of employees and visitors who enter and exit a building. Some of the facility types that integrate access control into their security include: Office buildings (17% of installations) Industrial manufacturing (13% of installations) Hospitals, schools, and universities (12% of installations) Government facilities (11% of installations) Financial institutions (9% of installations) Retail establishments (9% of installations) Warehousing/Trucking industry (9% of installations) Utilities (6% of installations) Gaming and hospitality industries (5% of installations0 Mass public transportation facilities (4% of installations) The other 5% of installations belong to residential applications. Access Control Systems allow companies to monitor the entrance and exiting of the employees. Through computer software, you can track and report dates, times and how many times employees or visitors have entered and exited the facility. Many companies nowadays are changing over to an access control system where the employees either need a secured registered ID card, a pin number or a fingerprint instead of sets of multiple keys to gain access to different parts of the facility. Converting to an access control system will allow more areas to be restricted to visitors or employees not authorized to enter those areas. Protecting Employees with Access Control It is always a sigh of relief to be able to work late in a safe protected environment. With this system, employers can relax knowing that their business is protected and employees can be ensured that unwanted individuals can not enter. If an unauthorized individual tries to access the facility, they aren’t going to be able to. Trying could also constitute a call to authorities to determine why the person was there trying to access the facility. If they did manage to enter, video surveillance can be used to determine who did it and what they did. Access control is almost always accompanied by security cameras. Low Maintenance and Customized To Your Company’s Needs Thousands of businesses can benefit from a customized easy low maintenance system. This type of system can easily be used with a register card, finger print or password. It all depends on what the employer finds works best for them. With many businesses having employees that have access to many different areas located in their businesses, with access control as the employer you can limit what areas employees can enter. Access Control for the Rochester Metro, Syracuse Metro, and Buffalo Metro Do you or someone you know have a business that would benefit from an access control system? If so, contact SPS Fire & Security at 585-770-0348.
Home Automation: Making Your Smartphone a Home Security Tool
Smart Home Connectivity Today’s security systems are much different than those that were installed 10 or more years ago. Today, you can make your smartphone a part of the system through home automation. Security systems are also much smarter than they used to be, as you can control everything from your lights to your thermostat from wherever you are. SPS Fire & Security can set you up with a smart home system that will give you peace of mind and freedom when you’re on the go A Rundown of Home Automation Here’s a rundown of how automating your home works: You have climate control capabilities that allow you to regulate the temperature of your home without using your thermostat. In other words, you can change the temperature from your couch or from a hotel in Hawaii. All you need is your smartphone and the applicable app. Watch your home security camera feed so you can monitor your home at all times. You can view multiple home security cameras at once and it is all live! If you want to see if the cat is climbing the curtains, you can do that. If you need to make sure no one has broken into the home, you can watch your feed to see if there is anything suspicious. If a break-in has happened, video footage can be used to catch the culprit. Turn on your interior and exterior lights to make it look like someone is home when no one is. You can also set rules for your lights so you don’t have to worry about remembering to turn lights on and off through the app. All this can be controlled through the app. If motion sensors are activated at your home, the app will send an alert to your smartphone so you are aware of what’s going on. You can arm and disarm your home alarm system remotely. This can give friends or family access while you’re gone. Instead of giving away your code, you can let them in when they need in. As you can see, home automation is amazing in that it gives you more flexibility, peace of mind, and control. One of the worst feelings is going on vacation and wondering if you adjusted the thermostat accordingly, locked the door, or set the alarm. If you have a smartphone, you have the control you need. Contact A Rochester Home Automation Security Company Home automation is becoming the way of the home security world as more homeowners want control. Even business owners are getting in on the technology. If you want in on this technology so you can secure your home and make your life easier, call SPS Fire & Security at 585-770-0348 to request a free quote or complete the contact form below.
A Sump Pump Alarm Can Help Immediately Mitigate Basement Flooding
When it rains a lot, some homeowners throughout Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse experience basement flooding. Many homeowners who have had their basements flood either don’t have a sump pump or don’t have a sump pump alarm. What is a Sump Pump Alarm? An alarm for your sump pump is a smart way to protect your basement and any valuables stored there from water damage. This alarm sounds the keypad of the home security system. If the security system is monitored by the 24/7 monitoring center, the center will contact the customer to let them know that the sump pump has triggered an alert. Because the alarm is part of the home security system, it is powered by the system itself. If the power goes out, the alarm system’s backup battery takes over so the entire system, including the high-water alarm, remains active. How Does a High Water Alarm Help? Let’s say you live in an area where water has been known to flow into your basement during extremely heavy downpours. There are many reasons why this happens in some areas and not in others. You’re at work when a major storm moves through. This storm drops inches of rain in a short amount of time, causing water to enter your basement. This is the time your sump pump decides to fail and you’re clueless because you’re at work. Scenario 1: you don’t have a high-water alarm on your sump pump: You come home from work to find that everything stored in your basement that touches the floor is saturated. You also have a rather amazing mess of water to deal with because your sump pump malfunctioned and didn’t do its job. Scenario 2: you do have a sump pump alarm: You’re at work looking out the window in amazement at how much rain is falling. Suddenly, you get a notification from your alarm company’s monitoring center telling you that your sump pump alarm has triggered the keypad of your home security system. This tells you that you may need to go home immediately or call someone else in your household to go home and check out the issue. Now, let’s say you get home very quickly before the water has had time to reach items stored in the basement. You can’t stop the water from entering, but you can quickly move your belongings. Rescue Your Wallet In cases where leaky pipes have caused basement flooding, people have gone home and shut off the water to prevent further flooding. When the issue is addressed quickly, you reduce the damage to the basement, which saves a lot of money in repairs. Having an alarm on your sump pump is a win-win because they do fail eventually. Many times, people don’t know that they have gone bad until something happens and they don’t work. A sump pump can be inoperable for months or years without a single sign until the basement floods. Having this safeguard can prevent a lot of headaches and damage to your wallet. Contact A Rochester NY Security Alarm Company Knowing that your basement is protected with the sump pump alarm gives you more confidence when storing valuables in the basement. If you don’t have an alarm already installed, call SPS Fire & Security at 585-770-0348 to schedule an appointment or for forth information.