Your Airport Safety Tips: What You Need to Know
Stay Safe While Traveling After hearing about Rochester International Airport receiving suspicious bomb threats on Thursday December 29, 2016, people who travel by plane should take airport safety tips seriously. These tips will assist you in making sure that you have safe travels. Keep Yourself Safe at Home as Well! Many people were either coming to the airport or just getting ready to board or get off their flight. Report from the news says that many did not expect to come to the airport to see that the roads blocked off and hear that they would have to wait to even get in. Airport Safety Tips First, follow instructions from authorities. They will arrive quickly to handle the situation. Next, avoid touching or opening anything suspicious, like the unattended bags at Rochester International Airport. Instead, let trained professionals inspect those items. T hen, stay calm if you get separated from family or friends. You will reunite once the situation is resolved. Finally, watch your belongings closely, including luggage, bags, and any young children traveling with you. One incident at a local airport shouldn’t ruin your travel plans. Instead, stay alert and follow safety tips when you or a loved one travel. Ensure Personal Security Through a Security Alarm Company Don’t forget to contact your security company to give them a heads up that you and your family will be away from home so if anything goes wrong at home you can be contacted in a timely fashion. Call SPS Fire & Security today at 585-770-0348 for a free consultation.
Protecting Holiday Packages: Simple Steps to Secure Your Deliveries
Don’t Be the Victim of a Porch Pirate It is that time of year again where many individuals get so busy that they are unable to make it to the stores to purchase their Christmas presents for that special someone. Since they are unable to make it to the stores, these individuals are heading straight to online shopping to make many purchases. This means protecting holiday packages is a must. Unfortunately, during the Christmas season, there have been reports of many package thefts happening all around the world. People will order their items online and then have them delivered. Chances are, they are unable to be home when that special item arrives. Leaving your items unattended all day and night on your doorstep will result in them getting stolen. According to ABC News, the average cost is $28 worth of packages stolen from your front door. Tips for Protecting Holiday Packages Major tip: Home security systems can come with video surveillance. Keep an eye on your porch and keep thieves away. If they still take the package, you have evidence. Here are other tips to for protecting your holiday packages: Have your packages shipped to you at work if that is possible. If that is not an option, have a neighbor or friend wait at your house on the day your package arrives. When ordering online, keep a lookout for an email from the company you have ordered from for a link to the website with a tracking number. By watching the website for when your package will arrive allows you to plan accordingly for what day and time to expect the arrival. If you are sending a package to someone, pay the extra money if needed to have a signature requested when the package arrives. That way the delivery person cannot leave the package and you can feel more at ease to know it got to that special person. If the first three ways don’t make you feel comfortable then you can install a video surveillance camera. By doing so you can protect your home and packages. Plus you will have evidence of the package thieve. These tips for protecting your holiday packages also apply year round. For example, you might receive packages for birthdays or just because. Amazon, Walmart, and other online stores have become a way of life. Contact Your Fire & Security Experts and Make Protecting Your Holiday Packages a Priority Also keep in mind that the holidays is a time for Christmas light hazards, tree fires, and break-ins. Consider contacting SPS Fire & Security at 585-770-0348 to make an appointment to have a security system installed. There are many options to protect you, your family, your home and make protecting holiday packages a priority.
Car and Home Security in Rochester
Keep Your Car and Home Safe No matter where you plan on parking your car, you should never leave valuable things inside. It doesn’t matter if you are holiday shopping, at a friends or relatives house, or at your own home, break-ins, whether it would be in a car or home, can lead to valuable items being taken and for identity theft. In the last few days, there have been many posts on social media about car break-ins in and around Rochester. One of the individuals that had their car broken into had their groceries (soda and Gatorade) stolen, and then another individual had their expensive hunting gear taken. All of this was done while the cars were parked in their driveways. Now let’s talk about security at your own home for your car. What is the best type of security to have if your neighborhood or any surrounding neighborhoods have a high number of car break-ins? If you must leave valuable items in your car overnight or for a long period of time, there are some security tips and equipment that you can buy to protect your car. 1. Car Alarm System The smartest first step when buying a car is to choose one with an alarm. If your preferred car lacks one, have a professional install it. A car alarm sounds when someone opens the driver’s side door without keys in the ignition. 2. Motion Sensors Motion sensors are an important aspect of home security because they can detect when there is movement in a certain area. These lights will turn on when someone or something is moving near the sensor. 3. Video Surveillance Your security company can install a video surveillance system. This system lets you use your phone or computer to see any activity at your home. For example, if many people visit and someone breaks into your car, you can check the footage. It will show you what happened. Using video surveillance is smart, but you can do more to protect your car in the driveway. Don’t leave things in plain sight that tempt people to break in. Make your car a harder target. Contact An Expert Security Alarm Installation Company Interested in a security system Want to upgrade yours? Call SPS Fire and Security at 585-770-0348. We’ll help you find the best alarm for your needs.
Burglar Secrets: How Thieves Pick Their Targets
Why Do Burglars Choose Certain Homes? Did you know that 71.9 percent of burglars target homes? That’s a staggering number. This figure was released by an NBC affiliate that sent surveys to convicted burglars throughout New Jersey and Jew York. The idea was to uncover the strategies that they used to break into homes. Below is what they found out, which is important for you to know so you can boost your home security and keep you and your family safe. The Biggest Findings The biggest findings had to do with unlocked windows. Forty-two percent of the burglars that completed the survey said that they entered their target homes through unlocked windows. Thirty-eight percent of them entered through unlocked doors. That is a lot of people leaving their doors and windows unlocked. The most common place they found valuables was in the bedroom. This was the first place that 75 percent of burglars looked after they broke in. The most targeted items were cash and jewelry. 84 percent of them went for cash and 80 percent of them went for the jewelry. Home security alarms do scare off burglars. Forty-two percent of burglars said that they left immediately when they saw an alarm system. Give Your Home Security a Boost If you don’t have a home security alarm, it is time to invest because that is the biggest deterrent when it comes to burglars entering your home. Here are some tips to help you give your home security the bump that you need: Lock all doors and windows. Get strong deadbolts for your doors. Add an alarm system. Install motion-sensor lights outside. Trim bushes and trees near windows. Don’t leave spare keys outside. Use smart home devices. Get a video doorbell. Tell neighbors when you’re away. Make your home look lived in. Back to the monitored home security alarm, one burglar gave advice to his own mother and that was for her to invest in an alarm system for her home so she would be protected. That says a lot when a burglar is telling his mother to protect herself against people like him. Other Security Tasks In addition to the items listed above, there are other things that you can do aside from keeping windows and doors locked and installing a security system. Lock your valuables in a safe. Burglars often look in bedrooms first, so don’t hide your things under a mattress or in a drawer. If you bolt the safe to the floor or install it in a wall, you’ll protect your items. Also, never keep valuables sitting where a burglar can look through a window and see them. When they case the house, they are going to look through windows to see what they can steal. During the holiday season or even around birthdays, don’t leave empty boxes to electronics out with the trash. When a burglar sees that you have gotten a new television or computer, they are more likely to break into your home to steal those items. Always lock your windows and doors, even when you’re home. People often say to lock up when you leave, but burglaries can happen while occupants are inside. This experience can be very frightening. So, lock your doors, lock your windows, and arm your home security system. That way, if someone enters, your system will alert you and the monitoring center. Contact A Rochester Home Security Company One of the biggest things that you can do to ensure your home is safe from burglars is to contact SPS Fire & Security. Our experience, state-of-the-art equipment, and excellent service will help you protect everything that is important to you. To learn more, call us at 585-770-0348.
Ultimate Car Kit Guide: Stay Safe on the Road
Keep Yourself Safe on the Road All Year Round The thought of getting stranded or running out of gas leaves a nervous feeling in many of us. It affects our sense of security. There are Multiple things that you can do to make sure that your automobile is well-maintained. What’s inside your car plays a key role as well when preserving your sense of security. Below is a list of ten of the most popular items that you would want to have in your automobile in case of an emergency: 1. Fully Charged Mobile Phone With technology these days, having a fully charged cell phone on hand is the quickest way to get in contact with someone. Some cars don’t charge cell phones while they aren’t running. If you notice that your phone is low on battery, charge it while driving. 2. Jumper Cables You come out from work, put the key in the ignition and your car doesn’t start. What do you do next? The smartest thing that you can do when finding a parking place at work or at any store would be to park where another car can park in front of you. Never pull through because it makes it harder for any one to help you out. Plus, it blocks car drivers from backing out. 3. Flashlights Flashlights come in handy for when you need to check under the hood or if you get stranded when it is dark outside. Again, your sense of security is very important. 4. Roadside Flares Roadside flares are the best form of light signals to have when it is dark out and you are on a busy road or thruway. Many people won’t see you or your car right away if it is a dark color. Having the roadside flares will allow other drivers to see you and your car ahead of time and give them enough time to move over to another lane, if possible. Keeping jumper cables in your automobile in case of an emergency, may not only keep you safe but others as well. 5. Blankets You should have one blanket for every person that is in your family. Even though you are in the car where it might be slightly warmer than it is outside, you want to be sure that everyone in your car is warm, especially if you have little ones. 6. Bottles of Water Keep one or two bottle of water for every person that is in your family. You never know how long you are going to be stranded for. Water is better for you and lasts longer than juice or soda. Keeping water in your automobile in case of an emergency, not only can keep you safe, but you could also use it to help another person or animal. 7. Food Granola bars are always a good food to keep in your car. Like Water and Blankets, you should keep one to two per person in your family in the car. 8. First Aid Kit Whether it is cleaning up a head wound from scattered glass or cleaning a boo boo for your three-year-old, a good stocked first aid kit always comes in handy. The first aid kit should have bandages, white tape, gauze, cotton balls, medical gloves, Neosporin, and anything else that you would think would be helpful during a medical emergency when on the road. Having a first aid kit in your automobile in case of an emergency, could keep someone safe until more help arrived. 9. Ice Scraper It is 5am and you are outside in the cold scraping your car windshield with a credit card. That is not always a good idea. Having a least two scrapers in your car would benefit you just in case one of them breaks. 10. Gloves (both work and winter) Both work and winter gloves are key essentials to your car kit. Winter gloves are not going to be safe if you need to check under the hood of your car. Buy safety work gloves in case you or someone in the car with you knows what it is that can be fixed under the hood. No matter what season (winter, summer, spring or fall) it is, always revamp your car kit based on the season. Sometimes you might not need the winter gloves or ice scrapers anyway, but you need extra water bottles because it is 90 degrees outside and there is always the possibility you’ll break down. When taking things out of the car kit, make sure that you have a bin to place all your off-season car items so you know exactly what it is that you took out. This keeps you equipped and organized. Contact Your Rochester Security Experts All in all, having a car safety kit is one of the most important things you can do for you and your family. You never know what is going to happen on your daily routine. Keep your insurance information and a good reliable towing service number handy in case of any emergency. To extend safety measures to your home, SPS Fire & Security can help you. Call us at 585-770-0348 to learn more.
New Parents: Using Home Security Products for a Safer Home
Using Home Security Products to Keep Babies Safe It is exciting to be a new parent. You have expectations and plans for your child. You want them to grow up to be a good person and to make something of themselves. It’s important to keep them safe in every area of their life. Home security products iis where that safety starts. Keeping your child safe starts at home. There are several home security products that will help you make your home as safe as possible for your baby and you. This will give you what you need to be safe and feel safe. Peace of mind is a powerful thing when you are taking care of a new human being. The Usual Home Security Products Of course, there are the usual products that you can use to make your baby safer. It won’t be long before your baby is crawling, so you want to put locks on toilet seats and covers for electrical outlets. You will also need safety gates to keep your baby from wandering all over the house. Pressure mounted gates can fit any size doorway and keeps you from having to permanently install hinges and latches in the door facing. It is entirely up to you, as babies eventually figure out how to knock down pressure mounted gates. You also need to childproof cabinets. There are some great locks you can buy at your local department store that are easy for you to figure out, but they aren’t so easy for the baby. This can keep them out of cleaning supplies and other harmful items. Lastly, a baby monitor that you can carry around the house with you while your baby naps or sleeps at night can help you keep your ears peeled. You know what’s happening in the room. Motion Detectors are Golden Home Security Products Motion detectors are useful anywhere in your home. First, place them in your child’s room. This alerts you if anyone tries to break in through that room. In fact, motion detectors work well near any doors and windows. Finally, if you sleep soundly and might miss the baby monitor, motion detectors are a great help. Video Surveillance Video surveillance is another one of the best home security products you can opt for. This is because you can monitor your baby’s room while they sleep. As your baby gets older and begins sitting and playing on his or her own, you can monitor your little one in the room while you clean the house, do the dishes, or simply take a load off for a few minutes. Video surveillance is also useful for when you have a babysitter come to your home to watch your baby. You can keep an eye on things while you’re gone by accessing the system through your smartphone. If the babysitter doesn’t do their job or they are mean to your child, you can intervene or never hire them again. A video surveillance system can be just a camera or two or you can have many. Another area where video surveillance is useful is outside so that you can see who is at your door. This keeps your entire family safe. The Almighty Home Alarm System Motion detectors and video surveillance can be components of a full-scale home alarm system. If someone breaks into your home, you are going to know about it. The alarm will sound and it will most likely make the burglar leave very quickly, keeping your family safe. With video surveillance in place, you can get a glimpse of who the culprit is, increasing the chances they will get caught so they aren’t on the street to try and destroy another family’s sense of security. You can secure all doors and windows so that you have peace of mind, but also so you are much safer than you would be otherwise. Enjoy Your New Life With that said, enjoy this new life that you have with your bundle of joy. They grow up before your eyes and, of course, keeping them safe through every phase of their life is extremely important. With so many home security products that can secure the home and keep all of you safe, you take control away from anyone who would even think about interfering with your safety. SPS Fire & Security Can Help You with Your Security Needs To give your home the added security that it needs so you and your family can be safe, SPS Fire & Security offers state-of-the-art equipment and exceptional service so that you know you are much safer. To learn more about how we can help you, call us at 585-770-0348 for a free consultation.
Identity Theft Shield: 5 Ways to Secure Your Information
How to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft Many people over the years have found that with the busyness of family gatherings, it’s so much easier to do their holiday shopping online. Unfortunately, identity theft via a computer or internet is the easiest way to gain access to an individual’s identity. Yes, just like a home alarm system keeps out burglars, anti-virus and anti-malware software can keep out thieves. Nonetheless, you have to take precautions. Below, you will find five ways to avoid identity theft when using your computer to make online purchases. Also remember that identity theft can also occur if a thief breaks into your home and takes personal documents. Having an alarm system in place will help prevent this from happening and, if it does, video surveillance is a great way to identify the perp. 1. Pay Close Attention to Accounts for Signs of Identity Theft Always make sure that you are watching your bank and credit accounts. If you notice any unusual activity, make sure that you report it right away. 2. Never Give Out You Social Security Number Most banks and credit card companies ask for the last four digits of your Social Security number. However, only give it out if you already have an account with them. Otherwise, a thief can easily get your account details. Instead, ask for a callback number. Then, you can call them back yourself to give your information. This way, you ensure you’re really talking to your bank or credit card company. 3. Make Sure to Shred All Papers with Personal Information Get a paper shredder if you don’t have one. It’s a smart buy. Shred all papers with your personal details. This means things like account numbers, part of your Social Security number, and your address. Why? A thief can break in and steal this info to commit identity theft. So, putting in an alarm system can really scare thieves away. 4. Make Passwords Secure to Avoid Identity Theft Never make passwords words or characters that someone could easily figure out. Plus, don’t write your passwords down and leave them around the house so that anyone could get them. Make your passwords words and characters that only you know and don’t give out your passwords to anyone that you don’t trust. 5. Use Protection On The Computer to Avoid Identity Theft If you do a lot of home shopping from your computer, make sure that you have some computer security installed. Some proper security that you could install on your computer would be firewalls and spyware. Each one of the programs can keep your computer and identity safe from viruses and hackers. Make sure that the programs are updated before shopping online to secure that you have the best safety. Having knowledge of identity theft could save you from any harm happening to you this holiday season. One other way to protect not only you but your children is to teach them about identity theft. Teach your children not to give out any information to anyone that they don’t know or to anyone online. While identity theft is certainly something to watch out for during the holiday season, it defiantly should not keep you from doing your holiday shopping at your own comfort of your home computer. By following these tips, you can continue to enjoy the internet from just about anywhere. And don’t forget that an alarm system is also a valuable component in avoiding identity theft. Protect Yourself from Identity Theft Better with SPS Fire & Security Although SPS Fire & Security is a home and business security alarm company, our services can keep burglars out that can steal your personal information. Unfortunately, thieves will acquire credit cards, social security cards, and important documents for the purpose of committing identity theft. To learn more about how SPS Fire & Security can help you, call 585-770-0348 for a free consultation.
Keep Valuables Secure with Home Security Methods
Protect Your Most Important Items We automatically assume that our homes are the safest places for our valuables. This means putting things wherever they land instead of locking them away. Jewelry, for instance, may be stored in an unlocked jewelry box. Important documents that contain valuable information may be placed in a desk drawer or a file cabinet with no locks. Despite how secure you feel at home or how intense your home security methods are, you can never be too safe when protecting those personal belongings that are worth much more than what you paid for them. The following are some tips on how to keep your most valuable items safe: Keep Documents in a Safe Lock up important papers like insurance documents, Social Security cards, birth certificates, diamond ring paperwork, passports, tax returns, and other identifying documents. Thieves often search unlocked file cabinets and desks to steal these papers, which can lead to identity theft. Invest in a Home Security System No matter how many chain locks or deadbolts you have, a skilled thief can still get in. Unfortunately, many locks can’t do what a home security system can: alert the police when someone breaks in. Video cameras can capture their faceand even show what they stole, even if they get past the alarm sound. Often, a thief won’t continue once they hear the alarm go off. Don’t Hide Your Spare Key Outside This is another area where an experienced thief is going to win. They know where to find those keys that are hidden under rocks, over top of door facings, around bushes, or under that flower bed ornament. Just don’t do it. Keep a spare with a trusted neighbor or friend. Keep Jewelry in a Safe Lock your valuable jewelry, like Grandma’s pearls or your most expensive pieces, in a safe. Thieves often look first in the master bedroom for jewelry left out or in a locked jewelry box. Many times, they just grab the whole box and run, so they can sort through it later. Video Surveillance We talked about video surveillance before, but it’s worth mentioning again. You can’t lock your flat-screen TV in a safe, and many electronics are light enough for thieves to easily steal. However, even if a thief keeps going after your alarm sounds, you can catch their face on video. It’s amazing how many burglars get caught because of good video surveillance. Forget the Mattress The mattress is another hot spot thieves will look. If you hide money or other valuables under your mattress, you can expect a burglar to find them. Kitchen Items Belong in Cabinets It’s tempting to hide things in those high kitchen cabinets. But burglars know this trick too. They also know your “junk drawer” might hide something valuable. Even if your kitchen has many drawers, expect a thief to search them, especially if no security alarm shortens their time to rummage. That Small Safe is Not a Good Investment Buying a safe is a great idea. It’s one of the best investments you can make. A good safe is secure and fireproof, protecting your belongings. However, a small safe won’t help if it’s not bolted down. You should buy a large safe you can bolt to the floor. It would be a huge pain for a burglar to unbolt a large safe. Plus, it would be too big for them to carry. They’d need a dolly to wheel it out, but even that’s almost impossible because of its weight. Also, someone would probably see them wheeling a safe out of the house, and they’d likely need several people. A giant safe just isn’t worth a burglar’s trouble. So, here are tips to keep your valuables secure. Even with a home security system, which usually stops burglars right away, don’t leave anything out that they can grab quickly. Yes, your home is safe, but anything can happen when you’re not there. It’s better to be safe than deal with a thief’s actions. Contact An Experienced Security Alarm Company Today SPS Fire & Security cares about you and your belongings. To protect what is important to you, a quality and affordable security system is the answer. To learn more, call today at 585-770-0348 for a free consultation.
Is Your Level of Home Security Enough?
Is Your Home Security Enough? Your home security matters most. After all, your home is where you and your family should feel safe. Without good security, you risk becoming a thief’s target. This can truly harm your sense of safety. Below, you’ll find a checklist that will help make sure your home is secure. The Home Security Checklist First, check your doors. Do you have strong deadbolts? Make sure they work. Next, look at your windows. Do they lock well? Add extra locks if you need them. Install a security system. This alerts you and the police if someone tries to get in. Use video cameras. Place them where they can see doors and windows. This helps catch intruders. Get a paper shredder. Shred all papers with your personal details. This stops identity theft. Buy a large, bolted-down safe. Keep important papers and valuable jewelry inside. Clean up your yard. Trim bushes and trees. This removes hiding spots for burglars. Use smart lights. Set them to turn on and off. This makes it look like someone is home. Ask a trusted person to check your mail when you are away. This avoids signaling an empty house. Finally, avoid posting vacation plans on social media. This keeps burglars from knowing you’re gone. Security Around the Exterior First, check all doors. Do they have strong deadbolts? Make sure they lock properly. Next, inspect your windows. Do all windows have good locks? Add extra locks or bars for ground-floor windows. Trim your shrubs and trees. Cut back tall bushes and low-hanging branches. This removes hiding spots for burglars near your home. Install motion-sensor lights. Place them near doors and dark areas. These lights surprise intruders and alert you. Get a security system. Choose one that covers your doors and windows. This warns you and the authorities if someone tries to enter. Add outdoor security cameras. Position cameras to watch entry points. They record any suspicious activity. Use smart lighting. Set outdoor lights on a timer or use smart bulbs. They can turn on and off automatically, making your home look occupied. Secure your garage door. Make sure it has a strong lock. Also, consider a garage door opener with rolling codes for extra security. Lock your sheds and gates. Don’t leave tools or equipment outside. Thieves can use them to break into your house. Finally, post security signs. Place signs from your alarm company in visible spots. This way, potential burglars know your home is protected. If you are lacking in any of these areas, rectifying them can be the difference between being a target and not being a target. Get a Professional Security Check You can choose a professional security check. A good security alarm company will visit your home. They will find weak spots for you. This way, you can install a security system that makes your home safer. You can add different things to your system. These include video cameras, motion sensors, and full home automation. You decide how much or how little you want. However, you can’t really put a price on keeping your family, yourself, and everything in your home safe. Stay Away from These Home Security Deterrents There are some burglar deterrents that don’t work so well. It is good that you know what these are so that you know not to use them. Those failed deterrents include: Hide your alarm clues. Don’t give burglars details about your alarm system. Instead, put up a general sign that says “Alarm” or “Monitored.” This tells them you have protection without giving away specifics. Don’t hide valuables in your bedroom. Professional thieves know people hide things there. Therefore, your bedroom is often their first stop. They look for jewelry boxes, money under the mattress, and other valuables. Use light timers. If your lights stay on all the time, burglars will notice you’re away. Instead, install timers. This makes it look like someone is home. Handle your mail. No mail at your house tells people you’re gone. So, ask a friend or family member to stop by daily. Give them a key to bring in your mail and your alarm code. This person can also come at different times, which stops burglars from seeing a pattern. Even better, a house sitter can stay there often. Consider a small dog. Big dogs are nice, but they don’t always bark as much as small dogs. Small dogs often make a big fuss when someone is at the door, which can scare off intruders. Increase Your Buffalo, Rochester, or Syracuse Home Security Today! So, now you have ways to keep your home as safe as possible. By using this checklist and avoiding mistakes, you can make your home feel truly secure. To learn about your security options, call SPS Fire & Security at 585-770-0348 for a free consult.
Don’t Get Tricked: Your Halloween Home Security Checklist!
Easily Protect Your Home on Halloween It’s almost that time of year when the ghouls and goblins come knocking at doors, asking for a trick or a treat. If you aren’t home because you are enjoying Halloween festivities or taking your own children to knock on doors, the last thing you want is for the trick to be on you. Having a good home alarm system on your home is one way to protect it from tricksters with far less than pure motives. However, there are other things that you can do to make sure you’re keeping your home safe inside and out among the Halloween mischief. 1. Inside and Outside – Candles You might want to light candles inside and outside your home for that spooky Halloween glow. However, trick-or-treaters can easily knock over lit candles outdoors. Similarly, indoor candles create a fire risk, especially if you don’t watch them. Instead, use LED tea lights or orange string lights. These safely light your home for Halloween. 2. Inside – Keep the Lights On When you trick-or-treat with the kids or attend that Halloween party, leave your lights on. This way, no one knows you’re not home. Even though many trick-or-treaters are around, thieves might try to enter through the back or a hidden area. 3. Outside – Surveillance If you don’t already have video surveillance outside, now is the time. This can be part of a good home alarm system. With outside surveillance, you can catch those that vandalize your property. Unfortunately, spray paint, toilet paper, and smashed pumpkin pranks are common on and around Halloween. 4. Outside – Jack-O-Lanterns There’s nothing like having a good old Jack-O-Lantern sitting on the front porch, but do you use real candles? You may want to replace those candles with LED lights so that you don’t have an unsupervised flame outside. Unfortunately, Jack-O-Lanterns can be kicked or tipped over and that means the flame within could escape. 5. Inside – Strange Visitors It is very important that you not let children and their parents inside your home during Trick-or-Treat. A thief may be counting on this because it helps them case homes. All it takes is one peek inside and your home becomes a target. Sitting outside at the bottom of your porch steps is best. It keeps children from having to walk up steps and keeps thieves’ noses out of your business. 6. Outside – Handing Out Candy You don’t necessarily have to stay home in order to hand out candy. If you are part of a church that does a “truck-or-treat” event or any other organization that sets up in a parking lot and hands out candy, that may be your best bet. It keeps thieves from seeing where you live. Just remember that you want to set your home alarm system before you leave so that your home is safe while you’re gone. 7. Outside – Outdoor Lights Make sure your outdoor lights are working. Having security lights and other exterior lights lit up means people with less than pure motives will most likely stay off of your property. If they aren’t working, replace bulbs accordingly. Better lighting also helps outdoor video surveillance pick up vandals and thieves that may come onto the property. 8. Inside and Out – Decorations Make sure that indoor and outdoor decorations are a reasonable distance away from lights. Even if a strand of lights seems safe, it’s just better to be safe than sorry when decorating. There is an unfortunate history of strand lights catching holiday decorations on fire. 9. Outside – Know Trick-or-Treating Hours Make sure you know Trick-or-Treat hours. No one should be trick-or-treating after a certain time. If they are and they are knocking on your door, don’t answer the door. 10. Inside – Lock it Up Even if you’re home, make sure you keep your doors and windows locked at all times. You could be handing out candy on your front porch and someone could be walking in your back door or climbing through a window knowing they have a few minutes without getting caught because you’re busy handing out candy. Let SPS Fire & Security Protect Your Home So here you have ten tips for keeping your home secure and safe during Halloween. It is a fun time of year and there is nothing like seeing happy children getting treated while wearing a wide array of costumes. What’s not so fun is realizing your home has been broken into and that you have become a victim. Remember some key points, which are to arm your home alarm system, keep it locked, never let strangers inside of your house, and keep everything safely lit up. To learn more about how to protect your home, call us today at 585-770-0348. We serve the Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo, NY areas.