Protecting Your Packages During the Holiday Season
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. 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 Your 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 protect your 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. If you are a person that not only during the holiday season you have a lot of packages sent to you then you might want to take into consideration these helpful tips all year long. Contact Your Fire & Security Experts 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 and your home and family from fire, carbon monoxide, and burglars.
Benefits of Video Surveillance for Business
How Video Cameras Can Protect Your Business A great number of businesses have video surveillance systems and many other security devices to protect not only the business, but their workers and customers. As technology improves, so does the security systems that are in the businesses. Nowadays, surveillance systems do a wide verity of things, such as video recording, capturing important details, and much more. One of the biggest benefits of security video is that the owner, boss or manager of the company can control it remotely from their home or from any where in the world. Video Surveillance Benefits Reduces Theft – By having a camera system installed at your business, you can easily cut the number of thefts that happens. Research has proven that the average small business losses around $50k per year. Business can cut that in half by just getting the system installed. Makes Available Evidence for Criminal Reports – When a business has a video surveillance camera and has a problem such as theft, it makes easier to have access to evidence by just viewing the footage from the camera. Law enforcement can replay footage to then make a clearer cut accusation for a report. Improves Productivity – Knowing that a company has a surveillance camera system will enable the employees to be on their best behavior when you are not at the business. Around the Clock Protection – When the company is closed, the owner or boss in charge can have peace of mind knowing that while they are sleeping the camera system is doing the job they need it to do. Cost Effective – Hired security guards and police officers patrolling the area of your business can be helpful, but sometimes they can be costly (thousands and thousands of dollars a year). They may be at your business a significant amount the time, but they sure enough don’t do what a surveillance system will do. Cuts Insurance Rates – By owning a surveillance system for a business, you can save up to 10% on your coverage. Reduces Liability – Many times a criminal will come into a business and make a false claim. With the camera footage, the owner can look to see what evidence there is before filing a report. Peace of Mind – Every person seeking a place of employment wants to find a job that they feel safe and secure going to. Having a surveillance camera gives all employees at a business the feeling of safety. Rochester Video Surveillance Experts Deciding on a video surveillance system can be tough, but it is better than not having one at all. If your company or a company that you know is in need of better security, contact SPS Fire and Security at 585-770-0348. We make the decision easy for you.
What Can Security Cameras See?
The Answer Isn’t As Simple As You Might Think We live in a time where home security is everything. With the high number of break-ins that have been occurring all over the country while homeowners have been at work, vacation, or simply running a few errands, it is important to make sure the home is secure. Security cameras can help protect your home or business. Some homeowners have experienced break-ins while at home and this can make for a very scary experience. Imagine being at home watching television or sleeping and then suddenly being met with a burglar. Nothing is ever the same after such an experience. If a break-in occurs, a security system alarm can run them off before they get any further. Most of the time, the presence of the alarm serves as a deterrent for a burglar. They are looking for homes that don’t have home security systems. They are especially looking for the presence of home security cameras. Benefits of Home Security Cameras There are a number of benefits to home security cameras that you should be aware of. They are: They keep the bad guys away – Just the sight of an outdoor security camera will help keep the home from being a target. There is a good chance that a burglar will case a home before they rob it. If a camera is spotted, they will most likely have a change of heart, if you want to call it that. Evidence – Home security cameras record footage that can be used as evidence to help the police capture the burglar. The footage can also be used to recover the stolen items. Keep track of family – You can access your cameras remotely so that you can keep an eye on your kids or any elderly relatives that are in the home. Check in on Fido – If you have pets in the house, remotely accessing your cameras is a great way to see how your pets are doing. Dogs, especially, can get into some mischief. You can see exactly how your pet passes their time. Save money on homeowner’s insurance – When there are cameras present in and around the home, your insurance company will love it. It is possible to save 15% or 20% on your insurance rates just by taking this step to deter theft. Peace of mind – You get the peace of mind that you and your family will be safe and that you have a lesser chance of having to track down your belongings. As you can see, there are many benefits to having home security cameras in and around your home. The Legalities of Recording People Of course, you have the right to record people who come onto your property. That right is further enhanced by the fact the video cameras are visible. This tells them that they are being recorded. If they don’t want to be on video, then they shouldn’t step foot on the property. In regards to audio, there are states that require dual consent before a person is recorded speaking. Fortunately, New York is not one of those states and that means that the presence of the camera is enough. Of course, there are going to be legal issues if a camera is placed in the bathroom, but no person who wants to secure their home is going to ask the security company to do such a thing anyway. The cameras can be placed around the exterior doors of the home and in areas like the kids’ playroom, living room, and the area inside the outside doors so that if an intruder comes in, they can be taped coming into the home from the inside. Of course, SPS Fire & Security will advise you on what you can and can’t do and the best places to locate your home security cameras. What Exactly Can Cameras See? Hi-definition video is important because you want the clearest picture possible. You have probably seen video footage from convenience stores and banks on the news that is grainy. The higher quality the camera, the better the footage. Nonetheless, a camera can see who is coming in and out of the home, what they are holding in their hands, people who come to the door and knock, and even license plate numbers if the camera is pointed to the area where people park in front of the home. From a burglar’s face and what they take out of the home to the car they are driving and the license plate number can be recorded. Turn to SPS Fire & Security for Protection SPS Fire & Security integrates state-of-the-art technology into your home or business so that you are protected. We serve homes and businesses in the Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo areas of New York. To learn more about how we can help you, call us at 585-770-0348 for a free consultation.