How thieves can track whether you are home or not
As i mentioned in my earlier blog there are some inherent dangers when using social media and not paying attention to your security settings or advertising to everyone that you are not home. Well now there is a web site advising people when you are not home. www.pleaserobme.com publishes when an individual has left their home on the website. This happens when people "check-in" on certain social networking websites such as twitter and facebook. They even publish your profile picture. This site is meant to make people aware of this danger but in doing so you are listed on the site for every criminal to see.
Safety and Security using Social Media
With most of us using social media today its important that we understand some of the security and safety issues surrounding its use. Whether you are using a computer or a smart phone, there are certain things to remember. First of all, unless you have looked at the settings, some of these social media sites like Facebook, default to allow anyone to see your status. As well if you have turned on the location feature, every time you access the site it posts where you are. If you have teenagers you probably don't want strangers knowing what mall they are at. Also remember, if your friends can see where you are so can the criminals who are looking for their next home to break into. It really isn't a good idea to post your upcoming trips to the cottage or your next vacation on facebook or twitter before you actually leave. That is just telling everyone that you wont be home and another invitation to be a victim of breakin. Tell everyone how great your trip was after you get back.
How many of you have had your vehicle broken into?
Like many of you out there I was the victim of having my vehicle broken into recently while it was parked in the driveway of my home. The criminals pried open the locked tailgate of my truck and stole some tools that I had inside the bed. I had a lockable cover on my vehicle but that wasn't enough to prevent the theft. So, after reporting the theft to my local Police agency I was off to talk to my insurance agent to file my claim. Imagine my surprise when i was told that because my vehicle was parked in my driveway the tools that i lost fell under my home insurance policy and not my truck insurance. My deductible was 1000.00 dollars. However the damage to the tailgate that was caused when the thieves broke into my truck fell under my truck insurance and that deductible was 300.00. The value of the tools that were stolen was just less than 1000.00, and the damage to the tailgate was about 400.00. With it unlikely that the Police will find the persons responsible for breaking into my truck and me getting my stuff back I am on the hook for the damage and loss of my tools. This was a wake up call for me that I should have checked my insurance policy more closely and more importantly, not leave my tools in my truck. Even though my truck was properly locked and secured it did not deter the criminals who were determined......Lesson learned. Scott
How real estate agents can help their clients during an open house
I am sure all of you saw the news last week where a husband and wife were arrested and charged after they attended a number of open houses in the GTA and stole items from peoples homes. This can create a liability for the agent who is hosting the open house if items are stolen. One of the things that i suggest is for agents to advise their clients to remove any valuables such as jewellery, cash, cameras etc and place them in a safety deposit box. Thieves will look for items that they can easily put into their pockets and not usually target larger items to steal . Agents should also be aware of their own property, ie wallet , purses and keys and leave their own valuables locked in their cars.
Hi Christine, i would recommend that you call 911 immediately, lock your bedroom door and if you have an alarm installed a key pad should be in your bedroom. Push the panic alarm button to sound the alarm. If you do not have an alarm then hit the alarm button on your car key fob. That will sound the horn of your vehicle. Thank you for your question.
Yes Mark, i do recommend that you change the locks for any new home or condo you move into even if its a brand new home that is just built. For most homes my fee starts at 199.00 for a basic audit. For that you will get a customized security and safety audit based on your home and your family's lifestyle. If you go onto my web site there is some more information about what the audit includes. Thank you for your question
One of the things that i would suggest Silvana is for you to leave your home in exactly the same way when you are not home as you would if you were home. Leaving kitchen and living room lights on timers and leaving the TV on are options . Parking a second car in your driveway is also a deterrent. Having newspapers and fliers put into a newspaper box instead of having them left on your front step is also suggested. Depending on the layout of your home, any alarm systems or fencing you have and whether you live in a suburban subdivision or country can affect some of these options. Thank you for your question
Here are a few safety tips that will help your children stay safe during Halloween:
1. put reflective bands around your children's arms and carry reflective Halloween candy bags so cars can see them when they cross the road.
2. go trick or treating with your kids in your own neighbourhood where you are familiar with your neighbours and surroundings.
3. Keep your children from criss crossing the streets. Go up one side of the street at a time.
4. Avoid going to homes where there are no lights on, even if someone is home. If people wanted children to come to their door they will leave a light on outside.
5. Always check the candies that your children bring home. Throw away any unwrapped or tampered treats.
6. check any fruit that your children get for signs of any tampering and call Police immediately if you find any.
and finally...get out and trick or treat with your children so you can see who they are getting their candy from.
BE SAFE AND HAPPY TRICK OR TREATING.....
With the Holiday season just around the corner i thought i would provide everyone a few safety tips. This is the time of year that criminals come out of the woodwork to pray on the public as they shop for the Holidays. Here are a few tips to help keep you safe and your possessions secure;
1. When going to a bank to use a bank machine use a credit card to open any exterior door and not your bank card. Remember to cover your hand when typing in your pin. Pin card readers and criminals with binoculars are used to steal your access pin numbers.
2. Avoid withdrawing large amounts of cash from bank machines. Robberies are a daily occurrence for people leaving bank machines with large amounts of cash in hand.
3. Lock your vehicle doors when at the gas pumps. Thieves will look for unlocked doors to steal your purse of gifts while you gas up or pay for your purchase.
4. Remember to put any gifts you buy into your vehicles trunk and out of site of thieves when at the mall.
5.Take several small trips to your car rather than 1 large one. Criminals prey on people with their hands or shopping carts full of presents.
6. Be aware of distraction thefts by someone asking for directions or an offer to fix your flat tire ( which they caused ) they will take that opportunity to steal your possessions.
7. Keep your purses closed and secure when shopping at the mall. Wallets should not be kept in your rear pants pocket. Pick pockets love this time of year.
8. Leave lots of lights on inside and outside of your home and don't leave gifts inside your house visible to people outside when you are not there.
I wish everyone a happy and safe Holiday Season and remember...... Please don't Drink and Drive
Russ
I have an alarm system installed in my home. Is that enough?
The short answer is no. In my 27 years as a Police Officer I can't tell you how many times I have attended a home with the alarm system sounding only to find that there has been a break in and the owner has lost a substantial amount of his or her valuables. On more than one occasion I have found that the alarm system has been completely disabled by the criminal. Consider the fact that the average criminal spends less than 4 minutes inside your home and that the average response time for Police is between 8 and 12 mins on a good day and you can see that Police actually don't catch very many burglars while they are still in your home. Now we do catch most criminals eventually through various investigative means but rarely do we recover your property.
Now an alarm system is a good start in protecting your home and valuables but there are some things that you need to consider. A lot of alarm companies will sell you a "basic" alarm system for your home for free...as long as you pay a monthly alarm monitoring fee. Rarely do these "basic" systems give your home complete protection. A proper alarm system needs to protect your entire home and be designed to work with your home's lighting as well be tamper proof and able to work in case of a power failure. Consider having your alarm system audited to see what level of protection you actually have.
Remember that with any alarm system there are several other things that you should do in addition to protect your family and your valuables completely. An important step would be to have a complete home safety and security audit done to help you identify some of the other things that you can do to protect yourself. It is cheap insurance that will help make your home more secure...so you don't become one of those people that comes home from work only to find that your home has been broken into and your irreplaceable valuables are gone. ......I can tell you from personal experience that it is an awful feeling...Russ
Be Careful When That Sales Person Comes To Your Door
With spring here now you will no doubt have a visit from a sales person offering you "great deals" on everything from water heaters and furnaces to lawn care and windows. While most of these people are honest there are a few things you should know to protect yourself. Most sales people are at your front door to sell you something, that is their job. They will usually want you to sign a contract of some sort before they leave your home agreeing to a service or item they are selling. While most people do not take the time to read the small print on the back of the contract, that is usually where all the important details that they didn't tell you are. If you do not have time to read the entire contract or the sales person is rushing you, remember that by law you have 10 days to cancel any contract that you sign. This is done so consumers can take a few days to fully understand what they are signing. As well if you sign a contract make sure you are left a copy of it. Speaking from personal experience I recently had a sales person add some very important charges to a contract i signed after he left my house but because i kept a copy when he returned to provide the service i was able to see the changes. Needless to say he left my home with his tail between his legs and with me canceling the contract. Remember the old saying....buyer be ware....Russ
