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Badge-LogoSome Practical Tips and Recommendations Relating to Home Security

  1. One of the likely frustrations of a house break-in is that key documents may be stolen and create a lot of hassle in replacing them; Ensure that external access doors (front, rear and side doors) are fitted with adequate locks. The 5 lever type locks offer best security. The front door or primary opening door should have a safety chain or safety latch and, if the door has no vision panel, a door viewer. If the keys to these doors are mislaid, those locks should be replaced promptly.
  2. Fit suitable “spacers”, locks or bolts to all sliding doors to prevent them from being lifted off their tracks (this is one of the most common method used by burglars on sliding doors and windows and can be easily prevented).
  3. Ensure all windows are fitted with adequate locks or burglar bars or suitable defence systems that cover all glass.
  4. Ensure that all duplicate keys are locked away if not in use. Do not leave in doors or make unnecessary copies.
  5. If you are a gun holder, install a safe for weapons and valuables ideally make sure these are fireproof. Duplicate house keys could be kept in this safe.
  6. Keep the garage and tool shed locked when not in use. Would–be intruders should not have access to any item that can be used as a weapon or burglary tool so tidy up when working outside and make sure all garden tools are securely put away.
  7. Install outside lights that can be remotely controlled from inside the house. Consider installing lighting outside which is activated by a motion detector and or tracks movement, as lighting helps to suppress unwanted interest.
  8. Try not to have high walls and overgrown hedges that obscure your view of the property. If walls and ledges are low, or have suitable openings, neighbours and passers-by will more easily be able to spot suspicious or unusual activity.
  9. Clip and contain any dense foliage near the garage entrance and front door to reduce the possibility of those spots being used as a hiding place.

When at Home:

  1. Always lock external doors and close windows that are far away from where the family activity is centered.
  2. At night always lock perimeter doors and securely fasten windows. When retiring to bed, lock inter-leading doors of those rooms that are not occupied.
  3. Do not leave curtains open at night as this allows observation into the house.
  4. If disturbed or an alarm is sounded, do not go outside alone to investigate at night. Rather switch off all internal lights and open curtains to allow you to see what is occurring outside, once eyes have become accustomed to the dark or switch on external lights to help.
  5. Do not open any external door without satisfactory identification from the visitor. If in any doubt, do not open the door and consider summoning the police or your security service provider.
  6. Never admit to a stranger that you are alone.
  7. If a repair-person is expected, do not allow entry unless identity has been checked through a vision panel or door viewer and with the company concerned.
  8. Do not allow strangers into your home to make telephone calls. Rather offer to make the telephone calls for them while they wait outside.
  9. If you note suspicious vehicles, individuals or groups in your neighbourhood, contact the police or your security service provider.

When Away From Home:

  1. Do not leave notes on the door, underneath the carpet or in the post box to indicate that you are away.
  2. Do not leave hidden keys.
  3. Leave your house key with a trusted neighbour or the key holder (as registered with your Security Service Provider) so that access can be gained in an emergency.
  4. Do not leave only the outside lights on as this is usually an indication to would-be intruders that the house is not occupied.
  5. Leave lights on and the radio playing as this gives the impression that the house is occupied.
  6. Do not allow papers to build up in the post box, arrange for them to be collected.
  7. Avoid any social media commentary about where you are until you have returned.

If Confronted By an Intruder:

  1. Try to escape, and or sound the alarm if possible.
  2. If you cannot escape, try to lock yourself in a secure room.
  3. Remain calm and if possible contact the police and or security service provider.
  4. Co-operate with the intruder.
  5. Be observant and take particular notice of any voice, dress or behavioural traits.
  6. Only shout for help or scream to avoid serious assault.
  7. If the intruder tries to leave, do not hinder or apprehend him.
  8. Do not follow the intruder outside. Close and lock the doors immediately and call for help by activating the home alarm system.

Please contact Ghost for clarification or any assistance, alarm checks and advice.

What happens if a burglar disables your land-line phone, your home experiences a power blackout/cut, or you lose your Internet connectivity?

Will your current home security system still offer you protection?

It all depends on how your system is configured and whether backups are in place to ensure uninterrupted monitoring. We recommend our clients include cellular backup for all systems installed, as a preventative measure.

This way, even if your power, telephone or Internet connection is interrupted, your monitoring service won’t be.
Without backups in place, there are numerous ways you could lose connectivity to your home security monitoring station—bad weather, fire, vandalism, etc. All it takes is for something to become unplugged or damaged.

If this happens, then your system is unable to send the notifications necessary to alert Ghost Security Systems in the event of an emergency. Your alarm system is basically rendered a dud until the phone line or Internet comes back on; this is not a risk we recommend as being worth taking.

Instead of limiting the level of cover, ensure 24/7, continuous monitoring with a backup security plan, just in case.

Ghost recommends you are prepared with cellular security

A cellular security system removes physical, onsite wires, eliminating the chance that wires could be cut or damaged. It also does not require a phone or Internet connection. Rather, it operates wire-free through a dedicated cellular network (not your current cell phone). It is the safest and most reliable form of security monitoring.

For this reason, cellular is an excellent choice as your primary connection or as a backup for land-line and Internet-based systems. Should your primary connectivity go down for any reason, your cellular backup will kick in, communicating with the our monitoring centre for complete, uninterrupted coverage.

Avoid an unhappy ending, and put backup contingencies in place to protect yourself now, instead of questioning why you didn’t later.