Dallas Home and Business Security

Are all burglaries being counted in Dallas? Do city leaders hide the true numbers to make their cities more appealing to home and business owners?

Thanks to TANYA EISERER and STEVE THOMPSON of The Dallas Morning News

One night this summer, Tony Briones fell asleep on the living room couch inside the apartment he shares with his wife and son. He awoke to the sound of someone kicking in their front door.

Briones stood up and saw a stranger stepping into his apartment.

    
"The moment that he saw me get up, he basically ran off," Briones said. The Oak Cliff man felt he was the victim of an attempted burglary.

Dallas police didn't agree. They classified the July 5 incident as a case of vandalism.

Full Story here

Video Here

Do you support using Video Surveillance In Public Places To Fight Terrorism?

Article compliments of Security Products Online

Poll: 96 Percent Of Americans Support Using Video Surveillance In Public Places To Fight Terrorism

A recent Harris Poll survey indicates that 96 percent of U.S citizens feel the federal government and law enforcement agencies should be able to use video surveillance in an effort to counteract terrorism and help protect U.S. citizens in specific public places.

Four out of five adults feel that in extreme cases, such as a terrorist attack, the government should be able to use any available means to protect citizens, and more than half (54 percent) of U.S. adults are even willing to put a portion of the government’s stimulus funds toward setting up video surveillance to help reduce crime.

The results are at odds with current perceptions about the use of video surveillance, by revealing that only a small minority of Americans is concerned about the federal government or law enforcement agencies using surveillance cameras to monitor public places. That Americans don't mind being watched is especially relevant in light of the recently exposed domestic terror plot in Boston, and subsequent FBI intelligence indicating that Al Qaida recruits are reportedly being encouraged to perform acts of terrorism inside the U.S.

However, citizen support of video surveillance rests on the assumption that more cameras will result in more secure environments, but that isn’t the case. Recently, the security staff at the George Washington Bridge in New York City -- responsible for monitoring bridge cameras and security kiosks -- was photographed sleeping on the job. Thus, camera proliferation alone (The New York Times estimates that London has more than 4.2 million closed-circuit TV cameras) will not solve the problem. Many of these cameras go completely unmonitored because there are simply not enough human eyes available to watch all of the video feeds.

“The widespread adoption of video-camera technology has not made the job of the security officer any easier, nor has it helped obtain actionable intelligence before an intrusion” said John Frazzini, president of Houston-based Behavioral Recognition Systems Inc. (BRS Labs), and a former Secret Service agent.

“We have been working with high-level security customers in the U.S. and around the world to put a new approach to work -- behavioral analytics. Ten days after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai last Thanksgiving, a major international hotel installed BRS Labs’ software, AISight, which was designed to autonomously monitor hundreds of cameras simultaneously, and to provide real-time actionable intelligence. In just a few days the hotel’s security staff was able to improve the safety of the hotel’s perimeter. We are also deployed in several high-security U.S. locations including seaports, power plants, nuclear plants and global financial institutions.”

The Harris organization`s online survey, commissioned by BRS Labs, was conducted from May 28 through June 1, with 2,416 adults (ages 18 and over) in the United States intervewed

What do you think? Please comment below.

At NTX Security we offer free security related information and suggestions to our community and our potential clients through our website, blog, news articles and our free onsite security evaluations. Please feel free to send this article to someone you care about or whom you feel could benefit from this security information.

Coppell Home Security Company shares Halloween Safety Tips compliments of The Los Angeles Fire Department.

Before Halloween

•Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.
•Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.
•Secure emergency identification (name, address, phone number) discreetly within Halloween attire or on a bracelet.
•Because a mask can limit or block eyesight, consider non-toxic and hypoallergenic makeup or a decorative hat as a safe alternative.
•When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories, purchase only those with a label indicating they are flame resistant.
•Think twice before using simulated knives, guns or swords. If such props must be used, be certain they do not appear authentic and are soft and flexible to prevent injury.
•Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.
•Plan ahead to use only battery powered lanterns or chemical light sticks in place of candles in decorations and costumes.
•This is also a great time to buy fresh batteries for your home Smoke Alarms.
•Teach children their home phone number and to how call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost. Remind them that 9-1-1 can be dialed free from any phone.
•Review with your children the principle of "Stop-Drop-Roll", should their clothes catch on fire.
•Openly discuss appropriate and inappropriate behavior at Halloween time.
•Consider purchasing individually packaged healthy food alternatives (or safe non-food treats) for those who visit your home.
•Take extra effort to eliminate tripping hazards on your porch and walkway. Check around your property for flower pots, low tree limbs, support wires or garden hoses that may prove hazardous to young children rushing from house to house.
•Learn or review CPR skills to aid someone who is choking or having a heart attack.
•Consider safe party guidelines when hosting an adult or office party.

Fun Alternatives

•Find a special event or start one in your own neighborhood.
•Community centers, shopping malls and houses of worship may have organized festivities.
•Share the fun by arranging a visit to a Retirement Home or Senior Center.
•Create an alliance with college fraternities, sororities or service clubs for children's face painting or a carnival.

Before Nightfall On Halloween

•A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.
•Consider fire safety when decorating. Do not overload electrical outlets with holiday lighting or special effects, and do not block exit doors.
•While children can help with the fun of designing a Jack O' Lantern, leave the carving to adults.
•Always keep Jack O' Lanterns and hot electric lamps far away from drapes, decorations, flammable materials or areas where children and pets will be standing or walking.
•Plan and review with your children the route and behavior which is acceptable to you.
•Do not permit children to bicycle, roller-blade or skateboard.
•Agree on a specific time when revelers must return home.
•Along with flashlights for all, older children and escorts should wear a wristwatch and carry coins for non-emergency phone calls.
•Confine, segregate or otherwise prepare household pets for an evening of frightful sights and sounds. Be sure that all dogs and cats are wearing collars and proper identification tags. Consult your veterinarian for further advice.
•Remind all household drivers to remain cautious and drive slowly throughout the community.
•Adult party-goers should establish and reward a designated driver.

When Trick-Or-Treating

•A Parent or responsible Adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.
Remind Trick-or-Treaters:

•By using flashlights, they can see and be seen by others.
•Stay in a group, walk slowly and communicate where you are going.
•Only trick-or-treat in well known neighborhoods at homes that have a porch light on.
•Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
•If no sidewalk is available, walk at the farthest edge of the roadway facing traffic.
•Never cut across yards or use alleys.
•Never enter a stranger's home or car for a treat.
•Obey all traffic and pedestrian regulations.
•Always walk. Never run across a street.
•Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks (as recognized by local custom).
•Remove any mask or item that will limit eyesight before crossing a street, driveway or alley.
•Don't assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing Trick-or-Treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn't mean others will.
•Never consume unwrapped food items or open beverages that may be offered.
•No treats are to be eaten until they are thoroughly checked by an Adult at home.
•Law Enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.

After Trick-Or-Treating

•Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.
•Try to apportion treats for the days following Halloween.
•Although sharing is encouraged, make sure items that can cause choking (such as hard candies), are given only to those of an appropriate age.

Happy Halloween from your friends at NTX Security. 

If you are in the area, please join us at Trunk or Treat.

At NTX Security we offer free security related information and suggestions to our community and our potential clients through our website, security blog, news articles and our free on-site security evaluations. Please feel free to send this article to someone you care about or whom you feel could benefit from this information.

Lewisville Business security company asks, is your break room secure?

Is break room security a concern? Just ask these Harvard Researchers.

Recently in the news we hear of Harvard researchers poisoned by pranksters Story here:

Although this may be an extreme case of break room abuse, if someone was tampering with food or supplies, wouldn't you want to be able to identify the vandal? 

A break room camera can increase your awareness of:

1. Break room abuse - too much time on break
2. Food tampering
3. Theft - if they are stealing lunches, what else are they stealing?
4. Vandalism

Quick Tip: Make sure that you do not add a camera anywhere privacy is to be expected, and clearly post your intentions of video surveillance, and add a break room camera to monitor the activity (or lack there of) in your break room.

See privacy rules here:

Audio Statutes - Texas

Video Statutes - Texas

Audio Interception Federal Statutes

At NTX Security we offer free security related information and suggestions to our community and our potential clients through our website, security blog, news articles and our free on-site security evaluations. Please feel free to send this article to someone you care about or whom you feel could benefit from this information.

Time change is coming soon and all across the Dallas / Fort Worth metroplex keypads may be reflecting the wrong time. Although a minor inconvenience to most, here is how you change the time on most DSC keypads.

DSC PowerSeries security systems:

See this video for more information:

If you are experiencing longer than expected wait times getting your City of Dallas Alarm Permit, Katie Fairbank from the Dallas Morning News may have an update. Story here

Here is the link to the City of Dallas Alarm Permit - Web Site.

At NTX Security we offer free security related information and suggestions to our community and our potential clients through our website, blog, news articles and our free onsite security evaluations. Please feel free to send this article to someone you care about or whom you feel could benefit from this home security information.

Dallas Texas Security Company notes Police Officer deaths down sharply

FBI: Police officer deaths fell sharply in 2008

By DEVLIN BARRETT (AP)

WASHINGTON — The number of police officers slain in the line of duty fell sharply last year, according to FBI data released Monday. Link to story here

This raises an interesting question; "What can you and your security company do to reduce police officer fatalities?"

Here are three tips to reduce false alarms:

1. Use only factory trained, licensed security professionals.
   NTX Security’s technicians (install and service) are licensed by the State of Texas. Our installation and service technicians are factory trained by the manufactures that we service. 
2. Request a service call. Have a technician review that the system is working as it should. While he or she is there, make sure that you are using the system properly. A refresher never hurts and you may find a more efficient way to protect your assets. Ask if the technology has changed and you may be able to upgrade your system and protection for very little upfront cost. DSC Equipment user manuals here  
3. Audio and Video Integration – See and hear what you have been missing. Consider upgrading your existing system with a system that uses audio and video to help determine if the alarm is a crime in progress, or simply a user who forgot his/her code.
   Any other thoughts are welcome below.

At NTX Security we offer free security related information and suggestions to our community and our potential clients through our website, blog, news articles and our free onsite security evaluations. Please feel free to send this article to someone you care about or whom you feel could benefit this information.