ADT Security Pro - Home Security Blog

In this 3rd look at recent crime, we'll look at crime prevention and preparedness. 

“I believe luck is preparation meeting opportunity. If you hadn’t been prepared when the opportunity came along, you wouldn’t have been lucky.”  ― Oprah Winfrey

How true that is when a burglar comes knocking. Those that get a lucky break are often the most prepared. 

To recap, Part 1 : recent crime in your area was how to find out exactly what's going on in your community and even stay on top of it with sites like Nixle.com that text you with up to the minute information of what's going on now close to your home. 

In Part 2 : What to do when you have a break-in we looked at what you do when you actually are a victim of a crime specifically a break-in or burglary. 

Here we will look at how a security system and some do-it-yourself steps add the layers of protection necessary to prevent the worse if it looks your way. If you are staying on top of local crime and crime trends, many come to the conclusion that it can happen to you just as easily as the nice couple on the news last night that weren't expecting it. This blog tells you what to do to NOT be them.  

If you just had aburglary, there's no need for me to tell you how this all feels. If you are on the lucky end and you are just looking into how to prevent it, take a moment and imagine what this all looks like:

You grab a coffee with an old friend. You catch up a bit, who has kids? Where did the super smart redheaded guy from high-school end up? Married to the head cheerleader?? No one saw that coming! Awww, they have cute kids... what? they run a farm stand? Wow, the years have flown!!

You're pondering this all as you pull into your driveway. Hmm, why can't that teenager turn lights off, almost every light in the house is on. The front door looks a little weird too. You get closer and it's clear, it's been kicked in. 

***Editor's note, this is part 2 of a 3 part series, to read Part 1 - Recent crime in your community, CLICK HERE***

"Of course I knew that a break-in could happen anywhere. I'd think, 'We don't have a lot of expensive things.' or 'It'd be cheaper to replace a few items than to pay for years of an alarm system...'   I thought these things every time I saw a home security commercial...

3 months after I woke up to a burglar in my home, I had to move. It's been 6 more months, we have an alarm now. I now own a gun and have been taking self defense classes for 4 months.  I am slowly replacing my mental security. I wake up thinking that someone could be in my home, near my kids and have to go make sure that everyone is okay.

What he stole was my peace of mind."

-Melnee Johnson

Did you know that 34% of break-ins occur right through the front door?

Gutsy, Right?

This makes sense when the most common "tactic" involves the front door.  A would-be thief will check out a neighborhood, maybe they found some "clues" like an empty TV box by the trash can, a new Samsung - 65" TV. Or they can see through a window and your laptop is sitting hte in plane sight and no one is home...

Now there is a burglar at your front door... He'll knock and look like he has an appointment with you. He's knocking. Waiting. He has a clipboard in his hand. He's looking at his watch and looking, well... pissed off that you aren't answering. He peeks in a window and looks up and down the street again, then at his watch. Mrs. Applegate figures you missed an appointment and goes back to, well, baking pies or whatever she does on a Wednesday afternoon. Mr. McBurglar knows he's in the clear and in 30 seconds has kicked your door in and no one saw it! If they saw him at all, they saw a young guy in a uniform or dark pants, but he looked like he had business there... and oh baby did he!

If a burglar does break into your home, they will most likely be gone before the police show up.

Having a security system with video surveillance can minimize what they get away with. A thief can kick down most doors in seconds. Upon hearing the alarm, they will know help is on the way. BUT once they are in, even though the alarm is creaming to get back out, they know there's enough time to grab your laptop off the kitchen table or the $600 iPhone just inside the door. The police will arrive a few minutes later.

In this 3 part series we will take a look at crime in your area and what you should do about it.

Here in part one we will look at ways to be aware of crime in your local community, ways you can be prepared and how to prevent it. In Recent Crime Part 2: What to do when you have a break-in we look at what you should do after you have a break-in, and Part 3: Prevent Crime: You need a well-rounded security plan. Recent Crime Part 3 will give you a list of things you need to do to prevent being a victim. Feel free to skip to part 3 and never need part 2.

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Two nights ago our rep Michael was called out for an unusual visit with the Gary family. We had installed an ADT security system already but a burglar had visited the Gary home. As upsetting as that it, this was a fairly successful story. You see, the burglar had probably seen the sign in the yard alerting of a security system. Unlike the 80 - 90% of thieves that would keep on truckin', this thief might have been aware that many homeowners don't arm their system at all times. Or, possibly he suspected that the Garys had bought a yard sign on eBay without actually having a system.

So our burglar, we'll call him thieving Thad, kicked their door in. Apparently when thieving Thad heard the alarm, he realized he'd rather stay out of jail (BUMMER!) and made a hasty get away. Good for our friends the Garys, nothing was taken. There were no phones or laptops or anything else in plain sight or readily available and our Mr. Thad left this home empty handed. 

Use ADT Pulse features from within your Ring app. Why would you want to you ask?  Because as the ring video put it:

"When you leave home each day,               

you leave your most valuable asset

           vulnerable to unwanted visitors"

Your Ring doorbell already alerts you when someone is near your front door and offers you live video to see what's going on. You then are able to respond to that person, giving the impression you are home, whether you are or not.

Who provides the absolute BEST customer service?

You do, you sly devil you! Who else knows exactly how to charm your pants off? Who else knows what to say when you are irritated? How often to do you think, "I'd have done it this way! Who forgot to teach that person how to talk to customers?" Right?

So if you are like me (which I know you are,) then what you want to do is pay your bill at midnight. Update your account while watching The Walking Dead and eating Hawaiian pizza with added smoked bacon, chocolate chunk cookies and order another yard sign in your pajamas or commando if you want. And who better to handle all those needs than YOU?

With myADT.com, handle the customer service aspects of your account yourself when it is convenient for you. Skip being asked how your day is going today and being told how happy they are to be helping you update your emergency contact. Seriously... no one is ecstatic to be updating the emergency call list?

Log-on... click, click, click and VIOLA! Your right back to slaying the un-dead in less time than it takes to find ADT's number.  Access your account a myADTcom or download the mobile app!

Where do you find all the information you need about Home Security and then all other things to do with security? Whether you are already a California Security Pro customer or you are in the market for a security system, you'll find the latest on all things security when you join our on-line community. Wherever you spend your social media time, California Security Pro is your ticket to the latest in home security products, security tips for your home and family, and your connection to trends in your community. See reason #2 below for details on our on-going Facebook Contest and and click here to refer a friend and be rewarded with a $200 referral reward..

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