This information was posted on Nextdoor.com to give homeowners in the San Ramon area safety tips for burglary prevention during the fall season. It was posted in September and written by Kyle Madison, Regional Manager for Security Pro Group. It is definitely worth the read and very informative to help any homeowner complete steps to protect their family.

As a burglary survivor, I realize most people will think about what material items a burglar will take if you come up a statistic. They will think about a place to keep valuable that aren't out in the open. For many women, the jewelry in a top drawer. Yes, it's not a secret, not even to thieves. (Let's find a better place ladies.)What most people don’t realize is that a thief takes away your peace. They take the place where you come home to relax, lay your head down and feel safe, and momentarily shatter that.

As a homeowner in California, it's very important to secure your home-- especially if you and your family enjoy going on vacations whenever you can. Once the family is away, this becomes the perfect opportunity for burglars and intruders to get into your home. Likewise, the majority of burglary incidents are caused by thieves taking advantage of opportunities, such as vulnerable windows, unlocked doors, and spare keys left in the most obvious places. So, how can you prevent being a victim of this? The answer is simple. Familiarize yourself with some of the most effective security measures that you can take.

I attended an ADT convention where they had a customer share her story of the life saving experience she had with Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. It is a touching story.

When leaving for vacation or traveling over the holidays to visit family, it is important to take steps to protect your home while you are away. What are best ways to ensure your home remains secure when you are gone and how should you arm your security system?

"I don't have anything to steal," says Jonathon to the security consultant while discussing home security.

It's a common response one hears as a security system consultant. "We're just starting out," "We are minimalists and most of what we have is not worth much," similar statements are made to reflect that even in the event of a break-in, the monetary value of what might bet taken is small. 

While this can be true, this picture shows a safe that was in our own Bill Wood's clients' home. A couple that did not think about their identity being stolen and now all of their important papers are in the hands of a burglar. This safe was tucked away in an Attic. 

Having your personal papers stolen can lead to identity theft. Information as simple as the mail on your counter can lead to months of being drug through hell as someone else assumes your identity and wreaks havoc on your credit, bank accounts and life. 

When I was younger, I remember leaving my purse in the car to run into places. You could also leave the windows down on you car and not lock doors. Upon return, your items were right where you left them, every time. 

You probably agree those days are gone... possibly L-O-N-G gone. We'd best take some precautions to keep our belongings just that... our belongings!

Here at California Security Pro, we hope this is the most exciting or if you prefer, the most relaxing Summer of your life. The memories you make should be at your choosing, not in response to a break-in or theft.

Summer Safety Tips for your home's security...

You probably already know that burglary numbers go up for the summer months. Thadeus the thief must like the nice weather too... he's extra active during the warmer months. A possible reason sited is you are out enjoying the great weather and summer festivities. Whatever reasons old Thad is on the prowl, there are some simple tips to keep him out of your house.

1. Don't open the door unless you know the person - You definitely want to go to the door and let the person on the other side know that people are home. A common practice for burglars is to knock and knock to verify the house is empty and then break-in. So ask who it is through a locked door and tell the salesman or lost person or kid looking to give you a free exterior paint quote that it's not a good time. You are washing killer, your 100 pound wolf/rottweiler mix or just on a conference call. This will also save you from all the scams that come knocking on your door during summer. 

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. 

Garage and shed burglary is on the rise. It does seem like an obvious, as these areas are often less vigilantly protected than the areas of the home that we occupy and present the option of danger to our family. However, as far as property value goes, garages often house our cars (for many the second highest valued items you'll ever purchase.) If there is no car in the garage, you might have the man cave, fully decked out with a Kegerator and flat screen, or the camping, sports, and entertaining items like the fine china. A recent survey found that 24.3 percent of those surveyed have had goods stolen from an outside area like a garage, shed or carport.

As a blog contributor for a home security company, October is the month the forces conspire to demand that all are reminded of the all important safety tips for Halloween. And with good reason, year after year, Halloween is the single most dangerous day for pedestrians. So while I can't just ignore the forces that be, an equally passionate voice is yelling, "Let The People Eat Cake!" or the Halloween equivalent: "Let's look at cute dogs in Halloween costumes and then eat cake... or candy." 

Autumn is here and if you are like me, you've looked forward to pumpkin spice everything and an October full of harvest festival activities that end in a big sugar rush and the beginning of the holiday season. Now that you aren't melting in the heat, warm colors surround us. Studies show that people are happier and friendlier during the last three months of the year. Maybe that's why a good amount of household maintenance falls in autumn. Here's your friendly reminder of some important fall issues.

Important Summer Safety Tips for Safe Kids

Don't Let the Summer Heat Spoil your Children's Fun

Your kids look forward to summer all year long and IT'S FINALLY HERE! Along with summer comes bumps, bruises, scrapes, sunburns, heat and so much more. The best way to avoid these summer mishaps is to be prepared!

Below are some simple tips on how you and your kids can stay safe and happy all summer long! You can find these and more on summer safety by checking out the California Department of Public Health.

Are you looking for new ways to get involved with your kids? Do you struggle to get your kids to pay attention when it comes to safety? Do you wish you had more fun ways to interact with your kids while learning at the same time? 

We would like for you to meet Cal, The California Security Kid! Cal is the newest member of the California Security Pro team and we are so excited to have him on board. 

Cal would like to invite you and your kids to join him for his Monthly Safety Adventure. He, along with his family and friends, will be learning about all kinds of safety and security at home and on the go. Cal will also be giving away lots of great prizes for taking the time to learn about safety each month. You can find more information about the prizes on Cal's new Blog!

Bend at the knees. Don't over pack your boxes. Rent a dolly. Heavy boxes go in the truck first. Wear closed toe shoes. . . You have read blog after blog on how to physically relocate your belongings, but what about everything else that goes into your move? 

We have 7 tips on how to sell a house and protect your move from start to finish.