Last week the daughter of a family friend returned to her apartment in the St. Paul Highland Park area to find her car window smashed.  What a sick feeling to walk out to your car and find shattered glass all around.  When things are taken from your car, you feel violated and vulnerable.

While there is no way to completely prevent a car break-in, here are five tips you can do to help prevent a break-in.  Enjoy this article by Joel Hilton from “Top Ten Reviews”.

1. Keep Things Out of Sight
If you have any valuables, such as an iPod, purse or video camera, store it under the seat or in the glove compartment. Most of the time, thieves are just looking for a quick buck and if they see something they like, they’ll smash and grab. You’ll also want to put anything that looks like it could contain something valuable, such as a box or briefcase, in the trunk to prevent car break-ins

2. Get a Detachable Stereo Face
A car thief won’t steal a stereo that he can’t use. Purchasing a car audio receiver with a detachable front panel will make your stereo useless to any would-be crook. Criminals want things quick and easy, so a missing face plate may make them move on to the next car.

3. Keep Your Car Secure
While this is a no-brainer, but many people don’t lock their car when they’re “just running into the store” or “they’ll only be a minute.” Don’t make the thief’s job any easier by handing him an open door.

4. Park it in a Public Location
That sweet, little-known spot in the alley in the back may always be open, but it is also quite private – which is perfect for any criminal.  If you are parking somewhere at night, park your vehicle near a light.  Criminals want quick and easy jobs, so they don’t want a lot of publicity or visibility.

5. Get an Alarm
Most of the time when people think of alarms, they think of the one that accidentally goes off in the parking lot.  Take notice, there are no car thieves around that noisy car. These types of criminals will avoid cars if they can see that it is alarmed. Some companies even manufacturer inexpensive products that only make it look like your car has an alarm, which also will help prevent car break-ins.

Follow these five tips and you have a better chance of avoiding the typical car break-ins.  To read more details, see the complete article at http://car-audio-review.toptenreviews.com/five-tips-to-prevent-car-break-ins.html

Share your biggest concern about car break-ins?

As you can see from the KARE news clip below, unlocked windows and doors are an open invitation for burglars to enter our homes.

Now that summer is almost upon us, take a few minutes to remind yourself and your family about locking windows and doors.  It’s a very simple step that can make your home more secure for you and your family.

Lloyd Security installs, services, and monitors both residential and commercial security systems in the Twin Cities. We take the time to custom-design a security system dependent upon your specific wants and needs. Our team will answer questions and give recommendations about security devices you may never of thought of before, unique to the state that we live in together. 

Already have a system installed? No Problem! We can take over the monitoring of any existing system with competitive pricing! Lloyd Security also will work with your insurance company to get you the best discount on your homeowner’s Insurance! Our goal is to help protect the ones you love! Call us today to schedule a FREE security analysis at 612.874.9295 or 651.646.0131!

Home Security with Mobile Apps

Do you realize the average family spends less time than ever at their home?  I’m not talking about doing things as a family.  I am talking about how our busy lives take us away from the home.

We have work obligations, community meetings, church meetings, sporting events, fitness programs, children’s school and extracurricular activities, social events and many other activities that take us away from our homes.

Being physically away from our home leaves our homes and our valuables ripe targets for thieves and burglars.

Fortunately, the home security industry has kept pace with our busy life styles.  Now with security apps on our mobile phones, we can keep an eye on our home even when we are not physically present.  Here are just a few of more reliable options you can use to keep a watch on your home when you are gone.

Alarm systems

You can arm and disarm your security system from your phone.  You can control the settings on your thermostat.  You can adjust the lighting in your home.  You can remotely lock and unlock doors.  All of this can be done from the push of a button.

Live Video

If you have video cameras installed in your home, you can watch live videos on your mobile phone.  You can monitor your children after school.  You can watch the actions of home workers, cleaners, contractors, lawn maintenance personnel or anyone doing work in your home. 

Notification

Home security apps can send you notifications by way of text messages or emails.  You can set up these notifications in case of a fire, or smoke in the home or if a water pipe has broken and is flooding a room.  People even use notifications  if a medicine cabinet or gun case door have been open.

Conclusion

Before the advent of mobile apps, there was always the fear about what you may find when you returned home after being away.  Now you can gain piece of mind through the one devise you never leave home without, your mobile phone.

At Lloyd Security we have the Alarm.com system that provides a full set of mobile security apps.  Give us a call and we will help you explore the options  you can use to feel more secure about your home even with your busy life style.

In one word, what is your biggest fear about Identity Theft.

Last weekend I watched a neighbor do their annual spring garage cleanup.  You know, “When you take everything out of your garage and then place it neatly back. Then you repeat the process in the fall!”

The thought occurred to me.  For most people, their garage is the weak link in providing overall security for their home and family.  Think about it for a moment.  Thieves love garages because they are often filled with unlocked cars with expensive electronic equipment, golf clubs, tools, lawnmowers, bikes, and other valuable possessions.  

Easy Access

Garages are not occupied at night.  Garage service doors are usually not as security as other exterior doors.  Windows allow a thief to see the valuable in the garage. Tools taken from the garage can be used by a thief to gain access to the home.  Ladders are stored in the garage.  These become another entry point into the home.  The door from the garage to the home is often left unlocked, allowing direct access to your home.

Here are some tips and security measures you can use to make your garage safe and secure:

• If you frost your garage windows, burglars cannot see if your car is gone.  A steel bar on the windows is another option.
• Keep your garage door closed and locked even when your car is not in the garage.
• Install a peephole in the door separating the house from the garage. This will allow you to see into the garage without opening the door.
• A good garage door opener is a defense against thieves.  However, thieves know about factory-set combinations that come with garage door touch pads. Change the combination when you install a garage door opener.
• Remove the red emergency cord so a thief cannot break a window and open the overhead door.
• Secure all windows and doors.
• Never leave your car keys in your car.  This will give access to your car and most key chains also have keys to your house, your business, and other locked items.
• Permanently marking your lawnmower, golf clubs, bicycles, tools, etc. with your name on them,making it  harder for thieves to fence them.
• Monitor your garage for heat.  This is one of the most common places where fires start.

Here are some security devises Lloyd Security can help you with…

• External and internal motion security lights.
• Keypad controls on the door to your home from the garage.
• Use Alarm.com to alert you when you have left a door open.

Conclusion

Treat your garage like any other room in your home.  Make it secure and safe.  If you want help with your garage, give us a call and we will give you a free estimate on ways to eliminate your garage as the weak link in your home security system.  Minneapolis 612-874-9295   St. Paul 651-646-0131   Toll Free  800-33–0911.

What ways have you found to enhance your garage security?

Growing up I was always told, “Never brag.”  But when you get so many nice comments from customers about Lloyd Security, you just want to share them with others.  I sleep better at night knowing our company and its employees have made the world a safer place for our customers.  Here are a few of the many comments I have received from Lloyd Security customers.

Lloyd Security is the tops! A local company that really has treated me and my family with the utmost respect, from the quick installation to the reasonable pricing, we really feel safer with Lloyd on our side. We’re customers for life! Susan, Apple Valley

I have had a security system by Lloyd Security for 4 years now and I have to say, they have been great! I just got a postcard from them the

other day offering a free annual inspection; all I had to do is call them to schedule it. When the technician arrived to do the inspection, I was impressed by how friendly, professional and knowledgeable he was. My experience with Lloyd has been nothing short of wonderful and I’d HIGHLY recommend them to everyone! SASJ

Very happy with my security system Lloyd Security was great to work with. They provided a reasonable quote, installed the system within a few days and immediately I could sleep better. Everybody has been great to work with especially Ben the installer, he was very professional, knowledgeable and was very patient showing me how to use my system. I would highly recommend. Laurie, St. Louis Park

After having a burglar cut a hole in one of my lower windows I was scared to death and believe me it created many sleepless nights. Jill was fantastic, she came right out, walked me thru all the programs and options and shortly thereafter, my system was installed. After a near break-in I did not want to leave anything to chance and alarmed all access points. It has given me peace of mind knowing that my house is safe and secure. Lucky, Saint Paul

I am very happy with my security system from Lloyd. I purchased their enhanced package which accommodated the fact that I do not have a home phone line which was a great money saver. The really cool part is I now get text messages when my kids disRm the security system after school. I can also remotely arm my system if someone forgets to arm it when they leave (kids). I can also lock and unlock doors, turn lights on and off and all for under $1000!! I know there were less expensive options but I like having all of the functionality. The installation went smoothly; the technician was really polite and courteous; and most importantly CLEAN! I even received a follow up call a week later to make sure I was satisfied. I am, 100% I strongly recommend this company! Roberta, North Oaks

We hated our existing system.  It was too expensive and didn’t meet the standard of what we had hoped to show agencies as we adopt our first child. Lloyd Security met our needs beautifully – we even saved money and our house is even more secure now! Joseph & Amanda, Minneapolis

If you have security needs for your home, give us a call and we will provide you with a free analysis of the security options that will work for your situation.

Hiding the extra key to your home.  We hid these keys for emergency purposes.  Maybe we put them in the flower pot, under the door mat or buy one of those fake rocks to hid our extra key.  These are the first places skilled burglars look for a key to your home.  Once they find your extra key, they have made your home security system obsolete.  Try a trusted neighbor or a lock box.

Broken locks on doors or windows.  We know they are broken and we promise to fix them one of these days.  Broken locks allow easy access to a burglar.  These are especially welcoming on the backside of your home where burglars have time the find the broken locks.  When fixing the locks, use this opportunity to upgrade your locks.  And of course, you use the locks on doors and windows!

Inviting Landscape.  Security starts at your curbside.  If overgrown trees and shrubbery are protecting your home, they also offer a great place for a burglar to hide while they do their work.  What do you think when you see a yard whose grass has not been mowed recently?  This is another welcome sign for the thief.

Lack of Lighting.  Who likes the dark better than a thief?  A lack of lighting is a huge welcome mat.  Use home security lights.  You can use low voltage lights that come on at dark.  You can use lights activated by motion or heat.  Don’t let your house be a pool of darkness for the thief who comes in the night.

Not Arming your Home Security System.  You have a wonderful alarm system but you fail to arm it.    Studies show one of every three home owners who have a system, fail to arm it.  It’s an unconscious mistake that can lead to trouble.  Put your control panel in a convenient location.  Better yet, begin using many of the wireless remote solutions to arming your system.

The goal of security measures is to make it difficult for a would-be burglar to gain entry to your home.  They seek easy targets and move on quickly when faced with challenges.  Avoid the above security mistakes to make your home more secure.

If you like, Lloyd Security can meet with you and provide an entire home security solution that will throw out the welcome mat to thieves.  Just give us a call in Minneapolis 612-874-9295 or St. Paul   651-646-0131.

Share with our readers, your biggest home security question?

When we think of security, we think about our home security, protecting our family and our assets.  We think about the security for our businesses.  We now live in a digital age.  We also need to think about our digital security.

Are you like me with passwords for just about everything in my life?  I have passwords for home and business computer programs, my banking online, my credit cards and dozens of other functions that require my pin numbers or my passwords.

Part of my frustration is the different requirements for these passwords.  Some require four characters; others require seven characters.  Some want numeric characters, other require capitalized letters.  How does a girl remember all of these password versions?

Here are five tips to help make you digital world a little safer without driving you crazy.

1. Don’t put your passwords in text file on your computer.  If someone hacks into your computer, they can find them.  Now you are really vulnerable.
2. Writing them down on paper has its own vulnerabilities.  You can easily locate them but you need to put them in a safe, locked location whether at home or the office.
3. Make your passwords unique.  Avoid using street numbers, phone numbers, birth dates or short passwords.  These are easy for someone to figure out.  Use combinations of letters, numbers and special characters.  For example, “Banking” might be “B@an352ki!g”.
4. Change your passwords regularly.  This is probably something you overlook.  You change the batteries in your smoke detectors with the changing seasons of daylight savings time.  Why not change your passwords at the same time?
5. Protect your PC at home and at the office with passwords on power up.  Be sure to password protect your wireless system at home or the office.  Remember these wireless systems link to many other digital operations.

Digital living gives us instant access to much of the world.  Protecting ourselves in the digital age is one of those tasks that come with digital convenience.  Being safe about your passwords is another step you can take to protect your identity and the valuable information you have in your digital world.  Happy password protecting!

Share with our community any tips you have found for password security.  Thanks.   As always, Lloyd Security is your security experts for the Twin Cities.

Have you noticed on TV the recent rash of child home injuries?  Home safety and security are part of Lloyd Security mission.  As a parent, I know nothing is more important than the safety and security of our children.  In my internet search, I found a brochure from the Consumer Safety Commission on ways to keep your children safe at home.  Let me share some of tips and devises to aid your parent supervision.

• Use safety latches and locks for cabinets and drawers in kitchens and bathrooms to help prevent accidental poisoning.
• Use safety gates to help prevent falls down stairs.
• Use Anti-scald devises on faucets and shower heads and set your water heater temperature at 120 degrees to help prevent burns from hot water.
• Use smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside and outside each bedrooms and sleeping areas to alert you to fires.
• Use window guards to help prevent falls from windows.
• If you have sharp edged furniture, you may want to use corner or edge bumpers to prevent injuries from falls.
• Use outlet covers and outlet plates to help prevent electrocution.
• Use carbon monoxide (CO) alarms near all sleeping areas.
• Use a tassel on each separate window blind cord and inner cord stops on mini blinds to help prevent strangulation.
• Use anchors to avoid furniture and appliance tip-overs.

You can read more about these tips at U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

Help your children be safe!

“Because the weather is changing so much, we woke up one morning and the temp was 59 degrees in our house, and the thermostat is all the way downstairs.  I prodded my husband to get up to go turn the temp up, and he just rolled over and got his smartphone.   He launched the alarm.com app we get from Lloyd security, turned the temperature on our thermostat up ten degrees remotely from his phone, and then kissed me on the cheek and went back to sleep.  How awesome is that, that we don’t even have to go downstairs to change the temperature.  He and I will probably have a lot of temperature fights this summer because I’m always cold and I’ve got it on my phone too!”