My Car Was Broken Into. What Do I Do?

Each day, approximately 2,500 cars are stolen, which is about two cars every minute. Thousands of people deal with car breaks-in on a daily basis as well. With the frequency of auto theft and break-ins, it’s important to be proactive about protecting your vehicle, such as by installing a security system  to monitor your driveway.

But what if your car has already been broken into? It’s natural to feel vulnerable, but it’s important to stay calm. Below are tips to follow when your car has been a target of theft.

Record the Damage

First, do not enter or move the car. Start documenting what you see and take pictures of visible damage or other evidence. Also write everything down so that you have documentation that can be given to your insurance company if need be.

File a Police Report

After you’ve collected the evidence, call the police and file a report. While there may not be much they can do at the moment, it’s important for the police to have these reports on file. This way, they can identify trends in car break-ins and theft and patrol those areas more closely.

Place a Fraud Alert

Even if the car thief did not steal your wallet, it’s best to be on the safe side and curb identity theft. You never know just what the person was able to get a hold of, such as a name, birthday or Social Security number. Place a fraud alert on your account and cancel credit or debit cards that might have been stolen.

File a Claim with Your Insurance

Finally, file a claim with your insurance company if there was damage to your car or a lot was stolen. You don’t always need to file a claim - only if the dollar amount of the damages exceeds your deductible by a large amount. If your car wasn’t damaged, and only a few things were stolen, you’re probably better off not filing a claim, but speak with your insurance agent to get guidance.

Protecting Your Car from Future Break-Ins

Now that you’ve been affected by car theft, it’s important to protect yourself from future break-ins. Here are a few tips for doing so.

• Avoid parking your car in poorly lit or remote areas
• Don’t leave your car unattended for several days at a time
• Always lock your car doors and keep your windows closed
• Remove valuables from your car or keep them hidden
• Install camera surveillance outside your home to watch for intruders

Cars can easily cost half the price of a home, so they are an investment that you want to protect. Installing a security system with camera surveillance keeps careful watch over your driveway and everything on it! Call Texas Security & Surveillance to learn more about protecting both the inside and outside of your Austin TX property.

5 Ways to Ensure Your Childs Safety To and From School

The end of summer signals a new school year and a new year of growth. Your child may be asking to walk home from school on their own, or they may be responsible for getting themselves on and off the bus. Fortunately, you can help ensure that your child gets to and from school safely with security cameras Austin TX.

Below are five tips to help the transition to a new school year run smoothly!

1. Talk to Other Parents in the Neighborhood

Once you have kids, your neighbors become more important. Now is the time to speak with other parents in the neighborhood and get an idea of how their children are getting to and from school. Buddy systems can be very helpful in these instances.

2. Practice Your Child’s Route

Do a few trial runs of your child’s route to and from school. They should be taking the most visible path (no shortcuts), and ideally the route will have other children and crossguards along the way.

3. Install a Home Security System

If you haven’t already, install a home security system with camera surveillance, particularly if your child will be home alone for a while. Teach your child how to arm and disarm the system, and program it so that you know when your child is home safely.

4. Keep Your Child Informed

Tell your child that you will always notify them of any changes with their pickups. They should never go home with someone they don’t know, and they should always get an adult’s approval before going home with someone else. Though it’s not always easy, try to keep things as consistent as possible.

5. Talk About Safety Inside the Home

Home security systems keep the bad guys out, but they also keep kids inside and safe. Your home should have working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Teach your child about which appliances they can and cannot use, and encourage them to keep doors and windows shut and locked when you’re not there.

Also teach your child to look for signs that something isn’t right. If they’re just getting home from school and they notice that a door or window is ajar, they should go to a trusted neighbor’s home.

Millions of American kids come home to empty houses after school and don’t fit the traditional “latchkey” stereotype. Reviewing safety rules, talking with neighborhood parents and installing security cameras Austin TX are the best ways to keep your child safe. Call Texas Security and Surveillance to learn more about our home security options for families.

4 Benefits to Joining the TSS Builder Program

Texas Security & Surveillance offers an exclusive TSS Builder Program that both builders and buyers can benefit from. This program is designed for new construction homes and is intended to streamline the process of adding home security and home automation features.

Let’s explore four benefits to joining the TSS Builder Program.

1. Lower Security and Low-Voltage Wiring Costs

With the TSS Builder Program, the necessary cables and wires can be run before the walls are finished. Since this is faster and easier, you can expect to save on the costs of low-voltage and security wiring.

Our technology consultants are highly knowledgeable regarding the best solutions and latest technology. Buyers also receive more options for customization. Some of the options that will be discussed include structured wiring, security wiring, camera installation, smart security and media room set-up.

2. Simplify Security Protection in Model Homes

Model homes can sometimes be targets for criminals because they know that no one is there during a certain time of the day.

The TSS Builder Program offers simplified security protection for all model homes, 24 hours a day. As part of our program, we offer real-time monitoring, online access to event logs, open/close reports and more. The costs for these are small, if any.

3. Increase Security Inside Model Homes

Not only can model homes be a target for theft and burglary, but also for other crimes. These homes are your responsibility, so it’s important to know what’s going on inside them. The TSS Builder Program increases security through video surveillance and video recordings. These features come with smartphone access so you can easily check in on a routine basis.

4. Provide Security and Warranty Benefits for Buyers

Homes that are pre-wired for home automation and home security are more attractive than homes that aren’t. Inform buyers that they will receive convenience and peace of mind with the TSS Builder Program, as well as security and warranty benefits. Our program can give you a leg up on other competing builders as well.

For more information about the TSS Builder Program and home security systems for new construction in Austin, call us today!

Are Fake Security Signs Enough to Keep Intruders Out?

Some people choose to place fake security signs and stickers on the front of their home so that it looks like they are protected by a home security company. Usually, people do this because they want it to look like they have a security system, but in reality, they’re not quite convinced that they actually need to pay for one.

Are fake security signs and stickers really enough? Do they do an effective job at deterring burglars from the property? After all, the worst thing you’d want to do is give yourself a fake sense of security.

Let’s discuss the pros and cons to fake security decals and signs and whether they’re enough to keep intruders out.

Pros of Using Fake Security Signs

Faking your home’s security does have a few benefits. The first is that it’s much cheaper to go this route than to invest in a complete home security system. You can purchase signs and decals for around $10 and get an authentic logo as well.

Second, it’s quick and easy to slap a few stickers on your windows and put a few signs on your yard. There are no professional installers to hire, holes to drill or wires to run. Finally, it’s possible that fake security signs could keep intruders away. Sometimes, that’s all someone needs to keep moving along.

Cons of Using Fake Security Signs

While it is cheaper to simply purchase signs for your yard, you do get what you pay for. If someone were to break into your home, there would be nothing protecting you and your family. Not to mention, because you might think you’re safe, you may be more likely to leave doors unlocked, windows open, etc.

It’s also possible that a criminal will know your sign is a fake. Many signs out there do not look authentic, and some don’t even display a brand name or logo. If this is the case, your sign may entice burglars because they know you’re faking it!

It’s also important to realize that there could be legal consequences for using material that is copyrighted. If you do choose to go this route, be sure that you are paying for something that won’t blow your cover and won’t bring you legal problems.

In the End, Don’t Fake It

Installing a home security system is the BEST way to keep intruders out. Home security systems can be very affordable, and you’re actually paying for something. If your home is broken into, your monitoring center will be alerted. When the intruder hears the alarm going off, they’ll know that they’ve entered a home that is protected, and they will either leave right away or not get very far.

A true home alarm system brings you real peace of mind, not a false sense of security. Call Texas Security & Surveillance to learn more about our affordable home alarm system protection plans.  

Best Energy Saving Checklist for Your Home

The average home spends 45% of its energy on heating and cooling, 25% on lighting and 17% on appliances. The remaining 13% is used on water and heating. Electricity prices continue to rise across the nation, leaving many homeowners concerned about how they’re going to pay for their energy bills each month. Some homeowners have decided to invest in solar panels to help reduce energy costs, but that’s a big decision and a big initial investment.

A more practical and affordable solution for the average homeowner is home automation. Home automation makes the most efficient use out of your energy consumption by automatically and electronically controlling household fixtures, appliances and activity.

Let’s explore how you can use home automation to save energy in your home. We’ve included a handy checklist below.

• Smart Thermostats. With nearly half of your home’s energy going to heating and cooling, it makes sense to start here. A smart thermostat allows you to adjust the temperature in your home from anywhere. Over time, it learns your habits and will automatically adjust on its own.

• Automated Shades. For added savings, install automated shades or blinds that can be set to open and close at certain times of the day. They can also be adjusted to keep out the sun or bring it in, depending on the season.

• Automated Lighting. Another large chunk of your energy bill goes to lighting. Automated lighting systems adjust the lighting in the home whether you’re there or not.

• Motion Sensors. If everyone is asleep or not home but you still want a “lived in” look, install motion sensors that automatically turn on the lights at certain times of the day, or when triggered by movement.

• Smart Appliances. With nearly two dozen appliances in the average American home, it makes sense to reduce their energy whenever possible. Smart appliances can be controlled from your smartphone and put in energy-saving mode when you’re not home.

• Smart Outlets. Devices can drain energy even when they’re not being used. To prevent this from happening, use smart outlets. This saves you from having to unplug all of your devices at night, and you can use them to track energy use.

• Programmable Water Heater. Insulating your water heater can help, but a better option is to invest in a programmable water heater. This way, you may schedule when your water heater heats water, such as when you shower or do laundry.

To learn more about reducing your home’s energy use with home automation in Austin TX, call Texas Security & Surveillance.

Prewire Your New Home for Security and Automation

Building a new home is very exciting! But it can also feel overwhelming. There are decisions to be made and hiccups along the way that you’ll have to work out with the builder and contractors.

Some of the decisions are fun, such as picking out cabinets and flooring. Others are not as fun but certainly essential. For example, plumbing and electrical wiring aren’t the most exciting features of a home, but they are much easier to install when the house is being built.

Also, if you consider what you want from your home in the long-term (i.e., bathroom in the basement, home theater system), you can have all the inner workings ready to go when the time comes, significantly reducing labor and expenses.

In this post, we want to discuss the importance of pre-wiring your new construction home for security and automation.

Let’s begin!

It’s faster and easier.

When your house is being built, it’s much quicker and simpler to run wires and cables for home automation. The walls aren’t drywalled and painted yet, so there’s not much standing in the way of an ideal setup. Plus, you don’t have to deal with messy cords on the outside of your walls in the long run.

You have more options for customization.

When you’re in the process of building your home, you have a wider range of home automation and security options available to you. Decide ahead of time what types of features you want for your home (i.e., camera surveillance) so that all products can work seamlessly together.

It’s worth noting that you don’t have to purchase everything upfront. You can have the proper wires run for future home automation, but you can choose just a security system at first.

You have time to learn the software.

Many home security and automation products do come with a small learning curve. It takes time getting used to the cameras, security system, home automation features and mobile app. If you’re going to make the investment, it’s important that you use it to the fullest potential. Installing a home alarm system early on gives you time to learn the software before moving in.

It offers peace of mind.

New construction homes are often built in newer neighborhoods. You don’t know your neighbors, so you can’t ask them to watch over your home. You may not have blinds or curtains up yet, so people can see through your windows. A home security system offers an additional layer of protection during this change in your life.

Call Texas Security & Surveillance, one of the most reputable alarm companies in Austin to learn more about installing a home security system in your new construction home.  

Did You Know that Most Burglars Live 2 Miles from the Homes They Target?

It’s an unsettling fact: most burglars live just a couple of miles from the homes they target. They tend not to be the stereotypical “professional” burglars who break into a home armed with a weapon and threatening the homeowners. Instead, the more common scenario is a local criminal who finds an opportunity to break into a home.

These criminals are also more likely to go after the types of items that are easy to sell such as jewelry, electronics and other gadgets. Their motive is to turn these items over quickly and make a cash profit.

While there are no guarantees, there are many steps you can take to make your home less attractive to burglars and keep your valuables safe. Let’s take a closer look at the types of items that local criminals look for and the vulnerabilities that make homes a target.

What Do Local Burglars Steal?

In 2010, more than $13 billion of property was reported stolen, and the majority included:

• Money
• Electronics
• Jewelry
• Firearms
• Household goods
• Office equipment
• Clothing and furs
• Consumable goods

Of the billions of dollars of property that was stolen, only 21% of the value reported was recovered.

What are Some Other Things that Make Homes Vulnerable?

Burglars have two things on their mind: Getting the most valuables they can and getting out of the home as quickly as they can. This is why burglars are more likely to target the homes they know because they have a better idea of the types of possessions in the home and the residents’ habits of coming and going.

On average, burglars spend between 8-12 minutes in a home, and they tend to go through the front or back door. Also, homes in the middle of the block are more likely to be broken into than ones on corner lots. Once in, criminals tend to go after the following rooms:

• Master bedrooms: Burglars look for valuables like cash hidden in drawers and jewelry.

• Home offices: Criminals look for collectibles and electronics.

How Can I Keep My Home Safe?

There are many things you can do to keep your home safe from burglars. While nothing is a guarantee, being alert, aware and realistic is key. It’s also important to do the following:

• Have secure locks on doors and windows
• Install and maintain a home security system
• Have a secured safe
• Invest in motion-sensored lighting
• Keep shrubbery and vegetation trimmed

To learn more about keeping your home safe this summer and beyond, call Texas Security & Surveillance.