Heading on summer vacation? There's nothing worse than coming back to a home that had a break-in. Here's 20+ Summer Security Tips you can implement to protect your Home and Property while you're travelling.

You're Going to Need More Than a Funny Welcome Mat to Prevent a Break-in!

1. USE COMMON SENSE

If you lose a key, then get the locks changed. A better alternative is to eliminate keys altogether by installing an alarm.com smart lock with built in keypad.

Ask all strangers for identification. The person who is “lost” and looking for directions could actually be a burglar checking to see if someone is home.

Never hide an extra key outdoor - especially underneath a mat or on top of a light fixture. This is the first place the bad guys look. Leave an extra house key with a friend or a neighbor. Again, a better alternative is to eliminate keys altogether by installing an alarm.com smart lock with built in keypad.

DO NOT advertise on Facebook or Instagram that you are on vacation. Social media is the equivalent of a diary in a glass house. You may think you’re letting your friends and family know you’re having a great time, but people often forget to change their privacy settings. If you like to post photos - post them after you get back.

For insurance purposes take photos of the contents of your home and keep all receipts in an off-site location. Great options are Google Drive, Microsoft Cloud and Dropbox.

Write down the model and serial number of all electronics. This will come in handy for a future Police report and insurance claim.

3. MAKE IT LOOK LIKE YOU ARE AT HOME

Burglars target unoccupied homes so keep your home well lit at night. Install timers that turn lights, radios and televisions on at different times. This gives the appearance that someone is home. A better option is to install alarm.com smart lights and smart appliance modules and setup on an alternating schedules.

Cancel the newspaper and have a friend or neighbour pick-up your mail.

Park a vehicle in the drive-way. Don’t forget to lock the doors and remove any valuables.

If you’re taking an extended vacation of more than a week, hire a student or service to cut your grass.

Most new home buyers focus on area, proximity to schools, proximity to work, layout, colors, and landscaping. And, often overlook security and safety.

Here a 4 Regina Security Tips to protect your Home and Family and reduce losses:

1. DO NOT HIDE SPARE KEYS

Doormats, Mailboxes, Plant Pots, and Bins are all common hiding places for spare keys. A better security option is to leave an extra key with a trusted neighbor or family member. The best security option is to install a smart lock that connects to your smart security system. You can lock and unlock doors with a keypad or remotely with *free Alarm.com apps.

2. REDUCE PREDICTABILITY

Many burglars look for patterns before they target a home. Burglars watch for what time you leave for work and what time you arrive home. It's also obvious when people go for vacation because they often forget to cancel the paper and haven't made arrangements to shovel the driveway. 

Make sure you have a trusted neighbor or family member collect your mail and clear your driveway/cut your lawn.

3. INSTALL PROPER LIGHTING

Many burglars take advantage of the dark and like to hide behind shrubs and trees. For better security install motion sensitive lights that activate when a potential intruder is in the area. For best security install smart lights that connect to your smart security system. Smart lights are controlled on schedules and can make it look like you are at Home (most break-in's occur when you are away). 

4. INSTALL A SMART SECURITY SYSTEM

A Reed Security monitored home security system reduces the chances of having a break-in by 400%. Insurance Companies agree and provide discounts up to 25% on your annual home insurance policy.  A Regina home-owner with $1200 annual insurance premium could save up to $300 a year. 

A Reed Smart Security system is customized to your specific needs, but we also have $0 Down Smart Packages to make your protection choices a little easier. Our most popular $0 Down Smart Package is designed to offer you the Maximum protection and Maximum insurance discounts and includes:

1           IQ 7” Touchscreen with Emergency Police & Fire Buttons

3          IQ door/window sensors

1           IQ smart motion sensor (pet-friendly, 40 pounds)

1           IQ smoke/fire/heat sensor

1           IQ high + low temp. sensor

1          IQ flood sensor     

1           Alarm.com 3G radio (works on SaskTel)

1           built-in 85db siren

1           24hr back-up battery

1           Professional Installation

1           Protected by Reed Security Warning Signage   

1         Silver Parts & Labour Warranty Plan

1         24/7 ULC Monitoring Plan
with Police and Fire dispatch

1         Alarm.com Interactive Gold Plan

·         No phone line required

·         Smash & Crash protection

·         Arm/Disarm with apps

·         2 Way Voice

·         E-mail alerts including Disarm Photos

Optional control of door locks, garage doors, thermostat, lights, HD cameras, shades

No one should ever compromise security. No one should just settle when the safety of your family is at stake. Nothing is ever “just okay.”

A study on convicted burglars’ view on alarm systems and deterrents found that 85% of burglars considered the presence of deterrents such as home security and that 62% would seek another target. Only 13% said they would still continue the attempt even after an alarm had been discovered. That is a large drop in your risk as of a victim of burglary just by having an alarm system present.

Buying your first alarm system shouldn’t be taken lightly, as if just buying another pair of shoes. You have to remember that burglary is a crime of opportunity. When burglars see a way in, they are most certainly going to find a way out. While burglars generally avoid homes with an alarm system, you must consider establishing a stronger home security from your Regina & Saskatoon Alarm System Provider.

But, how do you exactly determine a trusted home security company fit for your alarm system needs? To help you out, here are the key considerations for choosing one.

1. Read On-line Reviews

When you intend to buy or upgrade your phone, one of the first things that you do is read reviews of your prospective purchase online. Be as persistent when you search for a home security provider. Support your choice with research and informed advice from security system users in Regina & Saskatoon. However, you have to be very cautious when doing so because some online reviews can be untruthful with the intention to mislead.

One of the most effective ways to choose the right alarm system provider is to seek the advice of friends and family. They have your best interest in mind. You can depend on them to give you an honest assessment of a device. Personal referrals are priceless.

2. Check Out Their Workmanship

Credibility is at the core of choosing a trusted home security provider. Evaluate the company’s work history to determine whether its record is untainted, received a significant number of complaints, has a reputation of being a trailblazer in the industry or if it has good customer service. Find out if they have all the licenses to operate, especially those that may affect consumer protection.

3. Review Your Own Needs

In figuring out where to buy home security devices, it is important that you are able to identify your needs. What do you want the alarm system to do for you and what’s your allotted budget for home security? Only then will you be able to narrow down your choices and ultimately pick the right Alarm service Company.

If you think that a wireless alarm system would work best for your home, then opt for an alarm system company with specific wireless products. Reed Security offers top notch security devices, sensors and other accessories that can help you in managing your home.

4. Research the People

People are the heart and soul of any security company. Find out if their pool of home security experts are truly what they claim to be. Check if they are indeed trained and certified to reduce faulty installations and other technical problems. Experts should also extend to customer service professionals whom you can count on to give assistance whenever necessary.

5. Review the 24/7 Monitoring Station and Emergency Operators

With so many alarm companies to choose from in Regina & Saskatoon, you should find the one that has a responsive 24/7 Monitoring Station. You will notice that most professional alarm systems have a two-way radio capability, which will directly send a distress signal to the command center. The command center will then assess the situation and if a threat is validated, it will ask authorities to dispatch units and attend to your emergency.

This aspect is very important because it deals with the actual responsiveness of a security company and of authorities. At the same time, it must help you identify validated threats both from false alarms and your immediate surroundings.

6. Review Contracts and Warranty

This is usually the boring, tedious part of the process. But don’t make the mistake of not paying attention to this detail. Most companies have you sign a three to five year commitment contract in exchange for discounts on the installation fees. Also check to see whether or not they have any warranty policy.

7. Look for Innovation

A good company must always know how to innovate. In the Regina & Saskatoon security industry, companies who have the best and latest technology are considered pioneers. And as the market evolves, it is important that your choice of provider is capable of change, upgrades, and other technological advancements in order to keep up with the latest features those consumers are looking for. Many people are not only looking for home security, but smart home security with home automation and remote capabilities.

Security is serious business, and you should take it seriously. When you shop around for a burglar alarm, do not just settle for the cheapest unit or the most expensive one at that. Do not just pick the one that looks the most advanced or the one that has the most features. The reasons for choosing an alarm system provider should include the provider’s credibility, innovative offerings, customer service availability, and the variety of products offered specific to your needs.