News & Tips

October is National Crime Prevention Month and we at Denalect are committed to helping you protect your loved ones, pets, valuables and property against crimes of opportunity. These include vehicle burglary, thefts from unsecured vehicles or homes, muggings, street robberies and wallet and/or purse-snatching.

Since common sense and precaution are the best prevention, here are eight tips from our security pros on how to protect yourself and others:

1. Be aware of what’s going on around you. Distractions, such as talking on a cell phone or juggling an armful of packages, may provide thieves with an opportunity to steal from you. Walk with a purposeful stride and keep an eye out for possible trouble.

2. If someone bumps into you, this may be an attempt to pick your pocket. Say “excuse me” no matter whose fault it is and keep moving.

3. Most thieves prefer easy targets so don’t leave your valuables unattended or out in the open. This includes leaving your purse in a shopping cart, hanging from the back of your chair at a restaurant or in the seat next to you on public transportation. Don’t show off your valuables to or in front of strangers.

4. Avoid dark or dimly lit areas at night. If you’re walking down on the sidewalk, stay nearer to the street than to the buildings. Be wary of corners, doorways and alleys. If you’re in a parking lot, keep your eyes open for individuals lurking behind or between parked cars.

5. If you carry a purse, use one with a strap that crosses your torso and shoulder. Wallets are best kept in your front pocket.

6. When you leave your house, don’t leave any doors unlocked, the garage door open or a window ajar. If you have an alarm system, activate it.

7. Keep your vehicle locked and the windows rolled up at all times. Never leave valuables visible in your car. Either locked them in the trunk or take them with you. Try to park in busy, well-lit areas.

8. And finally, trust your instincts. If someone or a situation appears suspicious, move away as quickly as possible. Common sense and precaution are the best prevention against crimes of opportunity.

For more information on our security systems or if you’d like a free estimate, contact our business office at (925) 932-2211. Business hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday.

Denalect Alarm is proud to serve home and business security and alarm systems in Northern California: Antioch, Blackhawk, Concord, Danville, Dublin, El Cerrito, Hercules, Lafayette, Livermore, Martinez, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Pleasanton, San Ramon and Walnut Creek.

 

The last thing you want is to be contacted by your security provider or monitoring company because your alarm’s been triggered. That worry can quickly turn to embarrassment if you discover it’s a false alarm triggered by your pet.

In fact, family pets accidentally cause a high number of false alarms each year. This is due to the placement of interior motion detectors as well as the sensitivity of certain sensors. Since you’re not giving up your furry friend, a pet-friendly security system is vital.

Modern home security systems typically use infrared motion detectors. They look for a significant change in the normal level of heat within its field of vision. So when a large heat source, like a person or a large pet, moves within its range, it sounds your alarm. Even a smaller pet can trigger the motion detector’s alarm if it gets close because the pet’s heat signature appears larger than it actually is.

So when designing (or redesigning) your security system, you and your provider need to consider your pets. If installed property, carefully placed pet-friendly motion detectors can coexist with your pets. Here are some tips:

• Place the motion sensor or detector high (about 7.5’ to 8’ high) on a wall so the pet can’t get close to it.
• Even if you set your motion detectors high, you need to make sure it’s not pointing towards any pet climbable areas that come within 6’ of the lens. Cats are notorious for setting off alarms by climbing on things like stairways and furniture.
• Install a motion detector with a pet-immune function. Certain motion detectors can be programmed where it’s less likely to sound your alarm for any pets under 80 lbs. However, if you have two pets, they may still set off these detectors (their heat signatures look different.)
• Break glass detectors, window screens and other sensors that aren’t movement sensitive also make your system more pet-friendly.

For more information on pet-friendly security systems or if you’d like a free estimate, feel free to contact our business office at (925) 932-2211. Our business hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday.

With all the different security system providers and vendors in the Bay Area, how do you decide which one will work best for your home or office? From common brand names to third-party dealers, here are five helpful tips straight from our security experts:

1. Most alarm companies and security providers don’t actually make alarm systems. They are the vendor (or dealer) that sells, installs and monitors them to and for the consumer. While there are many different brand names out there in the industry, the majority of this country’s alarm equipment is manufactured by Bosch and Honeywell.

2. Choosing a great vendor or security provider is much more important than whatever system brand or manufacturer you choose. Look for a company with a strong reputation that is responsive and customer-oriented. These are the folks that will come out at 2 a.m. to fix your alarm system.

3. Before signing on with a provider you may want to ask what will happen to your equipment if you decide to transfer to another company in the future. Most national and larger regional providers use customized, brand-name products (also known as proprietary equipment) that will only work with their systems. That means if you should ever decide to switch to another provider for any reason you may find that you will have to replace some or all of your alarm equipment. Smaller, local alarm companies (such as Denalect) usually carry non-proprietary equipment.

4. Some national companies use third-party dealers to market and sell their security systems. After a new customer is signed up, the dealer then sells the contract to the security company. That’s different than the cable companies, who will usually sell their products to you directly.

5. Many security providers that provide monitoring to their customers actually have those alarms serviced by giant, third-party centers located in a different state. That means that your system is being cared for along with 20,000-30,000 other alarms. If you prefer your system to be monitored locally, look for an alarm company or security provider who operates their own monitoring station.

Along with only carrying non-proprietary security systems, Denalect offers 24-hour alarm monitoring from our Central Station, located on-site in the Bay Area.

Denalect Alarm is proud to serve home and business security and alarm systems in Northern California: Antioch, Blackhawk, Concord, Danville, Dublin, El Cerrito, Hercules, Lafayette, Livermore, Martinez, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Pleasanton, San Ramon and Walnut Creek.

For remote access to your security system, the Bosch Remote Security Control is one of the best that we at Denalect Alarm have found.

This is because Bosch’s system works directly with our Central Station instead of interacting with some third party provider on the East Coast, giving you even more peace of mind that your home or office is secure no matter where you are.

Bosch’s remote access features include:

• Arm and disarm your security system from your smart phone or tablet (must be running iOS4 or Android OS 2.3 or greater).
• Grant temporary or permanent access rights to other users. Choose what privileges they have and how long they will have access to your system.
• Access real-time security systems status.
• View active alarm and trouble conditions in the event memory log.

Some features to look for in the future:

• Watch live video from your system remotely if you have Bosch IP cameras.
• Lock or unlock exterior doors as well as turn off or on any other elements connected to your system such as thermostats, lights, and garage doors.

Once your system is set up for remote access, Denalect will give you a unique security certificate and PIN to enter into the Bosch Remote Security Control app. This will allow you to control your home or office’s security system from your device. Note: This remote access system is for customers who have Bosch’s B Series Internet Ready Alarm Control Panel. Each person that wants remote access will need their own certificate and PIN. On the off chance your device is lost or stolen, give us a call ASAP so we can disable it from connecting to your alarm system.

For more information on remote access and your system or to get a free estimate, give us a call at (925) 932-2211 or (800) 273-2680.

Here at Denalect, we’re proud to tell folks that we’ve been a UL listed and compliant alarm company for both our Burglar and Fire system installation and our alarm monitoring services since 1980.

But what, you may ask, does UL listed even mean? Why is it important and how does it impact you, the customer?

First, let’s start with what UL is. UL stands for Underwriters Laboratories, an independent, non-profit, world-wide consulting and certification company dedicated to promoting safe living and working environments. For over 90 years, UL has worked with the alarm industry, government agencies and consumers to develop standards for alarm companies and services. They do this in two ways:

1. Assessing alarm companies for their ability to install, maintain, test, inspect, monitor    and communicate with proper authorities and provide runner service. Denalect’s Central Station (where we monitor businesses, schools, homes, and government offices 24 hours a day) is an UL compliant facility. This means it meets or exceeds all of UL’s safety standards.

2. Testing, inspecting, validating and certifying alarm and fire systems components for safety, reliability and quality based on UL’s high standards. Examples include electrical cords, fire extinguishers and alarm devices.

To be UL listed, alarm companies must hold themselves to the industry’s highest safety standards, undergoing a rigorous inspection that tests and analyses everything in the building, including security and construction, operational procedures and performance standards, back-up generators and telephone lines. Then those companies must pass a surprise inspection every year thereafter to maintain their listing.

How does this help you? When choosing a high-quality alarm system or a security provider, look for one that sells UL listed equipment, installs equipment according to UL standards and offers alarm monitoring done by a UL listed monitoring center.

Also, high risk customers – be they residential or commercial – will find that a UL listed and certified security system will ensure they’ll meet their insurance companies criteria, not to mention affording them a more reliable and secure system.

For more information on UL standards or to get a free estimate, give us a call at (925) 932-2211 or (800) 273-2680.

Denalect Alarm is proud to serve home alarm and business security and alarm systems in Northern California: Antioch, Blackhawk, Concord, Danville, Dublin, El Cerrito, Hercules, Lafayette, Livermore, Martinez, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Pleasanton, San Ramon and Walnut Creek.