According to the U.S. Department of Justice (2011 Statistics), Every 4.1 in 1,000 females between the ages of 12 and 17 experienced rape or sexual assault between 2005-2010 and every 3.7 in 1,000 between the ages of 18-34. That’s 0.4% of women between the ages of 12 and 34.

Let’s think about this. If a 100,000 seat football stadium is full of women, about 400 of those women are highly likely to be a victim of sexual violence. I don’t know about you, but with that visual- I can’t live with 0.4%. If you don’t want to or don’t have time to take self-defense classes, at least, for your own sake- purchase a personal protection item like Mace or Pepper Spray.

Let’s look at violent crime statistics for our entire population. “In 2011, U.S. residents age 12 or older experienced an estimated 5.8 million violent victimizations and 17.1 million property victimizations.” With a population of 314 million, that means 1.9% are likely to experience a violent crime. So if we’re looking at the same 100,000 seat football stadium scattered with both men and women, about 1900 people are going to experience violence first hand.

This goes without saying all the undocumented violence out there. Do you have a plan to protect yourself? We have some great choices for both Mace and Pepper Spray here at Home Security Store to keep you protected.

If you’re looking for the simple key chain pepper spray, the 17 Grams Mace Pepper Guard is a great investment. For something with a little quicker action, the StreetWise Designer Pink Camo Pepper Spray offers a belt clip, a sweet disguise and accessibility at a moment’s notice.

We also carry pepper spray blasters, or as I like to call them- Weapons of Optical Destruction. If you want to destroy a violent offender, the Pink MACE Pepper Gun fires out a stream of pepper spray up to 25 feet! If that wasn’t enough, it also has a trigger-activated bright LED light for perfect aim at night. Want something even stronger? Our Kimber Pepper Blaster II discharges pepper spray at 90 miles per hour and fires through clothing, masks and around glasses!

Depending on how much protection you want to have, you have options. But with these staggering statistics and – let’s face it- the decline of the Western Empire right before our eyes, cover your back and more importantly, start building up the thickness of that phone book.

1. Incognito Safes

You can have a lot of fun just browsing the safes offered by the Home Security Store, mostly because they resemble just about everything besides a safe. You can get a hollowed-out fake self-help book that secretly holds small valuables. But the book safe is run-of-the-mill compared to all the other safes. The decoys range from wall clocks to fruit cans to water bottles—all look real, but are hollowed-out to hide your valuables in inconspicuous hiding places.

2. Video Intercoms

Home Security Store offers a variety of video intercoms, and one of our favorites is this hands-free one. It includes a 7-inch color LCD monitor with a night vision security camera, so you can see who’s at your door any time night or day, without lifting a finger. When a visitor arrive and presses the doorbell, the video monitor will chime and display the visitor on your screen. You can shoo away unwanted solicitors or ask a visitor to identify themselves before you open your door. What’s more, if you hear a suspicious noise, you can press the “view” button and instantly monitor your entranceway anytime.

3. Survival Kit

Home Security Store knows that safety is about more than just security system equipment. A safety must-have for any home is an emergency survival kit. One of our favorites is this one because it’s very affordable, it covers a wide range of basic needs in case of emergency, and everything fits into an easy-to-carry backpack. It would be exhaustive to list everything that comes in this awesome kit, but some of the things it includes are food and water, lights, matches, a radio, items for shelter and warmth, tools, and first-aid essentials. If you don’t have an emergency survival kit, we’d strongly encourage you to consider one.

4. Child Locator

It’s every parent’s worst nightmare to be unable to find their child. With a GPS child locator, you never have to worry about losing track of your child at a crowded place or event. This small device is meant to be placed in a child’s pocket or on a wristband, so you always check the location of your child from any smartphone or web-enabled device. If your child needs help, they can press a panic button to immediately alert you a text message or email. You can even set virtual boundaries around certain geographical areas and receive an alert if your child wanders outside the boundaries.

5. Hidden Cameras

Although visible cameras can be a burglar deterrent, sometimes burglars will tamper with them or cover them, so they’re not caught so easily. Therefore, a hidden camera inside the home isn’t a bad idea, and Home Security Store has lots of options. You can get a camera that looks like a smoke detector, an alarm clock, a teddy bear, and more.

6. Gate Alarm

To make sure your kids don’t stray from the backyard or to make sure they don’t get into an area with a pool, install a gate alarm. If the gate is opened without pressing the bypass button, a loud, 110 decibel, alarm will sound from the base station, alerting adults that someone has opened a gate. The equipment is completely wireless, so it’s quick and easy to install. Plus, it’s waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about rain or splash from a pool.

7. Solar-powered Floodlight

Save on electricity and scare potential intruders away with a solar-powered floodlight. All day, this light soaks up rays to power it in the evening, and one day’s worth of rays is enough to activate it 180 times, for a minute each time. The light is motion-activated, so if someone tries to lurk around your front yard, backyard, patio, or other outdoor areas, they will be caught like a deer in the headlights. This would be a great safety addition to any home.

8. Electronic Watchdog

If you don’t want to invest the time and money into a real dog, consider an electronic watchdog. When the sensor detects someone on the other side of a wall or window, the speaker will emit scary barking sounds to scare potential intruders away. You can choose the barking alone, or opt for a dog barking along with a warning siren. With advanced technology, the closer the intruder gets, the more frequent the barking. The best part is that there’s no maintenance. Just plug it in, and you’re done.

9. Spy Sunglasses

If you ever need to go undercover or play spy, these security camera sunglasses will have your back. Already popular with police divisions, these sunglasses are designed to discreetly record video. Most people probably wouldn’t find an everyday use for this piece of equipment, but it’s like something from a Mission Impossible movie, so we had to include it on our list!

10. Driveway Alarm

This driveway alarm can detect motion in a large area, and the sensor and receiver can be placed pretty far away. You can use this alarm as a perimeter alert around your store or home, as a driveway alarm to detect approaching vehicles, as a wireless doorbell, or as a warehouse delivery system. It’s a versatile piece of equipment that could be easily incorporated into any home or business.

Home Security Store offers a lot of cool products, and we had to really strain ourselves to keep our list to our favorite ten. If you have comments on any of the products we’ve mentioned, or if we didn’t list one of your favorite pieces of equipment, please let us know in the comments! For more safety tips and security system reviews, visit www.safewise.com.

The following are a few of the best ways to secure your home’s perimeter:

Motion-Activated Lighting

Some thieves rely on a dark cloak of protection when doing their dirty work. They will deliberately strike during the night in the hopes of going unnoticed by neighbors and other passersby. A good defense against these menacing types is to install motion-activated lighting around the perimeter of your home.

One of the most common concerns that people have about security lighting is an increase in their monthly electric bill. Let’s face it, as much as we like to feel safe, we’d also like to conserve energy and save money at the same time. Motion activated lighting only illuminates an assigned area when it is triggered by another’s presence. Even better, some security lighting can be powered by the sun like the Solar Security Floodlight with Motion Sensor offered in our main store.

Surveillance Cameras

Most thieves don’t want to chance their crimes being recorded on tape, which is why surveillance cameras are so effective in deterring break-ins. Even the fake surveillance cameras can be enough to make a criminal think twice about moving any closer towards your home. Not only do these devices tend to keep burglars at bay, but outdoor surveillance cameras can also help you remotely assess an outside threat from inside the comfort and safety of your house.

Make Strategic Use of Warning Signs

Thinking like a burglar for a moment, how quickly would you advance towards committing a crime at a home where signs clearly told of the presence of an alarm system, a surveillance system and a the vigilant eyes of a team of neighborhood watch volunteers? Given a choice between a home with that sort of signage and another one a few feet away without any, which would you choose to break into? Simply put, security signage tells burglars upfront that your house is not the one that they want to try with their shenanigans.

Driveway Alarm

Wouldn’t you like to be made aware of the exact second anyone approaches your property? Installing a DIY driveway alarm is your answer. Similar to alert systems used in retail businesses that notify employees when a customer has entered, a driveway alarm transmits a signal every time someone approaches your driveway or walkway. The Optex Wireless Alert Driveway Alarm is one of our bestselling in this category, but we encourage you to take a look at all of the devices like this offered in our main store (and don’t forget to read the product reviews there) before making a final decision.

Video Intercom System

In the event that a criminal decides to bypass all of the aforementioned perimeter devices, it helps to be aware of some of the tactics used to gain entry to your home. Yes, picking locks and breaking doors and windows is a common method, but so is simply waltzing up to your front door and knocking or ringing your doorbell. Sometimes criminals will use this method to force their way into a home after you open the door, while others merely use this tactic as a way to screen whether or not anyone is at home before continuing with their break-in plans. Either way, responding to such brazen criminals does not have to be a face-to-face ordeal. Installing a video intercom system allows you to view who is at your door and communicate with them from inside without ever placing yourself in danger.

Make Your First Defense Your Strongest One

Good perimeter security goes a long way in preventing a break-in and structural damage to your home as the result of such an event. Today’s technology makes it easy to create a strong barrier between your home and thieves, and Home Security Store goes a step further in making such an effort more affordable by offering DIY options. All of the advice offered here should be paired with a good alarm system to help build the strongest defense possible against criminals of all kinds.

What Is Your Advice?

Did we miss something here? Have something you’d like to add? Leave your best advice for increasing security around your home’s perimeter in the space below.

Gift Ideas For Mom

Survival Kits

My mother and my mother-in-law, both in their 70s, love their knapsack survival kits. They both live in California, otherwise known as earthquake territory, where there is a constant emphasis on being prepared for the earth’s next movement. Such events come suddenly and without warning, but are known to disable power and telephone lines. Worse, is that Californians have been awaiting the ‘big  one’, which seismologists say is only a matter of time for the West Coast. As single women, both understand the importance of self-reliance and being prepared with medical supplies, food and water, and various tools for survival.

If you’re unfamiliar with such kits, check out the Guardian Elite Survival Kit in our main store for an example of what such a gift offers (there are a wide range of other survival kits there, too). According to Disaster-Report.com, during the month of April alone, there have been tornadoes, earthquakes, flash flooding and avalanches in different areas throughout the United States. With natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy or heavy flooding which recently opened sinkholes in Chicago, we all need to expect the unexpected…and be as prepared as possible in the process.

Personal Protection

Worried about your mom taking walks alone? Or even just being out and about running errands? You’re not being paranoid, you’re being a realist. Anyone can be targeted for a mugging, carjacking or any number of personal crimes. Women, however, are sometimes targeted to a greater degree for crimes involving theft and violence. Help your mom protect herself with an item like the MACE Pepper Gun with LED. Small enough to fit inside of a purse, yet effective enough to slow an attacker down (and allowing time for escape), gifts like these help people take responsibility for their safety and fight back if attacked.

Gift Ideas For Dad

DIY Home Security

If your dad is the DIY type, you’re in luck. There are tons of gifts you can offer him from tools to gadgets to security kits and accessories. If your dad’s not really into building things or installing security devices, you can still help him secure his belongings with minimal effort.

Dads With Minimal DIY Interests

Your dad might truly enjoy a smaller-scale DIY project like installing a Secure Mail Vault. Installing one of these at home gives dad a sense of accomplishment and also makes sure that his personal mail and parcels are kept out of criminal hands.

Non-DIY Dads

Gift ideas for the non-DIY dad include items like the Diversion Safe Wall Clock, which allow dad to store personal belongings like jewelry, a passport or important documents out of sight behind a fully functioning wall clock that doubles as a safe.

Gift Ideas For Your Favorite Grad

It’s Party Time!

Graduation is a time to celebrate and what better way to do so than with a new set of speakers such as the Channel Vision 8” High Performance Single Rock Speaker featured in granite or sand colors? Made of fiberglass, these speakers are great for outdoor use while remaining lightweight and attractive. Any student ready to crank up the volume and enjoy the summer will love a gift like this.

Dorm Room Security

High school grads heading for college dorms will appreciate any sort of surveillance device, whether of the hidden variety or a surveillance camera that is clearly visible to others. Let’s face it, today’s college student usually has, at minimum, an expensive smartphone, laptop, tablet and video game console to protect. Dorm room safety should be a priority from day one, so consider something like SVAT Covert Alarm Clock Camera with DVR, which will covertly record up to six week’s worth of activity inside of a room while still looking and functioning as an ordinary alarm clock. This and similar devices can be found in our Spy Gear department or in the Surveillance department on our main page.

Final Thoughts

The most important thing to remember in giving gifts to others is to try to offer something that will be appreciated, used and enjoyed by the recipient. Whether this means mom, dad or grad, security devices and gadgets are all quite useful and handy. The unique qualities of each of the gift suggestions made above make them as memorable as they are functional and, let’s be honest with ourselves, how many more picture frames, neckties or sweaters do your loved ones really need?

Tell Us What You Think

So, what are your thoughts about our gift suggestions? Are you a mom, dad or a soon-to-be grad? Which of these gift ideas would you most appreciate receiving? We love hearing from you, which is why we’ve left lots of open space below for you to sound off.

Not much has changed in humans over the last 4 million years. We’ve become cleaner and a little more sophisticated, but we still fight for land, for law, for love. One thing that has done a complete 180 is property line disputes.

A few months ago, I had a property line dispute with my neighbor. He wanted to pour concrete between his side yard and house for a walk way, but needed a certain amount of distance from his house to meet city code. Because we were part of the curve of our cul-de-sac, our homes sit in an odd position and I made it clear I didn’t want part of his new side walk way taking up my lawn space. Ignoring my wishes, he chose to pour on my property line anyway. Was it the end of the world? No. But I must say- it’s pretty slimy to go against your neighbor’s wishes and he made sure the concrete truck showed up while I was at work.

I could’ve lost my cool. I could’ve called the cops. I could’ve done a lot of things to get in his face and make my point. Instead, I got creative. Because of the strange caddy-corner positioning of our house, I always figured the property line was skewed and our fences were built despite it. After doing some research, my theory was proved true. The fence in his backyard stuck in to my backyard 7 more feet than it should have. 7 feet! And wouldn’t you like to know what I did with this in my back pocket.

One of the top selling perimeter protectors in the home security industry is the BBA-2500 Dakota Alert Solar Powered Wireless Break Beam System. Basically, you set the two transmitters up evenly on posts up to 300 feet apart from each other. Then, they shoot out an invisible and infrared beam of light. When the beam is broken, a signal is sent to the receiver inside your home and the receiver begins to chime. Guess what I did with mine.

I went in to my neighbor’s backyard one day while he was at work and installed the transmitters right on my property line. When dark begins to fall, the BBA-2500 is near impossible to see. At dusk every day, my neighbor would come in to his backyard and water his garden, which, unfortunately for him- was actually on my property according to the city planning schematics. Then, I rigged up a huge speaker and microphone next to the BBA-2500’s receiver- cranking up the speaker volume and pointing it directly at his home.

The first night he triggered it was HILARIOUS. He takes his hose towards his garden, begins to water his roses and “WAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!” The alarm goes off. This dude was scared brainless. He fell on his back, yelped like a Chihauhau and judging by his very slow bodily movement afterwards- he might’ve had a mild heart attack. Then there was the puppy dog experimentation phase. He’d cross the beam line, get startled, do it again- over and over. He just could not figure it out.

After being in fear of watering his own garden for 2 days, he finally knocks on my door. I open it and get an ear full of this: “I know you’re setting off some kind of alarm when I go to garden and it needs to stop!”

“I’m not setting off some kind of alarm” I reply in a sly tone. He goes to speak again and I hand him the manual for the BBA-2500. He reads through it quickly and looks back at me. “YOU INSTALLED SECURITY IN MY BACKYAR—“ I hand him a copy of the property line schematics. His face drops. It’s perfect.

I’m not the rub-it-in-your-face type, so I kindly explain that I’ll take down the BBA-2500 and use it for more meaningful perimeter protection in my backyard and that I’m not angry about the concrete, but now Chihauhau Man knows that he needs to obey my wishes next time. Cause next time, I won’t use a Wireless Break Beam System. Next time, we’ll spar. And this Caveman doesn’t lose in a sparring match.

Lighting

One thing that can make a big difference in every area of the house of an elderly person is the lighting. We may feel that we know our way around our homes but, at night we might second guess that thought. Whether it’s a simple night light in the bathroom or hallways or even automated lights it is important to have things well lit. Something that is not only inexpensive but, also very beneficial to the elderly are motion censored lights. These can be placed in areas that when dark make it easier for the elderly to navigate through their home’s accident free. Always have a light on at night in the bathroom. It is also a good precaution to have rails on the walls where the toilet and shower are. In the kitchen you want to make sure that the floors are kept uncluttered and clean. Illuminate work areas and store heavier items at waist level to help prevent accidents.

Medical Alert

What happens if your elderly loved one falls and needs help? Even if we think that their homes are accident free we still have to make sure that they are prepared if an accident does take place. There are products out there such as the Medical Alert that are perfect for when our senior citizens need help or have an accident. The Medical Alert gives you the best of both worlds. It allows elderly people to maintain their independence yet still insures their safety. With the Medical Alert there is a one-time fee that is the purchase of the product itself. With this purchase you are guaranteed an exceptional product without having to make month-to-month monitoring fee payments. The Medical Alert is very user- friendly and easy to install. With the press of one button you can instantly notify any or all per-programmed contacts. Just knowing that our elderly have instant help will not only give them, but also their family and friends peace of mind. The Medical Alert provides people with 24 Hour Monitoring. It also allows people to call for immediate help in case of any emergency. There is a variety of medical alert systems which allow for you to find the one that fits your exact needs. There are some medical alert systems that that require monthly payments and others that have a one-time fee. Depending on the system you choose to purchase some will actually alert people when it is time for them to take their medications. Others are actually equipped with GPS which can be very beneficial for someone with Alzheimer’s or Dementia. One benefit to it is that it allows our elderly to live independently. Many devices are waterproof which allow our elderly to wear them at all times. Personal information such as allergies, medical conditions, etc. can be kept on file for any emergency personnel a medical alert gives family members peace of mind  knowing that their loved ones are safe whether or not they are around.

There are other small things that senior citizens can get to insure their safety. For example, MACE is always handy to have just in case something were to happen where it was necessary to have. The statistics for accidents around the home can be scary to think about. But by making the necessary precautions we can help prevent accidents within the home. It is important to always keep our elderly not just safe, but more importantly prepared.

Be On the Lookout For Traveling Neighbors

When your neighbors take off for vacation, do your best to keep thieves from finding out. Some of the things that you can do include setting your neighbor’s trash cans out on collection days (and returning them after the trash has been collected), not allowing newspapers and flyers to pile up while they are away, and making sure to keep a lookout on their home, in general, just to make sure everything looks the same as it always does. Now this doesn’t mean that you should go peering into windows and creeping about their yard, but just give it a quick once over as you pass during your daily activities. Should anything appear to be unusual, of course, contact your neighbor if possible or call the authorities right away.

Offer to Mow the Lawn

If your neighbor doesn’t have a weekly gardener tending to their lawn, there is a chance that a busy schedule, illness or a physical limitation may prevent them from staying on top of their lawn’s care. Not only is it neighborly to offer a hand, but helping your neighbor keep a tidy lawn also reduces the likelihood of someone breaking into their home. Burglars often look for houses where shrubs and grass are overgrown. These homes send a signal that occupants are too distracted or are otherwise unable to tend to these matters. High grass and shrubs might also provide hiding places to or help camouflage a sneaky thief.

Take a Vacant Home Under Your Wing

Vacant homes are very enticing to thieves looking for a place to stow items or hideout while working. Some criminals even use vacant homes to run scams on others or to engage in other illegal activities. Eliminate this enticement by taking it upon yourself to keep an eye on any vacant homes and reporting suspicious activity right away. If possible, also try to remove trash or flyers that may accumulate while the home is in transition.

Monitor Neighborhood Children

It is no secret that children sometime like to explore and engage in wild adventures. Unfortunately, certain children, particularly teens, will sometimes also push boundaries by partaking in things that they shouldn’t, like burglary and vandalism. Now there’s no need to suspect every young person as being criminally prone and you don’t need to hover over neighborhood kids like they’re up to no good, but it won’t hurt to pay attention to what young people in your neighborhood are doing. Should you witness any illegal behaviors, do your best to find out how to contact a parent and kindly let them know– or contact authorities when you feel it necessary to do so.

Report Unusual Occurrences

While this has been a general theme in all of our posts, it is worth mentioning the importance of reporting suspicious activity each and every time you witness it. We live in a world where people are often too busy to do this or they just don’t want to be involved in reporting crime. Many will even rely on someone else in the neighborhood to do the reporting. Don’t be this person. When you see something out of order, it only takes a minute to make a phone call to local security or to a local police department.

Listen To the Neighbor’s Dog

Incessant dog barking can be a nuisance. If your neighbor’s dog is being that nuisance, realize that there may very well be a good reason for it. Don’t grow so accustomed to hearing these sort of alerts that you become immune to reacting to them. Instead, make a mental note of what time the dog started barking, how long he barked and, if possible, note any other noises that you may have heard around that time. While we strongly advise against entering a neighbor’s yard to find out what’s causing alarm with the dog, just reporting the time and duration of a dog’s barking can help police piece together information useful in catching a criminal if, in fact, it happens that a crime actually took place.

Spread the Word About DIY Home Security

Perhaps the most useful thing that you can do to increase your neighborhood’s security is telling your neighbors about the plethora of devices and gadgets that can help keep a home safe. If you’ve recently purchased a burglar alarm, monitoring service or other security items, be sure to let your neighbors know about it. The average homeowner often feels a need for such items, but may not take the time to research where they can purchase security products until it is too late and their home has already been broken into. Doing your part to keep the neighborhood safe can be just as simple as introducing other homeowners to Home Security Store!

Burglar Alarm

Of course, the first on our list is a burglar alarm. Chances are that this type of security device is already on your radar and may even be the reason you stopped by to visit this blog today. What we want you to know about this type is that they come in a variety of different styles and offer a multitude of features. For example, a burglar alarm may be of the hardwired variety or may operate as a wireless alarm system. Additionally, homeowners can choose from a list of features that may be included with a burglar alarm system, such as motion detectors, remote controls (involving a telephone or a mobile device) and even a panic button which can enable homeowners to call for help in an emergency situation.

Environmental Alarm

Some people have never before heard of an environmental alarm. Fewer are aware that they are affordable and can even be self-installed. For those of you who don’t know what an environmental alarm is, it is a device which allows a homeowner to monitor the ambient settings within a home. For example, an environmental alarm can be installed in order to alert occupants when temperatures drastically rise or drop to dangerous levels, or they can alert a homeowner about water leaks and flood threats.

Smoke Alarm

It is our guess that most people already have one or more smoke alarms installed inside of the home. Because they are so commonplace, however, the maintenance that these alarms need is sometimes overlooked, which can have very dangerous consequences. The following are a few of the things that every homeowner should do today in order to assure that a smoke alarm is operating properly:

• Test alarms to be certain that devices are in working order
• Replace low batteries
• Replace broken alarms
• Immediately service any alarms that have previously been disabled

Just in case you haven’t thought about your smoke alarms in a while, take this as a friendly reminder to do so. Also, be aware that alarms should be strategically placed throughout the home, which includes bedrooms and common-use areas. Hallways and garages should also be equipped with working smoke alarms. If you find yourself in need of additional smoke alarms, we encourage you to visit our main site to view the selections that we offer there.

Panic Alarm

A panic alarm can be a lifeline in times of emergency. From switches that emit a loud sound when activated to more sophisticated panic alarms that immediately trigger a burglar alarm system (like the Commercial Wireless Hold-up Switch with Transmitter), every home should have at least one panic alarm installed. Honestly, we are of the opinion that homes should have multiple panic alarm buttons throughout the home and that homeowners should even invest in portable buttons that can be worn on one’s person.

Pool and Gate Alarms

If you own a pool, you definitely need to investigate pool alarms. Even if you do not own a pool, we’d like you to listen up anyway. Accidental pool drownings are a major cause of death for children and small pets throughout North America. Many of these can be avoided by the simple installation of a pool alarm, which immediately notifies a homeowner whenever someone has entered the water. So, even if you do not own a pool, please bring this to the attention to anyone that you may know who does.

A gate alarm can be installed in any gated area where homeowners wish to keep others out. In particular, these alarms are useful for gated swimming pool areas or other areas where children, pets or others may be harmed if entering without supervision. Pool owners are advised to see the Safety Turtle Pool Alarm with Gate Sensor currently available in our main store for the ultimate in pool and gate safety.

Your Instinctive Alarm

Ok, this is one alarm that we don’t sell in our main store, but it is one that we work hard to help you hone through this blog. Essentially, your instinctive alarm is that gut feeling you get when something just isn’t right. It may be a noise that you hear, a stranger that appears to be casing your neighbor’s home or any number of things that give you an uneasy feeling. Far too often, we dismiss these feelings because we don’t want to appear too paranoid or we think that we are being over-reactive. Everyone is born with this natural alarm, which is a gift, really, and should never be dismissed as something bothersome. When this alarm sounds, pay close attention to what’s triggering it and make sure that you assess it as thoroughly as possible. Most important, be sure to react to this alarm by calling for help at any time a further inspection proves to be a true threat.

Did We Miss Any Security Alarms?

The comments are now open for you to elaborate on any of the alarm types posted here or even to share your advice on any that we may have missed.

“It’s a controversial new option for parents to consider,” says Home Security Store Marketing Manager Annie Blanco.  Blanco says Home Security Store researched about a dozen or so manufacturers before deciding to bring in Amendment 2’s Ballistic Backpacks.

“The shields sewn into these backpacks are made up of RynoHide, which offers superior strength, flexibility, lightness, and affordability.  The RynoHide looks and feels like regular fabric, however it works much like bullet-proof materials,” says Blanco.

The Armored Youth Ballistic Backpack, which comes in a variety of colors, offers Level 2 personal protection against such danger stemming from .357 Magnum, .45, .40 and 9mm handguns.  Backpack manufacturers say this is personal protection in its highest form.

“The backpack can be quickly brought to the front as a shield or can serve as center of mass protection while fleeing the scene of the shooting,” adds Blanco.

The back pack weighs about 1.5 pounds and is a good fit for children of many sizes.   It retails at Home Security Store for $300.  In addition, the backpack holds an interior organizer panel, web top handle, water bottle holder and a headphone exit port.

 About Home Security Store, Inc.

Home Security Store is the premiere online ecommerce website specializing in affordable DIY wireless and hardwired home alarms, security camera systems, fire protection, spy equipment, survival gear, and more.  The company brings together highly-trained, professional technicians and a state-of-the-art product line to provide the most comprehensive security source found online.  The company offers FREE and FAST shipping, plus FREE tech support.  For more go to http://www.homesecuritystore.com

The following are a few additional tips that we are happy to share with you and which will, hopefully, help simplify your selection process even further:

Hardwired or Wireless?

One of the most commonly asked questions from first-time alarm buyers is whether to purchase a wireless security system or a hardwired one. Generally speaking, both types of systems offer the same level of home protection. When it comes to DIY projects, a wireless system is easier to install for obvious reasons. A hardwired system, however, is an excellent choice for homes and office spaces with a large square footage.

If you are still struggling to decide between purchasing a wireless or a hardwired alarm system, we encourage you to read the posts we’ve previously shared on this blog which detail the differences between the two.

Purchase an Expandable Home Security System

When shopping for a new alarm system, you definitely have a lot of choices which are also presented at various different pricing levels. Opting for a DIY installation is already a more cost-effective choice, but be careful about targeting the most basic or even the least expensive system and here’s why: you always want to be able to expand your system in the future. Doing so will keep your options open and allow you to add other security devices later, such as:

• Surveillance cameras
• Security lighting
• Panic buttons
• Various home automation devices

With this in mind, consider purchasing a system that offers you the greatest flexibility and room for additional products. Even if you don’t feel the need for additional security products now, think about the years to come. This tip is especially advisable if you ever have plans to relocate your system to a new home where your security needs will likely need to be reassessed.

Live Monitoring

Purchase a system that can be remotely monitored by professional security monitors. There are people who may tell you that alarm monitoring is not necessary, but none of these people are security professionals and it’s highly unlikely that they’ve ever been in life-threatening situations such as a home-invasion or even a medical emergency while at home. With this in mind, confidently ignore their advice and opt for a system that can be monitored, instead. After all, this is YOUR family and YOUR home that we’re talking about here. No one but you and your family will be affected by the consequences of your decision, so think about what is best for all of you.

Visit our main store for information on Alarm Relay, which can provide you with professional alarm monitoring for a mere $8.95 per month. This price is less than one-third of what other security vendors will charge for the same service.

Get to Know the Best Brands

Consider the brands that are available to you and do a little homework on the quality of their products. Some of the top brands in the home security alarm industry include, but are not limited to, Honeywell, GE Security and Essence USA. Selecting a top quality name-brand system means that you are purchasing a product which has earned its reputation among other homeowners.

Read Reviews Before You Purchase

Before you make your final purchasing decision, read customer reviews from people who’ve bought any of the security alarm models you are considering. Reviews from actual users are a far better indicator of an alarm’s overall value and benefits than even the manufacturer’s description (as trustworthy as they may be!). If you will be purchasing an alarm system from our main store, we’ve made the vetting process as simple as possible by including a user review and rating section with each of the products offered there.

One Last Thing to Remember

Always remember that Home Security Store is here to help you by answering technical questions and addressing any product concerns that you may have. We are also available to help you during the installation process of your new home alarm system should you ever need us.

Share Your Best Tips With Our Readers

What did you learn when purchasing your first home security alarm? Have any tips to share with our readers? Your comments are more than welcome and we look forward to reading them in the space provided below.