Preventing Holiday Fires

The Christmas holidays, and winter itself, are peak times for house fires to occur. The NFPA reports that 30% of all house fires happen in the months of December, January, and February.

It is important to stay vigilant, take proper precautions, and be mindful of all the different things that can cause fires this time of year - Christmas trees and lights, candles, space heaters and fireplaces.

Facts about home holiday fires:

• One of every four home Christmas tree fires is caused by electrical problems.
• Although Christmas tree fires are not common, when they do occur, they are more likely to be serious. On average, one of every 32 reported home Christmas tree fires results in a death compared to an average of one death per 143 total reported home fires.
• A heat source too close to the tree causes one in every four Christmas tree fires.
• The top three days for home candle fires are Christmas, New Year's Day, and Christmas Eve.
• Candles start two out of five home decoration structure fires.

Source: National Fire Protection Association

To learn more facts about holiday fires and how to prevent them, view the following infographics:  Put a Freeze on Holiday Winter Fires by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and Wrapping up the Holidays - Preventing Winter Fires by the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI).

You can also read our previous blog posts on holiday fires: Don't Let Your Christmas Tree Go Up in Flames! and Let Us Help Protect Your Family from Holiday Fires.

Package Theft Prevention

Recent studies show that 11 million homeowners had packages stolen in the last year and that 74% of those packages were taken during the day while the homeowners were at work.

Last year, package theft was in the local news more than once and thieves were hitting homes in Ascension parish, in and around the New Orleans area, and in Baton Rouge. 

Package thieves are opportunistic and have even been known to follow delivery trucks around neighborhoods, picking off packages along the way. The thieves in the Ascension parish incident last January had even rented a U-Haul truck to stash all the packages they were stealing!

With the holidays fast approaching, and Christmas shopping online already underway for many, this is a security issue that everyone needs to keep in mind.

Here are a few ways to keep your packages safe before you can get home and secure them inside.

Security Cameras
The U-Haul thieves, who went on to hit a number of parishes before their spree ended, were caught due to video from home surveillance cameras. 

Not only can security cameras help catch the bad guys, they can be used to get reimbursed for the packages that were stolen. The carrier will show to the seller that the packages were delivered to your home, but with video proof you can show that they were stolen.

We have security cameras + DVR systems that will allow you to watch live feeds from your phone or record and share video clips.

Smart Security Cameras
Security cameras are great for catching thieves...after the fact. We have security cameras that will - upon detecting motion - immediately send a text to your phone notifying you to view your live video feed. 

This allows you to contact the police as the crime is happening, instead of only being able to hand over the footage days later.

You can easily share video clips via message, email, and even social media from the same app that controls your security system. 

Video Doorbell
Another great way to protect your front door area is with a video doorbell. 

We offer the Skybell, which includes an integrated camera, motion sensor, digital microphone and speaker. This allows you to not only see who is at your door but to communicate with them - whether you are home or not! You could also use the doorbell speaker to try and thwart a theft in progress by startling the thief.

If you know your visitor, you can then use your Alarm.com app to disarm your system and unlock your door, allowing access to your home.

Amazon Locker
Don't want to add security cameras or simply prefer to have your Amazon orders not sitting on your doorstep? There's another way!

Amazon Locker is now available at the Whole Foods Markets in Baton Rouge and Mandeville. Your package will be delivered to a designated locker and you have 3 days to pick it up using a unique code Amazon will send to you.

Neighborhood Watch
Some neighborhoods have opted to help their neighbors by forming a sort of neighborhood watch for package thieves, or any suspicious vehicles or persons hanging around the neighborhood.

A great place to find like-minded neighbors, and keep up with tips on neighborhood goings-on, is Nextdoor. 

Packages Stolen - What's Next?
To report your stolen packages, first contact the authorities. File a report and give them any evidence or information that you have.

Second, contact the carrier who delivered them. Each carrier has different requirements for reporting and what they will cover. Here are links to the main carriers to help you out:

- DHL
- FedEx
- UPS
- USPS

Technology Makes Us More Secure - Not More Vulnerable
Package thieves are likely always going to be a problem, especially as we do more and more of our shopping online. 

The technology that helps us do more shopping online can also help you be proactive in protecting your packages.

If you are interested in any of the smart security solutions we've talked about, give us a call at (225) 292-5276, visit our website at alarm.net, email us at office@alarm.net, or stop by our office - on the corner of Airline Hwy. and Siegen Ln. in Baton Rouge - for a live demonstration.

Know What's Happening When You Aren't There

Having a camera system installed in or outside of your home is a great idea but it can't protect you in real time. If you are robbed, all you can do is review the recorded footage in the hopes something was caught that the police can use. 

Our smart camera systems send you alerts so that you can ACT to protect your home. Enjoy instant, real-time video in or outside of your home at anytime and from anywhere. Built-in motion sensors record automatically as well as alerting your smart phone. In an alarm event, your home's cameras begin recording automatically, ensuring that you won't miss vital footage.

What Makes Our Cameras Better? 

Our wireless indoor and outdoor cameras let you see what's happening in HD resolution, with our newest cameras offering 1080p. Use your fingertips on your smartphone or tablet to zoom in for a close-up view. 

Our indoor cameras now also provide two-way audio, allowing you to check in and chat with your loved ones when you're away from home. 

When something goes bump in the night, our cameras' infrared night vision makes it easy to see what's going on. 

We also have smart video doorbells! 

When someone rings the bell, a live video feed opens on your smart phone showing you who's there in real time. Have a two-way conversation with your visitor via a connected microphone and speaker in the doorbell. 

Want to let them in? Unlock your door from the same app - whether you're home or not. Motion-triggered video alerts will also let you know if someone is moving around your front door whether they ring the bell or not…a great way to catch lurking thieves thinking of breaking in or stealing anything. 

Video Is Easily Viewed and Shared 

Using the same app that controls your security system, you can easily share your video clips via message, email, and even social media. 

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Call us at (225) 292-5276, visit us at alarm.net to learn more, or stop by the office - on the corner of Airline Hwy. and Siegen Lane - for a live demo!