New Jersey Residents Prepare For Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy has already devastated the Carribean and it is on course to hit the New York and New Jersey Area as early as Monday. In a worst case scenario, the hurricane may merge with a strong cold front from the west, creating a 'superstorm'. Severe wind and heavy rain is expected to cause coastal flooding and downed power lines. Hurricane Sandy is a serious storm and New Jersey residents should be prepared. Here are several tips for making it through the storm as safely as possible.

• Fill up your gas tank before the hurricane hits.
• Make sure to have first aid kits on hand and any perscriptions filled.
• Clear gutters of debris.
• Reinforce doors and windows, including garage doors.
• Bring outdoor furniture inside.
• Fill a bathtub with water.
• Make sure your sump pump is functional.
• Have enough drinking water and non-perishable food to last for at least one week.
• Make sure you have enough food for your pets as well.
• Know the location of the nearest shelter/pet friendly shelter.
• Store important documents in a water proof container.
• Have cellphones fully charged - purchase a hand crank charger if necessary.
• Have flashlights and batteries available.
• If you will be away during the storm, consider investing in a flood detection system. This system can alert you if your home is at risk and severe flooding and damage can be prevented.
• Have a generator installed in your home to prevent power and sump pump failure. This will help to prevent flooding, keep food fresh in the fridge/freezer and allow for lighting and charging of devices.

Call T&R Alarm Systems today at 973-948-2827 for more information about generators and pricing.

Burglary Spree In New Jersey Has Homeowners On Alert

Residents of Morris and Somerset Counties in New Jersey are on high alert this week. The ‘James Bond Gang’ has broken into dozens of homes in the area over the past year and a half, and they recently struck again. The organized burglary ring, estimated at between 30-50 members,  is known for its quick escapes. The group generally targets homes in wealthy neighborhoods with easy access to highways and their most recent burglary in Chatham, N.J. was no different.  After cutting phone lines to disable the alarm system, members forced their way into the home, located off the Morris Turnpike. Gold jewelry was stolen, likely because it can be melted down and is not easily traced, and the burglars fled the scene. Though the alarm system was disabled, several photos were taken of four masked men by a CCTV system in the home. Unfortunately, the burglars have not yet been caught. To protect your home or business from a similar incident, consider investing in an alarm system that communicates via cellular transmitter.  These systems, which communicate suspicious activity to a central station, cannot be disabled when phone lines are cut.

Benefits of A Temperature Detection Sensor

A temperature detection sensor is a useful tool for both homes and businesses. This add on to your alarm system can protect your property in numerous ways. You can set the sensor to a minium or maximum temperature (or both) to trigger an alarm and ensure that you are contacted if your home or business hits this temperature. This can be beneficial, for example, if you are away on vacation and your thermostat stops working. You will be alerted and can take steps to prevent your pipes from freezing. This type of sensor can also benefit businesses, for example, that house computer servers. If the cooling system in a server room fails, the servers can overheat leading to catastrophic damage to expensive equiptment. A temperature detection sensor will alert you if the room begins to get to warm, helping you to stop the problem before it even starts. Consider installing this type of system in conjuction with your burglar or fire alarms and contact T & R Alarm Systems Today.

Social Networking And Security Dangers

Social media is a great way to connect and share with friends and loved ones, but sometimes you can share too much. If your page isn't private or you don't really know everyone on your friend list, you can be putting yourself at risk for burglary attempts. An obvious problem is posting too much personal information on social networking sites including phone numbers and addresses. A second, often overlooked problem is sharing photos and statuses regarding vacations and being away from the home. Letting everyone know that your home is empty poses a security risk. Burglars targeting Facebook users in particular is becoming a trend, likely because Facebook users are more prone to posting personal information along with their vacation photos and status updates. A burglar ring in New Hampshire was recently busted after 50 break-ins and over $100,000 dollars of property were stolen based on tips recieved through Facebook that residents were away from home. Another recent incident involved a woman posting information that she was away for a concert; a former 'friend' she was connected to on Facebook took the opportunity to steal $10,000 worth of property from her home. You can easily prevent this though, simply from limiting the type of information you post and uploading vacation photos after you return. If you absolutely can't resist posting your pictures right away, make sure you at the very least have an alarm system installed.

Fire Alarm Installation NJ

Having fire alarms installed in your home is necessary. A fire can happen any time, and they can flare up suddenly, possibly destroying your home and all your belongings. Because of this, fire alarm installation in NJ is extremely important.

T&R Alarm Co. is one of the premiere installers of fire alarms and security systems in the Tri-State Area. We install a wide variety of systems, including burglar alarms, CCTV systems, intercoms, and door access controls. Fire alarm installation in NJ is a simple task for a company with our type of expertise.

Please contact T&R Alarm at 1-800-486-5019 if you are interested in fire alarm installation in NJ. We will be more than happy to assist you.

Top Five Most Secure Locations In The United States

ADX Florence Supermax Prison

This Colorado based prison holds some of the most ruthless criminals and terrorists alive today. All prisoners are kept in solitary confinement for nearly 24 hours a day, their entire cells are made of concrete and the small windows are designed so that only the sky can be seen and location within the prison cannot be determined. The facility is rigged with motion detectors, cameras and lasers. The 1400 steel doors are remote controlled and pressure pads line the walls. There are guard dogs, armed security guards and of course a twelve foot high barbed wire fence.

The United States Bullion Depository

Also known as Fort Knox, the United States Gold Bullion Depository is one of the most famous secure loctations on this list. Over 4500 tons of gold are stored at the location and it has housed several important documents including original copies of th U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence and Magna Carta. The gold vault, which is housed under the fort, is protected by a 22 ton blast proof door. No single person knows the combination of the vault; several individuals each know a portion of the combination. If someone did happen to make it into the main vault, they would still need to get into the smaller vaults which house the gold. The facility is fenced in and monitored by armed guards and alarms and security cameras are located througout the premises.

Area 51

No one knows exactly what goes on in this "secret" military base in Nevada, though conspiracy theorists speculate is has something to do with aliens. Regardless of what you believe, or what actually goes on in Area 51, you can be sure of one thing: the location is very secure. The area is patrolled by a subcontracted security company, riding around in camouflage Humvees and armed with M-16s. There are motion sensors in the ground and numerous security cameras, some with night vision. Though it isn't difficult to spot the location if you are in the area, you can't find it on any U.S. government map.

Cheyenne Mountain

The Cheyenne Mountain Complex was until recently home to NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command. The location was developed during the Cold War to monitor any potential missile or nuclear threats against the United States and Canada. The complex is built into the side of a solid granite mountain and designed to handle large explosions; there are two 25 ton blast doors which can survive a 30 megaton blast from over a mile away. The complex contains a 4.5 acre underground grid of tunnels and several freestanding steel plated buildings on springs which allow the complex to move an entire foot in either direction should there be an earthquake or large blast.

Federal Reserve Bank Of New York

The only location on this list housed in a big city, the Federal Reserve Bank Of New York holds even more gold than Fort Knox. The vault, which contains over $270 billion worth of gold, is located 80 feet under street level at the bottom of a three story bunker. Just like Fort Knox, no single person knows the combination of the vault, and three separate security teams monitor it. Closed circuit cameras and detectors sound off when the vault is opened and several locks are on time delay. To top it off, the vault is air and water tight.

Photo of Missing NJ Teen Snapped By Security Camera

Missing New Jersey Teen, Kara Alongi, was spotted this Sunday on security camera footage in a Rahway train station. The single photo alerted police to Kara's whereabouts and the valuable information that she was alone and safe. Though this certainly was a comfort to her parents, she was not located until Tuesday afternoon when she called authorities from a Southern New Jersey Burger King. Kara was taken to a hospital, standard procedure for any missing child, and then returned home to her family. Police have scheduled an interview with the teen and will determine if she will face any charges for the panic inducing tweet that lead to dozens of concerned phone calls and wasted police resources. We're thankful that she is home now, and that her parents may have been spared some anxiety in regards to her abduction after seeing the security camera footage of her alone and safe. Public transportation hubs are a prime location in need of proper security and surveillance equipment. It is fortunate that this particular station was equipped with security cameras; many missing persons cases and criminal cases have been solved with the help of these devices.

Door Access Control Systems NJ

Are you considering installing a door access control system in NJ? This is a great security measure for homes and offices and comes with a slew of benefits. If you lose a key you won't have to buy new keys or change looks anymore. Instead of keys you get to use electronic access cards or fobs, and if they go missing you can deactivate the control system and re-set it. This saves you the trouble of looking for the missing card, and saves you the worry of someone else using it to break in to your home. On the topic of security, your door will automatically lock when you close it, so you don't need to fret about accidentally leaving it unlocked anymore.

There are even more security features included in a door access control system in NJ. Every entry to your building is recorded and saved, so that the information can be pulled up and reviewed at a later date, if needed. If any crime is committed in your building, landlords can investigate it with the help of these records. Another point to consider: regular keys are easy to copy but electronic keys are much more technical and difficult to replicate. This fact will deter strangers from trying to enter your property.

Our highly-trained and experienced technicians at T&R, use a wide variety of popular security products, such as: Brivo, Keri, Honeywell, SDC, Securitron, Alvarado, Bosh, Continental, Door King, and more. For more information about installing a door access control system in NJ, give us a call at 1-800-486-5019.

New Jersey Teen Tweets Someone Is In Her Home, Goes Missing

A sixteen year old girl from Clark, NJ tweeted that someone was in her home on Sunday evening. She urged her followers to call 911, and then she went missing. She was home alone at the time and it was originally believed that she may have been abducted. Now police believe the tweet may have been a hoax. Police dogs tracked the girls scent out the back door of her house, through a neighbor’s yard and around the corner back onto her block where the trail went cold. It has been confirmed that a taxi company was called to the teens address around the same time as the tweet was posted and that a taxi driver picked up a girl matching her description and brought her to a Rahway, NJ train station. Police are still searching for the girl and her family and friends hope for her safe return. Though this particular break in may have been a hoax, it is important to keep your family safe. If you leave your older teen home alone, help to ensure their safety with a home security system. T & R Alarm Systems can install a burglar alarm in your New Jersey or tri-state area home that best suits your personal safety concerns and budget needs.

Five Simple Home Security Tips

Protecting your home and valuables isn’t always easy, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. There are several simple steps you can take to make your home (or business) safer. First and foremost, have a security system installed. There are a variety of options available to suit your needs and budget. A security system can alert your family and the authorities that an intruder is attempting to enter your home. More advanced security systems may include CCTV components which can help police to identify intruders should they flee the scene. Second, lock your doors and windows every time you go out; a burglar can clear out your valuables in the 10 minutes it takes to pick your child up from school. Third, be careful who you trust. It is unfortunate, but you can’t always let just anyone into your home; a friend of a friend can be scoping out your house for easy entry points and expensive items.  Fourth, take photos of your belongings, particularly valuable items and their receipts if you have them. This is important when trying to prove these items were stolen from your home. Finally, back up your data and store it in a different location. Any photos or documents that you want to keep should be stored on a flash drive and/or external hard drive and kept separately from your computer. These easy tips can save you from a lot of hassle, please consider utilizing them now, before a problem ever arises.

Security Camera Foils Laptop Thief In Philadelphia

All it took to stop a spree of laptop thefts in Philadelphia this past May was a single security camera. A gentleman stole three laptops from office buildings in downtown Philadelphia before he was caught on camera. Luckily, one of the businesses he stole from had a CCTV system installed. A clear photo of the man was taken and distributed by police. The man was identified and taken into custody. Protect your home or business with a CCTV system, call T&R Alarm Systems today for a quote.