LifeShield May 2012 Newsletter

Burglary Bulls Eye

Is your home a likely crime target?

Residential burglaries have been on the rise recently, despite an overall decline in the rate of violent crimes in the U.S.  If you’re a renter or homeowner, it’s tempting to try and play against the odds—betting your home won’t become one of this year’s crime statistics. But here’s what statistics show: if you don’t have a home security system like LifeShield, you might be pressing your luck.

Although the homes targeted for burglaries may seem to be random, data has shown that most locations are well thought out in advance. Police and criminologists have seen patterns in residential burglaries, and there’s only a small likelihood that you’ll be able to dodge them all. Here are some of the factors criminals use to single out a home to burglarize:

Money Matters

Affluent homes—those costing more than $300,000–make the best targets for thieves, simply because these are more likely to yield a bigger profit. Many of these homes have residential safes, expensive electronics, valuable new and heirloom gold jewelry, even tools and other equipment that can be turned around for a quick profit.

But if you’re in an area with less expensive homes, you’re still vulnerable unless you have a security system like LifeShield installed. Burglars understand many of these homeowners are more distrustful of banks, which means homeowners are more likely to hide cash in the house. Prominent yard signs and window stickers are usually enough to dissuade them from even trying to burglarize your home.

Location, Location, Location

If your home is on a large lot, in a cul-de-sac or at the end of a dead-in street, you’re an easy mark. Thieves know they can come and go at their own pace without the detection of close, prying neighbors who may be on a more heightened alert these days for unfamiliar people or vehicles.

If you don’t live in the areas listed above and think you’re in the clear – think again.  Burglars often rely on daytime distractions – the sights and sounds of regular urban life – to provide cover, especially for burglaries that take place during the day.  Burglars know it’s more likely that homeowners in these busy areas are working and away from their homes for long periods of time.  Simply put, empty homes are easy targets.

Social Media

It’s great to let all your friends know that you’re vacationing with your family in Hawaii this year or having lunch with your friends at a trendy bistro on the other side of town, but when you’re posting pictures of yourself on the beach or the Panini you just ordered, do you really know who’s going to get those posts?

At this point, there are so many ways to connect that it’s easy to become careless. You may think you’ve kept your privacy intact, but you can’t actually be sure unless you’re certain you know all of your friends, the friends of their friends and even those friends. If you have children, consider those 2,000+ people they “know” too. It’s almost impossible to control or even monitor their web of social and business connections. 

Burglars use the most popular gathering sites to gain information. If they suspect your home will be a good potential target, they’ll go to location sites like Google Maps to get a street view of your property before they even approach it. This allows them to plan exactly how they can execute their crime and getaway without being detected.

If you “like” LifeShield on Facebook^TM and follow LifeShield on Twitter^TM, you’ll get the latest security updates, but you’ll also send a clear signal to everyone that home security is a top priority for you.  It suddenly makes you a much less desirable target. 

Carelessness

In one Washington State suburb, thieves have recently used movie theatres parking lots to find their targets. They hang out in or near the lot, and watch people and families heading into the metroplex. Then they can casually check to see if there are unlocked cars. Once in the cars, they find an owner’s vehicle registration in the center console or glove box which gives them your home address.

Calculating time for movies and trailers, these burglars know they’ve got a couple of hours to execute their crime. If it’s a family movie, chances are everyone in the house went along.

It’s easy to imagine how similar scenarios could play out in the parking lots of malls and grocery stores.  It doesn’t have to be that way.  Think of how surprised these burglars would be if they got to your house and saw prominent LifeShield security signs and stickers!

Architecture and Landscaping

If there’s been a recent burglary anywhere in your area, that automatically puts your home at risk. Often, the architecture in residential communities is similar, with only color and trim distinguishing one home from another. A single residential access in an area means that now burglars know potentially vulnerable entry and exit points, as well as the location of bedrooms, home offices and family rooms.

Fences, trees, shrubbery—these are all wonderful for ensuring your privacy, but they can also give cover to burglars.  Plus, if you have a driveway, especially one that’s circular, or if you live on an alley, these are residential features that can guarantee a quick getaway.

The Fix

You can get a big dog, put your lights on timers, adjust all your online privacy settings, or even hide your valuables in an empty soda can. All of those things make good deterrents, but studies here and abroad have consistently shown that having a home security system is the best way to make sure your home doesn’t become a crime statistics. 

Having visible evidence that your home is professionally protected gives property owners that small edge—the one thing—that will cause anyone casing your home or your neighborhood to move to the next house instead of yours. Get your neighbors involved too.  It’s actually a great idea to encourage all your neighbors to get home security.  Once you’re using LifeShield, check out the referral program to get everyone on your block protected.  You make money and your whole block stays safe. 

Easy Money

It’s the LifeShield Refer-a-Friend Program.

You get $150 whenever one of your neighbors, friends or colleagues signs up for LifeShield on your recommendation!**

You get the cash.  They get the same LifeShield protection and safety you have.  And there is NO limit on the money you can earn.

LifeShield, Inc.

Easy Ornament Storage Solution

Once the excitement has died down and the holiday celebrations are over, it’s time to pack things up for next year. But, you’ve lost some of the boxes and you need an easy way to store your ornaments and decorations. Luckily, egg cartons are an eco-friendly option and your ornaments will be kept safe and secure. They also allow for easy stacking and labeling so nothing is lost for next year!

LifeShield, Inc.

Fireplace Safety

Spring is a great time to clean out your fireplace and prepare it for the spring and summer. You can ensure your fireplace is equipped with a screen that will prevent sparks from escaping and landing on carpets or wood flooring near the fireplace

LifeShield, Inc.

Ventilate Computer Equipment

Home computer equipment generates a substantial amount of heat when left running all day. The built-in cooling fans will only work if the vents are not obstructed. Do not keep computers running inside closed cabinet doors or tight spaces, or it your computer could overheat and start a fire.

LifeShield, Inc.

Inside Sales Representatives

We’re Hiring! Inside Sales – $50,000 to $75,000 first year potential (Bucks County, PA)

LifeShield is growing and we need your help in our Sales department! LifeShield is the first national, professional grade and professionally monitored wireless security system that provides superior protection and the best value in total home security. We offer affordable security solutions to homes, apartments, and small businesses across the U.S.

Interested in a first year of potential of $50,000.00 with little to no previous sales experience, or up to $75,000.00 with experience? It can be had, and it can be had here, if you’re made of the right stuff.

We are seeking the area’s best and brightest sales professionals, but we’ll also hire for aptitude & attitude and make the investment in training the right people too. If you’re interested in joining, and contributing to, our success, then we’re interested in talking to you. This is a perfect opportunity for college students and recent graduates to get started in a rewarding career.

LifeShield promotes an environment where competition exists, where consistency and creativity aren’t paradoxical, and affords our team members to express their opinion, to pilot new approaches, and to help influence and shape policy and/or sales approach(es). Our call centers are staffed with enthusiastic, energetic, and eager professionals.

Being a successful sales professional at LifeShield will rely on you embracing several disciplines and utilizing them on a routine basis. Being consistent in this role is fundamental to becoming accomplished. These disciplines vary from embracing the use of a new or revised script, generating interest about a promotion, and asking for the business from the people your charged with talking to.

No cold calls, all leads are provided, and opportunity is abundant!

Full time shifts from 8:00am to 5:00pm and 1:00pm to 10:00pm available
Part time shift of 6:00pm to 12:00am

LifeShield, Inc.

Dumb Criminals Prove Why We Need Alarm Systems

Dumb criminals are extremely talented. They can take basic human feelings such as greed and jealousy and turn them into a series of spectacularly bad decisions. The end results are the hilarious stories that spread around the news like wildfire.

We love hearing about stupid criminals and their unsuccessful burglaries and crimes. It’s always fun to read about the burglars who leave their cell phones or wallets behind when they break in to homes. There are a few true “geniuses” who deserve special recognition for their efforts:

• The burglar who logged into this Facebook account while robbing a house, and then left the page up on the web browser after he left.
• The stupid bike thief who stole a bike and tried to sell it on Craig’s List the same day. The victim found the ad, arranged to meet with the thief and the police arrested him.
• The dumb criminals who tried to steel beer from a convenience store in front of 4 police officers
• The burglar who wanted to rob a house by entering through the chimney, where he remained stuck for 12 hours until the fire department pulled him out.
• The many criminals who have unique tattoos on their faces, which lead to their identification, arrest and conviction 100% of the time.
• The robber asked the clerk out on a date and left her his name and phone number, and then robbed the store.
• The tired thief who broke into a home and then took a nap in one of the beds, where the homeowners found him upon their return.

We can laugh about these stupid burglars and thieves now while we are safe in our homes and offices, but because of their complete lack of common sense, we never know when a dumb criminal could strike. And just because they are foolish doesn’t mean they can’t cause a lot of damage.

In order to protect yourself from having to deal with any of these, make sure you incorporate these common sense tips into your daily routines:

1. Always lock your car doors, even if you live in a super-safe neighborhood or just need to run inside for a minute. It’s tempting for teenagers and amateur crooks to steal your change, grab your GPS, or even leave a door open, which can leave you with a dead car battery in the morning.
2. Always lock any sheds and garages, and never leave your power tools or garden implements outside unattended. All it takes is a moment to spark a bad idea in the mind of a dumb burglar.
3. Be careful about posting vacation plans on Facebook and Twitter. You never know when one of your acquaintances is really a wannabe robber.
4. Don’t leave boxes for new expensive TVs and other equipment outside on garbage day. A stupid thief may get the bright idea to break in and steal your new toy.
5. Home alarm systems are the ultimate dumb criminal deterrent, but they only work when you use them every day and night.

Common sense tricks likes these can help thwart dumb criminals. You are a lot smarter than they are, so use your smarts and make sure that the only contact you have with stupid criminals is by watching them on the nightly news.

LifeShield, Inc.

Keep the Real Critters Out

While most humans love the smell of peppermint, mice hate it. Leave drops of peppermint oil around your home, especially along windows and door frames, in order to keep mice and other critters out of home without chemicals or poisons.

LifeShield, Inc.