Fall is here, and the school year is well underway! It’s a busy, exciting time for many families as the season changes and schoolyear activities pick up. But with more comings and goings from the house, it’s also a perfect time to instill kids home security best practices in your home.

Shorter days and darker nights in Southern California can provide more opportunities for potential criminals to take advantage. Take the necessary precautions and get the most out of your security system to ensure your family stays safe and protected during this back-to-school season.

Create Simple and Safe Security Routines

Busy back-to-school days can make your home feel like a constantly revolving door. Between making the bus and starting your workday on time and after-school activities like sports and clubs, there are likely many more short trips away from your home.

With changes and disruptions to your summer routine, something as simple as arming your security system can get overlooked.

Create a simple security routine for every family member when they arrive:

• Disarm your system upon entering and reset to the “Armed Stay” setting.
• Lock all doors behind you when leaving and entering. Don’t forget to double-check! Consider adding smart locks to your home to check your lock status when you’re away and remotely lock/unlock your door.
• Teach your children how to lock and unlock windows; if you open a window for fresh air, don’t leave it unattended. Always make sure to close and lock windows before leaving the house.
• Explain emergency contact information to your children and keep it somewhere visible, like the fridge or a bulletin board.
• Always arm your system when leaving the house, no matter how long you’re away.

Simplify Your Safety with Security Upgrades

With professional installation, your security system motion sensors should be well placed on your home’s first and second floors on all doors, windows, and other entry points. Second-story home break-ins are becoming increasingly common. Adding an extra layer of protection with motion sensors and glass break detectors on second-story windows can act as an additional deterrent.

Glass break detectors are only operational when your security system is armed. If glass breaks while you’re not at home, the sensors pick up the sound and activate the alarm system as a response (as long as the system is armed).

Consider additional upgrades and smart home features to get the most out of your back-to-school protection.

Back-to-School Smart Home Features

The total control of smart home security allows you to take your safety routine to the next level. For instance, instead of manually managing every aspect of your system, you can easily set rules and schedules:

• Set rules to arm your system automatically at certain times of day, like your usual leave time for school and work.
• Schedule indoor and outdoor lights to keep your home and property illuminated, whether you’re at home or not.
• Ease your mind on the go by double-checking that your system is armed and all doors are locked from the convenience of a single app.

Smart Locks for Kids Home Security

The days of hiding a key under the doormat or inside a planter are long gone. With smart locks, you can easily control who has access to your home and when with unique and temporary access codes for family members or guests, plus additional features like:

• Remote locking and unlocking and activity notifications ensure home-alone kids lock the door behind them.
• Smart speaker voice control ensures only family and welcome guests gain access.
• Unique access codes avoid the risk of lost keys and allow for monitoring of entry times for different family members.

Utilize Security Cameras

Security cameras are another way to monitor your home and family when you can’t be there. Doorbell cameras let you monitor your front door to ensure everyone is home from school or sports practices when they’re supposed to be.

Indoor motion sensor cameras with two-way voice control allow you to check in on everyone in the home. Plus, you can manage video surveillance and your other smart home schedules directly in one app.

Shields Up. Since 1956.

The back-to-school season should be a time of fun and excitement for the whole family. Going the extra mile to instill best practices in kids home security ensures that this season stays safe.

Post Alarm has always been a local, family-owned company, and we plan on staying that way. As a privately held, third-generation family business, Post has provided Alarm and Patrol Services to communities, neighborhoods, and homeowners since 1956.

Our family founded Post Alarm with a passion for protecting people and the neighborhoods we call home. Now, we’re one of the only local, full-service security organizations in Southern California. We provide professionally installed, fully integrated, customized security solutions that result in earlier threat detection and synchronized response, getting you help faster when it matters most.

Ready to start building your custom home security package? Reach out and get a free security quote today!

Autumn is upon us in Southern California! While that means a break from the summer sun and the chance to enjoy new seasonal activities, it also brings unique fall home security challenges.

Per the State of California Department of Justice, property crime and burglaries decreased at rates of 1.8% and 7.8%, respectively, across the state. However, the Los Angeles Police Chief reported that the number of burglaries this year has increased by 4%, and more than half of the locations targeted were residences. The fall season’s shorter days and darker nights create additional opportunities for these types of crimes. Take the necessary steps to protect your home and family during autumn and enjoy a safe and secure end of the year.

Fall Home Security: Protection Inside and Out

The start of a new season is the perfect opportunity to double-check your current home security system setup. Are all doors, windows, and entry points properly secure with functional locks? Post Alarm suggests that every door and window is equipped with a motion sensor. You should also consider glass break detectors, which trigger your alarm at the first sign of a forced window entry. Second-story burglaries are becoming increasingly common, and having motion detectors and glass break sensors on the second floor of your home is critical to your safety.

Installing motion-activated exterior lighting is another way to make the outside of your home even safer. Well-lit door entries and driveways provide visibility of potential threats and act as a deterrent to intruders. A bright, active space is much less of an easy target than one with plenty of hiding places.

For example, the 4MP Outdoor Floodlight Camera from Post Alarm offers a powerful response to unwanted visitors. It combines lights (flood light, strobe light, and flashing blue and red lights), a siren, high-quality video recording, and two-way audio for proactive security measures and improved visibility.

On that note, ensure all your security cameras, including doorbell cameras, exterior video surveillance cameras, and any interior two-way voice cameras, operate correctly.

Protect Your Perimeter with Smart Home Features

Utilizing everything your smart home security system offers can make preparing for fall security that much easier. For example, use timers or in-app controls for indoor lights to give the appearance of someone being home, even when you’re away.

Consider upgrading to smart locks and get total control over who can access your home and when. Plus, enjoy great features like:

• Keyless entry to avoid fumbling around for keys in the dark or risking an intruder finding your hidden spare key.
• You can have peace of mind knowing your home is secure with remote locking and unlocking capabilities and real-time notifications of activity.
• Use smart speaker voice control as an extra layer of security against unwanted visitors.

Fall season is also a great time to shore up your home’s perimeter protection. Conduct a thorough inspection and repair any fences and gates and trim shrubs and trees nearby to improve visibility and eliminate potential hiding areas.

And don’t forget about with Night Shield® from Post Alarm, our proprietary event-based live video monitoring service, agents monitor your property for unusual activity in real time. If a threat is detected and video verified during overnight hours, our monitoring agents coordinate faster responses from our Patrol and local Law Enforcement.

Fall Security: Situational Awareness in Public at Night

Autumn is prime hiking time in beautiful California. But should you find it getting dark when you’ve finished, or you’re just stepping out in your neighborhood for an evening walk, some general safety tips to consider include:

• Stay in well-lit areas. If you’re walking anywhere (including just the neighborhood with your dog), plan to take routes with good street lighting, bring a flashlight, and wear reflective or bright clothing so drivers are aware of your presence.
• Remember, there is safety in numbers. Coordinate walking or hiking with a group instead of venturing out alone.
• Know before you go: emergency exits. Anytime you’re in public spaces, make sure to be aware of the nearest exits so you know where to go in an emergency.
• Always trust your instincts. If something or someone makes you uncomfortable, there’s a reason. Never be afraid to leave an area or situation and seek help if necessary.

Protect Yourself and Your Vehicle

More than likely, this fall, you’ll find yourself driving to evening activities and outings. When you are out and about, there are many safety checklist items to keep in mind to maintain situational awareness:

• Remain alert and focused while driving or walking to your parked car: avoid distractions like looking at your phone or wearing headphones.
• Keep your hands free, and your belongings secure so that you can react faster if you need to defend yourself. Always get your keys ready before making your way to your vehicle.
• Be aware of your blind spots when parking and other drivers’ blind spots when walking.
• Always check your car before entering for signs of an intruder, attempted forced entry, or any damage to your vehicle.

You should never be frightened when leaving your home, but a little preparation and mindfulness can ensure you’re ready for any situation.

Shields Up. Since 1956.

Fall is an exciting time of year with many seasonal hallmarks to look forward to. At Post Alarm, we want all our customers to feel safe and protected throughout the season. Taking the proper steps for fall home security ensures it stays a happy time worth celebrating.

Post Alarm has always been a local, family-owned company, and we plan on staying that way. As a privately held, third-generation family business, Post has provided Alarm and Patrol Services to communities, neighborhoods, and homeowners since 1956.

Our family founded Post Alarm with a passion for protecting people and the neighborhoods we call home. Now, we’re one of the only local, full-service security organizations in Southern California. We provide professionally installed, fully integrated, customized security solutions that result in earlier threat detection and synchronized response, getting you help faster when it matters most.

Ready to start building your custom home security package? Reach out and get a free security quote today!