The Benefits of a Locally Owned and Operated Central Station

Aren’t all central stations for alarm monitoring relatively the same? Not at all.

The truth is, roughly 90% of electronic security companies don’t actually own their own central station. Instead, they use a third party provider that pretends to be the customer’s security company when they respond to an alarm signal. These third party central stations could be in an entirely different state than the companies they represent. That hardly inspires confidence in their ability to dispatch your local police or fire responders if you have an emergency.

The Better Approach for Alarm Monitoring

A much better approach is to use a locally owned and operated central station — preferably, one that is owned by your alarm company. That’s what we offer at Post Alarm. We own and operate our own central station, which means your home or business security system is being monitored by the same team who understands how your system was designed and installed.

Furthermore, our trained security agents are located onsite at your alarm company, based in your own community. Their familiarity with the area makes them uniquely qualified to respond to your specific emergency.

Other Advantages to Local Alarm Monitoring

Relationships with local police. We have strong relationships with our local law enforcement — the same police departments that are responding to our customers’ emergencies. When police know your alarm is being monitored by a local central station they’re familiar with, they often have more confidence in the validity of your alarm. The result? A coordinated effort, which allows for faster response.
Faster response times. With a third party monitoring center, wait times are excessively long; that’s because, due to the prevalence of false alarms, sometimes police need to lower the priority of most alarm signals (unless they are video verified). At Post Alarm, our response times consistently outpace the response times of our competitors. Our close relationships with local law enforcement make a real difference in the response times we can provide you.
Prompt troubleshooting and repair. Our close proximity also enables us to provide better repair service. If a problem is detected with your system, we will text or call you immediately from our own central station located right here in SoCal. Your problem can be troubleshooted and repaired faster, minimizing the time that your property is unprotected.

These are some of the most important reasons to choose a locally owned and operated central station for alarm monitoring. To learn more about our locally owned and operated central station at Post Alarm, contact us today. We’ll be glad to answer your questions.

About Post Alarm

To learn more about Southern California security technology, come see us at Post Alarm. Our highly qualified and experienced home security experts can answer all your questions. Call us today at 1-800-654-7678.

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Showing Your Home Some Love

It’s a time to show love to everyone—and everything—that matters in your life. If that includes your home, one great way to do this is with essential enhancements to the security system. By stepping up from our Light & Easy package to our Professional Home bundle, you can enjoy total integration of security and smart home technology. In fact, our Professional Home bundle even provides personal care benefits that are ideal for yourself and your loved ones.

Exterior Cameras

Crime continues to rise throughout Southern California, so now is the time to have cameras installed outside near all your access points. With additional outdoor camera placement, you’ll see more than who’s on the front porch. You’ll also know who’s lurking in the yard, inching toward the back door or scoping out your bedroom windows. One of the most loving things a homeowner can do for the family is to add extra camera protection.

Auto Door Locks

There are locks, and then there are automated locks you control with your smartphone. By upgrading to Professional Home, you can get intelligent locking devices put on your doors to replace your outdated doorknob locks. This means no more fishing for keys in the dark or leaving a key for the neighbor who’s housesitting. Just tap on your phone to unlock the door for yourself or whoever you’re granting access to. It’s simpler and more secure.

Night Shield

It’s unfortunate, but many of our local neighborhoods simply aren’t as safe now. With the Professional Home bundle, we provide you with our Night Shield dispatching service for additional protection. Night Shield includes intelligent cameras that send suspicious activity alerts directly to our local, Southern California alarm monitoring center. From there, our agents dispatch our own Post Alarm patrol officers or local law enforcement to your home.

Stepping up to the Professional Home bundle is an excellent way to show your home and family more love this Valentine’s Day. To learn more about the features included, give us a call at Post Alarm.

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New Year’s Security Resolutions for Your Home

It’s not too late to make some more New Year’s resolutions, especially if they’re for the security of your home and family. Crimes ranging from porch theft to home burglary to assault have spiked throughout Southern California, and these unfortunate trends are on track to continue throughout 2022. It’s still the beginning of the year, so now is the time to get prepared by adding these to your home security repertoire.

Home Security Cameras

Many homeowners have doorbell cameras, and that’s a great thing. But to canvas your home in protection, you need additional home security cameras. That’s why our Professional Home bundle includes both. With this package, you can get the comprehensive camera coverage you need, locally based security system monitoring, and smartphone integration of all your home security services, starting at the low price of $1,088.

Night Shield®

There are cameras, and then there are night-vision cameras with analytics. With the low-light capability and true smart analytics with these powerful devices, intruders on your property will be unable to elude being caught on camera. And with our Night Shield® service, you can take your nighttime home security to the next level.

Being a Post Alarm Night Shield customer is like having your own private security team at home. When an intruder is detected on your home security camera at night, our monitoring center enters a description of the suspect and Patrol or local enforcement is dispatched to your home immediately. Our Patrol and Dispatch Center are trained to work with your local police, increasing the likelihood of the suspect being apprehended.

For a more protected home in 2022, let us help you fulfill these home security resolutions. Call Post Alarm today to learn more about our Professional Home bundle and exclusive Night Shield service.

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Put a Halt to Holiday House Fires

It’s the holiday season again, and you want yours to be memorable for all the right reasons. One way to make sure your family enjoys this time of year as much as possible is by doing everything you can to reduce your risk of a house fire. Here are some important tips for lowering your fire risk at home during the holidays.

Be smart with your Christmas tree.

According to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 160 home fires that started with Christmas trees every year from 2015 to 2019. Sadly, these fires caused an annual average of two deaths, 12 injuries, and $10 million in direct property damage. To help prevent this from happening to your family, you can:

Buy a tree closer to Christmas day from a farm that allows you to watch it be freshly cut.
Water your tree every day you use it, and promptly take it down once it dries out.
Keep your tree away from direct heat sources like radiators, space heaters, and candles.

Use heat and candles with caution.

That last guideline is overlooked far too often, with tragic consequences. The NFPA reports in two out of every five decoration fire incidents, the decoration was too close to a heat source such as a candle or heating equipment. Candles cause 45% of the home decoration fires that fire departments respond to every December. The NFPA recommends you keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything flammable.

Put safety first with cooking and baking.

The NFPA states the three peak days for home cooking fires are Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and Christmas Eve. Whether holiday foods are cooking on the stove or in the oven, stay nearby and turn off the appliance immediately if anything begins to burn.

NFPA data also shows that cooking equipment was involved in one out of every five home decoration fires. To prevent this, keep decorative items, including kitchen towels, at least 12 inches away from cooking equipment and appliances.

Protect your home with fire detection.

In addition to having the required number of working smoke detectors in your home, you need a fire alert system that responds to a fire emergency and quickly gets help to your home. At Post Alarm, we own and operate our own UL-listed monitoring station; that’s where our locally-based agents dispatch fire and emergency services to your home the moment you need them. To get this protection for your home and family, call Post Alarm today. We’ll be glad to answer your questions.

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DIY Security for Dads this Father’s Day

The past year has brought about some big changes for dads. Some spent months working from home and are now going back to their onsite workplaces. Others may still work from home but have limited time to spend on home improvement projects due to the demands of remote employment.

If one of those dads lives with you, consider giving him the gift of a simple, starter DIY home security system from Post Alarm. Our Light & Easy system is easy for Dad to install himself and includes all the essentials your family needs to feel secure at home.

Self-Installation Security Features

Light & Easy contains all the basics of a high-quality starter security system, including:

Three door and window sensors and one motion detector.
A powerful touchscreen keypad control panel with an embedded interior camera.
A high-decibel alarm siren with audibility that scares off intruders.
An infrared pet-immune motion detector prevents the alarm from sounding if the “intruder” is a pet rather than a person.
Auto door locks to help your family move past the security risks of traditional door locks.

This system is everything Dad needs for a simple but effective home security setup. In addition, to have this system monitored by our locally-based central station, we make it easy to budget at just $43 per month.

Add-On Features for Now of the Future

As a starter security system, Light & Easy has the ability for you to expand its features, either now or in the future.

Night Shield®
An excellent add-on option is Night Shield®, our overnight security patrol service that uses smart and AI technology to help families throughout Southern California stay protected from vehicle theft and nighttime prowling. With the spike in vehicle theft throughout Los Angeles County, Night Shield® is valuable in the crime-heavy summer months.

Please note Night Shield® is exclusively available in areas with Post Alarm Patrol service.

Doorbell Camera
The doorbell camera tells you who’s at the front door and lets you communicate with them via the two-way voice speaker. If you have kids and parents coming home at different times of day, a doorbell camera is a great way to keep family routines connected. Using smartphone integration, you can unlock the door for delivery drivers and ask them to leave your packages inside.

Smartphone Integration
If Dad and Mom want the convenience of controlling these features using their smartphones, we make smartphone integration an optional add-on to the Light & Easy package. Connecting your Light & Easy system to your smartphone is the best way to maximize its effectiveness.

We make DIY security easy for the dad in your life, so call Post Alarm today to give him the gift of home security this Father’s Day. We’re ready to help you get started.

About Post Alarm

To learn more about any of the home security technologies discussed here, contact Post Alarm today. Our highly qualified and experienced home security experts can answer all your questions. Call us today at 1-800-654-7678.

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What We Can Learn from How HOAs Approach Security

Owners of single-family homes can learn a lot from homeowner associations (HOAs) in their approach to security. After all, HOAs are often responsible for the security of dozens, if not hundreds, of homes. Because of this, HOAs have traditionally been early adopters of video surveillance, private patrols, and other security services. Here are some HOA insights from which homeowners can learn.

Lots of visitors means lots of risk.

In some HOA communities, there can be endless streams of neighbors moving in and out all year-round. On top of that, all of these residents have their own visitors frequenting the property. This is one reason HOAs go strong on security; they know even if all of their homeowners are law-abiding, there could be visitors who have criminal intentions. All of these factors inform the decisions of those responsible for HOA security. They can inform you when considering what home security measures you need to take as the owner of a single-family home.

Private patrols and nighttime surveillance can help.

An HOA may consider taking advantage of our Private Patrol Services that deter property crime with their consistent presence and vigilance. Homeowners like you can get incredible security benefits from our NightShield monitoring service: patrol, smart video, text alerts, and nighttime dispatch while you sleep. Combining the technology behind both of these services sets up a complete shield of protection that is incredibly efficient at deterring crime for HOAs and single-family homes.

Extra security is worth the investment.

If you’re the owner of a single-family home, you can supplement NightShield and other video surveillance with our Private Patrol Services. As our local patrol team members get to know your neighborhood, they promptly flag what they recognize as unusual activity. Next, they communicate with authorities so the activity can be investigated right away. The services are easily customized to your preference, and additional services such as vacation-watch are also available—a valuable security measure to take advantage of in the summer months. There’s a lot that owners of single-family homes can learn from the security insights of homeowner associations.

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Reasons to Go Pro with Home Security in 2021

Reasons to Go Pro with Home Security in 2021

There are lots of things you can do yourself around the house successfully, with effective results. However, installing your own home security system isn’t one of them. The truth is, the home security systems people install themselves are nothing more than basic burglar alarms – and in Los Angeles County, most homeowners need more proactive intervention.

In 2021, it’s time to go pro with your home security technology. Here are some of the most important reasons to do it.

Protection against home invasion.

When it comes to home invasion, there’s good news and bad news. LAPD data shows that 2020 had the lowest home invasions in a decade; however, more than 13,000 were still reported. 2021 is the year to get serious about protecting your home against break-ins, so that criminals will be further discouraged to attempt this crime.

If a lawbreaker is foolish enough to attempt a break-in, your professional security system will trigger the audible alarm while also calling our central station monitoring center. All of this happens automatically, and gets the police to your home much faster than a do-it-yourself system would.

Protection for your outdoor property.

Here, we’re referring to your personal vehicles and any other equipment you may have outside. The LAPD reported almost 21,000 automobile thefts in 2020, and that crime continues to be on the uptick as we move further into the new year. A home security system that’s professionally installed, monitored and integrated with cameras specifically designed for overnight protection is the best way to guard your entire property from crime.

Protection from environmental risks.

A professional security system can also protect your family from dangerous environmental risks: fire, carbon monoxide and flooding. This happens with system components like:

Smart smoke detectors that communicate with our monitoring center.
A carbon monoxide (CO) detector to alert you when this toxic, unscented gas is present.
High water sensors that detect flooding before it becomes catastrophic.

Protection from high energy bills.

An amateur security system does nothing to protect you from the rising cost of utilities. In the hot summer months of Southern California, a professional security system with smart home technology can put your thermostats and lighting on autopilot to reduce the money you spend on energy. If you’ve never heard about using your home security system to keep your energy bills down, ask us for more info.

These are the reasons why choosing a professional security system means choosing protection for your family. For questions about making this choice in 2021, call Post Alarm today. We’ll be happy to speak with you.

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Introducing Night Shield by Post Alarm

Newly released LAPD data shows that the second most common crime of 2020 in Los Angeles was car theft. Shockingly, the pandemic led to a 33% increase in the crime, with 20,934 vehicles stolen last year.

Fortunately, there is home security technology that can also help protect your vehicles during the dark nighttime hours. At Post Alarm, we’re excited to introduce that 360° protection with Night Shield technology.

Smarter Security with Night Shield

Night Shield uses smarter security cameras that send alerts directly to our monitoring center when suspicious activity is detected during the night. With this fast-acting security technology, patrol is dispatched and crime is deterred in a matter of seconds. Best of all, your sleep is uninterrupted. That’s what makes Night Shield the best way to protect your family from intrusion night after night.

Night Shield for Businesses

Night Shield is also an ideal technology for businesses, providing an overnight defense against thieves and trespassers who would breach the security of your business property. With immediate smartphone notifications, you’ll never be in the dark about what’s going on while you’re away.

To inquire about our new Night Shield security technology, contact Post Alarm today. We look forward to telling you more.

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The Image Sensor: A Great Addition to Your System

As technology evolves, photo images get clearer and crisper. Now, it’s not just your smartphone that delivers those images to you; even your home security system can send them as well. It’s made possible by an image sensor, which is a device you can opt to include in your system if you would like to receive high-definition photos of your home by text or email at specific times of day.

What the Image Sensor Is

An image sensor is a smart device that combines motion sensor technology with a still shot camera. It can integrate with your home security system to give you the same interactive control you have with video surveillance technology, but in a still image format.

What the Image Sensor Does

Just like a video security camera, the image sensor can intelligently detect activity in whatever room it’s in, day or night, and capture an image that gets sent to you in the form of a text alert or email. But unlike a video clip, a still image can be viewed in an instant – making it a quicker, less disruptive review if you only have a second.

What Events it Can Capture

When the sensor takes an image is up to you. You can set it up for certain times of day – the kids’ afterschool arrival time, or the time a caregiver is supposed to arrive. In fact, some people find it to be a less intrusive way to check on a caregiver than a traditional “nanny cam.” With a still shot instead of video, you can see a quick snapshot during the kids’ meal time, nap time or play time and have the same peace of mind.

Other Ways to Use the Sensor

Scheduling images certain times is just one way to use the image sensor in your system. Because of the motion detection technology, you can also set it up to capture images triggered by motion. Also, the image sensor can be mounted in any room of the home, on corners or flat surfaces, and at almost any angle. Because it’s powered by a cellular connection, it doesn’t even need wi-fi – making it a great security solution for your vacation home in the mountains or desert where connections are spotty.

To learn more about the image sensor or other new home security technology, call Post Alarm Systems. We’ll be glad to answer your questions.

About Post Alarm Systems

To learn more about Southern California security technology, come see us at Post Alarm Systems. Our highly qualified and experienced home security experts can answer all your questions. Call us today at 1-800-654-7678

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Finding the Best Home Security Camera Tech this Year

These days, the list of tech brands competing for your business seems eternal. How you can you narrow down your choices in home security camera technology? This rule of thumb may help: It’s not always the brand that matters. It’s the platform.

A quality home security camera tech platform is the backbone of the camera system. It lets you control all your home security functions in the palm of your hand with a user-friendly mobile app. Even better, it can help you perform these critical functions for the security of your home and family.

Use any device to view your home security video.

You want a home security camera system that uses live stream technology, so you can view all your video events from your smartphone, tablet, desktop, Apple Watch or even your TV.

Having the freedom to view your video from so many devices, no matter where you are, makes staying connected to your home life so much easier.

Send you intelligent alerts when video is recorded.

You want a system that uses motion detection to trigger its recording function. You want it to send you alerts as soon as the events happen. And, you may want to be selective about which alerts you receive. With the right platform, your system can do that. Get intelligent alerts to your smartphone when the video events of your choice are recorded. A high quality platform helps you stay in control.

Take a more active stance on protecting your home.

Once upon a time, homeowners could scare criminals away with a simple home security sign in the yard. Today, defending your home from break-ins requires more. Not only do you need home security camera tech; you need those cameras to connect with your other security devices, especially your alarm. When all your security technology is integrated together, you’re taking a much more active stance on protecting your home and family.

To learn more about the best security camera tech for your home this year, call Post Alarm today. We would love to show you what’s possible.

The Benefits of a Locally Owned and Operated Central Station

April 26th, 2024

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