Home Security, Security |
In a perfect world we wouldn’t have to worry about locking the doors before leaving the house. However, as many of us know unfortunately that world doesn’t exist. In fact, according the FBI in 2010 alone there were an estimated 2.1 million burglaries. Of all these burglaries, 60.5 percent involved forcible entry, 33.2 percent were unlawful entries (without force) and the reminder (6.3 percent) were forcible entry attempts.
In today’s world safety should be your top priority. A thief not only has the ability to steal your household possessions but can also have a major impact on your family’s sense of safety and well-being. Ideally, a home security system is one of the most effective ways to protect your home and the things within it. However, more often than not these systems are pricey and probably outside of your budget.
So how does one protect their home without breaking the bank? Lucky for you we’ve already done the research and found several inexpensive and effective ways to increase your home’s security.
Preventing Burglaries
This graphic from the Washington Post reveals some surprising statics about where thieves gain entry and how most burglaries work. Although, the statics are from 2005 there are some notable trends about everyday house robberies and things you can do to prevent them:
1. Don’t Advertise You’re Away
The biggest mistake people make is unknowingly advertise their unoccupied home. There’s a reason why most burglaries occur between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. This is simply due to the fact that burglars look for homes that appear unoccupied. Unfortunately, for the majority of people their homes are left empty during these hours because of work. If your neighborhood has a reputation for break-ins this may be an area of concern. However, if you make your house look occupied while you’re away, most burglars will simply pass it by.
According to webmd here are some of the best ways to do that.
- Use automatic light timers throughout the house and have them turn on and off in a way that simulates your normal patterns. Look for light timers that have battery backup so the timer doesn’t stop if there is a power failure. Using timers that have more than one on-off cycle can create the illusion of movement from room to room.
- The same kind of timers you use on lights can also be used to turn radios or TVs on and off.
- If you can, have your calls forwarded while you’re away. Burglars sometimes call to see if anyone’s home before a break-in.
- Arrange to have your lawn cut or snow removed from your walks if you’re going to be gone for a long period.
- Always park your car in the garage with the garage door closed when you are there. That way someone watching for patterns won’t know your car isn’t there when you’re gone.
- In the interest of home security, never leave notes on the door. They just say to a burglar, “Come on in.”
2. Make It Hard to Get In
If they’ve picked your house, make it hard to get in. The typical house burglar is a male teenager in your neighborhood and 60 seconds is the most burglars want to spend breaking into your home. With that being said, you only need enough security to deter the common teenager and the harder you make it for them to get in, the less likely you are to come back to a burglarized home. So don’t forget to lock all the doors and windows before leaving the house, and never hide a key outside where it can be easily found.
3. Hide Your Valuables
Worst case scenario your house gets broken into, now what? Burglars spend an average of 8 to 12 minutes in your home. Their mission is to get in and out as fast as possible with as much valuables they can find. With that being said, don’t put your high dollar items in obvious places. According to the Washington Post the most popular places burglars search is in dresser drawers, freezers and bedroom closets. At the same time, these are also the most popular places people hide their valuables. ABC News suggests you get a hollowed-out book or fake wall outlet; these can be cheap but effective alternatives to help you hide your valuables from intruders.
4. Know Your Neighborhood
Introduce yourself to your neighbors and look out for one another. The best form of security can come from your local community. Watchful neighbors or friends can provide you and your family with a peace of mind while you’re away. Furthermore, have you considered creating a neighborhood watch program? Contact your local law enforcement agency for more information on how to organize and create a program for your neighborhood.
Burglary is one of the easiest crimes to prevent and at the same time it’s also one of the most common. You can easily prevent this from happening to your home by applying some of the principles above. We’ve listed a few inexpensive and effective ways to make your home more secure. However, we want to hear from you! How do you ensure your home and family stays safe?
Cheating Spouse |
PI tips and techniques to catch a cheater
The top method a private investigator uses to catch a cheating spouse is surveillance. Sounds easy right? Think again. A PI has access to advanced surveillance technology which helps them gather the evidence you need for your peace of mind. We understand that witnessing your partner being unfaithful can be a difficult experience. However, if the investigation proves your intuition right, the evidence provided can be used for your divorce settlement, or simply for your knowledge. It’s up to you.
Interviewing and evidence gathering is another way a PI might solve your case. We understand the severity of this issue and work in a very private, noninvasive manner. All conversations and consultations are done in complete confidence.
GPS and bugging is also a common technique PI’s utilize for this type of case. Is your spouse suddenly “working” a lot of overtime? A PI can let you know exactly where your partner is located, so if he or she is lying, it will be exposed.
An experienced investigator also understands the importance of social media and the web. According to pinow.com an estimated 40 million Americans have emotional or virtual affairs through the internet. With that being said, many of our investigators have at least one or more social media accounts they use to test your partner’s integrity.
Cheating Spouse |
The most common signs from a private investigator’s perspective.
When you suspect your other half is cheating on you it can be difficult to determine whether or not your suspicions are credible. Many people have been hurt in multiple relationships so they naturally have trust issues. Regardless, just the thought of a cheating spouse is painful and unfortunately, infidelity is a growing problem for relationships today. According to statistics at least 60 percent of men and 40 percent of women will cheat at least once during a relationship, even if married. Even worse, 70 percent of married women and 54 percent of married men have no clue of their partner’s unfaithfulness.
So how do you determine if your intuition is valid or not?
ICU Security & Private Investigations teamed up with our network of trusted investigators to find out what, in their experience, are the most common indications of infidelity in a relationship. With over 50 years of combined experience we’re giving you five major signs of a cheating spouse, what to expect in an infidelity investigation and other statistics on infidelity and marriage.
Signs of a cheating spouse:
Changes in intimacy & affection
One of the most common signs your other half is cheating on you is their change in intimacy. Have you noticed a decrease in affection? Does you partner appear to feel disassociated from you during intimate times? Now before you jump to conclusions remember that there can be many reasons for a sudden drop in intimacy – stress, sleep deprivation, health issues and hormonal cycles can all have an impact. However, if you can rule out all of these alternatives and the symptom continues to be an issue, then its time to start asking questions. According to our team of PI’s this is one of the biggest indicators that your spouse is potentially seeing someone else.
Suspicious phone habits
Have you noticed your spouse leaving your company more frequently to answer calls or texts? Is he or she protective over their phone? If your partner is hiding their cell phone their doing it for a reason. In our opinion, those with nothing to hide are usually the most transparent in their actions. It’s really not too complex of a concept.
Change in behavior
Does your partner always seem eager to fight? Has their work schedule suddenly changed? If your spouse is constantly staying late at work, getting angry by the smallest of things and is happily available for every argument, it’s most likely that you’re being cheated on. When somebody is guilty of infidelity they tend to protect themselves at the slightest sign of being caught or anywhere close to it. If you find your spouse arguing about insignificant details or simply trying to avoid you, these are big indicators your partner is being unfaithful.
Appearance or grooming habits
Is your spouse starting to dress differently? Are they more concerned about their appearance? If your partner has started to pay more attention to their appearance, it could be a warning sign that he or she might attempting to attract someone new. If you’ve noticed your partner has a new-found interest in the gym, maybe a new hairstyle or wardrobe, these are all potential indicators your spouse has plan on impressing someone new.
Deflecting or avoiding simple questions
Is your spouse constantly deflecting simple questions? If your other half starts acting suspicious and starts to avoid simple questions then this could be a sign that their hiding something from you. For example, if they immediately repeat your questions back to you before answering then chances are their searching for a lie. One telltale sign that your spouse is being unfaithful is they start to deflecting or avoiding simple information, this is a good sign their hiding something.
