Security Tips For Arcadia Doors

Eliminating ‘lift”

Sliding doors are inherently less secure and should be avoided if possible. If sliding doors are already in place, make sure that the sliding panel is on the inside. If it is outside, you have a serious security issue because they can be lifted right out of the track. This lift may also be found in sliding doors wherein the inside panel becomes dislocated out of the track when lifted. The most effective method of securing your arcadia door if this is the case, is by installing a pan head screws in the upper track of the movable panel much like securing sliding windows as seen in the sliding glass windows section. The purpose is to prevent the sliding door from being lifted off the track and removed from the frame when it is in the closed position. These screws have rounded heads and should be installed about 2 feet apart. They should be screwed in so that the door can just barely slide by, while preventing it from being lifted out of the track.

Add a charlie bar or Broomstick

A charlie bar is a commercially available device that mounts to the frame opposite the sliding door and swings down 
behind the door to stop it from sliding. Make sure however, that if you purchase a metal charlie bar or door dowel that you check to make sure that a magnet does not stick to it. Sometimes thieves use large magnets to pry the bar up from the outside. A broomstick inserted snuggly into the bottom of the track is just as effective. This recommendation will only work on doors that slide on the inside track.

Door pin

Another means of securing your Arcadia sliding door is by drilling through both arcadia panels and installing a steel pin. With the door in the closed position, drill a small diameter hole from the inside center frame to the outside frame (but not through the outside frame.) Insert a nail or other sturdy pin into this hole when complete. To be most effective the hole should be made at a slight downward angle to prevent the pin from falling out if someone tries to lift the door up out of the frame. Caution: When drilling holes in the frame great care should be taken to avoid drilling into or striking the glass. Tempered glass will frequently shatter on contact with the drill bit. If you are unsure at all with the installation of such an item, make sure that you consult a home repair specialist.

Home Security in Arizona...

A home security system is just the beginning...

Here is a great article on additional home security tips for Arizona families. Protect Your Family

If you haven't installed a home security system yet... call:Foresight Security to learn how easy it is to start protecting your home or business.

Home Security and Safety... Arizona Families Must See

Home security systems aren't the only thing Foresight Systems does for Arizona. We also offer fire protection for your family. Home security systems installed by Foresight can take advantage of our smoke relay switch which connects your smoke alarms to your monitored alarm system. When a smoke alarm sounds... it will trigger the entire security system and you will NOT sleep through a Foresight alarm!

The real benefit is that Foresight's central monitoring station will receive the signal immediately and notify the authorities and dispatch emergency response units to your home. Please watch the video below... this is a very real problem!

Contact Foresight Security for more information on our fire protect solutions. 480-388-3400

Western States Experience Increase in Home Burglary

Arizona finds itself on a list with several other Western states that are experiencing an upsurge in burglaries. State Farm Insurance Company conducted this recent study, read the entire article here: State Farm Study

Foresight Systems is offering FREE security systems to qualifying homes if you choose Foresight for your alarm monitoring service.

Why Does My Arizona Family Need a Home Security System?

Here are some facts to consider:

• A burglary is committed every 10 seconds in America. This adds up to almost 13 million homes - one of every 20.

•There is an average loss of $1,300 worth of property per burglary.

•According to the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association, burglars attack homes without a security system 3 times more often than homes with a system.

•Today about 1 in 6 home owners has invested in an electronic security system - more and more Americans are saying that they feel safer with a home security system.

•Over the last 5 years the number of homes with a security system has increased by almost 40%

•Your chances of a break in are highest right after you move into a new home - Burglars know that most people don't install security systems until 2 to 4 years after they move in.

•Burglars are more likely to break into your home between 9:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., while you are at work, as opposed to breaking in at night.

•Nearly half of burglars break-in through the front door, 32% choose the back door and 22% through a first floor window. The rest break in through a basement, garage or second floor window.

Foresight Security is Arizona's choice for local home security... Click here to see if your home qualifies for a free security system installation.

The most startling fact of all is that most Arizona families wait until they are robbed before they choose to install an alarm system in their home. Home security systems can only prevent crime when they are installed and monitored ahead of time...

Avoiding Home Burglary and Invasion...

New studies confirm: the best way to avoid a burglary is to avoid a burglary.

With a Foresight alarm system you are 90 percent less likely to have a burglary on your home.

Get the sign...

Do Alarm Systems Really Deter Criminals?

Inside This Article...

1. What's the best way to prevent a thief from entering your home?
2. Securing Your Home
3. Lots More Information
4. Alarm system info.

Securing Your Home... Since almost 30 percent of burglaries in 2006 were no-force entries, simply locking your doors and windows is a great first place to start. But it also means that the other 70 percent of burglaries that year were forced (or attempts that resulted in the burglar being caught in the act).

The National Neighborhood Watch Association suggests that homeowners looking to burglar-proof their homes should take a three-fold approach: deter, detect and delay.

Deterring burglars begins with ensuring you have good locks and solid entry points. But it also includes things like posting a sign, which tells potential burglars that you have an alarm system. Burglars may find the thought of an alarm enough of a deterrent to continue searching for a home that doesn't have one.

Creating the impression that someone is always at home is another way to deter burglars. Leave your television or radio on, and install an automatic timer to some of the lights in your house to make it appear as if the house is occupied. As we've seen, most burglars aren't interested in coming in if they think someone's home. If you leave your curtains open, be careful what's in view. If your car is there and would-be burglars can see the keys within easy reach, that may be the incentive they need to break in, grab the keys and steal your car.

No need to trade in Fido for a large guard dog. Even little dogs can alert the neighbors that someone is prowling near your house.

Having a dog may also be a deterrent, but be warned that a good professional burglar comes into your home with the knowledge of how to deal with a guard dog. This can be as simple as feeding your dog treats or luring him or her into a room and shutting the door. Instead, a dog acts much more effectively as a detection device.
Detection is one of the best ways to keep burglaries down. A barking dog can alert an entire block that something is awry. To do this even more effectively, though, most people turn to alarm systems.

Alarm systems have a wide range in price, usually depending on the kinds of features. Regardless of your price range, your system should include sensors at entry points, motion detectors within your house, and a very loud outdoor alarm which alerts the neighborhood that someone has entered your home. While alarm systems won't actually stop a burglar from entering, it will re-frame the crime. With an alarm blaring, the burglary will turn into a smash and grab -- a harried scurry through your home looking for the most easily stolen valuables, followed by a quick exit.

While it's a good idea to advertise that you have an alarm system, it may not be the best idea to tell burglars what kind of alarm system you have. If your system can be shut off with a remote control or key fob, robbers using computer technology may be able to duplicate the signal given by your remote control and shut your alarm off from the street.

Installing motion-sensitive flood lights outdoors will also help to deter burglars working at night. For daytime, make sure that your shrubs are trimmed to allow a good view of your home from the street. Burglars, after all, are looking for cover, and trimmed shrubs take that away. It also doesn't hurt to consider planting thorny shrubs beneath your windows to make it an even less attractive place to hide.

Delaying criminals is another important aspect of keeping burglars out. The longer it takes to get into your home, the more likely a burglar is to give up and move on. The National Neighborhood Watch Association suggests that a four-minute delay will protect your house in most cases [NNWA].

Along with locking doors and windows, delaying a burglar includes keeping unusual entry points from being accessible. Keep branches trimmed so that upper floor windows aren't easy to get into. Make sure basement windows are secure, and keep your garage doors locked.

Presenting a burglar with few options for entry into your home, along with the threat of an alarm sounding when he or she does, can go a long way to deterring him or her. And don't forget your locks; none of the other precautions amount to much when your doors or windows are unlocked.