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Frank Fourchalk - EzineArticles.com Expert Author
Frank Fourchalk is widely recognized for his sustained commitment to education in Home and Business security throughout North America as a result of his syndicated newspaper columns. Mr.Fourchalk has written for The Toronto Star, The Vancouver Province and several other daily newspapsers including the New York Post.
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Frank Fourchalk Email Alerts
- Internet A Powerful Tool For Web-Savvy Thieves!
[Home-Improvement:Security] There's no two ways about it, the Internet is a powerful phenomenon, attracting more and more users every day.
Whether searching for the latest news or aimlessly surfing stories of interest, the web never fails to provide.
I have to admit, I enjoy surfing the net as much as the next person and, given the choice, would most likely forfeit my television for the sake of the Internet.
But has cyberspace stepped over its boundaries providing too much information?
- Lock Bumping Hits The Net
[Home-Improvement:Security] For those who have not heard the term "lock bumping", let me explain. This is a lock-picking technique for opening pin tumbler locks (used on most North American homes).
- Safety In Numbers
[Home-Improvement:Security] If we want to speed up the response time from our emergency professionals, whether it be fire, police or ambulance we need to take some initiative which starts with installing well lit house numbers.
There is nothing more frustrating and time consuming than trying to find somebody's home with improper house number markings. After years and years of frustration trying to pinpoint a home to an address, I can only imagine what our emergency professionals go through when a life's at stake
- Make Home Security A Priority
[Home-Improvement:Security] If you're thinking of building a new home, make sure you take the time to design your home security system.
Planning early will allow your security consultant to offer design considerations from a technical perspective. I have never worked on a home where everything was perfect from start to finish. As an owner-builder, you must realize tweaks in your design plans will occur during the construction stage.
- Condo Security Needs Revamping
[Home-Improvement:Security] If you're thinking of purchasing an apartment unit in a new condominium building, you better make sure the builder's main attribute is initiative. Because in to-days world initiative might be the only thing keeping you and your family safe from the bad guys.
- Lending House Key A Dangerous Practice
[Home-Improvement:Security] All too often people, have been guilty of impulsively handing their key over to an acquaintance or flash friend who regards it as nothing more than a piece of junk for the top of their fridge or kitchen counter.
This presents a dangerous situation, especially if an unscrupulous friend of the "key keeper" has dark desires to get into your home. Yes, you may eventually get your key back, but who's to say that some devious thief hasn't made a duplicate in the meanwhile?
- Climbing Into The Mind Of A Burglar
[Recreation-and-Sports:Climbing] Chances are you know someone who has had their home burglarized, or perhaps you have been a victim of a home burglary yourself.
Home burglaries almost always leave the victim with a sense of violation, not to mention a deep sadness over the loss of those irreplaceable family heirlooms.
In order to keep your home safe from burglars, you need to understand how a burglar's mind works.
- Keep Your Overhead Garage Door Safe And Secure
[Home-Improvement:Security] As I conducted a recent home-security evaluation, the homeowner informed me he had four outside doors. When I asked if that included the overhead garage door, he replied, "I don't consider the overhead garage door an outside door."
Don't make the same mistake this homeowner did by assuming the garage door is not an entrance to your home.
- Back-Up Communication A Necessity
[Home-Improvement:Security] If you're paying monitoring fees for your home alarm system and don't know what a cellular or radio back-up is, you could be wasting your money. Get in the know, by contacting your alarm company and ask about their " line cut protection " options.
- Tips For Finding A Safe Neighborhood
[Home-Improvement:Security] Before investing in a new home, you need to take a serious look at the demographics of where you and your family will be living.
After checking schools, shopping and hospital locations, it's time to find out if your future neighborhood is a safe investment.
- House-Sitters Can Help Keep Home Secure
[Home-Improvement:Security] Leaving a house unoccupied often or for a long stretch is one of the biggest risk factors for getting burglarized.
So if you're thinking of taking an extended vacation or plan to leave your home unattended for several weeks, why not consider a house-sitter
- Watch Out For 'Creeping Charlie' In Garden
[Home-Improvement:Security] With gardening in full swing, green thumbs are quite often fixated on cutting lawns, pruning shrubs, fertilizing the garden, or monitoring dreaded weeds like "Creeping Charlie."
With the art of horticulture demanding a gardener's undivided attention, it's easy for another type of "Creeping Charlie" to make his way through your neighborhood. I'm referring to the two-legged type that blends in like a swift-footed chameleon.
- Burglars Bank On Your Blunders
[Home-Improvement:Security] With the nice weather upon us, we seem to fall into this mindset that the bad guys are in hibernation. Winters over, the coast is clear, so lets throw open all the doors and windows. A burglary isn't going to happen to me, it's just too nice outside!
- Haste Beckons Thieves
[Home-Improvement:Security] How many more cars are the bad guys going to steal? How may more homes are thieves going to add to their roster of conquests? How many more headaches are we going to suffer before we finally realize that we do have a choice. A choice that may mean shifting from reverse to drive in the common sense department.
- Join A Business Watch Program
[Home-Improvement:Security] Burglary, robbery, shoplifting, employee theft, fraud and vandalism cost businesses billions of dollars each year. When crime infiltrates a business community, it can be devastating to both customers and business owners.
- Stay Safe With A Home Security Check List
[Home-Improvement:Security] I have received many e-mails over the past several months asking for a Home Security Check List. So I put together 30 important items, you as a homeowner should check off in order to keep you and your family safe from the bad guys.
- Check Security System's Lines Of Communication
[Home-Improvement:Security] If you have already installed a monitored home security system and are about to have a DSL connection installed in your home, beware!. DSL stands for "Digital Subscriber Line." This is a medium for transferring data over regular phone lines.
- 'Tis The Season To Stay Safe
[Home-Improvement:Security] It's a time when we forget about the violence and corruption in the world and concentrate on family and friends, a time when we realize that spending time with our loved ones is more important than charging off in a 9-to-5 world.
During the holidays, we get excited at the sound of the doorbell ringing. After all, there's probably a seldom-seen loved one waiting outside for a warm embrace.
- 10 Home Security Tips To Keep Your Children Safe
[Home-Improvement:Security] After several e-mails from concerned parents, I have created what I feel are the 10 most important home security tips to teach your children. Please review this list with your youngsters and make sure they understand each and every
- Key Points To Protecting Your Home And Vehicle
[Home-Improvement:Security] Another disturbing break-in sucks an innocent victim into a vortex of mayhem. The victim decided to start her day off innocently enough with a trip to the beauty salon. When she arrived at the salon, she hung her jacket on the coat rack near the front door.
- Slow Down And Keep Safe
[Home-Improvement:Security] I was having a discussion the other day with a young couple who informed me they never use their alarm. They said it was in their home when they bought it and found it too troublesome to arm and disarm.
I was then advised they quite often unintentionally leave windows and doors open because of their hurried lifestyle. What bothered me the most about this couple was their acceptance of the dangers that could lie ahead.
- Safety At Home While Vacationing
[Home-Improvement:Security] Keeping the "bad guys' away while on vacation involves more common sense than expense. Maintaining living habits on the home front while away is crucial if you want to keep burglars' at bay.
Lighting habits are very important. Although it is not necessary to keep a light on in every room of your home, keeping lights on in the rooms that your family usually occupies is a must.
- Stay Safe With A Cell Phone
[Home-Improvement:Security] Cell phones are associated with a large spectrum of people in today's world. Most of which are young adults, business executives and of course trades people. If you ask these people to give up their cells for a day, they might offer you their right arm instead.
That's because cell phones have become such a large part of our lives. I know many people are reading this and thinking, "That will be the day when I purchase a cellular phone". But you may want to reconsider.
- Stop Paper Thieves - Buy A Shredder
[Home-Improvement:Security] Before you are slingshot into the twenty-first century by a dose of reality, you should realize that crime takes many forms. A burglars tools doesn't always consist of a screw driver pry bar and a flashlight. The modern day thief can do more damage with a piece of paper than with conventional implements
- Make Security Your Business
[Home-Improvement:Security] When I do a small business security check, I always start with the exterior of the building checking the fences, gates,walls and entrances for upkeep. A run down building exterior with lots of obstacles and materials lying around can be an invitation to a burglar.
- Knowledge Keeps Crooks At Bay
[Home-Improvement:Security] Home security is like a game of chess. We have to think before we make a move, otherwise we will pay dearly for our mistakes. Mistakes that could cost us our personal belongings family heirlooms, vehicle or worse yet, our lives.
- Don't let the Grinch Steal Your Christmas!
[Home-Improvement:Security] What is it about Christmas that sends many of us in an orbit of nebulous confusion? Our minds become overloaded with thoughts of" Christmas Preparation Panic". Business functions, family functions, baking and of course those dreaded shopping malls.
Unless you're one of those systematic organizers, who puts their feet up during the month of December, you could make a thief's target list.
- Preventing a False Burglar Alarm
[Home-Improvement:Security] A false alarm is caused by human error or equipment problems in your burglar alarm system. These problems trigger an alarm requiring a police response even though no crime has been committed or even attempted.
Burglar alarms were originally designed to protect lives and property. Properly installed, used, and maintained, alarms are a real asset. However, when misused, they become a liability.
- Home Security And Your Environment
[Home-Improvement:Security] The target-hardening approach to crime prevention through lock hardware and security systems is a must. This traditional approach complemented with the concept of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) will greatly reduce unwanted intruders.
- Apartment Building Enterphones Pose Security Risk
[Home-Improvement:Security] Building owners and strata councils need to take a hard serious look at their enterphone systems.
Building security hinges on these push-button entrance panels - entrance panels that are often abused by the building's owners and renters.
- Virtual House Tours Could Offer Too Much Information
[Home-Improvement:Security] We are becoming more aware of the dangers of the internet these days with articles of online predators hiding behind screen names, posing as imposters controlling their victims as if they were puppets on a string, sucking them into a "Web Of Deception."
Computers are used in the transmission of crime often in three capacities. They may be the target of the offense, the tool used in the offence or they may contain evidence of the offence. Everything from sex predators, e-mail scams, fraud and even burglary. Yes, even burglary enters into the equation with the possibility that burglars could target homes via the internet.
- Home Strategies Keep Families Safe From Intruders
[Home-Improvement:Security] When was the last time you and your family discussed home security issues? I'm referring to a sit down meeting to discuss security and safe-keeping strategies. Strategies that will ultimately keep you and your family safe in the event of a break-in or home invasion.
- Wants Outweigh Security Needs For Homebuyers
[Home-Improvement:Security] Security should be an essential factor when purchasing your new home. Buying decisions are quite often made on the size of kitchens or bathrooms with little consideration given to the importance of a good home-security package.
As a security consultant, it's hard for me to comprehend that homebuyers are more interested in crown mouldings than a practical home-security system.
- Security Is The Key To Latch-Key Kids
[Home-Improvement:Security] With more and more mothers rejoining the work force and the number of single-parent families increasing, "latch-key kids" has become a household name. Because of this, parents must educate their children on the importance of staying safe and secure in the comfort of their own home.
- War Against Crime Starts With TLC
[Home-Improvement:Security] When I talk about "TLC", I'm referring to Teaching, Learning and Communicating collectively as a lethal weapon in the war against crime. If we want to put a different spin on crime statistics we must take the time to educate ourselves and others by acknowledging the TLC mindset.
- Vandals And Burglars From Within
[Home-Improvement:Security] If we want to stay ahead of the criminal element, we must be able to deal with modern day spins associated with theft and vandalism. It's not just about the burglar or vandal who lurks around in the night shadows awaiting their next victim.
- Christmas: A Season For Giving, Receiving, and Taking
[Home-Improvement:Security] The weeks leading up to Christmas are the biggest shopping weeks of the year. Many retailers solely survive on these weeks because they often account for 70 percent of their annual revenue. Because of this, retail stores tend to hype this festive season to the hilt creating a buying frenzy.
Stocking our homes with the latest electronic gadgets, computers, jewelry and clothing is a given.
Unfortunately while we are in the mood for giving and receiving, somebody is in the mood for taking.
- Postal-Lock Timers Are A Good Way To Thwart Thieves
[Home-Improvement:Security] There was a break-in at an apartment building. The residents couldn't figure out how the thieves penetrated the security. There were no signs of forcible entry and the apartment owners had ruled out the possibility of the building key falling into the wrong hands.
- New Home Buyers Beware
[Home-Improvement:Security] Home owners need to make sure that their locks are installed and operating properly before moving valuables into their new home. Improper lock installation could have devastating results and could play havoc with insurance companies. These deficiencies seem to miraculously slip through the cracks of builders and building inspectors alike.
- Demographics Indicate Increase in Crime Ahead
[News-and-Society:Crime] There's a segment of our population that has become more evident than ever before. Seeing these individuals lying on bus stop benches, pushing their worldly possessions in rusty old shopping carts or sleeping in their cars is disturbing to say the least. I'm talking of course about the homeless.
- Locks vs Alarms
[Home-Improvement:Security] With the emphasis now-a-days leaning on good home security, where do we go from here? Many lock experts are telling us that locks are the priority; after all, we want to discourage an intruder before he or she makes their grand entrance. Locks can surely stop a would-be intruder at stage one (a locked door) before they have the opportunity to test the waters in stage two (an alarm system).
- Door Chains Hold Weak Link to Home Security
[Home-Improvement:Security] Ever since the first mechanical wood locks were born some 4000 years ago in Egypt, we have been on a steady mission to improve lock technology. In today's world we would no sooner consider installing a 4000 year old lock on our home than writing a letter to aunt Martha in Hieroglyphics.
So why is it we still install inferior locking devices on our homes?
- Baby Device Helps Catch Crooks
[Home-Improvement:Security] Break-ins to parkades have always been and always will be a problem amongst apartment dwellers. How we deal with these unmonitored areas is up to the individual buildings owners and of course their fiscal budget.
If you find you cannot afford an elaborate monitoring system...
- Parkade Alarm Stops Apartment Sneak Thieves
[Home-Improvement:Security] This area is one the largest security concerns for apartment dwellers today. It has been the birth of more violations than any other area in the multi-housing family. It's knowingly the easiest way for a thief to gain entry.
I'm talking about the overhead garage door entry area. The area that spurs conversation on a daily basis between owners, especially when a resident drives in and out of the building oblivious to the world around them.
- Breaking Into the Housing Market
[Home-Improvement:Security] First time home owners are not the only people breaking into the housing market. Housebreakers of a different kind are capitalizing on the security shortcomings of home owners to make their mark on crime.
The ever-growing fault list of homeowners is paving the way for a lucrative...
- Security Film
[Home-Improvement:Security] Meeting with dealer representatives is always exciting, especially when they offer a unique product that leaves a lasting impression. Then again anything that offers bullet and bomb resistance is sure to grab my attention.
I'm talking about my meeting a few weeks ago with ...
- Nosey Neighbors Can Offer Great Security
[Home-Improvement:Security] Have you ever experienced a neighbor whose main agenda is to keep his or her finger on the pulse of the neighborhood? A neighbor whom many would call "nosey" on a good day!
As irritating as nosey neighbors are...
- Categorizing a Burglar
[Home-Improvement:Security] The dictionary defines a burglar as, "A thief who enters a building with intent to steal." I prefer to define a burglar as, "Quite often the person or persons you'd least expect to steal from you."
Unfortunately, the latter is quite often the case.
These criminals could be that well dressed, good-looking person conducting a home survey or that smiling gentleman that so kindly held the door for you, or worse yet...
- Home Security No Childs Play
[Home-Improvement:Security] I was talking to a customer the other day about security related issues. He told me an integral part of his business involved cold calls to residences. He expressed a concern over the amount of young children who answer the door unassisted by grown-ups.
Dealing exclusively with homeowner booked appointments, I'm somewhat shielded...
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