Security Seeker for Home & Business Owners

Residential Burglaries Up as Economy is Down

As media reports across the nation confirm a rise in residential burglaries, homeowners are urged to take the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of their family and personal property. 

To assist, the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA) is offering all homeowners tips on how to select the electronic security company that best fits their individual needs.

"Due to the very challenging economic crisis, we are seeing confirmed news reports across the nation of an increase in residential burglaries," stated NBFAA president Mike Miller. "Electronic security systems not only give homeowners peace of mind, they also act as a primary deterrent against criminal activity which was authenticated by a recent study conducted by the Rutgers School of Criminal Justice." To view the complete study conducted by the Rutgers School of Criminal Justice, log-on to www.alarm.org.

For consumers seeking the services of a reputable and experienced security company, the NBFAA has the following recommendations:

-- Ask your insurance agent, friends, family or neighbors for referrals.

-- Visit the NBFAA website at www.alarm.org for a list of NBFAA member companies throughout the United States. Members of the NBFAA have agreed to maintain a high level of conduct under its National Code of Ethics.

-- Call several companies and ask if their employees are trained and/or certified by a nationally recognized entity like the NBFAA.

-- Ask the companies for proof that they have the appropriate required state and/or local licenses.

-- Ask the companies if they conduct any pre-employment screening. The NBFAA strongly advocates the development and enforcement of effective state licensing laws that require pre-employment background checks.

-- Contact your local police department's Crime Prevention Department, state licensing agencies, Consumer Protection Agencies, and the Better Business Bureau regarding any past interactions with, or history on, the perspective security companies.

-- After you've narrowed the field to three or four alarm companies, ask for the name of the person who will call on you.

-- When he/she visits, ask to see some company identification.

-- Ask each alarm company representative for an inspection, recommendation and a quote in writing. Use a checklist to compare different packages and price quotes.

-- Never feel pressure to sign anything. Be cautious of those who push you to sign a contract quickly or who may be offering unusual deals or incentives.


About NBFAA
NBFAA, a non-profit 501(c) 6 trade association, is the nation's oldest and largest organization dedicated to representing, promoting, and supporting the electronic life safety, security, and systems industry. Member companies specialize in a wide spectrum of services to commercial and residential consumers, including security and fire alarms, video surveillance, access control and monitoring. In cooperation with a federation of state associations, NBFAA provides government advocacy and delivers timely information, professional development tools, products and services that members use to grow and prosper their businesses. The NBFAA may be reached at (888) 447-1689 or on the Web at www.alarm.org.
SOURCE National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association