Do you have security cameras that are broken?

According to the New York Times, about 1/2 of New York City's 4000 security cameras installed along the subway do not work. That is a lot of investment providing no return!

A similar situation occurs with businesses.

Does this sound familiar?

A while back, your company bought security cameras. Over time, the quality of the video deteriorated. Perhaps a few of the cameras stopped functioning. Now, you just hold out hope that your security cameras will deter bad things from happening, because the system no longer operates at all.

What do you do?

You could forget about your investment and continue to use your cameras as decoration. This is not recommended. Smart criminals will probably know your system is not working. They find these things out through observation, speaking to your employees, or by being one of your employees.

A better option is to repair your system. You may be surprised to find that it doesn't always take a lot of time and money (compared to your initial investment) to get your system back up and operating. ADS fixes camera systems all the time, whether the damage is caused by neglect, abuse, or "acts of god" such as lightning.

Your camera system may be in such disrepair, however, that you need to replace your system. The situation is not all grim, however. New camera systems have evolved significantly. Picture quality and user friendly features are two areas where the improvements have been vast. You may be shocked at how easy it is to navigate recorded footage with mouse clicks and a computer. You may be able to identify peoples' faces, numbers on documents, and items in your inventory--when your past system could do none of these things.

How do you keep your security camera system working?

We think the best way to handle your security camera investment is with a regular maintenance schedule. You'll be able to catch minor issues before they become major. Your system should have significantly more up-time. And, you'll save money over the long-run, because your investment will last much longer.

Alarm Detection Systems offers regular camera maintenance as part of its suite of services. The that customers really like this option over a "time and material" basis.
cost of a camera maintenance can vary depending on the type and size of system. Often, we find
We install and service security systems through out the Chicago area....from the far western suburbs (and beyond!) all the way to Wisconsin. Let us know if we can help!

ADS Wins Environmental Award

Today, ADS proudly received an Environmental Award from Cintas Document Management. Through our partnership with Cintas, we saved 153 trees, 3,420 gallons of oil, 63,000 gallons of water, and 27 cubic yards of landfill.

What to do after a fire

Whether its Aurora, Naperville, Joliet, or Chicago, I frequently read about home fires every day through out Chicagoland. A home fire can be devastating and traumatic. Thankfully, there are resources to help. Here is a checklist that gives a brief guide to follow after a fire strikes from FireSafety.gov:

1. Contact your local disaster relief service, such as the Red Cross, if you need temporary housing, food and medicines.
2. If you are insured, contact your insurance company for detailed instructions on protecting the property, conducting inventory and contacting fire damage restoration companies. If you are not insured, try contacting private organizations for aid and assistance.
3. Check with the fire department to make sure your residence is safe to enter. Be watchful of any structural damage caused by the fire.
4. The fire department should see that utilities are either safe to use or are disconnected before they leave the site. DO NOT attempt to reconnect utilities yourself.
5. Conduct an inventory of damaged property and items. Do not throw away any damaged goods until after an inventory is made.
6. Try to locate valuable documents and records. Refer to information on replacing documents and records.
7. If you leave your home, contact the local police department to let them know the site will be unoccupied.
8. Begin saving receipts for any money you spend related to fire loss. The receipts may be needed later by the insurance company and for verifying losses claimed on income tax.
9. Notify your mortgage company of the fire.
10. Check with an accountant or the Internal Revenue Service about special benefits for people recovering from fire loss.

While this list is designed for actions to take after a fire, one thing you can do to help reduce your risk of a catestrophic fire is install a home alarm. Remember, a home alarm can easily incorporate fire detection devices such as heat and smoke detectors. When these devices detect a fire, the monitoring station can immediately dispatch firefighters. This saves you valuable time to gather your family and get out of the house. Moreover, the monitored alarm can get help even if you're not home.

Two Suburban Chicago Communities Reporting Crime Increases

Recently, two local ADS community newspapers reported on crime in Riverside, IL and Bradley, IL.

According to the Riverside/Brookfield Landmark crime is up for the second straight year with a dramatic increase in the number of thefts. Likewise, the Kankakee Daily Journal reported that in Bradley, IL, overall crime is down, but burglary is up 80%.

At ADS, we've been noticing a trend in theft/robbery type crimes in the Chicagoland area for a while. We monitor over 25,000 alarms and many of these are burglar alarms. We also have contact with thousands of individuals regarding their security, property and safety. We have our ears connected to the community. It's interesting when we see other data sources confirming our own.

A recent, disturbing trend that has been remarked by some here at ADS is that more and more of the thefts/robberies have been connected to violent acts/situations. This is not a good thing--at all.

Tomorrow, I'll post about some of the things that we (ADS) can do to make yourself more safe.

Making a Statement with Your Alarm System

One Friday evening, you go over to your friend’s house for cocktails and dinner. Since it’s your first visit to the house, your friend starts you on the customary home tour. Room-after-room, the house impresses you with its style, colors, and arrangements. The tile work is radiant, the hardwood floors, impeccable. The lighting is subtle and warm.

Towards the end of your tour, you notice something on the wall that doesn’t quite fit the stainless appliances and rich wood textures of the house—an alarm keypad. It’s made of white plastic. And, while the keypad is clean looking, it looks like every other alarm keypad that you have seen and it does not match the over-all quality of the house.

Not surprisingly, traditional home alarms (specifically keypads) have not been designed with sex appeal in mind. The alarm industry’s first goal is to make you safe and secure, not necessarily fit designer tastes. To be fair, there has been an occasional upscale keypad. These, however, have been few and far between, and the options have been lacking.

Now, alarm manufacturers are delivering products that will integrate into your home’s style. Specifically, high-resolution LCD touch pads have emerged into to the home alarm market. These units resemble a small flat-screen TV rather than traditional alarm keypads.

The touch screen operation of the new units is a significant departure from the alpha/numeric keypads on traditional alarm systems. The touch screen allows for easy-to-use controls in multiple languages with intuitive icons and menus. The units also give the homeowner more programmability and control over the alarm, alarm codes, and zones. Even if you prefer alpha/numeric keypads, the LCD units can be programmed to imitate/appear as a traditional keypad.

Most striking about the LCD units, though, is the appearance in the home. The units are available in various high-quality trims, including silver, black or white. These options allow you to fit the unit into almost any area of the house. For example, the silver unit is designed to fit right in with your stainless steel kitchen appliances. Moreover, the LCD units double as a digital picture frames that allow users to upload photographs and create slideshows. Many users find this feature enough to justify the upgrade to an LCD touchpad.

If all you want is basic, good-looking functionality, a traditional keypad will do just fine. If, however, you want to make a statement or if you want your alarm keypad to match the feel of your home, an LCD touchpad may be perfect for you.