Minimize false alarms with tips from Wayne Boggs.

See Richmond Alarm Company's February 2011 Newsletter.

Richmond Alarm welcomes our new monitoring customers in Galax, VA!

Monitor Your Home or Business from Anywhere

When you are away from home, wouldn’t it be nice to instantly see what is going on there? Total Connect Services gives you access. Through your web enabled mobile device you can see in real time:

• When someone arrives at your home or business
• Employee performance
• Child, parent or pet activities
• Caregiver attention
• Activity that triggers motion sensors

Using an app for your mobile device, you can control your Honeywell security system from anywhere, and receive text messages of notifying you of important events in and around your home or business. Contact Richmond Alarm and we'll get you started.

Out on the Town with Richmond Alarm: Junior League of Richmond 

Women Building Better Communities. The Junior League of Richmond, Virginia is hard at work providing opportunities to develop minds and bodies of young people and families in the Richmond Community.  Community Programs  encourage healthy eating and active lifestyles, as well as promote art, literature and education, in addition to providing thousands of volunteer hours to help others in the Richmond area.

Tickets for the Book & Author Dinner are on sale now for Tuesday May 3, 2011 featuring six authors who will speak about their recently published books and experiences in the field of writing. Visit the Junior League website for tickets and more information.

Richmond Alarm Company is honored to provide security for the organization that does so much to help our community.

The risk of accidental falls increases for seniors over 65

Do you remember the commercial, with the lady who fell and couldn’t get up? Those of us who grew up in the 1980’s have laughed at it over and over.  But now, we have older parents who live alone and we worry about them, and that commercial isn’t so funny anymore.  We need something to let us know if mom or dad has fallen, but more importantly have someone call if medical help if needed.  A study on the National Institute of Health (NIH) website says, “In the United States one in three people aged 65 or older, living in the community, fall at least once a year. This proportion increases to one in two for those over 80 years old.”

Shelly from Mechanicsville Virginia shared this with us:

Recently, my aunt fell. She is 80, and lives alone. She has family nearby and they check on her regularly but unfortunately she fell when there were not scheduled to visit.  She was stuck on the floor - hurting, cold, and unable to move - for an entire weekend.  Despite the family’s best efforts to keep in contact with her, we missed the opportunity to help her when she needed it. We couldn’t have prevented the fall, nor the heart condition at the root of the problem, but we could have prevented her discomfort and loneliness.

Why didn’t we give her a personal emergency monitor?  No one wanted to TELL her she was getting old, her health was failing and that we worry about her.  As it turns out, she knew it and had been thinking about getting a monitoring device.

Monitoring Solutions from Richmond Alarm

Does your elderly loved-one live alone?  A personal emergency response system (PERS) could be the peace of mind you need.  Necklace pendant, belt clip, or wristwatch style transmitters can signal the need for assistance from anywhere in the home. Systems start at $175 installed and $40 per month.  The necklace pendant can even be worn in the shower where many falls occur.

Contact Richmond Alarm for more information on the Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS) solutions we offer, and give yourself and your elderly relative’s peace of mind.

Yesterday's Change

Locally owned, operated and licensed in western Henrico County, Yesterday’s Change makes market accurate, fair offers for your gold jewelry, sterling silver and bullion. If you have a rare US or world coin, or currency that you’d like to sell, Yesterday’s Change will evaluate it and determine the value. The business earned a stellar A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and has operated since 1981.

Richmond Alarm Company is pleased to offer security services to Yesterday’s Change.

Attention Businesses! We want to know where you’ve spotted our stickers

Do you see Richmond Alarm stickers around town? Do you have them on YOUR windows? If so, send us your mobile phone picture or camera photo to Corey Boggs. Include the business name in your email so we can feature the business in our regular series of “Out on the Town with Richmond Alarm.”

Local business utilizing the services of local business is great for our local economy.

Buz and Ned's Real Barbeque

Style Magazine says you can count on Buz and Ned’s Real Barbeque for “some of the best barbeque in the city”. The restaurant won the Best Barbeque and Ribs award from Richmond Magazine readers in 2006 and 2007.

The incredible staff is commended by customers for their attention to detail. Reviewers on Yelp, Trip Advisor and Urban Spoon give the barbeque 4 out of 5 stars. It is a Richmond landmark and Richmond Alarm Company is pleased that we can provide commercial security services to this outstanding business and their employees.

Attention Businesses! We want to know where you’ve spotted our stickers

Do you see Richmond Alarm stickers around town? Do you have them on YOUR windows? If so, send us your mobile phone picture or camera photo to Corey Boggs. Include the business name in your email so we can feature the business in our regular series of “Out on the Town with Richmond Alarm.”

Local business utilizing the services of local business is great for our local economy.

Residential security systems from Richmond Alarm deter break-ins and help catch suspects in dozens of Powhatan burglaries.

A Powhatan resident had been burglarized once, and we installed a new security system to prevent more attempts. When another break-in attempt was made on November 30, 2010, the alarm caused the intruders to flee and also alerted the Sheriff’s department who made two arrests. Upon further investigation, the Sheriff’s department linked the 2 men to several other burglaries in Powhatan County. See the story in Powhatan Today.

Local Monitoring of security systems provides evidence to Law Enforcement

A similar incident occurred on January 4, 2011, also in Powhatan, Virginia. However, in this instance, the residents were at home. The alarm sounded and scared the intruders away. Unfortunately for the would-be thieves, the customer also had a residential camera system installed. The Sheriff used this video information to describe the suspects and ultimately catch them in the neighborhood a short time later.  The suspects had burglarized multiple homes that night in the neighborhood.

When will the bad guys learn, crime doesn’t pay?

Several tragic house fires in Richmond, Henrico and Chesterfield over the last two weeks are causing concern for fire safety. Many were caused by heat sources and electrical problems, which is common for January, when Virginia temperatures become bitter. No matter the cause of a fire, working smoke detectors make the biggest difference in saving lives and reducing property damage. Please take a few minutes to make sure all of your smoke detectors are working and that there is at least one on every floor of your home.

Heat Sources

Space heaters, or alternative heat sources, have been blamed in several recent fires. In a Richmond Times Dispatch article on January 1, Lt. Jason Elmore of the Chesterfield Fire Department said, "A lot of the things that cause fires — extension cords, outlets, heating devices — are meant to create heat. You have to treat them with caution." If you use space heaters, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations carefully by keeping the surrounding area clear and in the appropriate conditions.

Smoke Detectors

Mark Buff, manager of the Virginia Department of Fire Programs, said "This is the most dangerous time of the year." Smoke detectors are the easiest and most important thing homeowners and renters alike can use to ensure their safety. "There's just no reason for somebody's life to be jeopardized," he said.

You can buy smoke detectors for less than $10 each, and most area fire departments offer them free if residents can't afford them. Some local fire departments will come to your house and install them if you are unable.
Fire officials have also made it clear that if your house is on fire, get everyone out and call 911 immediately. Do not put yourself in danger trying to put a fire out.  A monitored security/fire system in your home is ideal because help is called when the signal is triggered - even if you are not home, but more importantly, if you are home and unable to make the call.

For more information about fire safety, contact Richmond Alarm and we’ll be happy to send you free information.

Christmas is almost here, yet the busiest shopping days are still to come.  Tonight NBC 12 news reported that December 24 will be the busiest shopping day of the year and if today is any indicator, stores will be packed next week. Local police have increased their patrols in shopping centers too, because historically crime increases in December as well. Even with increased patrols, thieves are still out there and officers cannot see everything. However, there are steps you can take to stay safe while you shop.

Personal Safety While Shopping

Don’t be a target for would-be thieves. Before you leave a store, have your car keys ready so you don’t have to fumble for them in the parking lot. Be alert and purposeful as you walk in parking lots so you don’t appear an easy target. Talking on your phone or digging through your handbag lowers your awareness of people around you and makes it easier for someone attempting to steal from you, or worse, harm you. If you see anything suspicious go back into the store, or a populated area, and call police.

Prevent Theft

Keep valuables (i.e. handbags, cell phones, iPods, shopping bags, GPS) in your trunk or out of sight of passersby, and keep your vehicle locked.  Even in your driveway. Countless thefts occur from parked vehicles because there wasn’t even a lock to challenge the thief. “Good people” can be tempted when access to your valuables is easy.

Deter Break-ins

After the Christmas morning excitement, many of us put trash out on the curb without thinking about the boxes from the expensive electronics that we received as gifts. We essentially advertise all the new valuables in our home. Remember to break down the boxes, and reverse them if possible, before placing at the curb for recycling so attention is not drawn to the items. Inside your home, keep valuables out of sight of windows and remember to keep your doors locked (and use your security system), especially when you ARE home. 

In the hustle and bustle, we hope you enjoy this holiday season with family and friends. All of us at Richmond Alarm Company wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!