ADT Security Raises Awareness During National Crime Prevention Month

BOCA RATON, Fla., Oct. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- October is National Crime Prevention Month and ADT Security Services, the world's largest provider of electronic security services recommends taking this time to look at your home security.  According to the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI there is a burglary every 14.6 seconds in this country.  That statistic can be scary but, there are a few simple steps that you can take to help make your home less of a target for criminals.  By adding layers of security to your home you can help better protect it and your family. This layered approach includes making sure you have proper locks, motion activated lights, the right landscaping and an alarm system that you use when you are at home as well as away.

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According to ADT Security Advisor Anne-Marie Rouse, one of the best ways to make the most of your alarm system is to use it.  That means arming it when you leave home and even when you are at home.

"People often think of arming their security system only when they leave the house to guard against property theft. But crime doesn't just happen while we are away. Arming your system in 'stay' mode can be the first line of defense to help protect the lives and safety of our loved ones," said Rouse.  

Some people do not use their security system because they're afraid of setting it off accidentally.

Rouse advises that by using your system regularly, it becomes a part of your daily routine which can help prevent mistakes.

In addition to arming your system in "stay" mode while at home, ADT recommends these tips to minimize false alarms and make the most of your security system:

• Make sure everyone in your household knows the pass code or personal identification code. This is a code known only to you and your family.  
• Avoid using a special, silent code available on some systems. Using a code like this is NOT recommended because in a panic or stressful situation, you might forget it and send a false alarm.
• Remember to test your system regularly by calling ADT and asking to place your system on test to make sure it is communicating properly with the 24-hour a day customer monitoring center.

"Crime Prevention Month is a good time to revisit whether you are doing all you can to improve the layers of security in your life." Rouse added. "Making the most of the security you already have in place is a great way to start."

About ADT Security Services

ADT North America Residential/Small Business and ADT Commercial, both Tyco International businesses, are the world's largest electronic security providers. Headquartered in Boca Raton, Fla., ADT employs more than 26,000 people at over 350 locations in the U.S. and Canada. With eight fully redundant monitoring centers, functioning 24/7, ADT acts on 71,000 alarm signals each day, providing peace-of-mind protection to 6.8 million customers. Additional information is at www.adt.com.

SOURCE ADT Security Services