Security Base Blog

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Monthly Archives: June 2011

Don’t Let Thieves Steal Your Identity During Your Summer Vacation

June 23rd, 2011

We’ve talked about securing your personal valuables at home while you’re out having fun during your summer vacation. We also posted some great information about the specifications and features of the different types of safes. We wanted to point out before you have fun and enjoy the sun and remind you to keep safe and protected while you are out enjoying your time with your family and friends. You have to protect yourself from identity theft and to make sure you properly secure all your important records and documents, especially if you’re traveling this summer.

The most targeted victims to identity theft are travellers. You’re enjoying your time spent elsewhere, laid back and relaxed, that’s when you’re at your most vulnerable state. You don’t want to get pick pocketed and have your wallet stolen only to ruin your vacation. Save yourself the hassle and be fully prepared when you’re in an unfamiliar area. Here are some great tips to stay safe and to keep you from any troubles.

 

    1. Minimize Belongings – You want to minimize the amount of things you bring with you. The more you bring, the more there is to worry about it and for thieves to steal. Only bring the identification and cards that you need with you. Keep your cards to a minimum. You most likely won’t need your passport if you’re just traveling within Canada. If you’re traveling across the world, you don’t need to carry all of your credit cards. The more credit cards you have, the more hassles you’ll carry with you. If a thief steals your wallet, then they’ll have a lot of options.

 

    1. Create Copies of Your Identification – You should always store and create copies of your identification that you’ll be taking with you. Take it to your local print shop or use your own printer to scan and photocopy your identification. Also write down and keep record of your passports, credit cards and numbers. Store these copies in a safe place at home and if you need anyone to access them while you’re gone, make sure you trust that person just in case you’ll need them.

 

    1. Don’t Keep Everything In One Place – Just like losing your wallet, you’ll lose everything inside it. Never keep all your identification information in one place. If you happen to lose your passport or driver’s license in the same wallet or purse, then you’ll have a hard time proving who you are. It’ll be a major inconvenience for yourself and difficult for you to enjoy the rest of your vacation.

 

    1. Use Security Safes As Much As Possible – If you’re staying at a hotel, you may want to utilize the hotel safes and lockers they have in the rooms to place your important belongings such as jewelry, wallets, cell phones and other valuables. Maybe you decide you want to travel the city and are gone the whole day. There’s no real reason why you should carry more than one identification with you, so you may want to leave your passport or health card in the safe. This will prevent it from getting lost or stolen.

 

    1. Have Contact Information From Neighbors, Friends and Family – You want to keep in touch with anyone you are close with. There are plenty of ways to communicate long distance such as email, chat, phone, or private messages through social media like Facebook. You don’t want to publicly reveal that you are on vacation because people will find out and know that you aren’t home. It’s always good to contact someone so they know you are okay and they know you.

 

These are easy and simple tips to protect you this summer, yet we often forget how easily someone can steal our identities and gather confidential information. These are just some precautionary measures so that your safety and summer fun isn’t ruined. By following these tips, you’ll be able to relax and kick back. Have tons of fun this summer, but also be safe. Save yourself the hassles now, and enjoy the rest of your summer.

“Security is our Business, Safety is our Concern” – Security Base

Summer Solstice Has Officially Arrived

June 21st, 2011

Today marks the first day of summer and is also the longest day of the year. I am sure many of you have noticed the Google logo changed to commemorate the first day of summer. The famous Japanese artist, Takashi Murakami created today’s Google doodle, who has worked with Louis Vuitton and Kanye West.  With summer now here, that means you also have to prepare for the worse. In order to prepare for the worse, you’ll need the proper security and safety equipment to protect your valuables. We want you to have fun this summer, but we don’t want your fun to become spoiled by theft or wildfires.

In areas prone to wildfires, it is vital that you have some type of fire resistant safe to store all of your valuables. This year alone we have had some devastating wildfires that occurred throughout Texas. Temperatures will rise that will result in more potential wildfires especially in areas where large acres of dry brush is present. Usually those states include Florida, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Southern California. The worse we can imagine happening is our own homes being burned down to the ground. Usually in a wildfire emergency, homes are threatened and you have to be evacuated and bring your most valuable possessions with you such as insurance, documents and family records. However, sometimes you have to evacuate immediately and unexpectedly that you are not able to obtain gather any of your items on time.  That is why having a fireproof safe is necessary under these circumstances.

Fire safes are meant to withstand extreme temperatures of heat, but they are also tested under different temperatures and have different fire ratings. It is important that you know what types of safes are out there and their capabilities before purchasing one. Here are the different types of fire ratings accordingly:

  • FR – Fire Resistant, Unrated Insulated Safe
  • ½ HR – U.L. Class 350. It can protect valuables for up to 30 minutes with the outside temperature of 1550 degrees.
  • 1 HR – U.L. Class 350. It can protect valuables for up to 1 hour with outside temperature of 1700 degrees.
  • 1 HR+ – U.L. Class 350. It can protect valuables for up to 1 hour with an outside temperature of 1700 degrees in addition to surviving a drop test from up to 30 feet in the air.
  • 2 HR – U.L. Class 350. It can protect valuables for up to 2 hours with an outside temperature of 1850 degrees.
  • 2 HR+ – U.L. Class 350. It can protect valuables for up to 2 hours with an outside temperature of 1850 degrees in addition to surviving a drop test from 30 feet in the air.

The U.L. stands for Underwriters’ Laboratories. It is a non-profit and non-bias organization that rates the safety and performance of consumer products. The safes that have been approved under the U.L. have a U.L. label on them that signifies that they have passed the security and fire-protection ratings of the agency. The U.L. has general ratings such as:

  • TL-15 – A combination locked safe that provides protection against the most common techniques of breaking into a safe with mechanical or electrical tools. The “15” stands for it can resist abuse for up to 15 minutes from tools such as hand tools, picking tools, electric tools and other devices that apply forced entry and pressure.
  • TL-30 – Is the same as above, but is able to withstand physical abuse for 30 minutes.
  • TL-30 x 6 – Can withstand the same physical attacks for 30 minutes from all sides of the safe.
  • TRTL-30 – A safe that can successfully withstand heavy abuse from tools such as drills, saws, pry bars and other impact devices for up to 30 minutes.

We make sure you’re not only protected against fire. Most of our safes we have available are constructed to protect against both fires and burglaries. During the summer we know that many people are planning their summer get away with their families or friends. Whether it’s visiting family from another country or relaxing in the Bahamas, your home will become vulnerable to burglary. It doesn’t take an expert or professional to get into someone’s home. More likely than not, almost every home does not have the necessary security or alarm system that will warn neighbors that an intruder has broken in. Usually burglars go for only one thing, money and jewelry.  If you have money, jewelry and other valuable items, keeping them in a high security safe is the best way to protect against theft.

If you need both the unique design that combines both security features of protection against theft and fires, then a burglary and fire safe is the perfect choice. Make sure you know what type of rating you want for your safe. The safes also come in different shapes and sizes to fit all your storage needs. They also come in different types of finishes to cater to your style and décor. You can choose from your basic combination lock or add more security by choosing an electronic lock. We want you to become worry-free this summer. We don’t want you to come back home only to find out your home been raided and all your valuables are gone. That’s the worse way to end your summer vacation.  Stay protected and secure, start saving for a great investment that can save you time and give you the peace of mind you need to carry out your day. There are plenty of other things to worry about; your home and your valuables shouldn’t be one of them.

Source: http://www.thesafesource.com/safe_ratings.htm

The Perfect Gift For Father’s Day

June 17th, 2011

With Father’s Day coming up, there are a few gifts that come to mind. From barbecue grills, clothes or sports equipment, there are a wide selection of items available in stores that are perfect for Father’s Day. Most people choose popular items such as hand tools, power tools, toolboxes, knives, cigars or your usual home improvement products. What many people forget is that there are other items in the market that can be a great gift surprise.

As a security company, we know that safes are a perfect gift for fathers; especially those who need to keep their firearms in safekeeping. Our gun safes can hold a wide range of weapons such as rifles, handguns, knives, shotguns and ammunition. We have a variety of different gun safes that come in different sizes that can hold a smaller inventory of weapons to a much larger inventory. All our gun safes are constructed from steel that provides strength and durability. The main security features of the safe are the electronic locks and steel live locking bolts that prevent theft. Keep children and unauthorized users away to prevent accidents. These are heavy-duty gun safes that weigh over 500 pounds with the intention of safeguarding your weapons with the best possible protection.

Gun safes aren’t the only great gift to give, but we also offer safes available to protect valuables such as jewelry, cash, documents and other miscellaneous items. We have safes that have been tested and approved for quality assurance. What’s great about having a safe is as a father; you want to be able to keep all your insurance information safe. From your children’s birth certificates, passports, social security documents, receipts and other important records, you want to make sure you have a safe place to store them in.  For areas that are prone to wildfires, it’s necessary to have a fire resistant safe. Safes aren’t just something your dad or grandfather wants, but it’s something they’ll need, an excellent investment that you can benefit from as well.

The shopping doesn’t stop there; we also provide hardware tools such as locks for file cabinets, doors, desks and more. So if your father, husband or grandfather is in need to replace any of their locking devices, we have plenty of different types of locks available. If you are in need of any ideas, and still can’t think of what to get, these are some of the items we have. Get something your father will need and want, a perfect gift for Father’s Day.

We currently have a special offer towards all MESA gun safes. If you purchase a MESA gun safe, you will receive a free Eva-Dry dehumidifier (Model E333) for free! All of our safes are shipped with free curbside delivery and we also have white glove delivery available. Shop and start protecting all your valuables now with our heavy-duty safes.

Eight Suspects Arrested In Massive Jewelry Heist

June 16th, 2011

In the city of South Beach, Florida, Law Enforcement announced Wednesday that they have arrested a group of suspects who stole over $6 million in jewelry through the past 2 years. Eight South Florida residents are now charged for their participation in where they burglarized jewelry stores and pawnshops in six different states that included Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Connecticut.

The suspects are professional and expert burglars who would cut holes at the roof of the stores and then proceed to disable alarms and the surveillance systems. Then they would use torches to gain access inside the safe, the authorities said. The suspects were: Jose Betancourt, 43; Yenier Cardentey, 31; Juan Collado-Miranda, 44; Juan Manresa-Leyva, 411; Abelardo Pena-Cardentey, 33; Maykel Roque, 27; Tony Sanchez, 26; and Yaubri Suarez, 30.

The suspects are now in custody and were arrested between May 19th and May 24th.  According to the FDLE, they were charged with racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering.   To help with the investigation, it took over several law enforcement agencies. “The Office of Statewide Prosecution and FDLE worked on this investigation for nearly two years with law enforcement throughout the Eastern United States,” stated Attorney General Pam Bondi in a written statement. “The large-scale cooperation among the various law enforcement agencies was a vast undertaking that will result in justice for the victims of these burglaries.”

It’s reassuring to know that these thieves have finally been caught.  We’ve posted many burglaries that totaled up to over $100,000 in stolen goods, but this one takes the cake. That is large amount of money, and for these suspects to go unnoticed for 2 years really opens up our eyes that there are still people out there who will take these types of risks, especially in the state of our economy. They definitely knew what they were doing and how to approach every store they raided. It’s a scary thought to know that there are thieves like them prowling the streets waiting to scavenge up your hard earned profits or inventory. The suspects weren’t raiding or burglarizing just one area; they went from state to state, where they were never caught until now. It’s like something you would see out of a movie. You never truly realize or think that this type of criminal activity can happen to you, but they certainly can. It’s wise to prepare for the worse especially if you have valuables such as expensive jewelry and cash.

Even though it took police reinforcement 2 years to find the suspects, the saying goes “what comes around goes around.” They’ve had a short taste of living the luxury life, but will now have to pay for the consequences.  You can never be too safe, no matter where you live. Make sure you have the necessary protection and security. Always keep in mind, “it’s better safe, than sorry.”

Source: http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Massive-Miami-Based-Burglary-Ring-Busted-123915169.html

Thieves Raid Thrift Store Stealing $2,500 From Safe

June 14th, 2011

One of the most common places that thieves raid and burglarize are the common convenience or liquor stores. In York, Maine the police are investigating a theft that happened this past weekend. A safe was stolen that contained $2,500 in cash plus $400 in credit card receipts from the Leeward Landing Thrift Store.

According to Sgt. Thomas Cryan, he believes that the burglary happened either the night of June 11th or the early morning of June 12th. President of Leeward Industries Inc., Robert Werner, believes that the thieves were able to examine the thrift store while they were open during business hours on Saturday. During their time in the store, they managed to unlock a window. His mother, the manager of the store, Cheryl Werner arrived on Sunday morning only to discover that the window screen was ripped open after it was unlocked. Rob says that the employees consistently check to make sure that the windows are locked before leaving for the night.

Rob said, “Saturday was a particularly crazy day at the thrift store. We believe someone unlocked the window, came back later, sliced the screen, climbed in through the window, went in and rummaged through the store a bit. The money was in a safe bolted on the floor. They ripped the safe off the floor.” He added, “It’s horrible to steal from a charity.” That money was not only towards profits to the thrift store, but Leeward Landing donates to seven other York County food pantries. From their earnings they donate about $4,000 to $5,000 every month.

The store also has tenants who live upstairs above the thrift store. He believes that the theft had to have taken place during after business hours and before the tenants arrived home at 9 P.M. “It was not a quiet operation,” Rob said. “Tools were needed to get the safe off the floor.” Employees also noticed that items were knocked over in the store. The tenants reported that they did not hear anything during the theft, which is why Rob believes it had to happen between closing of the store and the tenants’ arrival.

In addition to the safe being bolted down it was also not in a visible area. He started using safes at three of its other stores within the last 2 months. Burglaries like these occur on a daily basis, yet we always believe that we’ll never become a victim. Rob made sure that investing in a safe protected the store’s profits, but unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to deter the thieves. Sometimes you have to take even bigger precautions to protect your safe. First, you need a high quality safe. You’ll become attracted to the cheap price of some safes and sure they can protect your valuables, but as the saying goes, “you get what you paid for.” If you’re going to protect your valuables and store a significant amount of cash, you need to invest in a durable and strong safe particularly made out of steel. There are many manufacturers out there that have dedicated their efforts in creating an all steel and high security safes.

You have to make sure your store has the necessary security too, not just protecting your cash. Any professional burglar or thief knows where to look. For any cash handling business, it’s a necessity to have surveillance cameras, alarms and other means of security to protect your valuables. It’s a shame that this particular thrift store had to be burglarized because that money was also going to charity.

Source: http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20110613-NEWS-110619875

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Security Products. Warehouse Prices.