The Urban Sheepdog | Personal Protection Systems Inc

Locating Your Stolen Goods

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 14:56:30 -0800

Often those who commit theft and break and enters will sell their stolen goods for money. In times past, the criminal element would take these stolen items to a local fence (buyer of stolen property) or a pawn shop. Today however, the criminal element is now using the Internet to sell their stolen goods, which offers a higher financial return on their criminal endeavor and a decreased likelihood of being caught by the police.

eBay , although popular in the past, has become less desirable given that they maintain records of all items sold, as well eBay requires valid banking information that can often allow law enforcement to easily track the seller.

Today, the criminal element is turning to Craigslist or a local on-line seller of used goods such a UsedVictoria. Both offer a search capability, and the more detailed you are with your search the better (make, model number, color, style)

You can also use Google to assist you with searching both Craigslist and UsedVictoria. The great thing about using Google is that it will pick up on goods that are presently for sale, but also goods that have sold in the past. To use the Google search function here’s what you place in the search box (make sure you type everything between the quotes):

Social Media and Home Security

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 19:30:55 -0800

I have posted in past on the dangers surrounding placing too much information in your social networks, and how it can have a negative impact on home security , but here's a recent UK infographic that supports the fact that the criminal element are using your social networks to their advantage:

Social Media Infographic Provided by CreditSesame.com

Darren

The Urban Sheepdog

Attention Parents

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:23:13 -0800

Just when we think we have heard it all when it comes to our kids finding new ways to experiment with alcohol and drugs, now we have to concern ourselves with this:

Hotel/Motel Security

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:37:00 -0700

Hotel/Motel Safety:

Given that many people travel on vacation or business, I thought a quick posting on Hotel/Motel Safety would be of interest. By following the below noted suggestions, I believe it will increase your chances of a crime free stay:

· Before you go, plan your vacation and do the research on the hotel/motel that you will be staying at and where it is located. If its in a high crime area, no matter how nice the hotel, maybe its safer to pick another hotel/motel.

· Take pictures of any credit cards, passports, plane tickets and any other important documents that you will be taking and take a copy with you and leave a second one at home. Consideration may be given to doing the same thing with any valuables; jewelry, laptops, cameras etc. If any of these items are stolen then it make it easier to report to the police and help them with identification.

· Never stay on the first floor. If at all possible , stay between the 12^th-15^th floor. Reason; it’s high enough from a crime prevention standpoint, but not too high that in an emergency (such as a fire) it makes it dificult for first responders to get to you. Most modern fire truck aerials can not reach above 12-15 floors.

Trust Your Intuition

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:03:50 -0700

Trusting Your Intuition:

Several years ago I wrote an article called “Etheric Sense”

http://www.personalprotectionsystems.ca/articles/etheric_sense.pdf

and in that article, last paragraph, I stated, “ I do believe that modern science will one day quantify and Qualify the Etheric sense, thus moving this self protection attribute from the realm of mysticism and esoteric philosophy, to mainstream study.”

Well researchers from Cornell University have recently done just that:

http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/April11/CriminalAppearance.html

I have stated for years that our intuition is a million years of evolution that the good Lord (or Creator) has provided us to stay safe, and science is now providing “empirical” research to support this belief.

Darren

The Urban Sheepdog

Apartment/Condo Security

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 15:05:57 -0700

Apartment/Condo Security:

Many of us who can’t afford to purchase a house will instead rent an apartment or condo. If you are looking to move into an apartment or condominium make sure you do your homework first:

· Ask the landlord or manager what their philosophy is regarding apartment security and do they even have one ?

· What kind of background checks are done on tenants in the building if any ?

· What kind of security exists on the property now ?

· Is the building a member of the “Crime Free Multi Housing Program” which is offered here in Victoria.

http://www.vicpd.ca/uploads/bod/monitoring/2010/March%202010%20%20Crime%20Free%20Multi%20Housing%202009%20Annual%20Report.pdf

http://www.vicpd.ca/index.php?page=cfmh-2

· Do they “re-key” the locks when the last tenant has left, if not will they take on this expense? If the property owner is not willing to take on this expense are they willing to allow you to re-key the lock ? This is important as some buildings will not allow you to do this.

Home Invasions

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 12:19:57 -0700

Home Invasions:

Home invasions, although a rarity, are likely going to be a homeowner’s worst nightmare. Given that our homes represent safety, security, and sanctuary, when violated by an intruder(s) who may want our property, our body, or even our life, it’s no wonder that the threat of a home invasion creates one of the most feared security concerns to a homeowner. Although it is not desirable to imagine you or your family in a situation like this, it is very important that you do consider planning for this possible reality should it ever happen to you. Remember the 7 P’s to personal safety; proper pre planning prevents piss poor performance. So what can we do to prevent or survive a home invasion?

1. Never open the door to someone you do not know. Most, not all, home invasions start with a knock a the door (usually combined with a ruse such as the intruder asking a question) and the homeowner voluntarily opening the door which now allows quick and easy access into your home with little to no noise. Once inside the home the intruder can spend hours undetected

Stop A Bully

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 10:54:34 -0700

Stop A Bully:

Bullying in all its forms in unacceptable in our schools, and now there is a “Canadian” program designed and developed by a teacher in British Columbia, that promotes “real world” information on this very important topic area called “Stop A Bully”. The other benefit to the Stop A Bully website is that it allows any student in Canada to submit an on-line bullying incident report directly to a school official without risk of becoming a target or being identified. I encourage everyone to check out this made in Canada website that can be located at:

www.stopabully.ca

Darren

The Urban Sheepdog

The Barking Dog Alarm

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 10:03:21 -0700

Barking Dog Alarms:

I have often been asked about the effectiveness of barking dog alarms, to which I always reply, “I don’t really know how effective they are, but what I can tell you is that the criminal element does not like dogs, especially those such as a German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Doberman Pinscher or other types of protection bred dogs. “ So given this fact, I would assume that a good barking dog alarm, that is realistic in the playing of an actual dog barking, might just be a good alternative to those who can not have a dog in the home, apartment, condo, cottage or even RV.

I have done some research on-line and it appears that one of the more reputable dog alarms on the market is called “Rex":

Some of the benefits of Rex include:

· Cost between 70-100 dollars

· The closer someone gets to your door the louder and more frequent the barking becomes. The product uses microwave radar sensors which can pass through a door or window, thus sensing when someone is approaching.

Beware Of Lock Bumping

Sun, 21 Aug 2011 16:46:49 -0700

The criminal element are constanly looking for ways to make it easier for them to break into your house without having to force entry which only creates noise and increases their chances of being seen, heard, or caught. One technique that has been around for several years now, but yet is relatively unknown by most home owners is a technique known as "Lock Bumping" which can be seen on following Youtube video:

As was mentioned in this video, there are a number of free sites and videos on the Internet which teaches people how to both make and use a bump key.

One of the best ways to prevent your home from being "bumped" is to use a lock that can't be bumped and one of the best on the market is called "The Ultimate Lock" which can be located at:

http://www.theultimatelock.com/

Although you may pay a premium for this lock, it does offer several other advantages (other than preventing bumping) that no other lock on the market that I know of can offer. As always, remember that this lock is only as good as the door that it is installed; always ensure that the door is solid core.

The Art Of Deception And Home Security

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 15:04:15 -0700

The Art Of Deception And Home Security:

One of the principles in target hardening your home, especially if the outer security perimeter has been breached or pen tested, is to not only ensure that you secure the inner perimeter, but also make your home appear to be occupied, when you and your family are out. Often you will hear people advise you to leave a light, stereo or even your TV on utilizing timers. Although great ideas, there are now other technological tools on the market that utilize the "art of deception" to make your home look like it is occupied. Two products include:

Audioguard (http://www.audioguard.com/)

Which is a three CD set containing everyday day sounds that you would naturally hear if people were home, and that can be looped repeatedly through your home stereo system while you are out of the house.

Fake TV (http://www.faketv.com/)

Which is a product that produces the same effect as having your TV on, but given that it uses small LED lights, its cost of operation is significantly cheaper that actually keeping your tv running, never mind the wear and tear on your flat screen TV with over use.

Monitored Home Alarms, Are They Worth The Cost

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 14:22:40 -0700

Monitored Home Alarms Systems Are They Worth The Cost ???

A 2010 study called, “The Greenwich Study Of Residential Security”, which was funded by the alarm industry, found that a home that was not protected by a “monitored” home alarm system, that advertised such through overt signage, was 2.7 – 3.5 times more likely to be targeted for a residential break and enter.

http://www.homesecuritytopics.com/articles/homes-without-alarms-more-likely-to-be-burglarized.html

Now I know some of you will think, “of course this study would reach this finding given that it was funded by the alarm/security industry”, BUT 25+ years in law enforcement has proven to me that this study actually reflects reality in my experience. There is no doubt, that when hunting for an easy target home, the criminal will want to know if the house has a monitored alarm system. Why, because it increases their chances of being seen, heard, and caught.

It is important to remember that an advertised monitored alarm system is but one component to an overall “target hardening” strategy that can go along way in causing a criminal to pick another home. Please have a read of this blog posting that has a more in-depth discussion on a “complete” target hardening strategy for your home.

ATM Security

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 12:39:29 -0700

With current news surrounding ATM security and how the criminal element is stealing money from our accounts, I thought this FBI article, "Taking A Trip To An ATM, Becareful Of Skimmers" was timely:

http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2011/july/atm_071411/atm_071411

Here's a great Youtube video on the topic as well:

Here's another great series on the topic:

http://krebsonsecurity.com/all-about-skimmers/

Stay Safe

Darren

The Urban Sheepdog

Teen Dating Violence

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 17:04:07 -0700

Teen Dating Violence:

We have all heard about adult domestic violence, but what about “Teen Dating Violence”? What is teen dating violence, according to “Break the Cycle, Empowering Youth to End Domestic Violence”, it is a “pattern of abusive behaviors that are used to exert power and control over a teen dating partner” that usually takes place over a course of time. Like adult domestic violence incidents, teen dating violence can include:

· Physical Abuse: a use of real or threated use of force with the intent to cause injury and can include things such as hitting, shoving, biting, strangling, kicking or using a real or improvised weapon.

· Emotional Abuse: this would include the use of insults, constant monitoring, humiliation, intimidation, isolation and even stalking.

· Sexual Abuse: which includes any action that prevents a person to have to ability to control their sexual activity or the circumstances in whch sexual activity occurs and can include rape, coercion or even restricting access to birth control.

Securing Your Garage

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:33:52 -0700

Have a look at the attached Youtube Video, which has been viewed over 1 million times. Do you think that maybe some of these viewers might be those who want learn an easy and fast way to break into your home ??????

Now here's another Youtube video to show how to prevent this from happening to you. I like the option of using the twist tie given that in an emergency, such as a fire, you can still get out. Also you may want to shorten the pull cord so that it can't be grabbed in the same way and then pulled; using a slip knot to shorten the cord is a great option.

Stay Safe

Darren

The Urban Sheepdog

10 College/University Safety Tips

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 15:10:32 -0700

Starting University or College, Here Are 10 Safety Tips For Your Consideration :

Well before you know it, the summer will be over and University and College will be back in session. Although your campus life will be filled with many rewarding experiences, there are also some safety risks that you should be aware of as well. Awareness of these risks, and implementing strategies to reduce these risks, is always a good first step to having a rewarding, safe and secure life on campus.

Although we don’t hear much about campus crime, it does occur and studies have found that many criminal acts committed on campus go unreported and/or under reported. Did you know that university and college students are the number one risk group when it comes to identity theft? Specific to sexual assault, a recent US based Department of Justice Report on sexual crimes committed on college women found:

•Annually 4.9% of college Co-Eds experience a rape. In other words, the victimization rate is 49 rapes per 1000 female students.

Wait For The Gate

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 18:49:57 -0700

Wait For The Gate:

Those who park their vehicle in an enclosed and secured parking area, are often surprised that when they come back to their car it has been broken into. Many of these victims often ask law enforcement, "how do you think the thief gained access into our secured parking area". Well here's the answer:

So please wait for the gate to close behind you because if you don't, you and your neighbors may pay the price......

Stay Safe

Darren

The Urban Sheepdog

Are You A Block Watch Member

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 18:30:24 -0700

Are You A Block Watch Member ???

Neighborhood Block Watch has been around for years here in Canada, and most police departments endorse this public/police partnership to look after one another in the battle against crime.

Given that some in the criminal element are now turning to technology to digitally break into our homes to steal information, I think it is now time for the Block Watch Program to evolve and promote ways to inform, identify, and protect/secure block watch homes from the criminal element who (as you will read below) are “war-driving” our neighborhood streets looking for easy targets to hit.

Given the popularity of the Internet, and the fact that many households have more than one computer in the home, rather than connecting all the computers to the Internet via hardwire, manufactures have created wireless network capabilities that offer both ease and convenience via wireless routers (Wi-Fi); two of the more commonly known manufactures of these routers are D-Link and Linksys.With the convenience of Wi-Fi however, comes vulnerability and security risks due to the fact that most home Wi-Fi networks have not been properly secured.One research study estimates that approximately 40-60 percent of all home Wi-Fi systems are unsecured.

"NO" Is A Complete Sentence

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 01:30:48 -0700

“NO” Is A Complete Sentence:

As a self-protection instructor to men, women, and children one of the most important principles that I teach is that “NO is a complete sentence” and it has no negotiation built into it when it comes to setting a verbal and physical boundary. A person who does not respect the sentence “NO”, should be a signal to you that the identified person is either seeking control, or refusing to relinquish in order to ascertain more efforts to control. Remember that in a potential attackers mind, negotiation equals possible opportunities to meet their needs not yours.

Remember, “NO” is a complete sentence and when you say it, MEAN IT !!!!!!!!

Stay Safe

Darren

The Urban Sheepdog

Home Inventory

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 23:54:55 -0700

How many of us are prepared to deal with our insurance company after a break and enter, or God forbid, a fire. Sure you had a 60-inch plasma TV, show us the receipts is not an uncommon comment when making an insurance claim. Well to help us inventory our house hold property, the Information Insurance Institute has created a “free” on-line home inventory program, allowing you to store up to 1gig of information that can be safely secured in their server, retainable only by you if and when needed. Check them out…… proper pre planning prevents poor performance !!!!!

http://www.knowyourstuff.org/iii/login.html

Darren

The Urban Sheepdog