Cape Cod Security ♦ Blog
Cape Cod Alarm System Installation
Local police are reporting that the amount of house break-ins, burglaries, thefts and property crimes have risen sharply. Most break-ins never make the local newspapers and many B&Es happen during broad daylight. This year is shaping up to see another dramatic rise in thefts and house breaks.
MV: An Alarming Number of False Alarms
Martha’s Vineyard emergency operators, police officers, and firefighters handled approximately 2,420 separate alarm calls last year. Nearly all were false alarms. With Island towns facing increasingly tight public safety budgets, the number of false alarms last year is raising questions about the money and resources used to respond to these false alarms. Notification of a real emergency very rarely comes from an automatic alarm, most real emergencies are called in through the 9-1-1 system.
Gov Report: More Money Being Lost to Internet Scams
Money lost in Internet crimes hit a new high last year, topping about $240 million, according to a government report showing increases in scams involving pets, check-cashing schemes and online dating.
Thieves Stealing Catalytic Converters for Precious Metals
Stealing catalytic converters has become a common problem for car owners and car dealers on Cape Cod in recent weeks. Several motorists parked at the Sagamore Commuter Lot have had their catalytic converters stolen from underneath their trucks or sport utility vehicles.
Thieves stealing valuable metals from unoccupied homes
BROCKTON, Mass. - Shards of broken glass outside the basement window of 31 Vine Street hint at the destruction inside the three-story home. Thieves smashed the window to break in and then gutted the property for its copper pipes — a crime that has spread across the United States as the economy slows and foreclosed homes stand empty and vulnerable.
Verified Response for Alarm Activations
Due to the growing problem with false alarms, police departments and cities around the country are moving to Verified Response policies. Verified Response is a policy that requires the alarm or alarm monitoring company to verify that there is an unusual occurrence at the location of the alarm before the local authorities will respond to the alarm activation.
Copper Theft on the Rise
With copper valued at over $3.00 per pound, thieves are becoming more and more brazen. Locally there has been a rash of copper thefts from construction sites. Since 2005, the price of copper pipe and wire has risen nearly 150 percent. Thieves steal these valuable metals and re-sell them to scrap metal buyers. Copper is commonly used in wiring, plumbing, roof flashing, gutters and downspouts.
Do Home Watch Companies Need to Be Licensed in MA?
There are many local Cape Cod companies that offer “home watch” and security related services. These businesses range from caretakers and home watch services to builders and landscapers. According to the laws of the State of Massachusetts anyone that offers key-holder or interior related inspectional or security services must be licensed (and bonded) to do so. Many of the businesses that offer house watch services on Cape Cod are not licensed properly to offer these services.
