HOW TO STOP BURGLARS FROM TARGETING YOUR HOME

In Burglary Prevention Tips :

• Unlocked doors or windows
• Front doors with glass panes
• Open curtains that reveal what you have in your home
• Open doors or windows (this includes garage doors)
• Darkened points of entry
• Valuables left out in the open, such as lawn equipment or bicycles
• Large bushes that obscure the front yard or door to your home
• Fences that provide cover
• Neighbourhoods without neighbourhood watch

Signs that a home is an unoccupied target include:

•     Newspapers or unchecked mail
•     Overgrown yards
•    “Sorry we missed you” notes on the door

LOCK YOUR WINDOWS AND DOORS

REINFORCE YOUR DOORS

GLASS FRONT DOORS ATTRACT BURGLARS

They will look through the door in order to see what’s inside.  A thief can see if you have a traditional, monitored alarm system as well.

KEEP YOUR GARAGE DOOR CLOSED

I think a lot of people take leaving their garage door open for granted. Maybe you could do that in 1952, but those days are over. I know a man who’s wife pulled into the garage and left the garage door open when she went into the house. By the time she went back out to close it, someone had already run in and stolen his toolbox full of expensive tools. Now, talk about emboldened opportunism! Luckily they caught the guy because the man had a security camera that had captured a clear image of his face.

GET AN UP-TO-DATE OPENER

LOCK THE DOOR FROM YOUR GARAGE INTO YOUR HOUSE

CLOSE YOUR BLINDS OR CURTAINS

 WHAT BURGLARS WANT AND WHERE THEY LOOK FOR IT IN  YOUR HOUSE

• under the mattress
• under the bed
• master closest
• shoe boxes
• night stands
• tops of wardrobes
• bathroom cabinets
• dresser drawers
• medicine cabinets
• children’s’ rooms
• kitchen pantry
• broom or utility closet
• basement
• attic

Crime prevention officers suggest keeping bushes trimmed down to about 3 feet or shorter so that you increase the visibility for your neighbours or pedestrian onlookers. I can totally see keeping my front door and window bushes trimmed back. But let’s take a look at our other options below.

ADD LANDSCAPE LIGHTING FOR HOME SECURITY 

Basically, these are stand-alone security cameras installed in light fixtures. Whenever motion triggers them, both the light and the camera activate. Next, they send you an alert via text message. From there you can control the camera, which includes the ability to speak to whoever is there..ask Reed today! 

SIGNS YOU ARE AWAY

1.  OVERGROWN LAWNS 
2. TRASHCANS LEFT OUT BY THE CURB

WHAT DO BURGLARS LOOK FOR IN A TARGETED NEIGHBORHOOD?

• settled homes
• a particular type of home typically means disposable income..that means they have jewelry or cash
• well-kept homes
• yards with nice fences because they indicate nice interior
• houses without alarm systems
• glass front doors that let them see inside

The Trusted Saskatoon Directory Team are thrilled to brag about our latest Saskatoon partner in our Saskatoon Contractors, Exteriors & Roofers category. We would like to welcome and introduce you to Scott Roofing a Trusted Saskatoon Roofer. 

Scott Roofing has over 30 years years of experience in the Saskatoon roofing industry and they are the roofer of choice for many of Saskatoon's top contractors. Their extensive roofing experience, skills and knowledge means they have proven themselves to be a trustworthy business and they are known as a reliable roofing contractor for both builders and homeowners who value friendly service and honest advice. 

Scott Landru and his team at Scott Roofing have an impeccable reputation for high-quality, clean work and they believe that relationships really matter.

As part of the unique Trusted Saskatoon verification process, we contacted a long list of Scott Roofing clients. These included both residential and commercial roofing clients,  to hear their opinion about the quality of workmanship and service Scott and his team provide. 

Wow,  we were impressed! Most of those surveyed rated them 10/10! 

"We have used Scott Roofing for two projects in the last twelve months. First we had our detached garage reshingled and then our home. I have to say that we have been VERY pleased with the service and workmanship. They have many years of experience and it truly shows in the care and attention they take. I would highly recommend Scott Roofing to anyone looking for great service and quality workmanship at competitive pricing." Sherry, Saskatoon

 

One of their clients wrote about their experience in a Google review that we found whilst doing our due diligence and checking Scott Roofings online reputation. We wanted to share,  as it includes a word of warning about what happens if you are unfortunate enough to have an experience with disreputable roofers. 

" I was not fortunate enough to have Scott Roofing replace my roof, I had the experience of using a less reputable company last year.
Today, however, a crew from Scott Roofing was diligently working across the street from my house. On my way home one of the team stopped me and asked to speak with me. He pointed out a potentially serious mistake in the work done to my roof that I wouldn't have been able to identify myself. He asked if it would be okay for him to quickly hop onto my roof and fix the issue because as a professional it was painful for him to see a homeowner with such obvious deficiencies left behind.
To me, this is the measure of true character in a person and a company. How does someone treat you when you have nothing to offer them? When there is no personal benefit to helping you out, how do they react? Every company will talk highly of their service and quality of work, today Scott Roofing skipped the talk and showed their integrity in their actions.
Today, however, a crew from Scott Roofing was diligently working across the street from my house. On my way home one of the team stopped me and asked to speak with me. He pointed out a potentially serious mistake in the work done to my roof that I wouldn't have been able to identify myself. He asked if it would be okay for him to quickly hop onto my roof and fix the issue, because as a professional it was painful for him to see a home owner with such obvious deficiencies left behind To me, this is the measure of true character in a person and a company. How does someone treat you when you have nothing to offer them? When there is no personal benefit to helping you out, how do they react? Every company will talk highly of their service and quality of work, today Scott Roofing skipped the talk and showed their integrity in their actions.These are the actions of the only roofing company I will use from now on, and the only company I'll be willing to recommend to friends and family."  Scott Jamison, Saskatoon.

JOB Heating & Air Conditioning’s wonderful staff will be more than happy to provide you with an estimate for any home comfort improvement that you have in mind. They also offer training classes at your personal site for maintenance and they also offer home heating tune-ups. JOB are Trusted Saskatoon Boiler experts. In their latest tip, they share boiler safety issues and concerns.

Saskatoon boiler tips on safety – The little things matter.

A day in the life of JOB Heating and Air Saskatoon

This is a newer boiler and would actually provide an error code for problems. It is important to note that most boilers sold on the market today will give you troubleshooting codes like this.

Saskatoon boiler safety problem solved

We disabled the inducer fan, and lo and behold, there were two small leaves caught in the fan. We cleaned the fan, put it back on the unit and temporally reconnected the vent. The boiler fired right up. We were able to source the correct parts to repair the vent so it could be run safely, and we are happy to say all is well.

Contact a Saskatoon boiler expert you can trust

JOB Heating & Air Conditioning’s wonderful staff will be more than happy to provide you with an estimate for any home comfort improvement that you have in mind. They also offer training classes at your personal site for maintenance and they also offer home heating tune-ups. JOB are Trusted Saskatoon Furnace experts and they can also help you with all your Saskatoon plumbing needs! In their latest Saskatoon furnace tip, owner Jeff Bolton,  shares why you can trust JOB with your Saskatoon heating and furnace issues.

The Importance of Trust. 

When calling someone for help, especially help in your own home, you really need to ask yourself – who can you trust? If you aren’t working with someone you can trust, how can you have any confidence you are being treated fairly, and the person working for you has your best interests at heart?

Jeffs Real Saskatoon Heating and Furnace Calls.

I was asked to go help two different ladies. Both lived on their own and had furnace issues. The first lady was what I would describe as everyone’s grandma, you know the type, sweet as sugar. The second was a single mother who was also a joy to meet. Both had very legitimate concerns with their furnaces. The first lady simply asked me to drop by and listen to her furnace because she thought that something was not right with it. I was in her furnace room for maybe 5 seconds and I could tell that the bearings in her inducer motor were on their last legs. We had one of our technicians over to her house later that afternoon to change the inducer motor and it turned out just fine. By calling me, she saved herself a possible (more likely probable) after hours call due to having no heat.

The second lady asked me to come and give her a quote on a new furnace because she was under the impression that her furnace needed to be changed. When I showed up I commented that the house was nice and warm. She told me that her brother had been by and found a loose wire on the furnace. I cycled the furnace on and off a few times and I believe that he was correct. Although this furnace is quite old I suggested she budget the appropriate amount to replace the furnace within 3 to 7 years. I explained what parts would cost her if they needed to be replaced. Of course, I didn’t charge her for my time because we don’t charge for furnace replacement quotes.

The trust issues with Saskatoon heating and furnace contractors

What I realized when listening to these ladies is that there is a real trust issue with companies that they hire to come into their homes in Saskatoon. Who can you trust and how do you know you can trust them? This is the very reason that Trusted Saskatoon was started. A wonderful lady who was a single mother had a company charge her a ridiculous amount of money to change a P-trap in her plumbing system in 2010.

She thought there should be a better way to find businesses you can trust, so she created trustedsaskatoon.com and launched it along with her 5 Trusted guarantees in 2011.

The 5 Trusted Guarantees are:

1. Provide the service and quality promised.
2. Complete the job on time.
3. Charge the price quoted with NO surprises.
4. Communicate honestly and be responsive to customer needs.
5. Resolve any issues with customer satisfaction in mind.

To be a Trusted Saskatoon plumbing and heating company JOB, along with every Trusted business, must adhere to these 5 promises. I believe that these promises are the foundation of good customer service, and that integrity and honesty must be maintained at all times in everything we do. We use this approach when dealing with our customers or dealing with our vendors. By maintaining this sense of integrity, honesty, and respect no matter who we are dealing with, those values ingrain themselves in the culture of our company – acting according to these values just becomes the norm.

JOB Heating and Air Conditioning is a company you can trust with your Saskatoon heating and furnace worries.

If you or someone you know are in a similar position to the ladies I saw this week, remember that JOB Heating and Air Conditioning is a Trusted Saskatoon company and we approach every job like it was in our own mother’s house. If you need other services that JOB Heating doesn’t provide, www.trustedsasaktoon.com works with the top companies in each category. From personal experience in dealing with Trusted partners, I have witnessed the integrity that I expect and value. Don’t hesitate to use JOB Heating and Air for your plumbing, heating, and air conditioning needs, and for all other needs check out trustedsaskatoon.com.

Trusted Saskatoon partners are here to help.

Jeff Bolton.

JOB Heating and Air Conditioning

JOB products and services include:

• Furnaces

• Boilers

• Air Conditioners

• Water Heaters

• Gas Lines

• Garage Heaters 

JOB Heating & Air Conditioning  Trusted Saskatoon Furnace, Boiler and Air Conditioning Experts

JOB. Heating & Air Conditioning  are Trusted Saskatoon Plumbers 

When you become a Reed Security client you will be entering into a relationship - one they want to grow and become long-term. Installing a security system will decrease the odds of having a break-in by nearly 400%. 

Reed Security is a Multi SABEX AWARD WINNING company and they are TRUSTED SASKATOON ALARM & SECURITY EXPERTS

Reed Security Top Security  Tips

All About Theft:

• 66% of break-in's are forced entry and forced entry attempts
• 34% of break-ins are an unlawful entry (without force)
• In 2015, Saskatchewan had 9407 break-in's (180/week) and Alberta had 27,517 break-in's (529/week)
• Break-ins occur in all areas of the City - not just the "bad areas"
• Most Home break-ins occur when you are at work or travelling (daytime)
• Most Business break-ins occur when you are at home (evening and weekends)
• Cabin's and Lake properties are especially attractive
• 98% of break-ins occur through main floor doors and windows (often unlocked)
• Thieves target the Master Bedroom

Thieves steal:

• Cash and Credit Cards
• Jewelry
• Designer clothes and sunglasses
• Electronics such as TV's, Stereos, Computers, Video Game systems, Smartphones and Tablets
• Tools
• Sporting Goods
• Cars and Trucks or the contents in them
• Building Materials
• Alcohol and Prescription drugs
• Your Identity

How to Prevent Theft

Use Common Sense!

• If you lose a key, get the locks changed.
• Ask all strangers for identification.
• Never hide an extra key outdoor - especially underneath a mat or on top of a light fixture. This is the first place the bad guys look. Leave an extra house key with a friend or a neighbour.
• DO NOT advertise on Facebook or other social media that you are on vacation.
• For insurance purposes take photos of the contents of your home.
• Keep all receipts in a safe and easy to find location.
• Write down the model and the serial number of all electronics.
• Make it Difficult
• Door chains are easy to bypass. Install deadbolts.
• Install a stopper or stick on all sliding doors and windows.
• Install window bars on all basement windows.
• Make sure all doors and windows are properly locked.
• Keep your premises well lit at night.
• Install timers that turn lights on at different times. This gives the appearance that someone is home.

Install a monitored Home Security system and you are 400% less likely to have a break-in.

You will receive up to 25% insurance discount. and optional ALARM.COM with automatic lights.

In case you do have a break-in:

If it looks like a door or window was forced open, DO NOT go inside. The burglar may still be on site.

Call the Police from your cellular phone or from a neighbour's house and wait.