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We will continue to support our customers with planned maintenance visits and reactive calls during the third national lockdown, which began today. Our staff and customers' health and safety is our primary concern so we will adhere to social distancing, wear relevant PPE, and follow appropriate guidance at all times. If you already have an appointment with us, then this will still go ahead. However, if you need to change or cancel the booking, please call us on 01392 368830. Please advise us at the earliest opportunity if a member of your staff/ household is self-isolating due to testing positive or showing symptoms of COVID-19. If you have an appointment with us but have been advised to shield or are classed as 'vulnerable', we will need to postpone the visit unless urgent or essential. Several of our admin staff are still working from home, so we apologise if our response times are slower at present. Please see our most recent COVID-19 policy for more information, which provides further details on our operating procedures. From all of us at 'Team Tamar' we wish you well during this national lockdown.

Our opening times over the festive period will be as follows: Monday 21st - Wednesday 23rd December: 9am - 5pm Christmas Eve: 9am - 5pm Christmas Day: CLOSED Boxing Day: CLOSED Sunday 27th December: CLOSED Monday 28th: CLOSED Tuesday 29th & Wednesday 30th December: 9am - 3pm New Years Eve: 9am - 5pm New Years Day: CLOSED Saturday 2nd January: CLOSED Sunday 3rd January: CLOSED Our normal opening hours will resume on Monday 4th January 2021. Our emergency call-out service for our contract customers will be available while we're closed. For assistance, please call 01392 368830. We’d like to thank all our customers for their custom and support during this challenging year. And we wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy 2021.

Installing a home burglar alarm will help protect your property from unwanted intruders. But what happens when the alarm activates? To enhance your level of home security, we recommend you choose a monitored alarm system over an unmonitored one. In this blog, we explain what a monitored system is and highlight the benefits.

What is a monitored security system?

With a monitored alarm system, as soon as your alarm system is activated, for example, a motion detector identifying an intruder, a notification is immediately sent to an alarm receiving centre (ARC). The ARC will then attempt to contact you and confirm whether it's a real emergency or a false trigger. If you don't respond, the alarm monitoring service will escalate the situation and depending on the system you have, either contact a keyholder or dispatch the emergency services to your property. Some monitored alarm systems use an intercom system so the ARC can listen in on what's going on in your home and speak to the intruder through an integrated audio device.

Benefits of a monitored burglar alarm

Guaranteed response

Most people ignore alarms either assuming that someone else will deal with it or not knowing what to do. When your monitored alarm system is activated, someone will always respond.

Monitor more than just an alarm activation

Monitored systems will also monitor battery levels and power supplies, protecting the system from failure by notifying you before it stops working. It can also alert to a potential power cut, meaning you may get a notification before the freezer defrosts!

Deter burglars

Burglars prefer easy targets. They tend to avoid houses with alarms and especially those that are monitored.

Protection for your home 24/7

The ARC will provide 24/7 cover. So you'll have peace of mind that someone will always respond to your alarm when you're not able to.

Reduced insurance premiums

Some home insurers quote lower household insurance premiums when there is a monitored alarm at a property.

Happy neighbours

Unattended burglar alarms are incredibly annoying and likely to cause noise complaints from your neighbours. The quick response when a monitored alarm goes off means this problem is less likely to occur. If you're thinking of installing a burglar alarm in your home, monitored or otherwise, and would like some advice or a no-obligation quote, please call us on 01392 368830 or complete our contact form.

Image credit: Pixabay

Following a recent audit, Tamar Security has been awarded BAFE SP203-1, Design, Installation, Commissioning and Maintenance accreditation. This quality assurance scheme recognises us as a provider who delivers compliant fire detection and alarm systems.   BAFE is an independent organisation which rigorously audits and accredits suppliers in the fire protection industry. Its remit is to ensure quality and provide the vital reassurance to customers that the services being bought or specified are effective, reliable and competently maintained. Accreditation is only awarded to providers who can demonstrate quality and competence to help meet your fire safety obligations.

Why use a BAFE registered company?

1. Independent and unbiased assessment of competency - All BAFE Registered Companies nationwide have been independently and regularly assessed by a UKAS Accredited Certification Body.
2. Quality professionals providing assurance of service excellence - The independent assessment is completely voluntary, meaning a provider's own time and money is used to demonstrate their commitment to quality, showing they are skilled professionals to help meet your requirements.
3. Evidential competency - As the person responsible for fire safety, you can see certificated evidence of your chosen provider's competency. Your insurers will be interested in seeing this evidence, especially if you have to make a claim.
4. Confidence you have acted with due diligence - The certificated evidence demonstrates due diligence in sourcing a competent provider to help meet your fire safety obligations.
5. Regular assessments to ensure ongoing competency - BAFE Registered Companies are assessed annually, meaning ongoing assessment of their competency with up to date relevant standards and best working practice.
6. Monitored compliance - BAFE monitor registered companies to ensure they continue to work to the scheme criteria at all times. If for any reason a provider's competency falls into disrepute, this will be investigated and if confirmed, their BAFE registration will be suspended until rectified or terminated
7. BAFE is recommended by government and Fire and Rescue Services across the UK.

If you choose Tamar Security for your fire safety needs, you'll have the peace of mind that our work is audited and approved to the highest standards. We can assist with fire alarms, fire extinguishers and fire risk assessments. For help with your fire safety, please call us on 01392 368830 or email us.

Following the government announcement of a second national lockdown, we’d like to reassure our customers that we're fully operational and able to continue trading during this period. The health and safety of all our staff and customers remain our primary concern so we will continue to follow all social distancing guidance and take adequate safety precautions. If you already have an appointment with us, then this will still go ahead. However, if you need to change or cancel the appointment, please call us on 01392 368830. Several of our admin staff are still working from home so we apologise if our response times are slower at present. For more information, please see our COVID-19 policy which provides further details on our operating procedures. From all of us at ‘Team Tamar’ we wish you well and hope you stay safe during this second lockdown.

As the nights rapidly draw in, and our daylight hours become fewer, the threat of burglary increases. The autumn is an excellent time to review your home security and take steps to deter burglars from targeting your home. Here are our tips.

Eight tips to deter burglars

1. Get a burglar alarm

A visible burglar alarm is an obvious deterrent to a would-be burglar. Opportunistic thieves commit most burglaries, and they’re unlikely to take a chance on a house which has an alarm. But don’t expect a fake alarm to fool them.

2. Put up CCTV

CCTV cameras are among the biggest deterrents for burglars. No thief wants to be caught on camera.

3. Use lighting

Burglars want to keep out of sight so will avoid well-lit buildings or those with motion lights installed outside. Also, lights on in the inside will make your home look occupied and put off an intruder.

4. Get a dog

The sound of a barking dog is the perfect deterrent to a burglar. Even a dog-friendly burglar is unlikely to take the risk of meeting snarling teeth!

5. Lock doors and windows

Keeping windows and doors locked is an obvious security tip but surprisingly one that homeowners often forget to check. An open window is an invitation to a burglar.

6. Create physical deterrents

A gravel drive, a thorny hedge, and a gate at the end of your drive are all physical deterrents to a burglar. A burglar wants to get in and out as quickly and as noiselessly as possible. Don’t make it easy for them.

7. Hide valuables

Don’t place high-value items where somebody can see them from the road. Showcasing your valuables will entice a thief rather than deter them.

8. Pretend you’re home

Take steps to make your home look occupied even when you’re not there – e.g. have some internal lights on timer control, ask a neighbour to leave a car on your drive, or have someone collect your post. Also, while it’s tempting to share your holiday snaps on social media, be careful what you post while you’re away from home. Don’t advertise to criminals that your home is unoccupied. If you’d like to improve your home security with an alarm or CCTV system, we’d be happy to provide a free no-obligation security consultation and quote. Please call us on 01392 368830 or drop us an email.   Image credit: Pixabay

There are lots of things to consider when choosing a security alarm system. One key consideration is whether you should have a wireless or wired security alarm. We're often asked which is best, so we thought we'd give you the lowdown on this blog. Firstly, let's explain the difference.

Wireless security system

A wireless security system has no wires. Instead, the system uses a radio frequency to communicate between the different elements and the control panel.

Hardwired security system

A hardwired system uses wires to connect the sensors and cameras to the central control panel. Now that's clear, what are the pros and cons of each?

Wireless versus wired security alarm

Installation

Installing a wireless system is easier, quicker and less disruptive than putting in a wired one. With wireless, there's no need to run cables through walls and floors but it still requires a connection to the mains electricity.

Cost

Wireless alarm systems components are usually more expensive than their wired counterparts. However, the systems are easier to install, which reduces the installation time and overall cost making them relatively comparable on an average-sized domestic house in terms of the initial outlay. Wireless systems are more costly to run than wired alarms as they rely on batteries which need regularly replacing (approximately every two years).

Flexibility

You can add to both types of alarm system, but it's more complicated with a wired set-up. Adding extra sensors to a wireless network is a relatively straightforward job. Also, a wireless alarm system can be easily removed if you want to take it with you when you move home/premises.

Reliability

Interference can occasionally interfere with wireless technology, whereas a hardwired system will work consistently. That said wireless technology has improved so much that the difference is negligible.

Security

A wireless alarm system could be hacked, and an intruder could easily cut a wired alarm, so neither is 100% failsafe. We would recommend the appropriate system depending on your requirements and level of risk. If you're thinking of installing a security alarm in your home or business premises and would like some advice or a no-obligation quote, please call us on 01392 368830 or complete our contact form.

If you’re looking to enhance the security of your business premises, installing a commercial CCTV system would be a logical step.

Five reasons why commercial CCTV will benefit your business

1. Deters crime

CCTV cameras act as a visual deterrent to potential intruders, especially opportunistic thieves. The sight of a camera is often enough to put off criminals as they don’t want to run the risk of being caught on film.

2. Reduces insurance costs

Insurance companies generally offer lower insurance premiums on CCTV-covered commercial properties. With the building less likely to be broken into it presents a lower risk to the insurer, which it reflects in the price they charge for the cover.

3. Creates a safe working environment

A CCTV system watching over your premises will help keep staff safe and make them feel more secure at their workplace. Being able to monitor the activity at your site will give you peace of mind.

4. Helps catch criminals

Should a crime occur at your premises, you’ll have video evidence to assist the police with their investigation.

5. Settles disputes

CCTV footage can help when it comes to settling disputes, a staff disagreement or health and safety breach, for example. Video footage will reveal the truth and provide evidence to resolve the dispute. If you haven’t got commercial CCTV and would like to investigate the options and costs, please get in touch for a no-obligation quote. With so many options available, we can help you design a system which is appropriate for your business and security requirements.

Home security has possibly been less of a concern for homeowners over recent months as lockdown restrictions have meant many of us have rarely left our homes empty. However, as things slowly return to normal, and we begin to spend more time away from home now is a good time to review how secure your home is.

Here are our 11 tips on how you can improve your home security:

1. Fit secure locks

Ensure all your external doors have reliable locks. Mortice locks and multi-point locking systems are the most secure.

2. Use window locks

Fit locks on your windows and use them.

3. Install an alarm

Install a security alarm on the outside of your home. As well as deterring anyone from breaking in an alarm could also lower your home insurance premiums.

4. Install CCTV

Mount CCTV cameras outside of your home. These will deter burglars and provide visual evidence should your home get broken into.

5. Don't hide keys outside

Rather than hiding a key where a burglar might find it use a secure outdoor key safe.

6. Light up your house

Keep a few lights on in the house when you go out in the evening. If you're going to be away overnight use a time-switch or ‘smart plugs’, so lights come on and off while you're not there. Motion-activated lights outside work as an excellent deterrent to intruders.

7. Lock up tools

Don't leave any tools that could help a burglar gain access to your house, e.g. ladders, garden tools, etc., lying about.

8. Plant a barrier

Hedges and thorny shrubs make an effective barrier to your home and act as a deterrent to thieves. But avoid planting high hedges around doors and windows as these can conceal a burglar who's trying to break in.

9. Gravel the drive

Noisy to walk on, gravel can alert you to people outside of your property and also deter unwanted intruders from coming in.

10. Hide valuables from view

Keep valuable items such as watches, laptops and large TVs away from windows and draw the curtains at night.

11. Make out you're home

If you're going to be away from home for an extended period, enlist someone to help prevent your home from looking empty – by collecting the mail, mowing the lawn, moving the car on the drive etc. If you'd like to improve your home security with an alarm or CCTV system, please call us on 01392 368830 or email us for a free security consultation and quote.   Image credit: Pixabay