Burglars charged; posed as plumbers in Royal Oak

The Daily Tribune has the story of two home invaders posing as plumbers who were recently arrested. A good home security system would have prevented these two from going into your house.
http://www.dailytribune.com/articles/2010/03/30/news/doc4bb235ce19faa694586650.txt

Family Interrupts Intruder In Home

Here's another story that proves how important having a security system for your home is:

"ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. -- A Rochester Hills family came home Sunday evening to their house on Jonathan Drive and discovered a man in the process of robbing them, the Oakland County Sheriff's Office said."

For the rest of the story click on the link below:

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/22991064/detail.html?treets=det&tml=det_12pm&ts=T&tmi=det_12pm_1_10500103302010

Daytime Break-Ins All Over Clinton County

A popular time for home break-ins is midday during the week. Here's an article about this growing trend:

http://www.wilx.com/home/headlines/89214737.html

It's been some time now since Shirley Schneeberger's home was broken into. No matter-- she's still on edge.
"It's the feeling," she explains, "when you know someone's been tracking through your house. The items were replaceable, but that feeling... someone's been in my home, without permission..."
Now her rural Olive Township neighborhood, along with a few others in southern Clinton County, is being targeted again.
"Over the last two weeks we've had a rash of daytime break-ins of houses," says Det. Sgt. Fritz Sandberg of the Clinton County Sheriff's Office. "Mostly these break-ins are happening around 10 a.m. To 3 or 4 p.m., while people are at work, kids are at school."
Sandberg believes the thieves will knock on your door, and if you're not home, they'll break in the back and steal whatever they can find.
"Electronic products, tv's, cameras, jewerly," he says.
We've all been taught when we're little that if a stranger comes to the door, pretend you're not home. But detectives say that might not be the smartest thing to do in this situation.
"We've had an incidents where people elect not to let someone know they were home. Then they go around in back and enter that way. Now we have a homeowner in the house, and a robber too. It's a bad situation," Sandberg says.
He says letting the person know you're home-- while staying safe-- can fend off potential burglars. Also, know your neighbors and pay attention to unusual cars. That's something Schneeberger echoes.
"Out here, you need to be vigilant. When someone drives into your driveway and you don't know who they are, you need to go see."

As burglaries rise, session offers security tips

Here are some very good home security tips from the Houston area. The specific details start about half way through. Follow the link at the bottom:

"One of the issues discussed was the use of locks. Traditional door locks located on door knob have spring locks, which are easy to open with a credit card. Krysiak recommends a single deadbolt for doors without windows and a double deadbolt for those within 40 inches of a window. A double deadbolt is one with a lock on the inside of the house. The bolt should be at least an inch long."

http://www.ultimatewoodlands.com/2010/03/security-tips-offered-prevent-home-burglaries

Fireplace Dampers Recalled Over Carbon Monoxide Hazard

"Simpson Dura-Vent is recalling about 500 Fireplace Dampers due to carbon monoxide poisoning hazard, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced."

Find out if yours is on the list at the following link:

http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/19350

1 Dead In Mobile Home Fire

WDIV is reporting on a fire related death--yet another reason to make sure your family has a monitored smoke, heat and/or fire alarm system.

BELLEVILLE, Mich. -- Fire investigators are looking into the cause of a fatal mobile home fire in Belleville.
One man, in his 50s, died in the fire.
Firefighters arrived to the home on Sumpter Road in the Belle Villa park at about 4 p.m. and were able to quickly extinguish the blaze.
No other information has been released.

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/22923160/detail.html

Thieves Disable Alarm System, Get Away with $75M

Here's an article from the Wall Street Journal that proves it's not only important to have a security system for your business, but a secure system that fully protects your facility and assets.
http://tinyurl.com/ykl6ahw

Crime Stoppers seeking tips in Warren strangling

Crime Stoppers of Michigan will hold a 2 p.m. press conference today at its Detroit offices in hopes of generating tips in the Feb. 23 slaying of an elderly Warren man. Charles Taylor, 84, was found strangled in his home on Blackmar. Police believe robbery may have been a motive and that Taylor likely knew his killer. Warren Police and Crime Stoppers are offering a combined reward of $5,500 for information leading to an arrest in the case. To make an anonymous tip, call (800) SPEAK-UP. From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20100312/METRO01/3120379/Wayne-briefs#ixzz0hyme814G

Couple held in Grosse Pte. Farms break-in

BY CHRISTINA HALL FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

"A couple was arrested after a Grosse Pointe Farms neighbor saw a suspicious vehicle and people and officers found a man hiding in the attic of a house he broke into and his wife waiting in a nearby vehicle, officials said today."

For the complete story click on the link below:

http://www.freep.com/article/20100310/NEWS02/100310089/1322/Couple-held-in-Grosse-Pte.-Farms-break-in

DPS cameras, badges to track crime, attendance

Security upgrade also includes more campus police
BY CHASTITY PRATT DAWSEY FREE PRESS EDUCATION WRITER



Officials in Detroit Public Schools are spending $41 million to beef up security with new video cameras, student ID cards and a new police headquarters, which they hope will woo parents back to the district.



For the complete story follow the link:



http://www.freep.com/article/20100305/NEWS01/3050315/1318/Cameras-badges-to

Home Invasions Run High in Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor crime statistics for the week of Feb. 21-27 show that there were an incredible 10 home invasions. One of the best defenses against home invasions is a security system. Contact Guardian Alarm for protection at less then $1 a day at 1-800-STAY-OUT (800-782-9688) or www.guardianalarm.com.

For a complete listing of the Ann Arbor crime stats:
http://www.annarbor.com/news/ann-arbor-crime-statistics-for-the-week-of-feb-21-27/

How to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning

March 01, 2010
The frightening consequences of carbon monoxide poisoning led one sufferer to launch her own charity.
Lynn Griffiths, founder and president of CO-Awareness, has provided a guide to the facts of carbon monoxide poisoning and how it can be prevented.
She launched the charity after discovering her family home had a carbon monoxide (CO) leak in 1998.
The charity founder and campaigner says the effects of the “silent killer” can be contained if people are educated about its effects.
What is carbon monoxide poisoning?
It can be fatal or cause permanent damage. It can be produced in any fuel-burning appliance not properly maintained such as cookers, heaters, dryers, boilers and fireplaces.
It is produced when carbon fuels do not burn completely, however has no smell or taste and in large quantities it can kill very quickly.
Danger signs include a yellow or orange flame where there should be a blue one and sooty stains on the walls around fires.
It is also possible to be poisoned by CO if your house shares a wall or chimney with a house that has a CO leak.
The symptoms.
These can include headaches, dizziness, tiredness and nausea.
The signs can sometimes be mistaken for flu, a virus or food poisoning.
If someone suffers the symptoms at home but feels fine elsewhere it can be an indicator of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Because they are common symptoms, if you think you may have CO poisoning, tell a doctor why you think this could be.
What to do if you have the symptoms.
Open the windows and get fresh air immediately. If the symptoms are serious, go to hospital.
How to check for leaks.
- Check the colour of flames in appliances – they should be blue. Check them every year.
- Make sure the chimney flue is clear.
- If there are birds nesting, remove them and fit a guard over.
- Eye -evel gas grills can be dangerous, particularly in older cookers. Toasters are better.
- Make sure your home has enough ventilation – check airbricks are not blocked. If your windows are double-glazed your appliances might not have enough air and could produce carbon monoxide.
- See a doctor immediately if you have tiredness, muscle pain, upset stomach, dizziness and headaches. CO levels in the blood drop very quickly so you should be tested as soon as possible.
- If you rent, make sure your landlord has a safety certificate
- Get a CO alarm which can detect low levels of the gas.
For more information, visit www.covictim.org.

http://www.getreading.co.uk/lifestyle/home_and_garden/s/2066673_how_to_avoid_carbon_monoxide_poisoning

Web site opens the door to break-ins

BY AMBER HUNT
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
To some, it's just another social networking tool for keeping tabs of friends and learning about cool places to go. To others, it screams, "I'm not home, so please rob me!"
Now, thanks to a Web site not-so-coincidentally titled Please Rob Me (www.pleaserobme.com), people who choose to post their whereabouts publicly via a network called Foursquare are finding their homes being labeled as burglary-ready.
The site's creators say the goal is to raise awareness and to prevent burglaries by encouraging people to be more judicious about what they post online. But some metro Detroiters say it's going too far.
"I completely realize that little information on the Internet is actually private," Andrew Leggat, 28, a Troy resident and Foursquare user, who responded by e-mail to a Free Press query via Twitter, "but I think this takes it to another level."
For the rest of the article follow the link to the Detroit Free Press article:
http://www.freep.com/article/20100228/NEWS06/2280505/1320/Web-site-opens-the-door-to-break-ins

12 Tips For Your Home Alone Parents

While professional help for seniors is the best, like the medical alarms and med dispensers that companies like Guardian Medical Monitoring offer, here are some useful tips that can also help:

"12 Tips For Your Home Alone Parents"
By Rakesh Kharwar
Scenario1: Sharmin, 30, working in a well reputed MNC, had to attend an important conference for three days in another city. However, although she wanted to make the best of the opportunity, she could not attend the conference as her parents were alone at home and she found it difficult to leave them and go.
Scenario 2: Rahul, 32, lives with his parents, both of who are retired from work, and remain at home for most of the time. He is working for an export-import firm, and travels most of the time. But he manages to attend his tours and business trips smoothly and his parents too, are confident of staying alone back home for the time he is not there with them.
How can something that has been so difficult for Sharmin, be easy for Rahul? Well, it all requires a little thinking and planning, nothing more. While Sharmin, did not apply her mind as to how she could make her parents self-dependent in taking care of themselves, Rahul on the other hand took a note of all the important things that his parents would require and the things they would need to take care of.
Here’s a brief list of the things you can do, so that just like Rahul, you too can ensure the safety of your parents for all the time you would venture out of the house:
1. Medicine medicines
First and foremost, check whether your parent’s medicines are well stocked. In case there is shortage, it is better to get them in advance.
2. First Aid Kit
The first aid kit is very essential and should always be kept handy. Tell your parents where the kit is kept and also explain to them ways in which they can treat simple injuries.
3. Health Insurance Card
The health insurance card must be kept handy as well and you need to inform your parents that in case of an emergency they can easily get access to the hospital available to them with the help of the card.
4. Kitchen Safety
Remind your mother to always turn off the valve of the gas cylinder after cooking is over as this will ensure their safety. Also, ensure that there are enough groceries at home before you leave the house. Give cash to your maid so that she can get things from the market which may be required in your absence. If your parents are suffering from diabetics or high blood pressure, it is advisable to dispose off things like ice creams, sweets, salty namkeens etc.
5. Bathroom Safety
Make sure there are slip resistant mats outside the bathroom and toilet, in order to prevent someone from slipping or losing balance. Replace them in advance, in case they are not in good condition.
6. Lights
If you leave behind a maid in the house who would look after your parents, give him/her standing instructions on the do’s and dont’s. Firstly, tell your maid to keep a bottle of water near your parent’s bed at all times, so that they can help themselves whenever they are thirsty. Secondly, ask your maid to keep a bulb switched on throughout the night in order to prevent mishaps. And before leaving, you personally check if all the lights in the kitchen, hallway, bathroom and bedroom are working properly.
7. Emergency Numbers
Write down all the emergency numbers on a big sheet of paper and stick it next to the telephone or on your parents’ bedroom wall.
8. Using a Mobile
Encourage your parents to learn the basic operations of a mobile phone so that they do not have to depend on others to make important calls. You can also set all the emergency numbers on speed dial to make it easier for them.
9. Peep Hole
Also ask your parents to first take a look at the visitor on the door through the peep hole when the doorbell rings. This way they can ignore strangers and salesmen.
10. Use ‘Post Its’
As parents in old age generally tend to forget things, use ‘post its’ as reminders with short messages asking them to turn off the gas valve, take medicines etc.
11. Alarms
Remember to set recurring alarms on the mobile phone so as to remind them that its time to take medicines.
12. Inform your Friend
A friend in need is a friend indeed! Inform your neighbours and closest buddies that your parents would be alone at home for the time you will be travelling and that they can drop in once in a while to check on them. You can also inform the security guard in your apartment to keep a check.
Apart from doing the above things, remember to call your parents at various intervals during the day. Your calls will keep them relaxed. These basic things can ensure your parents’ safety while you are out.
Article Source: Click Here
Visit us at www.smartseniorservices.com if you have any questions, or need help with an aging loved one in the area.
http://myeldercareblog.com/annesadlerblog/173/12-tips-for-your-home-alone-parents-in-grosse-pointe-mi/