December 9, 2013

Association Events

• 12.10.13 – ASSIST & HGCAA Combined Christmas Party- Tuesday December 10, 2013 from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM CST- Salt Grass Steakhouse- 1803 Shephard Dr – Houston, TX 77007 Get more information

Door to Door Sales

None this week

Public Safety Updates

• BC: Rash of false commercial alarms
  12.4.13 – Business Examiner – Terrace RCMP get calls for half a dozen false alarms at various commercial buildings in 24 hours. More Info
• FL: Alarm system with direct link to police may be offered to residences
  12.6.13 – Palm Beach Daily News – Town residents soon may be able to sign up for an alarm system that immediately notifies the Police Department of a possible home intrusion, reducing the response time by several crucial minutes. The Direct Connect alarm system has been available to town businesses since about 2002, when it was introduced following a rash of smash-and-grab burglaries on Worth Avenue. But it hasn’t been offered … More Info
• IL: Cary board opts to freeze tax levy
  12.4.13 – Northwest Herald – Among the entities that have fire and security alarm monitoring through the village of Cary are the Fox River Grove Public Library, the Fox River Grove Municipal … More Info
• IN: Smoke alarm changes considered
  12.4.13 – WISH-TV Indianapolis – The City County Council is looking to change the law regarding your smoke detectors. More Info
• MA: Burglar alarm tips from Barnstable PD
  12.8.13 – Wicked Local – The Barnstable Police Department is reminding owners of homes with burglar alarms to take a few steps to ensure proper functioning in the face of potentially … More Info
• NY: You may have to pay more for your alarm system soon
  12.3.13 – YNN Syracuse – If you have a burglar alarm system, you could soon see your bill increase. That’s because the City of Syracuse is considering enforcing legislation that would charge home and business owners with alarm systems $30 every year. As our Katie Gibas reports, while the measure hasn’t passed yet, the discussion isn’t over. More Info
• OH: Ohio PD to Stop Responding to Most Security Alarms
  12.4.13 – Officer.com – The shift in department policy is in response to decades of false alarms sounding from businesses and residences that city leaders say needlessly tie up police … More Info
• OH: Some favor, some abandon Akron’s alarm response plan
  12.5.13 – SecurityInfoWatch – The city of Akron is about to join a small group of police departments across the country that have stopped responding to security alarms in homes and … More Info

Industry News

• Company launches online mapping tool for security cameras
  12.2.13 – Security Info Watch – CommunityCam allows people to see where surveillance cameras are located in a given area. More Info
• Calculating Your Account Attrition (and How to Keep it Low)
  12.2.13 – CEPro – Acceptable attrition rates for security and other recurring services hover around 7%, but one integrator keeps his under 1%. Learn how to measure attrition and keep clients longer. More Info
• Honey! The Cable Company Wants To Automate Our Home!
  12.4.13 – Digital Trends – Time Warner and Comcast are rolling out home security and automation plans that pair basic controls of lights and heating with more traditional cameras and monitoring. Would this keep you from cutting the cord? More Info
• Tyco Security Products announces partnership with Alarm.com
  12.4.13 – SecurityInfoWatch – Alarm.com is the leading technology provider for connected home services powering well over 1 million households. With highly customized services that … More Info
• Readers talk 2013 revenues
  12.5.13 – Security System News – Yarmouth, Maine—The security industry may not be recession-proof, but it does appear to be resilient, if the latest SSN News Poll is any indicator. For many readers, 2013 was a marked improvement over recent years—and grounds for optimism in 2014. Learn what readers had to say. More Info
• SC: New area code to be added to Lowcountry, Pee Dee area
  12.5.13 – The Post and Courier – The Lowcountry and Pee Dee areas will get a new area code, although it’s not yet known what it will be. More Info

Legislative News

None this week

State Trends

• Is your state booming, stagnating or starting to fall behind?
  11.29.13 -Business Insider – Every month, the Philadelphia branch of the Federal Reserve publishes a look at coincident economic indicators by each state to show which states are thriving and which are not. The good news is that over the past quarter, the economic data has shown improvement in 45 states. Only 5 are seeing shrinking right now. More Info
• IL: Install and test carbon monoxide detectors
  12.2.13 – The Southern Illinoisan – The Illinois Carbon Monoxide Alarm Detector Act requires homeowners and landlords to install carbon monoxide alarms in all buildings containing. More Info
• PA: Pa. bill would expand carbon monoxide alarm law
  12.4.13 – New Jersey Herald – Harrisburg, Pa. (AP) – A bill that would require many apartment owners and landlords in Pennsylvania to install carbon monoxide alarms is on its way to Gov. Tom Corbett. More Info

 National News

• The Internet of Things Is a Mystery to Many
  11.26.13 – Baseline – Only 6 percent of survey respondents are aware of the term “Internet of things,” but many report using Internet-connected devices such as a GPS system or smart TV. More Info
• Survey: US companies add 215K jobs, most in year
  12.4.13 – Washington (AP) – A private survey shows U.S. businesses last month added the most jobs in a year, powered by big gains in manufacturing and construction. Payroll processor ADP said Wednesday that companies and small businesses added 215,000 jobs in November. And ADP said private employers added 184,000 jobs in October, much stronger than its initial estimate of 130,000. More Info
• U.S. economy added 203,000 jobs in November; unemployment rate dropped to 7 percent
  12.6.13 – Washington Post – The U.S. economy added 203,000 jobs in November, according to a Labor Department report released Friday morning. The nation’s unemployment rate dropped to 7 percent. Analysts expected the report to show that the country had added 185,000 jobs last month, and that the unemployment rate had dropped to 7.2 percent. More Info
• Can there be fewer than 100 line-of-duty deaths this year?
  11.27.13 – Law Officer Magazine – Two years ago, the Below 100 campaign rolled out with what some thought was an unreachable goal: suffering fewer than 100 line-of-duty deaths in a single year. Now the Below 100 goal is no longer a matter of “if,” but “when” — and it’s possible that it will be achieved this year. More Info

Business Tips

• Four Project Management Takeaways From HealthCare.Gov
  11.26.13 – CIO Insight – The U.S. government’s flawed rollout of its health-insurance Website could have benefited from these four project management lessons. More Info
• The focused leader
  12.1.13 – Harvard Business Review – A primary task of leadership is to direct attention. To do so, leaders must learn to focus their own attention. When we speak about being focused, we commonly mean thinking about one thing while filtering out distractions. But a wealth of recent research in neuroscience shows that we focus in many ways, for different purposes, drawing on different neural pathways — some of which work in concert, while others tend to stand in opposition. More Info
• Kindness does not equate to weakness in leadership
  12.1.13 – Forbes – For many critics, kindness in leadership equates to weakness. However, in today’s age of open feedback available on the web both from customers and employees, being a kind leader is essential to success. Being a kind leader does not mean that you don’t fire people. It doesn’t mean that you don’t make tough decisions that will impact the bottom line. And it doesn’t mean that you won’t work harder than those who are unkind. It simply means that you are focused as much on the delivery of your message as you are on the message itself. More Info
• 10 Ways to Lead Like Machiavelli
  11.5.13 – CIOInsight – Many of Machiavelli’s principles offer valuable guidance for CIOs, especially when it comes to strategizing, protecting your turf and wielding managerial power. More Info
• Running Separate Companies Won’t Shield You from Licensing, Tax Burdens
  12.4.13 – CEPro – More integrators are combining multiple disciplines into their businesses, but often CE pros will establish separate legal entities for each niche. Having a separate legal company name for your A/V company versus your security company versus your electrical company can make great sense from a marketing standpoint. More Info
• What to Do When You Fear Your Leadership Is Failing
  12.3.13 – Inc.com – It’s one of the hard facts about leadership: no one ever tells you how to fail. Here’s my own checklist, built, I assure you, on the solid ground of … More Info
• Six Outrageous Excuses for Calling in Sick
  11.15.13 – CIO Insight – Surprise! Some employees aren’t being truthful when they call in sick. Find out how often this happens–and about some employees’ bizarre excuses. More Info
• 10 Ways to Build Allies, Not Adversaries
  11.8.13 – CIO Insight – You’ll go farther with helpful proponents within your organization, instead of threatening obstructionists. Find out which soft skills will secure advocacy. More Info

Fire News

• FL: Florida student suspended for setting off fire alarm while twerking
  12.5.13 – Death and Taxes – A student at North Naples Middle School has been suspended from school because his attempt at twerking accidentally set off the fire alarm. “The principal … More Info
• IA: Working smoke detector alerts tenant in four alarm fire
  12.2.13 – FOX 28 South Bend – The four-alarm fire that destroyed two buildings in downtown Iowa City didn’t take any lives.  Officials are crediting a working smoke detector as the reason. One woman living in one of the buildings heard the alarm. She tells us her story. More Info
• KS: Careless Smoking Caused Kan. Fire That Killed Four
  12.5.13 – Firehouse.com – Although there was at least one smoke alarm in the house, it was not working. Cathy Nichols said the home had two smoke alarms and that one of them might … More Info
• LA: Man Booked on Simple Arson Charges after Lafayette House Fire
  12.8.13 – KATC 3 Lafayette – A man admits to setting a Lafayette house on fire, and is arrested on Simple Arson charges. Lafayette firefighters say they responded to a home at 1:29 this afternoon. Investigators say an neighbor could hear the smoke alarm going off in the home. Crews say flames and smoke were coming from a bedroom window when they arrived. Firefighters say the fire was extinguished … More Info

 Crime News

• AL: Burglars drive pickup truck through front door of Huntsville gas station
  12.2.13 – The Huntsville Times – Police responded to an alarm at Valley Gas & Go shortly after 2 a.m. Officers say the glass front door was heavily damaged and a look at the security video explained why. More Info
• AL: Huntsville Dollar General store burglarized Tuesday morning
  12.3.13 – The Huntsville Times – Huntsville police responded to an alarm at the Dollar General around 4:30 Tuesday morning. More Info
• AL: Pleasant Grove gun shop burglarized twice in three months
  12.5.13 – FOX 6 News Birmingham – Police are working to track down firearms stolen from a gun shop and they say it’s not the first time this store has been burglarized. More Info
• AL: Police say burglars gain entry to north Huntsville Chevron by smashing door
  12.3.13 – The Huntsville Times – Police responded to an alarm call at about 3 a.m. Tuesday. They found the front door glass broken out and several items stolen. No one was injured. More Info
• AL: Search on after jewelry heist
  12.6.13 – Andalusia Star-News – Police are searching for the “who” responsible for burglarizing Christopher’s Fine Jewelry and the “why” behind the alarm company’s 40-minute delay in notifying … More Info
• CA: Brazen bank robber sought
  12.5.13 – Madera Tribune – The Madera Police Department has asked citizens to come forward with any information about a brazen bank robbery earlier this week. Just before 5:45 p.m. Monday, police responded to an alarm at the Wells Fargo Bank after a suspect — described by witnesses as being between 5-foot-11 and 6-foot-2 inches tall, about 180 pounds, and possibly … More Info
• CA: Police Log: Burglar on Video Busted; Masked Man with Gun Follows …
  12.6.13 – Patch.com – She also reportedly tampered with a fire alarm at the complex. Monday, Dec. 2. A home burglary was called in at 12:40 p.m. by a neighbor who … More Info
• CA: Stockton Councilman’s House Burglarized During Meeting
  12.5.13 – KTXL – Just about every house on the block has a home security alarm sign in front of it, including Tubbs house. One neighbor said she heard the alarm only after police … More Info
• CA: Two teenagers are arrested for allegedly breaking into a school in Fontana and stealing computers
  12.6.13 – Fontana Herald News – Two teenagers were arrested for allegedly breaking into a school in Fontana and stealing computers, according to the Fontana Police Department. In the early morning hours of Dec. 1, officers responded to Sycamore Hills Elementary School regarding a burglary alarm. More Info
• CO: Loveland man faces felony burglary charges
  12.6.13 – Loveland Reporter-Herald – A 2-mile long line of footprints in fresh snow led Loveland police officers to a burglary suspect and an undisclosed amount of cash late Tuesday night. More Info
• FL: Deputies: Man tossed from Ormond-area pub caught breaking into Bealls
  12.3.13 – Daytona Beach News-Journal – A 23-year-old man who was kicked out of a pub along with his mother was so drunk a Volusia County sheriff’s spokesman said that he attempted to burglarize a couple of businesses with no success. More Info
• FL: FMPD searches for Seductions burglary suspect
  12.3.13 – WINK TV Southwest Florida – Fort Myers Police are searching the suspect who burglarized Seductions on November 12. More Info
• FL: Police looking to ID unsuccessful burglar
  12.3.13 – NBC 2 Fort Myers – The Fort Myers Police Department is asking for the public’s help identifying a suspect who broke into a Fort Myers business in November. More Info
• FL: Southgate jewelry store robbed again
  12.3.13 – The Sarasota Herald-Tribune – Mayors Jewelers has fallen victim to holiday crime three times since 2007. More Info
• FL: This crook basically stumbled into being arrested by police
  12.3.13 – Odd News via Yahoo! News – We have a terrible addiction to strange stories out of Florida here at Odd News. More Info
• GA: Atlanta day care hit by thieves
  12.6.13 – WSB-TV 2 Atlanta – A southwest Atlanta day care is out thousands of dollars after thieves stole all of its outdoor equipment. More Info
• GA: South Fulton homeowners on edge after burglary turns deadly
  12.5.13 – CBS 46 News Atlanta – Some people who live in the Amhurst subdivision in south Fulton County believe a burglary crew has set up shop in their neighborhood. More Info
• IA: Man arrested for Pro Build burglary
  12.5.13 – Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier – Waterloo – A Waterloo man was arrested Thursday morning for allegedly breaking into Pro Build Lumber in Waterloo. More Info
• IA: Savvy Burglars: West Side Homes Targeted
  12.4.13 – WHO-TV 13 Des Moines – Some very savvy burglars are targeting a west side neighborhood. At least two Des Moines homes have been hit in… More Info
• IL: Surveillance Video from Marie’s Pizza Shooting Played in Court
  12.5.13 – WIFR – He says he thought he heard the men try to rob the place and he pulled the emergency alarm. Desmond Bellmon pled guilty to murder last month and will be … More Info
• KS: Saline: Four suspects break into Jensen’s Community Pharmacy, grab prescription drugs
  12.4.13 – The Saline Reporter – Saline – A lockbox and some pills were reported stolen after four suspects broke into Jensen’s Community Pharmacy on Nov. 25. More Info
• LA: Home security camera leads to arrest of burglary suspect
  12.3.13 – NOLA.com – St. John the Baptist Parish sheriff’s deputies were called to a Muirfield Drive home Thursday at 1:42 a.m. by the burglar alarm. They found the front door open, … More Info
• MA: Burglary Reported on Smith Parkway
  12.2.13 – Patch.com – At 2:42 p.m., police received a report from Connector Road of a fire alarm. … At 1:56 a.m., police received a report from Bowman Lane of a burglar alarm, which … More Info
• MD: Annapolis 7-11 robbed at gunpoint
  12.4.13 – ABC 2 Baltimore – Annapolis Police are investigating an early morning armed robbery at a 7-11. More Info
• MD: Police: Teen broke into school, stole candy and laser pointer
  12.6.13 – WUSA 9 Washington, D.C. – Police say a teenager was charged with burglary and other offenses after breaking into a school on Thursday. More Info
• MI: TAYLOR: Cellphones stolen at Verizon store break-in
  12.4.13 – The News-Herald – Taylor – Police responded to an interior motion alarm at Verizon Wireless at 4:45 a.m. Nov. 22, finding the store broken into. More Info
• MI: Taylor: Store broken into when alarm malfunctions
  12.6.13 – The News-Herald – Taylor – Jeans and Tops was broken into overnight Nov. 30. More Info
• MI: Thief steals 10 cartons of cigarettes from gas station
  12.8.13 – WWMT 3 Kalamazoo – Lawrence, Mich. (Newschannel 3) – Van Buren County Deputies are searching for the suspect who stole ten cartons of cigarettes from a Citgo station in Lawrence early Saturday morning. Deputies responded to an alarm at Lawson’s Citgo Station around 3:02 a. …More Info
• NC: Jewelry Heist: Hickory Police investigate smash and grab at …
  12.4.13 – Hickory Daily Record – The break-in triggered the store’s audible alarm system, Cline said, which probably scared the thief or thieves away quickly. “They didn’t clean the cases out,” he … More Info
• NC: Police: $200 in alcohol stolen from restaurant
  12.3.13 – The Shelby Star – Published: Monday, December 2, 2013 at 17:01 PM. More than $200 in alcohol was stolen from Applebee’s in Shelby last weekend, according to a Shelby Police report. More Info
• NJ: Bound Brook police officer hurt in collision
  12.3.13 – The Star-Ledger – NJ.com – Flanagan had just responded to a report of an alarm going off at a location on Mountain Road, when his cruiser had been struck by a Honda headed … More Info
• NM: Home burglary leads to SWAT situation
  12.2.13 – KOB 4 Albuquerque – A home burglary led police on a chase and eventually turned into a SWAT situation. More Info
• NY: Man Charged in Burglary at Gates Business
  12.3.13 – 1180 WHAM – ‘Break-in was third this year at Northstar Supply’ More Info
• NY: Seen At 11: ‘Tis The Season For Brazen Break-Ins
  12.6.13 – CBS New York – It is the season for break-ins. Every year, hundreds of thousands of burglaries take place during the months of November and December. More Info
• OH: Burglars steal special tool at Harrison tire business
  12.4.13 – WHIO-TV 7 Dayton – A tire business was burglarized Tuesday night, but the expensive tool taken may be too specialized and complicated to be useful to criminals. Montgomery County sheriff’s deputies responded at approximately 8 p.m. to Tire Express. The business was taped off and a window was busted out where one or more burglars gained entry. Store Manager Bob Dutton said the store’s alarm … More Info
• OH: Cell phone store busted into by burglars
  12.4.13 – WHIO-TV 7 Dayton – Sheriff’s deputies are investigating after three people broke into the Warsaw Wireless cell phone store on the corner of Salem Avenue and Siebenthaler Avenue this morning. Deputies received an alarm at the business around 4:45 a.m. and found a broken out door when they arrived on the scene. Investigators said the three people stole an undetermined amount of cell phones from inside the business … More Info
• OH: Police investigate B&E at Cricket store
  12.2.13 – WDTN-TV 2 Dayton – Police were dispatched to the Cricket store around 7 a.m. on an alarm. More Info
• OH: Suspect stole TV from Dayton business
  12.2.13 – WDTN-TV 2 Dayton – Officers were called to EnviroControl Systems just after 10:30 p.m. Saturday. When officers arrived, they found a second floor window had been opened and a black 36″ television had been taken from the conference room. More Info
• OK: Alarm System Foils Potential Burglars At Tulsa Radio Shack
  12.3.13 – KWTV News9 – Persistent burglars were foiled again at an east Tulsa Radio Shack. Someone tried to break in twice in two days. More Info
• OK: Stolen property bust leads to five other drug arrests
  12.6.13 – Oklahoma’s NewsChannel 4 – Guthrie, Okla. – While officers arrested a man who was suspected of stealing over $100,000 worth of equipment earlier this… More Info
• OK: Tulsa Police Search For Unsuccessful Radio Shack Burglar
  12.4.13 – News On 6 Tulsa – Police say for the third time this week someone has tried to break into a Tulsa Radio Shack store. Officers said each time an alarm has apparently scared them away. More Info
• PA: Erie man charged in Fairview burglary
  12.3.13 – Erie Times-News – An Erie man is in jail on charges in a weekend burglary in Fairview Township and is under investigation as a possible suspect in similar crimes, state police said. More Info
• PA: Wawa in Wescosville Cited for False Alarms
  12.4.13 – Patch.com – State police at Fogelsville said they responded to a burglary alarm — a false alarm — at 3:35pm Nov. 23, a Saturday, at the Wawa. More Info
• RI: Barrington police: Teens broke into middle school, stole computer chip
  12.3.13 – Barrington Times – Police charged a 15-year-old Barrington boy and 16-year-old Barrington boy with breaking and entering after the two were allegedly caught leaving the middle school at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 29. There was no school on Nov. 29. Police said the two boys entered the building through a ground-level vent, followed pipes to a boiler […] More Info
• RI: Teens Charged With Breaking Into Barrington Middle School …
  12.2.13 – Patch.com – Motion and noise detectors set off alarms with Sonitrol, an alarm company. Five police officers responded. The boys left the school through a rear door with the … More Info
• TN: Police: Suspect in gun store burglary bought duffel bags to haul off loot
  12.4.13 – Knoxville News Sentinel – Authorities have charged a 20–year-old Knoxville man in connection with the theft of 27 firearms from a West Knoxville gun store. More Info
• TX: Caught on video: Suspects hit jewelry store; maybe linked to gun shop burglary
  12.2.13 – KHOU 11 Houston – Houston — A Houston-area business has come forward and shared security video of a burglary involving what may be the same suspects that hit a gun shop early Friday morning. Brian Fishel, owner of the Texas Watch & Diamond, saw KHOU 11 News’ report Friday night of the heist at the SOG Armory Inc. Fishel said he was pretty … More Info
• TX: Cedar Park Police Search For Two Burglars
  12.4.13 – KEYE TV Austin – Police in Cedar Park are searching for two burglars who robbed a home Monday in the Ranch at Brushy Creek neighborhood. We spoke with the homeowner who says his wife and niece walked in on the burglary in progress at about 10:30 p.m. The man who only wanted to be identified as “John” says, “My niece is the first one that came in and she just heard something drop to the ground and two guys ran … More Info
• TX: Fort Worth homeowner shoots burglar Monday morning
  12.2.13 – FOX 4 News Dallas – Fort Worth – The homeowner’s alarm system was triggered by the burglar and the homeowner went to investigate. More Info
• VA: Roanoke Police Arrest Two Men for Breaking Into the Same Store Twice in One Day
  12.6.13 – ABC 13 Lynchburg – Roanoke, VA – The Roanoke Police Department has arrested two men for burglarizing a Stop Market store twice in the same day. According to police, the burglaries happened on November 22. More Info
• WA: One suspect caught in two-day $648K wine warehouse heist
  12.5.13 – Seattle Times – More than $600,000 worth of wine was stolen from the temperature-controlled storage lockers at Esquin Wine & Spirits in Sodo, police say. More Info
• WA: Woman arrested for stealing Christmas decorations
  12.3.13 – The Kitsap Sun – Poulsbo – A 51-year-old Poulsbo woman was arrested Thanksgiving night after police found her attempting to steal Christmas decorations from a church. More Info
• WI: Armed robbery, shooting reported in Racine
  12.3.13 – WISN 12 Milwaukee – Just after 3 p.m. Monday, officers were dispatched to a reported hold-up alarm at Sixteenth Street Foods. More Info
• WI: WJFW News
  12.3.13 – WJFW Rhinelander – Rhinelander – A burglar caught in Rhinelander may have ties to crimes in other states. Catching him here is partly thanks to footprints in the snow. More Info
• WV: Police investigate Clay pharmacy robbery
  12.3.13 – Charleston Daily Mail – State Police are investigating after prescription painkillers were stolen overnight from a Clay County pharmacy. Trooper S.L. Bass went to Clay Pharmacy in Clay just after 4:45 a.m. Friday to investigate a burglar alarm and found the front door had bee… More Info

The National Monitor is a service of the National Electronic Security Alliance (NESA). Member states are free to reproduce the information contained herein in print or electronic media as they see fit. Contact NESA for more information at 301.519.9237 or bradshipp@4yoursolution.com

NESA is a federation of state associations established to serve and promote the electronic systems industry at the direction of, and through its affiliated state associations. Five state associations are part of NESA – Texas Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (TBFAA), Maryland Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (MDBFAA), Kansas Electronic Security Association (KESA), Arkansas Security Alarm Association (ASAA) and Oklahoma Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (OKBFAA). For more info visit www.nesaus.org.

NESA Board of Directors

• President – Jordon Brown
• Vice President & Texas Burglar & Fire Alarm Assn. Director- Chris Russell
• Secretary- Kathleen Schraufnagel
• Treasurer and Arkansas Security Alarm Assn. Director – Rick Howell
• Maryland Burglar & Fire Alarm Assn. Director- Brian Shrake
• Past President –Rex Adams
• Kansas Electronic Security Alliance Director Dan Locke
• Oklahoma Burglar & Fire Alarm Assn. Director- Rick Spring
• Associate Director- Dean Coburn
• Executive Director- Brad Shipp
• Maryland Burglar & Fire Alarm Assn. Alternate- Craig Bober
• Oklahoma Burglar & Fire Alarm Assn. Alternate- Danna Fowble
• Texas Burglar & Fire Alarm Assn. Alternate- Chip Bird