Tips Guides Resources

Many parents ponder the idea of using a hidden spy camera and other devices to make sure their caregiver is not in anyway abusing or hurting their child or children. Industry surveys report a 25 percent increase in sales of hidden spy cameras often referred to as “nanny cams” and other surveillance devices over the past five years. Before you decide to buy one, we give you 6 points to review in order to decide if one is right for you and your family.

1) Advantages of Using a Hidden Camera
There are a variety of cameras available on the market today. Most are wireless and can be hidden in almost any type of household item from a plant to a stuffed animal. And the prices vary too from about $100 for a basic camera offering remote computer access to more than $500 for digital systems, which can send video images live via computer or cell phone. These hidden spy cameras give you the peace of mind and confidence in child care are reasons why some families opt to “spy” on their child’s provider through watching a video of what has gone when they are gone or at work.

2) Disadvantages of Using a Hidden Spy Camera
Studies and polls indicate that many care providers are not necessarily against video taping of child-provider interaction, it’s just that they want to know about it before hand. Care givers are increasingly sensing lack of trust and feeling of deception towards the service they provide and get anger when they are wrongfully accused of something.

3) Other Uses For Hidden Spy Camera Video

A mini spy cams or wireless spy camera can be used for many other reasons than just child care. A hidden camera device can be used while your home is being cleaned, for occasional in-home animal sitter services, and for other home surveillance security reasons. However, spy camera shops still indicate that the leading reason why people by these devices are to strictly monitor their care providers.

4) What Do Providers Think About Wireless Spy Cameras?

Do care providers support the use of spy cameras? Media stories abound on focusing on potential abuse and inattention. These are the major reasons parents should consider using a hidden camera and some sitters even report a camera can provide a positive connection with the families while the parents are at work. The problem seems to be when care providers are secretly taped and not told about it before hand.

5) Is It Legal To Use A Hidden Camera?

It is absolutely legal in all 50 states to use a hidden, wireless and mini spy cameras. It is however not legal to record speech without a person’s prior consent in the following 15 states: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington.

6) Are More Daycares Starting To Use Hidden Spy Cameras?

Reportedly, more and more public daycare centers are installing wireless spy cameras which provide nervous parents with the ability to periodically check and watch their child while at work which provides the added assurance that their child is safe.

Glenn Freiboth is a business consultant and author for many online businesses and lives in Illinois.
Hidden Spy Camera products can be found
at http://www.SpyGearCo.com

Some individuals actually get pleasure from making malicious phone calls to other people. These calls can be silent, offensive or malicious but ultimately can cause the call receiver to suffer from anxiety, fear and inconvenience. Such calls are a crime under the Telecommunications Act and callers committing such offences can be jailed for up to six months.

Most mailicious calls are random and one-offs, with the caller simply dialling a random number in search of a reaction to their call. However, some calls can be premediated and can continue for long periods of time causing great deals of suffering for the person who is on the receiving end of them.

If you receive malicious phone calls then the most important thing is to remain calm and in control of the situation. Whatever the caller says or does, they are looking for a reaction - to either fear them or respond to them. By remaining calm and in control of the situation you are not giving the caller what they want. Instead of responding to the malicious call, simply place the handset down next to the phone and leave it for a few minutes. Chances are that the caller will get bored of not getting a reaction and hang up themselves.

When answering the phone, do not give your name or number as this will give the caller something to play with, especially if they don’t know your name as they may pretend they know you. If the caller asks what number they have dialled, don’t tell them, and ask which number they are after. If the number they want is different to what they have dialled tell them this but do not point out what your number is.

Also if you have an answering machine then avoid leaving your name and number, and never give an indication that you are out, at work or on holiday. Always say you are unable to take the call at the present time.

Make sure that other members of the household follow these “rules” so that all callers are met with the same response and no unneccessary information is given away. Also ensure that all members of your household know how to deal with malicious calls too. If a caller gets a response from just one member of the household then they may continue to call in the hope that that person will answer the phone again and respond, which is of course what they want.

Telephone operators take malicious calls seriously and there is a lot they can do to help you. If you receive a malicious call, after hanging up, dial 1471 to see if you can get the number of the caller. Although numbers can be withheld, you may find that the caller has been careless on this occasion. If you get a number, do not call it back, simply report to your operator to allow the proper authorities to deal with it.

If the malicious calls continue then keep a log of when they occur and any details you get from the call including what was said, what the caller’s voice was like, their tone and any background noise you can make out.

Telephone operators say that almost all malicious calls can now be traced, whether they come from private, public or even mobile telephones, anywhere in the country. Phone operating companies often work closely with the police in such cases, and legal proceedings will take place if deemed neccessary.

As already stated, the important thing when receiving malicious calls is to stay calm and in control. Do not give any emotion and simply ignore the caller. Make a note of the details of the call and try to get a number of the caller and report it to your telephone operator to deal with.

Home Secured discusses home security options for all households regardless of what type of property you live in. Find out more about securing your home to keep you, your family and your possessions safe at http://www.home-secured.com.

Armanda is a captain in the Army. She is stationed in a large southwestern city in the United States. She has a 20 year old daughter living at home with her. They live in a nice suburban area of the city. Armandas job in the army calls for her to frequently travel. Her daughter is left at home alone sometimes for weeks.

Armanda is grateful that her daughter is independent and able to take care of herself. Nevertheless she always misses her when she is away. Her daughter attends a local college, which keeps her busy most of the time. She is a very dependable girl who can operate on her own. Mom does not worry. She knows her daughter will take care of the responsibilities.

She does however; worry about her daughters personal security. One month in late summer, Armanda was called away on 4 week Army mission. This was not new to her, but she was looking forward to spending the summer with her daughter. It would have to wait. This was a critical mission. She packed her bags and got ready for the trip.

She said her goodbyes and they parted company. Armandas daughter had homework, so she hurried to get home. As she started doing her homework, she fell asleep on the couch. She was awakened by a strange sound in her kitchen area. She went to the kitchen to investigate. She saw a man standing in the kitchen. He looked to be in his early 20s.

He did not see her. Apparently, he thought they were away from home. She thought oh my god, what do I do now? She knew she could never make it out of the front door in time. She sneaked to one of the back rooms. She grabbed her cell phone out of her pocket, turn the audio down and dialed 911. She knew by law that they had to investigate any emergency call as long as the line remained open.

She locked the door to the room and waited very quietly. She could hear the man going through their things. Then all of a sudden it got quiet. She heard footsteps moving toward the room. Then she heard a twist of the lock. She thought, he must know I am in here. There was another twist and she began preparing herself for a fight if necessary.

She did not have a gun, but she was sure she could find something to use as a weapon. She looked around and found a shoe with a sharp heel. She was afraid, but prepared to do battle. The next few minutes seemed like hours. At that moment, she heard a siren in the distance it was the police. She also heard someone running toward the back door. Then she heard a struggle.

After the struggle she heard someone say, clear the rest of the house. She knew it was the police. She came out of hiding. They arrested the man trying to leave the house. They placed her in a secure position until her identity was verified. They checked the rest of the house.

They told her that the man was a petty thief who targets military homes. He watches to see when they leave for missions and then just makes himself at home. Military members are called to make great sacrifices. Those they leave behind make an equal sacrifice. It is our duty to make sure our family members have a self defense plan in case of emergency.

Johnny A. Jenkins, Distribution Director of href="http://www.repellertechnology.com"> Repeller Technology,
provides self-defense and safety products, tips and advice to fit most
situations. Make your surroundings safer for you and loved ones today
at: Repeller
Technology.

Personal protection and safety is a concern for everyone. With personal crime on the rise all over the United States, it does not matter if you live in a big city or a small community; you are at risk. From being mugged at an ATM machine, to being assaulted on your daily run, even familiar places are dangerous. This is because criminals watch for the right moments to attack.

The number one thing you can do to stay safe is simple. Be aware. This means even when you are in a familiar situation, always be on the lookout for anything, and anyone, that looks suspicious. Always know WHERE you are, WHO is around you, and WHAT is happening. It is far too easy to be caught up in personal thoughts; and when that happens, you are a target.

Unfortunately, being aware will only take you so far. While it is an excellent first step to your safety, you also need to know what to do and how to react if you are caught in a situation you are not prepared for. There are a number of personal protection devices on the market specifically to be used as self-defense mechanisms. The terms pepper spray, pepper foam, and mace, are often used interchangeably.

Pepper Spray. Pepper spray is a non-lethal chemical agent. The uses for pepper spray are wide and varied, from riot control to crowd control to personal self-defense. Marketed widely as one of the most popular self-defense sprays, it comes in different sizes, from the key-chain purse size on up. The active ingredient is something called “capsaicin,” which is derived from plants such as chiles, which is how the name “pepper spray” evolved. When used against an assailant, their eyes will not just tear up and sting, they will slam shut. In addition, it causes temporary blindness.

Pepper Foam. Pepper foam is made of the same ingredients as pepper spray. The difference in using foam versus spray is simple. The pepper foam will coat the assailant’s face, and in trying to wipe it clean, he will grind the pepper into his face and eyes, making it even more difficult for him to react.

Mace. In today’s day and age, mace is virtually the same as pepper spray. However, the original mace spray was actually a tear gas that caused the assailant’s eyes to tear and burn, which would then immobilize them. It is important to understand that virtually all mace products today are not actually tear gas, but instead, are made of the same ingredients that make up pepper spray.

The reason the above self-defense products are so popular is that they work. If you are taken by surprise and have to react fast, these will stop your assailant in his tracks. Curious Collections has a large and varied stock of pepper spray options available and at the most reasonable prices you will find anywhere. We pride ourselves on delivering the best products at the best prices. In addition, we do this with the highest level of customer service possible. Our goal is to keep you safe and we will if you arm yourself with proper personal protections items.

Just remember, be aware, but be prepared as well.

Charles & Sheila McLean are the owners and operators of Curious Collections, a website that focuses on the personal protection of their customers. For more info please goto: http://www.curiouscollections.net/

When you decide that you want to purchase a wireless home security system, you then have to figure out how you are going to install it in your home. Do you hire someone or do you attempt to do it yourself? Installing a wireless home security system is not as difficult as it may seem, and you may get to test out your handyman skills in the process. If you decide to take on the challenge of installing your own alarm system, learn the basics first.

The first thing that you should realize is that when you install wireless home security electronics, it is not the time to ignore instructions. Wireless home security systems can be installed with the common tools that are lying around in most houses, but if you make a mistake, it could cost you extra unnecessary time.

You are going to need to assess the layout of your house before you do any labor. Initially you need to decide where the control panel is going to be; it should be near an electrical outlet. Placement is important because you don’t want a control panel to be anywhere easily reachable by an intruder who can destroy it, but you don’t want it so hidden that you can’t hear an alarm if it were to go off.

Next, you will want to install the control panel. Even though your home security alarm system is labeled wireless, there will be a wire of some sort, so don’t be fooled by names. You will need to drill a hole behind the control panel, and then another one below the outlet so that you can connect the two.

If you are concerned about your abilities when it comes to wiring, don’t worry, the wireless security systems usually come with a battery that will act as a backup in case the power goes out or the device is unplugged.

The siren and control panel programming will be the next step on your list. You will need an electrical outlet for the siren just like the control panel. Typically, in order to program your sirens, you will be able to use a common screwdriver. However, all systems are not created equal, so you will need to check with the manufacturers instruction packet when dealing with this step.

The control panel programming will be easier if you locate the spreadsheet with step-by-step instructions in working with your keypad. Remember not to throw away any of the paper materials that come into the package with your system. There should be a manifest on the first page of the instruction booklet. If you feel like you are missing something, call the manufacturer’s help line and they will send you another one in the mail.

After you have finished all of the programming needed, you will need to install the sensors. Sensors are usually placed on windows and doorways. It is not a problem if these are visible because it may let an intruder know that you have an alarm and prevent any windows being broken. The sensors are usually plastic and can be installed with an electric screwdriver.

When you install your wireless home security system, you may feel a little uneasy about your abilities. The best final step to take is to test your alarm system before trusting it to protect your home. It would be disheartening to put in hard work only to have your home broken into the following weekend.

Remember that there are a lot of choices out there, and the Internet has many sites that can let you know the prices and ratings of all home security products so that you don’t get stuck with a product that you don’ t want or need.

Mike Selvon owns a number of niche portal. Please visit our home security portal for more great tips on wireless home security.

More and more often today people are getting into the security industries multi-billion dollar a year business that is growing faster and faster as Americans progress thru life. It is not uncommon for someone to walk down a city street either in uptown New York City or backwoods Kansas and look up and see that someone, or should I say something is watching them and every move they make.

Yes, in today’s world people have become not paranoid, but possibly insecure about whom they think their neighbor is, perhaps based on recent terrorist attacks throughout the world. It really isn’t the what or whom that is watching that certain someone that someone is worried about, but where is that hidden camera at that can be anything from a flowerpot hidden camera to an exit sign above a doorway.

Hidden cameras either they are wired or wireless they are everywhere whether we as citizens of this great country realize it or not. There really is no escape from them since we do not know where they might be at any certain time, they are as small as a button and as large as a can of soup depending upon whether they are out in the open or concealed. It is not any sort of rocket science to hook one of these cameras up, just read the directions and do some research on the Internet.

The world has come full circle from being safe and secure with leaving their possessions unguarded to having wanting that certain security tool with past events in the last couple of years.

With this natural curiosity about spies and so forth that Hollywood portrays as good pr, more and more people are looking to the Internet for these items to either use in their business or home. When you search the Net for these various surveillance items, you will see that there are hundreds, if not thousands of websites that sell these hidden cameras with digital video recorders and other neat gadgets that James Bond would be proud to have in his arsenal. Therefore, what now, you are wandering where I start in looking for a camera or complete system that will secure my family or possession.

Stop, take a deep breath, and realize that it is not a decision to take lightly, you have to think about what you want and/or need, and then do some research. Compare prices after you know what you are looking for.

People have told me repeatedly that I have the best prices for what is out there, but you need not worry about price at this time, quality and customer service is what I specialize in and that is a major focus of on my business.

The moral of this report is to let you as citizens of this great country know that now we live in a day and age where someone is always watching whether we know it or want it or not. Just be vigilant about your surroundings, survey your home or business, and see what you need in regards to some surveillance items. Obey the laws of the land and catch a crook in the act, because this is the best insurance that you will ever need that speaks for itself. No questions to answer, no rebuttal from any defense lawyer and it could save you anywhere from 10% to 30% off your insurance premiums.

All the cool stuff that you will ever need and with prices that will not be beat anywhere, just compare and save a ton of money. By the way, if there is something that you want or find it cheaper somewhere else, I will beat it within reason.

Charles & Sheila McLean are the owners and operators of Curious Collections, a website that focuses on the personal protection of their customers. For more info please goto: http://www.curiouscollections.net/