Alert 360 lays out 10 low-cost home security steps for summer

Alert 360 is urging homeowners to review their security as warmer months bring more break-ins, offering 10 simple steps meant to protect property, family members and pets. The guidance includes basic hardware upgrades, lighting, cameras, monitored detectors and a full system with professional monitoring.

Why it matters: - Summer is a higher-risk season for home break-ins, making basic security checks more urgent for homeowners. - The guidance is aimed at reducing theft, scams, emergency risks and exposure to hazards such as smoke, carbon dioxide, heat and water. - The recommendations are designed to protect property, family members and pets with steps that can fit different budgets.

What happened: - Alert 360, one of the largest home and business security providers in the United States, published 10 low-cost security tips for home and family safety. - Richard Ginsburg, Alert 360 CEO, said summer is a good time to review home security, but the steps can be used year-round. - Ginsburg said the goal is to make home security easy and routine while accounting for threats such as package thieves and popular scams.

The details: - Alert 360 recommends starting with a full security assessment of vulnerable areas inside and outside the home, including yards, swimming pool areas, gun safes, garages and medicine cabinets. - The company says local security and alarm monitoring companies can often provide a free consultation to identify weak points. - The company recommends simple DIY upgrades such as deadbolt locks, peepholes, trimmed bushes, fewer hiding places near entry points, and an emergency plan with family. - Children should know how to use a phone and how to signal for help using an alarm keypad. - Outdoor motion lighting and app-controlled lights can help deter intruders and make a home appear occupied. - Doorbell cameras and video cameras can help monitor visitors, document crime and address porch package theft. - Homeowners should keep valuables out of sight, avoid advertising expensive purchases, arrange yard care while away, and answer the door remotely when possible. - Alert 360 says monitored detectors for water, heat, smoke and carbon monoxide can protect families and pets 24/7, even if no one can call for help. - Yardwork should include removing ladders, tree limbs and trash cans that could help someone reach second-story windows. - Doors and windows should stay locked even when someone is home, garage doors should remain down, and vehicles should be locked with garage door openers removed. - Homeowners considering a broader upgrade should look for a reputable local company that can provide professional alarm monitoring, glass-break and motion detectors, monitored medical devices and other services. - Alert 360 says many insurance companies offer premium discounts for monitored systems. - For choosing a company, Alert 360 recommends checking customer testimonials, Net Promoter Score, Google ratings and Better Business Bureau status. - The company included a customer testimonial from Dave Walker, a retired police sergeant, who said security cameras help protect loved ones and monitor property from anywhere.

Between the lines: - The message blends low-cost prevention with paid security upgrades, signaling a sales funnel from DIY steps to monitored systems. - The focus on package theft, scams and elderly family members reflects the broader shift from traditional burglary concerns to everyday home security risks. - The emphasis on monitored signs, convenience and peace of mind suggests the company is positioning professional monitoring as both a safety tool and a lifestyle service.

What's next: - Homeowners are being pushed to review security now, with summer framed as the best time to act. - Alert 360 is directing consumers to evaluate security providers before buying, especially if they want monitored systems and app-based controls. - The company is also pointing homeowners toward affordable camera systems and other layered protection options.

The bottom line: - Alert 360’s core message is simple: combine basic home-hardening steps with layered monitoring to make a house a less attractive target and improve emergency response.