For many online programs and smartphone apps, they will have a minimum length requirement for your password. While this may make your password harder to remember, keep in mind that the longer your password, the more secure. Incorporating numbers into your password is also crucial – so long as they are numbers you can easily remember. It is best not to use your Social Security or cell phone number, as these are the first any wannabe hackers will guess. Capital letters can also ward off any identity thieves, as capital letters (as well as any possible symbols) can create complexity. Lastly, it is advisable not to use the same password for all your important programs and applications, as this will help to ensure that if one of your programs is compromised, they won’t all be.

According to an article on betabeat.com, a woman is suing Match.com for $10 million in damages after she was matched with a man who brutally attacked her. Mary Kay Beckman, the woman who has filed the suit, said she was matched with Wade Ridley who hid in Beckman’s garage, stabbed her multiple times, and kicked her in the head. Following the attack, Beckman has undergone several corrective surgeries.

To make matters even worse, Mr. Ridley was also accused of murdering another woman and arrested. While in jail, he committed suicide before he could have a trial.

Unfortunately, online dating sites do not perform any criminal background checks on the people that sign up for their services. However, when new member do sign up for the dating services, they are checked against the sexual offender registry. But is that enough?

Beckman’s argument hinges on the fact that online dating services, not just Match.com, should have some sort of disclaimer appended to their websites. If fast food restaurants could get sued for their coffee burning a customer, shouldn’t online dating sites be responsible for putting their members into harm’s way?

For those of you who have used, are currently using, or plan on using online dating services in the future, would you be willing to pay a little extra for background checks to be performed on you and other members? Do you think that would make online dating any safer?

Would a disclaimer make any difference? Do you think it would make people think twice about their own safety and security if online dating companies state that they are not responsible for any type of assault or injury you may experience on a date you’ve been matched with?

Or do you believe that dating has always been risky, no matter if you go out on a date with someone you met through an online service, a setup by friends, or from a nightclub or bar? Has dating always been “at your own risk”, and should it remain that way?

There is a syndicate of criminals in the Albuquerque area presenting themselves as sales promoters who are giving away free key rings at gas stations and parking lots. The key ring has a tracking device chip which allows the criminals to track and follow you. Please, please don’t accept them. They select their seemingly well-to-do potential victims and if you accept, you might become a victim of their tricks. The key holders are very beautiful and hard to resist accepting; but remember, you may end up paying more than the cost of a key holder, including the risk to your life. If they hand you one, please throw it in the trash or on the ground.  Don’t take it with you.  Please advise your family members, email contacts, and friends as well.

“Treat your laptop like cash. If you had a wad of money sitting out in a public place, would you turn your back on it — even for just a minute? Would you put it in checked luggage? Leave it on the backseat of your car? Of course not! Keep as careful eye on your laptop just as you would a pile of cash.”

This same advice applies to all your electronics, such as iPod’s, tablets, and smart phones.  The value of the device is one thing – the value of the data, including your identity, is far greater.  Make sure you take the time to place these items in the car trunk, or some other out-of-sight location.  If you are in a public parking lot, or parked on the street, someone can walk by, see your items, break the window and be gone in seconds.

There is a sophisticated group of individuals operating door to door in the ABQ area, presenting themselves as working for ADT Alarm Company. Even though they might seem legitimate, these individuals do not work for ADT.  They tell residents they will change the batteries in their home alarm systems. These individuals even have “company identification badges” hanging around their necks or pinned to their clothing. Do not let these individuals into your home. This is a prelude to home invasion. Victims have sustained injuries, been robbed and their homes ransacked.

Never permit someone to just “drop by” to offer work in your home.  We talk with you first so our service technicians are scheduled to visit your home.  They never just show up at your door unexpected.

In order to best protect your assets, try to use an ATM located inside an open business whenever possible. The public setting will help to deter any potential criminal activity. It is also best to avoid using an ATM during nighttime hours, and don’t use one if you see suspicious people around it. Don’t write your PIN number on your card, or keep it anywhere in your wallet or purse. It is also best to not make your PIN number something easily guessed, like the last four digits of your Social Security or phone number.

Always be aware of people standing behind you at the ATM, and try to make sure not to enter your PIN number in plain view. Don’t withdraw large amounts of cash at once, and always take your receipt with you. If you do find yourself in a robbery situation, don’t attempt to fight or fend it off. Take note of the robber’s likeness, and give the robber the money. Get to a safe area and call 911.With these critical safety tips, ATMs can remain a safe and convenient way to access your money.

At one business address in the far Northeast Heights, thieves had started to disconnect the electrical service when one of our officers arrived.  The two suspects fled, but left behind their vehicle loaded with tools needed to steal copper.  Our responding officer secured the site, and contacted law enforcement for further investigation.  Bottom line, because our client had the Armed Response Team install sensors on the outdoor electrical enclosure, our monitoring center dispatched our officers before significant damage had occurred.  And, these would-be thieves have lost their vehicle and tools, hopefully leading to their apprehension.

At the other site near the balloon fiesta park, we received signals from our clients’ outdoor yard sensors.  Our officer responded quickly and found a hole in the fence.  Upon further investigation, he saw piles of metal and copper that had been staged near the fence, and then found a suspect hiding in the yard.  Our Armed Response Team officer, based on his 20 years of APD experience, knew exactly how to legally and safely detain the suspect, who was then turned over to police.

 Once again, a loss was prevented, and a suspect apprehended!  

 Who do you know that needs this type of protection?  Copper theft is running rampant, and a modest level of protection can prevent a huge loss.  If you have a business location, call us soon to explore your options to detect and prevent copper theft. 

“You should keep enough supplies in your home to meet the needs of you and your family for at least three days. Build an emergency supply kit to take with you in an evacuation. The basics to stock in your portable kit include: water, food, battery-powered radio and flashlight with extra batteries, first aid supplies, change of clothing, blanket or sleeping bag, wrench or pliers, whistle, dust mask, plastic sheeting and duct tape, trash bags, map, a manual can opener for canned food and special items for infants, elderly, the sick or people with disabilities. Keep these items in an easy to carry container such as a covered trash container, a large backpack, or a duffle bag.”

Here is an example of what we use for my home.  It is great because the lid snaps on tight.  I bought it at one of the home improvement stores.

It’s official. The Transportation Security Administration has decided to pull its current and controversial full-body scanners from U.S. airports.

The backscatter units, as they are known, have portrayed somewhat naked images of passengers to screeners since 2010. That caused outcries from numerous passengers along with concerns about the amount of radiation scanners emit.

The TSA has ended its $40 million contract with developer Rapsican, which couldn’t come up with successful software that would replace the near-naked images with stick figures by the Congress-imposed June 1 deadline, news reports said. Rapiscan will pay for the machines to be removed by May 31.

TSA started to employ the backscatter units after a Nigerian man attempted to blow up a Detroit-bound Northwest Airlines flight by setting off explosives hidden in his underwear.

Still, even though the Rapiscan machines will be removed, another type of full-body scanner that produces avatar-like images will be used in airports starting in June.

Stay tuned.  Albuquerque is one of the TSA training sites, so we’ll see how quickly the old devices are removed, and the new (as of yet unseen) devices are installed.

Increased crime

It’s obvious that increased crime is a bad thing. Especially property crime like burglary and metal theft. That’s when we rely on the police to ensure our safety. Where the outlooks turns grim is that law enforcement around the country, and even in New Mexico and Albuquerque, are faced with a growing shortage of officers.

In Salt Lake City, false alarm calls were draining patrol resources, comprising 12 percent of all dispatched calls. The average police response time to alarm activations was up to 40 minutes, well beyond the time when police could reasonably hope to apprehend an intruder. Over 99% of all alarm calls proved false. The result? Police and sheriff’s departments have decided not to respond to security alarms – either at all, or only when a real, live person verifies that the alarm is blasting because of an intrusion instead of the wind, an animal or malfunction. In Montgomery County, Maryland, alarm dispatches have decreased by 70% despite a more than 300% increase in alarm systems.

How did that happen? Companies like Armed Response Team have stepped into the gap left between the security alarm and the police patrol. With our immediate, in person armed response to any and all alarms, our customers know that their homes, property and businesses don’t fall through the cracks in a system where too few police have higher priorities than crooks stealing your stuff.

 Make sure you’re on the right side of this triple threat of fewer law enforcement officers and increased property crime. Find out how Armed Response Team can keep you and your family safe.