Provided by http://www.lightningcube.com/monitorcam.htm

1. Get into the mind of the burglar. If you were him how would you break into your home? Learn and act from this exercise and take steps to improve any weaknesses in your security system.
2. Its sounds obvious, but always lock all doors when you go out of the house. Many burglars just walk in through an unlocked door or window.
3. When you move into a new house, have all the locks and/or tumblers changed.
4. Make sure all wiring from security systems is fully concealed. A professional burglar looks for weaknesses where they can cut or disconnect the security system.
5. Make your house appear occupied at all times, especially in the evening when it is dark. Use timers to switch lights on and you could even leave a radio on when you are not in.

Provided by http://www.homesecuritysystemsadvice.com/home-security-tips.aspx

The laws of 13 states expressly prohibit the unauthorized installation or use of cameras in private places. A private place is one where a person may reasonably expect to be safe from unauthorized surveillance, locker rooms, restrooms etc. Several states have laws prohibiting the use of hidden cameras in only certain circumstances, such as in locker rooms or restrooms, or for the purpose of viewing a person in a state of partial or full nudity.

Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Utah also prohibit trespassing on private property to conduct surveillance of people there.

In Alabama, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, South Dakota, and Utah, installation or use of any device for photographing, observing or overhearing events or sounds in a private place without permission of the people photographed or observed is against the law.

Provided by http://www.safetybasement.com/category_s/385.htm

Provided by http://www.homesecurityadvice.com/doors-windows/fingerprint-locks/

1. Make sure to turn on your security alarm system at night and in your absence.
2. Use doors that feature wide-angle peepholes at heights everyone can use.
3. Also include electronic motion sensors near peripheral doors and install glass break detectors near the windows of your residence.
4. Keep all doors locked at night and every time you leave your home.

•  Property crime makes up slightly more than three-quarters of all crime in the United States
•  In 2005, law enforcement agencies reported an estimated 2,154,126 burglary offenses-a 0.5-percent increase compared with 2004 data.
•  An examination of 5- and 10-year trends revealed a 1.8-percent increase in the number of burglaries compared with the 2001 estimate, and a 14.1-percent decline from the 1996 number.
•  Burglary accounted for 21.2 percent of the estimated number of property crimes committed in 2005. The average dollar loss per burglary offense in 2005 was $1,725.
•  Of all burglary offenses in 2005, 65.8 percent were of residential structures.
•  Most (62.4 percent) of residential burglaries in 2005 for which time of occurrence was known took place during the day, between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
•  Among burglaries of nonresidential structures when time of occurrence was known, 58.0 percent occurred at night.
•  A burglary takes place in the U.S. every 14.6 seconds according to the Uniform Crime Reporting Program Crime Clock.
•  According to the FBI Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report, January-June, 2006, "burglary offenses showed an increase, up 1.2 percent from the 2005 level."
•  Overall, in about 84% of all burglaries, the offender gained entry into the victim's residence or other building on the property. 

Source: Crime in the United States 2005 Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation Release

Agricultural - After experiencing a number of explosions, a hog confinement center in the Midwest installed a special gas detector to report high concentrations of methane. 

Industrial - A photo processing plant monitors dozens of variables, including ambient heat and light, to safeguard the quality of its product - your family's photos.  

Commercial - A store in a high-crime area signals the central station when it opens and closes. Its system uses listen-in and talk-back microphones to protect both property and personnel.

Residential - The common home alarm system senses not only intrusion and fire, but also water in the basement, low temperature and carbon monoxide. While the family vacationed, the heat in their home failed and a water pipe burst. The water sensor activated a digital communicator, notifying the central station, which called a neighbor with a key. A plumber was called and the family returned to a warm, cozy and dry home. Provided by SIAonline.org

Partition

This is the process of splitting your alarm system in two or more "partitions," arming and disarming each area seperately while using only one phone line, and paying only one monitoring fee. Many small businesses use a system with this option. For example, a homeowner has a garage or work area that is not attached to his house, but wants to arm that area seperately while he is at home. Each partition can have its own keypad, or one keypad can be used to access each partition. The monitoring company will know which partition is sending the alarm, and will send the authorities to the appropriate area of the house/business.