ALTOONA - Operation Our Town hosted a neighborhood watch meeting looking at home security.

We've had several home break-ins just in the last couple of months. There have been at least ten already this year and they've been scattered throughout our region. There have been break-ins in Clearfield, Elk, Blair, Centre and Somerset Counties and at least four in Huntingdon County alone.

Blair County Chief Deputy Holly Garner talked to the neighborhood watch crowd about how to improve their personal and home security. It was an important topic for Patty Meintel. She knows someone whose home was broken in to in the area. She wanted to know if the increased number of home break-ins was connected to drug crimes.

Garner says the two probably are connected. And gave some tips on how to be as safe as possible. She told the crowd about stronger locks, she likes double cylinder deadbolts. And you can buy a timer system to make your lights turn on at a specific time. She recommends setting it at random times so no one can find the pattern.

And to keep yourself safe while you're going to and from your house, you can carry pepper spray, and a panic alarm. The next neighborhood watch meeting is April 21st.

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Home Security Neighborhood Watch

Within the next five years, 60 percent of U.S. homes will have a smart security system, according to a recent survey. Thats second to only connected thermostats, which will be found in 70 percent of homes. Lots of companies want to carve themselves a slice of that smart-home pie, and surveillance seems like a safe bet.

Until the rise of the DIY home security kit, cameras and motion sensors were generally within the purview of large companies that wanted to sell you the components and then charge you a monthly fee to monitor your home and they want to keep charging you. Companies such as ADT sign up users for a three-year contract, and this is a recipe for unhappy customers, Chris Carney tells Digital Trends. As a former director of finance at ADT, he grew frustrated during his 15 years there with the way the company addressed, or failed to address, customer needs. There would be talk but little action. I realized toward the end of my career there the industry and the company as a whole really didnt innovate off of what they were selling, both product and solution, to people, he says.

Related:MIT research may revolutionize structural engineering with a camera that sees sound

For the past 18 months, Carney has been working with a team to develop his own security system, Abode. I basically started Abode to eliminate all those pain points for people and really give a customer control of their system and their solution and really make something simple and seamless, he says.

The starter kit comes with the Gateway hub, two door or window contact sensors, a key fob, and a motion-sensing camera. Theres an optional streaming camera, as well. Built with infrared technology, the motion-detector camera is calibrated to ignore pets (and presumably children) under 60 pounds. Your cat wont set it off, but neither will your Dennis-the-Menace-esque neighbor. The hub is equipped with a battery and 3G cellular backup, in case your power goes out or Internet fails. Much like similar DIY systems, users can monitor everything themselves with the included app (iOS, Android, Web). Should something activate the sensor or camera, youll receive an alert on your phone, and you can check whether its just your spouse getting home early or an actual emergency. But if somethings going down, youll have to be the one to alert the police.

For those who want someone to dial 911 for them, Abode will offer a $30-per-month professional monitoring option. A third-party company will keep an eye on things for you, but if you get an alert from the camera and notice the robot vacuum just knocked over a houseplant, you should be able to call in the false alarm. The monitors wont have access to your streaming camera, unless you grant them permission while youre on vacation, for example. Its truly kind of a an on-demand service, says Brent Franks, Abodes co-founder. If you want to pick up the professional monitoring for a month during your trip then let it drop again, you can do so.

In addition to that optional service, what separates Abode from similar systems is its security and its openness, claim its creators. Every component of the system is fully encrypted, says Carney. Yet the Gateway will still serve as a hub for your smart home, as it works with Zigbee and Z-Wave devices. While the Abode is already ready to integrate with your Nest, the team is still making sure everything else will play as nicely. What were going to be very careful about is that its easy to add these things and integrate with some of these things, says Carney, but the key is to really get the control right on those devices. So it may act a certain way on its own, but we want to make sure to test and certify these things ourselves to make sure they work.

Despite all the planned integration, dont expect to see Abode locks or lights on the market soon. For us, we want to be the first smart security platform, Carney says.

In order to do that, Abode has turned to Kickstarter. The starter kit is going for $199. Thats $200 off its retail price, which the team thinks is more accessible than traditional systems, with the added benefit of automation.

The things that were working on really allow the customer to not only experience real security out of the gate but define the things that make their life simpler, says Franks.

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An ADT exec went rogue and created Abode, a contract-free security system

Sunnyvale, CA (PRWEB) April 01, 2015

iSmart Alarm, Inc., the US-based company revolutionizing DIY Home Security products, today announced the iSmartAlarm IFTTT Channel. The new IFTTT Channel allows iSmartAlarm to immediately and easily communicate with such IFTTT mainstays as Facebook, Nest Thermostat and Nest Protect, SmartThings, Google Drive, WeMo, and more. Users can also set schedules and rules, with almost unlimited options.

iSmartAlarm products offer users advanced smart home control, security and automation using their iPhone or Android devices at a fraction of the cost of traditional security companies. The company's flagship product is the iSmartAlarm, putting a 21st century spin on traditional security systems by offering a self-monitored, self-controlled home security system that is designed to be expandable, mobile and DIY, with no wiring necessary. There are no contracts and no monthly fees for customers Families and individuals can use and expand the system with ease.

IFTTT is a San Francisco based company founded in 2010 on a mission to change the way people make connections between services and devices they use every day. IFTTT allows devices and apps to communicate with each other through Recipes created by users and companies. Over 19 million Recipes have been created so far and they run more than 600 million times per month.

The iSmartAlarm IFTTT Channel is a wonderful opportunity to expand compatibility with devices and apps," said Raymond Meng, CEO and Co-Founder, iSmart Alarm, Inc. Customers and users constantly come up with new ideas and ways for their iSmartAlarm to benefit them and their families, and IFTTT allows them to put those ideas into action immediately.

Examples of iSmartAlarm Recipes:

The HD iCamera KEEP streaming and video-recording home security camera, with free automatic video storage, provides comprehensive home visibility with no monthly fees and no contracts. The motorized unit allows for wide range pan-tilt, IR lights provide high resolution night vision, and the system allows multi-iCamera support for comprehensive visibility and control. The Smart Switch allows iSmartAlarm users to control lights, electronics, and appliances. These products and services are part of the continued growth of the iSmartAlarm home control ecosystem, offering users a new level of control, security, and connectivity, allowing anyone to monitor, manage, and secure their home, property and family using their iPhone or Android devices.

About iSmart Alarm, Inc. iSmart Alarm, Inc. was founded in Silicon Valley in 2012 on the principles of safety, beauty, and intelligence. They designed and developed the best smartphone-enabled DIY smart home security and home control systems, winning multiple app and design awards. With high ratings and awards from CNet, PC Mag, TechHome, SecurityGem, and others, the iSmartAlarm continues to grow as a leader in the home automation space. Their products are cool, simple to use, and affordable to everyone.

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iSmart Alarm, Inc. Expands Internet of Things with IFTTT Channel for the iSmartAlarm Home Security System

DUBLIN, Mar. 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --Research and Markets

(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/g72dw7/home_automation) has announced the addition of the "Home Automation Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2020" report to their offering.

Global home automation market was valued at USD 4.41 billion in 2014, growing at a CAGR of 26.3% from 2014 to 2020.

This market research study analyzes the home automation market on a global level, and provides estimates in terms of revenue (USD million) from 2014 to 2020. It recognizes the drivers and restraints affecting the industry and analyzes their impact over the forecast period. Moreover, it identifies the significant opportunities for market growth in the coming years.

With technological advancements in several developing countries across the globe, home automation solutions are evolving continuously. Modern day home automation solutions utilize high end digital technology for providing better performance and efficiency. Home automation systems refer to all such systems, whether used as a single application or as integrated solutions that are used to automate processes. They are electricity powered and are manually controlled (such as turning on the AC, dimming lights, managing entrance gate and cameras, operating smart appliances in a house, and so on.

The home automation market is primarily driven by growing need for effective solutions in various domestic applications such as lighting, safety and security, energy management, entertainment (audio and video) and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning). High degree of internet connectivity and penetration in developed countries such as the U.S., the U.K., France, and Germany is also contributing to the growth of home automation market globally. Safety and security was the highest revenue generating application segment in 2013.

Factors such as rising awareness towards energy conservation and ability to manage energy consumption through automation technologies primarily influence market growth. Smartphone based home automation solution is also observing a significant growth in demand. Increasing usage of smartphone based home automation apps is also contributing to the growth of overall home automation market globally.

North America led the home automation market in 2014 and the region is expected to continue its dominance in 2020. The region's dominance is due to advancement in technology in countries such as the U.S. and Canada. Moreover, consumer awareness and affinity towards new technology is further contributing to the growth of home automation market in North America. Europe and Asia Pacific followed North America in the global home automation market to collectively account for more than forty percent of the global market revenue share.

Scope of the Report

Home Automation Market: By application

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Global Home Automation (Lighting, Safety & Security, HVAC, Entertainment & Others (Robots, Healthcare)) Market Report ...

(WOIO) - Alarm systems are supposed to keep you safe, but they also may make you a target for scammers. A woman wants to warn others after her elderly father-in-law was duped by con men who claimed he needed to update his home security system.

William Burnette said he feels safe in his home, but a recent knock at the door rattled his nerves. Men showed up claiming to be with his alarm company, but he later found out, none of it was true.

"Be careful who you let in your house," the 85-year-old said.

The men at the door claimed they were there to upgrade his existing system.

"What they were actually doing is taking the system I had out and putting their system in," he explained.

By the time he realized he had been fooled, the men had already ripped out his alarm system and installed their own. When his daughter-in-law, Susan, got word of what happened, she quickly started working to fix what had happened.

"From what I understand, this is a scamthat is done, especially with the elderly. Companies ride around the neighborhood and look for signs in the front yard for an alert system," Susan Burnette said.

Those con artists not only took out Burnette's system, they also got him to sign a contract. He had no clue what was going on.

His family hopes his story will be a warning to other seniors.

"Beware of signing any contracts if you are not sure about the company. Make sure you protect your identity and that you alert other people to this," Susan Burnette said.

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Consumer Alert: Scammers targeting home security systems

ADT Aurora CO | Call or Click Order ADT Home Security Services Aurora CO Deals
Call 1-877-310-5363 or Click: http://getalarm.net | For a Free ADT Home Security System When You Sign Up For Alarm Monitoring From ADT in Aurora, CO: the #1 Home Security Provider in North...

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Canary Smart Home Security for Everyone Review
Starting as an Indiegogo, the Canary is finally hitting the market. We walk through the app as well as the hardware to see how well it sings!

By: Andrew OHara

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Canary Smart Home Security for Everyone Review - Video

Netgear Arlo Smart Home Security Camera - One Week Later
I #39;ve had the Arlo Smart Home Security Camera for a week now, and this is my take on it.

By: Malthus

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Netgear Arlo Smart Home Security Camera - One Week Later - Video

ASD Angelcraft Crown Security Division Home Security
The following companies: 1. General Dynamics (GD), 2. Angelcraft Crown Security Division (AGS), 3. Angelcraft Broadcast Network, (ABN), 4. Angelcraft Media, (AM)...

By: General Dynamics Incorporated

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ASD Angelcraft Crown Security Division Home Security - Video

ADT Boca Raton FL | Call or Click Order ADT Home Security Services Boca Raton FL Deals
Call 1-877-310-5363 or Click: http://getalarm.net | For a Free ADT Home Security System When You Sign Up For Alarm Monitoring From ADT in Boca Raton, FL: the #1 Home Security Provider in North...

By: SelectADTNow10

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ADT Boca Raton FL | Call or Click Order ADT Home Security Services Boca Raton FL Deals - Video