Hillsboro Home Security, Personal Safety and Home Automation
Hillsboro, Oregon. A beautiful community that combines the best of rural living with big-city amenities like high-tech corporate headquarters and cutting edge and easily accessible healthcare, over 100,000 Hillsboroans have the best of both worlds at the tips of their fingers. Close enough to Portland to make trips into the city for shopping and dining or to take in a show, but far enough into the country to provide easy access to local wineries and family farms, Hillsboro is a vibrant, modern city with something for everyone.
Hillsboro is considered the center of Oregon’s “Silicon Forest”, and is the home to Intel’s largest site in North America and employs over 16,000 people, along with numerous other technology companies like RadiSys, Epson and Synopsys. The city is also a major connection point for three fiber optic cable systems linking the US and Asia, which has created a boom in construction of data centers in the area since 2010.
But unfortunately, Hillsboro isn't perfect. How imperfect is it?
According to FBI statistics, you have a 1 in 403 chance of being a victim of a violent crime while living in HIllsboro. That may not sound like much, but think about it like this- how many people do you see in an average day? If you see just 500 people in a day, at least one of those people is statistically likely to be victimized by a violent crime this year. If you see 2,000 people, then 5 of them will be the victim of a violent crime. And though Hillsboro has a lower crime rate than many cities, they are still in the top half of all Oregon communities in terms of crime rate. Every year in Hillsboro there are, on average, 56 robberies, 175 burglaries and almost 300 violent crimes- There are even a staggering 2,100 property crimes every year in Hillsboro! You have a 1 in 51 chance of being the victim of a property crime in any given year in Hillsboro- Again, think of how many people you see in a day. If you see 200 people, 4 of them will be the victim of a property crime this year. In fact, a crime occurs every 3 hours and 13 minutes in Hillsboro. According to crimegrade.com, Hillsboro rates only a C+, putting it in only the 44th percentile in terms of the safest US cities.
Now, this isn’t to say Hillsboro is an unsafe community or a dangerous place to live- not more so than many places in America, anyway. But the charming location and surroundings can often lull us into a false sense of security- that is, believing “that could never happen HERE”. But unfortunately, it can and all too often does. But of course, there are measures you can take to protect yourself and your family. Neighborhood Watch programs have been proven as crime deterrents for years across many American towns and cities. Educating yourself about which areas of town have higher crime rates and being conscious of this can often keep you safe in troubled areas. And here’s the kicker- statistics show that your home is 300% more likely to be victimized if you don’t have a home security system.
There’s one thing everyone has in common, they all worry about something. Having those little nagging thoughts rattle around all day can be pretty distracting. Some people find them so troublesome that they get distracted from everyday tasks and often get frustrated when they shouldn’t . The only real answer is to put those worries to rest and solve one of the biggest worries a homeowner might have. Home security is something that most homeowners are concerned about. There’s no telling sometimes whether the front door got locked or if all the lights are off. Teenagers can be a real handful.
Home Automation
Computers have been around long enough that they seem to impact everyone on a daily basis. There are computers in everything these days. Some people are even adding computers to their home and appliances. These computers are used to communicate certain data and control things like appliances and lights through a computer interface. Many home security providers offer home automation as part of a package. With this service, Hillsboro homeowners can open the app on their phone and secure their entire house with a single button. Newer appliances come with automated instructions already installed. A smart water heater will know when everyone is away and avoid wasting energy by turning off. Homeowners could be saving hundreds of dollars each year with smart appliances and home automation. These systems go hand in hand with a home security bundle. Smart thermostats are a great way to control air temperature in a home while everyone is away. There’s no need to waste energy cooling a home when everyone is at work or school. Smart faucets are one of the newer devices available. Not only does the faucet look great, it also delivers filtered water and can be controlled through an app on any portable device. Washers and dryers are becoming more sophisticated. The appliance can sense how soiled or wet the clothes are and adjust performance accordingly. This saves time, prevents wear and tear on most clothing, and saves energy on daily operation. The user can even be alerted on their phone from across the house when their laundry finishes. Switches can be installed on the circuit box in a home, adding automation to literally every circuit. This means that the homeowner can control every light or appliance with nothing more than a portable device.
Home Security
Unlike some of the useful gadgets and devices that might be used for home automation, home security hardware is there for a very serious purpose. Homeowners can call their local service provider and schedule an audit. This audit will allow an experienced home security provider the opportunity to identify gaps in security. Something as simple as a tree too close to a fence could be enough to let a burglar onto the property. Areas of the home that aren’t frequented by family members are often left unsecured. An unlocked window or door will allow the burglar to enter the home with no effort at all. By installing a motion sensor, homeowners can detect anyone that might make such an attempt. More than one-third of burglaries are made possible by an unlocked door or window. These robberies are easily avoidable by checking the locks before leaving and installing a low-cost alarm on each window or door. Motion sensors are a great way to deter would-be burglars. Once the light flicks on and disorients them they won’t have much choice but to move on. Audio alarms are installed inside the home to detect the sound of glass breaking or even gunshots. Once this alarm is triggered emergency services can be summoned. Cameras a low-cost way to check up on a home when everyone is away. Most cameras are capable of remote viewing. Homeowners can simply pull up a live feed on their phone. There are several different kinds of sensors and alarms that might be installed in a home. Window entry alarms are some of the most common types of alarms. They attach directly to the windows and alert anyone in the home when triggered. Motion sensors are a great idea for homes with large backyards or more than two doors. Homeowners in Hillsboro can get detailed information from their service provider about the different kinds of hardware that can be installed. The system is brought together by the hardware linking directly to the service provider, who can monitor activity and notify the authorities in case of an emergency.
Monitoring and Personal Safety Services
Many homeowners might consider the idea of a monitored security system an invasion of privacy. These services are deeply misunderstood for the most part. It is true that service providers can access cameras and other monitoring hardware, but only on a limited basis. If an alarm is triggered the service provider will be able to access cameras in certain parts of the house. This means that private areas will remain private. When family vacation time comes up, these services can be invaluable. Monitored services are also ideal for elderly family members. Personal safety services are one of the best investments possible for homes with elderly family members. Stories in the news talk about seniors who fell and were stuck on the floor for more than a day. This kind of situation could prove fatal in some cases, but it’s perfectly avoidable. With an alert pendant, seniors can contact emergency services without the use of a phone. Fall alarms can be installed in the shower or other areas that might be slippery. Service providers can also be alerted if there hasn’t been any activity during times when there usually is. Monitored services could mean the difference between a minor slip and a major emergency.
