It’s been 19 years since the Chicago Police Department (CPD) kicked off its pilot of Police Observation Devices (PODs). Today, there’s a network of 50,000+ surveillance cameras in use all over the city. But Are They Working? This simple question has no simple answer. According to the Chicago Police Department, in some areas, narcotic related crimes…
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there is a fire reported in the United States every 23 seconds. If a fire occurs in your home or business, you want to be notified right away. You might be asking yourself, so how does this work? How can I ensure I am protected at all…
There are a lot of great places to live in Chicago. From the historic vibe of Printers Row to the ultra-stylish River North, there are neighborhoods to fit every personality. But are they safe? It turns out, many of them are. According to Niche.com—which ranks neighborhoods based on crime, schools, cost of living, etc.—the short commuting times…
Internet speed is a precious commodity in today’s connected homes. Internet speed is responsible for how quickly or slowly data moves from the internet to the application on your computer. Things like your mobile phone, television, computer, gaming system, and even appliances use the internet. And your home security system probably does too. The average…
Different Security Camera Resolutions and Which is Right for You Welcome to the 2020s—it’s finally time to pull the trigger and get a home security camera. Now what? There are a baffling number of cameras and resolutions available on the consumer market, but the math behind figuring out what you want in a security camera…
The unofficial countdown to summer begins for many of us each year as we “spring forward” into daylight saving time, moving the clock forward one hour to give us an extra hour of sunlight at the end of every day. Since this is the time of the year when we change our clocks, it is important…
According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), nearly 90% of senior citizens want to stay in their homes as they age even if they need day-to-day assistance or have ongoing health issues like early-stage Alzheimer’s or dementia. Unfortunately, criminals often target senior citizens as victims. Thieves assume older people will not be able…
At FSS Technologies, we pride ourselves on the fact that we are not your typical fire safety or security company. When people call us, they don’t want a one-size-fits-all solution — they want our experts to design a system that perfectly fits their needs. We take “First in Security, First in Satisfaction” seriously to ensure every…
If you are like the rest of Americans, you have noticed that the Ring Security company has been in the news lately— and not for anything useful. Between security hacks and lawsuits, the company has landed itself in hot water. Surveillance Camera Hacks Homeowners have security cameras installed in their homes to give them peace…
It is at the discretion of your building manager as to whether you can use a video doorbell for your apartment. There usually are two concerns that arise when it comes to video doorbell usage in a rented property: installation concerns and privacy concerns. Issues with Video Doorbells Installation Concerns Many video doorbell systems require…
Property crime in the United States is costly. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, property crimes in 2018 resulted in an estimated $16.4 billion of losses. The Cost of Crime Larceny-theft is the most common of all property crimes, accounting for 73.4 percent. Larceny-theft is defined as the unlawful taking, carry, leading,…
How Does a Fire Alarm Work? Fire alarm systems have two main functions: Alert the occupants of a building to a fire emergency enabling a safe evacuation Notify firefighters of the fire emergency. Options for Fire Alarms Manual Fire Alarms Manual fire alarms, also known as manual pull stations, are a way for people to alert…