Summer is the perfect time for a vacation getaway. Unfortunately, it is also the perfect time for a home robbery.
According to the FBI, July and August have the highest rates of burglaries. The Better Business Bureau advises homeowners to do their research when picking a home security system.
According to a study of home and business security by Temple University, the Electronic Security Association says homes without security systems are about three times more likely to be broken into than homes with security systems. Losses from burglaries average $400 less in homes with security systems than homes without then.
The BBB advises you do the following when looking to invest in a home security system:
CHOOSE A PROFESSIONAL INSTALLER. Carefully consider your security requirements and budget. You can also get recommendation from the insurance company that covers your home. Deal only with reputable firms, and check out the company with the BBB first.
CONTACT AT LEAST THREE COMPANIES BEFORE SELECTING AN INSTALLER. Find out whether they are properly licensed in your state and whether they screen employees before hiring. Check the ESA Web site for a list of member companies that have agreed to abide by the National Code of Ethics.
ASK ABOUT ALL CHARGES UP FRONT. Prices for systems vary based on the level of protection and type of technology, so be sure to compare apples-to-apple bids on similar systems. Do not forget to factor in the installation charge and monthly monitoring charges. Talk to your insurance agent, as some systems can qualify you for a discount on homeowner's premiums.
KNOW THE INS AND OUTS OF YOUR CONTRACT. If your alarm system will be monitored by your installing company or by a third-party center, find out the length of the contract. Typically, monitoring contracts are between two to five years in length. What is your recourse if you are not satisfied with the services provided? Can you cancel the contract? What are your rights if your monitoring company is purchased or acquired by another alarm company? These are the types of questions you need to consider.
INSIST the installer walk you through your system until you fully understand how it works. This will prevent the most common problem: false alarms. Ask for a complete inspection of your property and an itemized written estimate. Review the sales contract closely to ensure you understand what equipment and protection you will be provided.
Reach Kelvin Collins, the president/CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Central Georgia and the CSRA Inc., at (800) 763-4222 or www.bbb.org.
FBI Agent Pleads Guilty to Child Abuse
Tuesday February 17, 2004
By JOHN SOLOMON
https://antipolygraph.org/cgi-bin/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1077052156
WASHINGTON (AP) - The former chief internal watchdog at the FBI has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 6-year-old girl and has admitted he had a history of molesting other children before he joined the bureau for what became a two-decade career.
John H. Conditt Jr., 53, who retired in 2001, was sentenced last week to 12 years in prison in Tarrant County court in Fort Worth, Texas, after he admitted he molested the daughter of two FBI agents after he retired. He acknowledged molesting at least two other girls before he began his law enforcement career, his lawyer said.
February 22, 2007
http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2007/022007/02232007/262383
SPOTSYLVANIA, Va. A F.B.I. analyst has been sentenced to seven years in prison for having sex with a young girl in Spotsylvania County.
Forty-four-year-old Anthony John Lesko entered an Alford plea yesterday in Spotsylvania County Circuit Court to nine counts of felony indecent liberties upon a child. An Alford plea means Lesko doesn't admit guilt but believes there is enough evidence for a conviction.
Authorities say Lesko engaged in a sex act with her nine times, beginning when she was nine years old.
According to the plea, Lesko said he was a victim in the case. He said the girl initiated the contact.
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