Times Are Good And Hackett Security Is Now Hiring :

Position Scope & Responsibility :

Sales Representative :

As an employee of Hackett Security, the Sales Representative will be responsible for selling and representing a broad spectrum of alarm products, calling on prospective customers and developing new leads. The sales process will be comprised of prospecting for potential customers, pricing/estimating projects and serving as the primary customer service contact for your clientele. The Sales Representative will work out of our Ladue office and travel to clients and potential clients in the St. Louis Metropolitan area.

Sales Manager :

As an employee of Hackett Security. the Sales Manager will be responsible for motivating, educating, encouraging and supporting the sales staff into exceeding their sales goals and making the most of their individual talents, building commitment by facilitating team communication and moral, developing and implementing strategies that successfully target potential customers and delivering ongoing product training and education to sales staff.

Requirements & Experience :

Sales Representative :

General sales experience is required; experience in security sales is a plus! Product knowledge of DSC, Napco, Ademco, GE-Security, Bosch, Kalatel, Panasonic is a definite plus but not necessary.

Position requires professional ethics, appearance and demeanor. Position also requires outstanding oral and written English communication skills and the ability to make an impressive sales presentation with good follow-up skills. Basic mathematical skills with the ability to calculate discounts, proportions, percentages, areas and volumes are required.

Employees must be self-motivated, able to work independently and demonstrate the ability to prioritize tasks and manage time.

Position requires the ability to perform the following functions:

Design and estimate systems
Prepare quotes
Give sales presentations
Prepare and finalize agreements
Coordinate scheduling with installation department

Sales Manager :

Same requirements as above plus:

Previous management experience in a fast-growing organization
Proven track record of recruiting and developing successful sales teams
Ability to develop and implement process/system improvements

Please visit our website and go to the contact page to email us your resume:
http://www.hackettsecurity.com

- The Hackett Security Team

Avoid Cashier Check Scams - from Security Products

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued an advisory recently that provides advice to help consumers avoid becoming victims of scams involving cashier's checks.

The consumer advisory was issued in response to a growing incidence of scams involving cashier's checks. In most of these cases, individuals receive a cashier's check and are asked to deposit the check into their account, wait until funds become available and then wire some part of the funds from their account to a third party, often in a foreign country.

Although the amount of a cashier's check quickly becomes "available" for withdrawal by the consumer after the consumer deposits the check, these funds do not belong to the consumer if the check proves to be fraudulent. It may take weeks to discover that a cashier's check is fraudulent. In the meantime, the consumer may have irrevocably wired the funds to a scam artist or otherwise used the funds -- only to find out later, when the fraud is detected -- that the consumer owes the bank the full amount of the cashier's check that had been deposited.

A cashier's check is an instrument issued and sold by a bank, and is a direct obligation of the bank. For decades, cashier's checks have been used as a trusted form of payment to consumers for goods and services.

"Cashier's checks serve an important purpose in the financial marketplace, but we are starting to see an increasing number of scams involving these instruments," said Comptroller of the Currency John C. Dugan. "In most cases, consumers can avoid becoming victims by remembering that, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. In addition, our advisory provides a number of specific tips about the types of scams we are seeing today."

There are a number of known scams involving cashier's checks, many involving an unexpected windfall. In one, the victim is advised that he has won a foreign lottery and that the proceeds will be sent to him once the taxes or fees are paid. A cashier's check is provided to cover those charges, and the victim is asked to deposit the check, wait until it clears and then wire funds to cover the taxes and fees. In most cases, the wire transfer is directed to an account in a foreign bank.

While it can be very difficult for consumers to know if a cashier's check is fraudulent, the OCC guidance details a number of specific steps consumers can take to protect themselves, including these:

• Try to know the people with whom you do business. When possible, verify information about the buyer from an independent third party such as a telephone directory. Be cautious about accepting checks -- even a cashier's check -- from people that you do not know, especially since it may be difficult to pursue a remedy if the transaction goes wrong.
• When you use the Internet to sell goods or services, consider other options such as escrow services or online payment systems rather than payment by a cashier's check.
• If you do accept a cashier's check for payment, never accept a check for more than your selling price if you are expected to pay the excess to someone else. Ask yourself why the buyer would be willing to trust you, who may be a perfect stranger, with funds that properly belong to a third party.
• A cashier's check is less risky than other types of checks only if the item is genuine. If you can, ask for a cashier's check drawn on a bank with a branch in your area.
• If you want to find out whether a check is genuine, call or visit the bank on which the check is written. That bank will be in a better position to tell you whether the check is one they issued and is genuine.
• Know the difference between funds being available for withdrawal from your account and a check having finally cleared. Your bank may be required by law to make funds available to you even if the check has not yet cleared. However, it could take several weeks to know if the check will clear or not.

Click here for the original story.

- The Hackett Security Team

Hackett Security At The St. Louis University Billikens vs. University of North Carolina Game!

Hackett Security had the pleasure to attend the St. Louis University vs. The University of North Carolina game at the Scottrade Center on December 22nd. Not only that but we were featured on the Scottrade JumboTron!

We thought that we would share a couple of images for with you. Enjoy!


- The Hackett Security Team

Hackett Security Presents "Funny Videos Of The Week"

1. How Not To Rob A Liquor Store - This is a hilarious example of why owning a cctv system for your small business is great idea.
   Click here to veiw



2. Idiot Bank Robber - Another hilarious example of why owning a cctv system is great idea.
   Click here to veiw



3. Burglar / Encyclopedia Salesmen - Last but not least a funny Monty Python clip about a burglar / encyclopedia salesmen.
   Click here to veiw

Enjoy!

- The Hackett Security Team

The Hackett Security Store Is Now Open!

I'd like to take a moment and officially announce that the Hackett Security storefront is now open for business. We are adding new products all the time, but here you will everything you need for complete home and corporate security solutions. We offer cameras of all sorts, from IR (Infrared) models, to Dome style, to "covert" nanny cams, to many more models and all the camera accessories you could need. We have numerous DVR's (Digital Video Recorders) available; so if you are still recording on VHS, maybe it is time you consider upgrading your system. We also have low cost personal security solutions such as a personal alarm and a money sentry that signals an alarm when money is pulled out. The money sentry is a very useful item for any small business where cash is used.

We will soon be carrying complete DIY (Do-it-yourself) alarm systems, Motion and Smoke detectors, various other access control devices and many many more products. So check back with us if we don't have a particular product that you are interested in. Better yet, if we don't have a particular product, send us an email letting us know what product you would be interested in. We will strive to find said product for you and if there is a big enough demand, we will start carrying it in our store.

- The Hackett Security Team

Prevention Is Cheapest Tool Against Shoplifting

"Prevention Is Cheapest Tool Against Shoplifting"
Statesman-Journal (OR) (11/28/06) ; Wilkins, Jimmie

In general, retailers should spend most of their time and resources on preventing shoplifting, not prosecuting shoplifters who have been caught. Deterrence makes better use of resources, and it consists of three main areas: educating employees, incorporating deterrence in store layout, and utilizing security guards and security technology. Employees should be trained to spot the following warning signals: customers carrying "concealment" devices or wearing "concealment clothing"; merchandise hidden on the lower rack of shopping carts; price labels that have been switched; and merchandise like toolboxes or garbage cans in which shoplifters hide stolen items. Store layout should include sufficient lighting in all areas of the store, alarms on unlocked exits, and end-displays that are low in height. In addition, entrances and exits should be in a common area, general displays should be orderly and neat, and small high-priced items should be kept behind the counter or in locked display cases watched by store personnel. Stores should use security devices such as convex wall mirrors, two-way mirrors, and CCTV, while also employing uniformed security guards and undercover detectives.

Click here for full story

- The Hackett Security Team

Security Sales & Integration Reports That Verified Response in Dallas Receives Mixed Response

The Dallas Police Department says the city’s verified response policy is successfully reducing the number of alarm dispatches and freeing up police resources, according to a local television news report.

Police say the number of alarms calls dropped from 49,355 in March 2005 to 30,576 in November 2006.

The North Texas Alarm Association (NTAA), however, insists those numbers by themselves do not accurately reflect the full impact of verified response on crime. According to CBS 11 News, Chris Russell of NTAA said 2006 saw a 3-percent increase in business burglaries. Under verified response, police respond to a Dallas business alarm only after the owner has confirmed the legitimacy of the alarm. The city, Russell said, had no right to advertise the success of verified response.

In the hope of eliminating the policy, next year the alarm industry will attempt to put verified response on the city ballot, CBS 11 News reports.

Click here for original story.

10 Tips To Make Your Home Safer - By MSN

We love the feeling we get coming home at night, closing the door, and shutting the outside world behind us. Our houses are our refuges, a place to feel protected and safe from life’s perils, right? Without trying to be a downer, we’re obligated to pass along that most accidents happen at home. But the good news is that many troubles can be prevented with a little proactivity. Check out our 10 basic safety tips that should have you sleeping just a little more soundly at night knowing that you’ve taken some simple steps to keep you and your family protected.

1) Check your Locks :
Even if you live in the safest neighborhood in town, you simply must have secure locks or latches on all doors. Get in the habit of keeping them locked. If you’re new to the house, consider changing out your locks as well as installing deadbolts.

2) Windows and Doors :
Make an assessment of your home’s windows and doors. Do any seem flimsy, old, or hollow? If so, you probably want to invest in a new one. If this isn’t within your budget, iron screens with locks are a good alternative for protecting the door. Likewise, check your windows. Do all of the locks work? Are panes missing or easily removed? If you have answered yes, consider upgrading or replacement immediately.

3) Keep it Lit :
Motion sensor lights are a superb method for repelling burglars, and with a price tag of $15-and-up, you really have no excuse not to install a few around your home. Plus, they are easily installed, and can be programmed to go on and off at a specific time or when they sense motion or heat. Because they are so handy, easy to mount and inexpensive, motion sensors are also great to put inside the house, such as in the garage or the laundry room.

4) Cause for Alarm :
Most homes these days come equipped with smoke detectors, but have you checked yours lately? It’s possible that the battery has run down or that the unit is not functioning as it should. Smoke detectors should be checked every month and batteries should be replaced every year. If you have lived in your home longer than ten years, replace all of your smoke detectors, as they have about a decade-long lifespan. Carbon monoxide detectors are rapidly growing in popularity as well, and are something every home should have. Unlike smoke, carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless basically undetectable without a device. If you don’t have a carbon monoxide detector on every floor, invest in a few, and remember to check them monthly as well. Also, consider a home-toxin testing kit. They can indicate the levels of radon, carbon monoxide, lead and radiation in your home.

5) Get your fireplace cleaned :
Everyone loves to huddle around a warm fire on a cold day, but if your chimney hasn’t been cleaned within the last year, you are living with a major fire hazard. Make an annual chimney inspection and cleaning a priority, scheduling it at a regular time every year, such as the week after Labor Day. (The colder the weather, the busier chimney cleaners will be). Also, remember to clean up ash regularly, burn chimney-cleaning logs once in a while and make sure your damper is in proper working order.

6) Take a hold of Mold :
Besides contributing to allergies and skin irritation, certain molds can lead to serious respiratory problems in children and adults. If you are seeing or smelling mold in your home, tackle it right away. Have an inspector come and determine the source of the mold, such as flooding, a leaky roof etc, and the amount of damage. Clean up and treatment of mold is dependent upon these factors, but don’t wait—mold will just continue to grow!

7) Peepholes :
It may seem unnecessary, but wait until you live without one! Peepholes are cheap and easy to install—all you need is a drill and a screwdriver. After you pick up a peephole at your local home improvement center, place it low enough so that all members of the family can use it. A peephole that is too high will not benefit the kids when they are home alone. Using a drill, bore a hole through both sides of the door per the manufacturer’s instructions. Insert the peephole and secure with a screwdriver.

8) Put the Fire Out :
A basic lifesaving tool overlooked by many is a fire extinguisher. Available at your home improvement store for about $15-and-up, fire extinguishers are a must-have for every home. Place one in the garage, one in the kitchen and a couple upstairs. Make sure all family members know where they are and how to operate them. Fire extinguishers should also be tested frequently and check with the manufacturer’s instructions on when they should be replaced or recharged.

9) Furnace Service :
If you live in a warm climate, you probably haven’t given your furnace much thought, but even the mildest winters call for an annual furnace inspection. While your furnace sits dormant all summer, dust and dirt can gather, releasing harmful particles into the air. It’s best to have a professional inspect your entire heating a cooling system for cracks and leaks, just to be on the safe side.

10) Get Kitted Out :
Finally, is your family prepared for an emergency? See that your family has first aid and emergency kits. If your area has frequent tornadoes, earthquakes, or hurricanes, it is especially important to get the tools you need to deal with such disasters. This includes enough water and food to survive for three days or more, a battery powered radio and flashlight, and stocked first aid kit. While you are at it, make sure your car has an emergency kit, too! Though the chances of your home being badly damaged by a natural disaster are rare, it never hurts to safe. Now that you are in the know, there is no excuse not to get into gear and make your home a safer place to live. Chances are, you probably are employing at least a few of these ideas, so you won’t have much work to do! The few hours it takes are well worth the peace of mind you will get in return.