Just in case consumers didn’t get enough high-tech home security products at the Consumer Electronics Show, ISC West has served up a second helping.

The International Security Conference & Exposition West wrapped up on Friday. While CES provides a showcase for personal gadgets, ISC West focused specifically on the security industry, such as alarm systems, surveillance cameras, and online protection technology. More than 1,000 exhibitors took part in the event, which will be followed by ISC East in October.

Familiar names among the exhibitors included Honeywell International, Bosch Security systems and Tyco Security Products — a division of Tyco International, the former parent company of ADT.

Riding the technology wave

The lineup of products and services reflected many of the cutting-edge trends driving the security business these days, responding to consumer enthusiasm for wireless engineering and remote access.

Here’s a look at some of the exhibits dealing with security systems for home and business:

• Smart homes: Samsung SNS looked to make a splash with Always On, Connected Home. The technology includes cloud-based user access and smart door locks that operate without keys.
• Master control: The Tyco/DSC PowerSeries Neo system introduces a wireless transceiver that can support as many as four keypads and 60 wireless zones.
• Sound the alarm: Residential and commercial security customers got a look at Visonic’s PowerMaster wireless intrusion alarm system, featuring two-way communication and a self-contained diagnostic tool.
• Screen star: Newcomer Qolsys Inc. made its debut by unveiling a touchscreen that incorporates home security, energy management and home automation. The features include how-to troubleshooting videos that users can watch on the 7-inch LCD screen and a built-in video camera.
• See more and do more: Honeywell has expanded its wireless systems with new capabilities such as severe weather alerts and a function that can close garage doors when they’re accidentally left open.

Focused on the future

This year, more than 170 new companies took part in the ISC event. It seems particularly fitting, since security companies — and security consumers — have one eye on today and another on tomorrow.

Some criminals display such a monumental lack of competence that they’d have trouble outfoxing the Keystone Kops with Barney Fife as lead investigator.

In the class of Dumb Crooks, we find the sub-category of Dumb Crooks who specialize in burglary. Tales of their illegal antics could fill 100 police blotters — failure to gain entry, failure to make a clean getaway, failure in general.

By the time you hear about them, they’ve already lost.

Here are two recent dispatches from the world of Bumbling Burglars.

A not-so-triumphant return

COLUMBUS, Ohio: — In March, a Columbus resident discovered that someone had broken into his home while he was away for the weekend. The perpetrators smashed a window and took gaming systems and other expensive electronics.

The homeowner, David Ayers, noticed that some of his video games had been left untouched and got a feeling that the burglars might come back to finish the job.

The day after Ayers discovered the break-in, a suspicious person started knocking on his door. Ayers, certain that his premonition was about to come true, called 911. Then someone smashed a window — the same window broken during the first burglary.

This time, however, Ayers was there to defend his home.

When two 15-year-olds entered the house, Ayers chased them out and into the yard. Police responding to the 911 call arrested one suspect at the scene, and officers caught up with the second teen later.

“Never return to the scene. That’s dumb,” Ayers said. “But I’m glad they did. And I got them. I’m satisfied.”

I owe, I owe, it’s off to jail I go

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Florida: If you see someone pushing a wheelbarrow down the street with an air conditioner inside it at 6 a.m., you can bet that person has a story to tell. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office certainly thought so.

In March, a neighbor saw 18-year-old Kimani Parker and a friend trundling along with the air conditioner. When deputies caught up with Parker later that morning, he was empty-handed and described as “very nervous.”

Parker initially claimed that he had permission to take the air conditioner but soon admitted that he and his accomplice had stolen the unit and hidden it in the woods. Parker’s plan was to sell the air conditioner to a scrap yard because he needed money — he owed a local Walmart $200 in restitution for shoplifting.

In addition to the restitution debt, Parker now faces charges of burglary, grand theft and criminal mischief.

Don’t count on incompetence

If every burglar had the same skill set as the criminal masterminds described here, the demand for home security systems would almost certainly decline.

Unfortunately, you can’t count on all burglars to be bumblers. To learn more about safeguarding your family and property with professional alarm monitoring, get in touch with a home security provider today.

It’s the time of year when our minds turn to things like renewal, rejuvenation and the end of another grueling winter. If we get too wrapped up in those pleasant topics, however, we could find ourselves trying to think pleasant thoughts in the emergency room.

In 2008, a branch of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that analyzes hospital statistics concluded that more ER visits took place during the spring months than any other season besides summer.

Every year, thousands of people get injured taking part in springtime activities that are supposed to be enjoyable — tending to their lawns, having cookouts, etc. By following a few safety guidelines, you can reduce your risk of falling victim.

Keep the grass greener — and safer

It’s always a good idea to brush up on the owner’s manual for your lawnmower before starting another season of yard work.

Safety advocates also recommend:

• Using ear plugs to guard against hearing damage
• Wearing long pants and non-slip shoes to protect your legs and feet
• Clearing away limbs, rocks and other debris that could get caught in the mower blades

Run through the grill drill

One thing to remember about metal and rubber is that they can deteriorate even when they’re not in use. With that knowledge in mind, don’t forget to give your grill the once-over before you fire it up this spring.

If you have a gas grill, check the condition of the hoses and connections. You can check for leaks by applying soapy water, turning on the gas and looking for bubbles.

Cleaning with caution

Many household cleaning products use harsh chemicals. Try baking soda instead of scouring powder and a vinegar/water solution instead of ammonia-based window cleaner.

Also, take advantage of spring cleaning season to inventory your medicine cabinets. Throw away old or unused prescription drugs.

Resist the rays

The CDC recommends wearing sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher in sunny weather, plus a hat and sunglasses.

Experts also advise you to watch out for dehydration and heat exhaustion in warmer weather, especially among the kids and seniors in your family.

Year-round safety: Make your home a safer place during every season — familiarize yourself with a few home security tips.

When you think of celebrities and home security, the images that come to mind probably include night-vision surveillance cameras and menacing (but fashionably attired) bodyguards.

On the other hand, consider the case of British singer Joss Stone and the two men accused of targeting her in a plot involving burglary and murder. It appears that the only things standing between Stone and the alleged assailants were a couple of gates — and some dogs.

Stone locks her doors … now

In mid-march, the 25-year-old Stone testified at the trial of Kevin Liverpool and Junior Bradshaw. Authorities claim the men hatched a plot to murder the singer two years ago and were arrested with knives, hammers and a samurai sword in their car.

Other evidence against Liverpool and Bradshaw includes a crossbow found at their home and handwritten notes referring to Stone and Queen Elizabeth as “she-devils.”

During her testimony, Stone described her security arrangements this way: “At the time I had a gate. To get in, they (visitors) would just open the gate, drive in with their car, get up to another (wooden) gate, shut the gate hopefully so the dogs don’t get out, then say hello.”

Stone also told the jury that even though the house had a burglar alarm, she rarely turned it on. She added, “I didn’t really have a lock on my door … But I do now.”

Security isn’t just for stars

The rich and famous have to worry about trespassing paparazzi and overenthusiastic fans, in addition to the potential security threats that every homeowner faces. It’s possible that Stone’s previously laid-back mindset arose from a desire to be a free spirit. (For instance, she prefers to perform barefoot.)

However, many people — both the famous and the anonymous — have chosen not to wait for a bad experience before they improve their home security.

You don’t have to be a star to feel better protected against hazards like burglary, fire and carbon monoxide. You just have to take a proactive stance, which starts with contacting a home security provider.

Police in Alameda, Calif., recently arrested a man suspected of stealing a UPS package from a local resident’s doorstep. Did the authorities crack the case based on an anonymous tip or an eyewitness?

The answer is yes, in a manner of speaking.

Police identified the suspect with the help of a nameless onlooker — one of the victim’s security cameras.

“Without the homeowner having had the video surveillance equipment, the suspect more than likely would’ve gotten away with this,” said Alameda Police Department Lt. Ted Horlbeck.

It seems like hardly a day goes by without another report of surveillance camera footage aiding the authorities in arrests and prosecutions. Despite their apparent usefulness, though, the decision of whether to buy security camera systems is one that homeowners should consider carefully.

A tool for police and prosecutors

An article on popularmechanics.com estimates the number of surveillance cameras in the United States at 30 million, although the breakdown between private cameras and government-owned cameras isn’t clear.

Regardless of number or ownership, however, these devices can come in handy for law enforcement purposes.

Police frequently share security camera footage with media outlets to ask for help in identifying suspects. Prosecutors can use this footage in criminal trials, as long as it meets standards of authenticity and relevance.

The theft of the UPS package in Alameda represents just one example of investigators using security camera footage. Others include everything from serious crimes (the murder of a pediatrician in Philadelphia) to minor offenses (cars being egged in a suburban Texas neighborhood).

Are security cameras right for you?

Before investing in a home security camera, think about the following considerations:

• Cost: Even though advances in technology have made home security more affordable, you’ll pay more for a surveillance camera system than a regular alarm monitoring package.
• Number and placement: Decide how many cameras you want and which areas of your property you want them to monitor (entrances, living areas, etc.)
• Wired vs. wireless: Wireless home security cameras usually cost more than hard-wired cameras, but they are easier to install and more resistant to tampering.

And in case you’re wondering about using a fake surveillance camera, remember that an experienced burglar could be able to tell a dummy camera from the real thing with little trouble.

Review your options and choose wisely

The debate over security cameras’ effectiveness as a crime deterrent remains far from settled. Your task as a homeowner is to review as much of the available evidence as possible and make an informed decision.

If you choose to let the cameras start rolling, contact a trusted home security provider.

This installment of Bumbling Burglar News takes us overseas, proving that all cultures have at least one thing in common. No matter which corner of the globe you travel to, the phrase “criminal mastermind” is sometimes a contradiction in terms.

Snooze Hand Luke

COVENTRY, England: A young burglar from the United Kingdom would rather go to prison than face morning meetings with a probation officer. Who knew incarceration was so conducive to sleep?

Kierran Batchelor, 21, received a 40-week suspended sentence and probation for burglarizing two homes last spring. However, it wasn’t long before Batchelor stopped showing up for his 10 a.m. probation meetings.

When summoned back to court to explain his absences, Batchelor said that working a 10 p.m.-6 a.m. shift at his warehouse job made it difficult to attend meetings with his probation officer. In fact, the mid-morning appointments had “wrecked” his sleep patterns.

The Daily Mail Online quoted Batchelor as saying: “I’d rather go to jail and get it out the way, come out and get a fresh start, and not have to do probation and things like that.”

The judge obliged, activating Batchelor’s suspended sentence and sending him to prison. Batchelor responded by thanking him as he was led out of the courtroom.

Caught red-handed

INNSBRUCK, Austria: If you’re a criminal, cutting yourself on the window you just smashed is bad luck. Responding to this setback by calling the police is just bad judgment.

Authorities in Austria say a 41-year-old man used an icepick to break the window of a jewelry store and cut his hand reaching inside to help himself to some of the merchandise. Then, for reasons unknown, the would-be burglar called the police to report the theft.

When officers arrived, the man told them he had seen two men running in the opposite direction. As he offered these details, the police couldn’t help but notice his bleeding hand. (There was also the matter of the stolen jewelry in his pocket, and the witnesses who had seen him smash the window.)

He was, of course, arrested.

On a serious note

Even though stories like these are pretty amusing, don’t lose sight of the fact that home security is no laughing matter.

The most practical and effective way to reduce your home’s vulnerability to break-ins is by installing a home security system. You’ll be better protected against burglars, bumbling or otherwise.

The answer lies in a shared trait – they’re made of metal and they can be resold for quick cash.

The theft of scrap metal has become a serious concern for businesses, police and government officials in places all over the world. (The bridge heist took place in Russia, where a man reportedly dragged the structure down with a truck and later sold the chopped-up metal to a scrap dealer. The slides were taken from a playground in Japan.)

Unfortunately, you can add another category of potential targets for scrap metal thieves. That category is homes, where metals including copper, aluminum and the copper/zinc alloy brass can be found in significant quantities.

Hundreds of pounds per house

Although the majority of scrap metal thefts involve businesses, homes aren’t immune.

According to the Northwest Mining Association, the average home has about 400 pounds of copper. If that number seems surprising, remember that copper is found in microwave ovens, dishwashers and entertainment components, as well as in electric wiring and coaxial cables.

When you add things like aluminum gutters and brass doorknobs, the metal content of a typical household continues to grow. Scrap metal thieves have even been known to target bicycles and air conditioners.

The homes don’t have to be occupied either. Quite a few homes left vacant in the wake of the housing crisis have been stripped of wiring, plumbing fixtures and other metal items.

How to increase your protection

Law enforcement officials have plenty of useful advice for protecting against scrap metal theft, and some of it overlaps with basic home security strategy.

• Buy a home security system, possibly even a system with outdoor surveillance cameras. Law enforcement research of crime statistics has found that homes equipped with security systems are three times less likely to be burglarized
• If you’re renovating or building a home, insist that the contractor use copper-clad wire for any electrical work. This steel wire with an exterior layer of copper conducts electricity well, and it’s much more difficult to cut and sell for scrap.
• Keep trees and hedges near your home neatly trimmed. You’ll provide fewer shadows for criminals to hide in.

Focus on what you can control

Experts have identified several factors that contribute to scrap metal theft, such as increasing demand and loosely regulated markets. These conditions may lie beyond your control, but you can still minimize your home’s vulnerability to this crime by taking a few precautionary measures.

For one thing, how about buying home security systems that invite comparisons with James Bond movies?

Like entertainment, security is big business. The market research firm Global Industry Analysts estimates worldwide revenues from security system monitoring at about $40 billion a year.

It would appear that a sizable chunk of those profits comes from the rich and famous.

Million-dollar budgets

A typical homeowner will be quite satisfied with an effective but affordable security system that provides added protection against burglary and other threats. For celebrities, the stakes — and the costs — are higher.

Here’s a look inside the strategies of some security-minded celebrities:

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie

After buying a home in the south of France, the Hollywood couple known as “Brangelina” reportedly took notice of a disturbing trend — Russian and Italian gangsters targeting the homes of wealthy foreigners in that area. Pitt and Jolie responded by hiring former British SAS operatives as bodyguards and purchasing an advanced security system worth several million dollars. The system’s features are said to include fingerprint-recognition devices to monitor and control access between different parts of the house.

Britney Spears

In 2008, the pop singer and talent show judge spent nearly half a million dollars on security measures. As the manager of her estate, Spears’ father filed information with the Los Angeles Superior Court listing the total at $447,633 over the course of 11 months.

50 Cent

The rapper has said that he spends $20,000 a week on surveillance cameras and other security measures for his mansion in Farmington, Connecticut. Over a year’s time, that amount translates to more than $1 million.

The celebrity protection industry

The homes of celebrities can be tempting targets for ambitious burglars. In some cases, the celebrities themselves and their loved ones can also be targets for kidnappers.

To help household names protect their households, some enterprising business people have started security firms catering exclusively to celebrities. The services they provide include alarm systems, bodyguards, video surveillance, computer security and much more.

You don’t have to be a star to receive VIP security treatment, either. Sometimes all it takes is a big job and a big salary. Software giant Oracle reportedly spends nearly $2 million a year on security for CEO and company co-founder Larry Ellison.

Don’t worry, though —there are still plenty of security providers that will happily continue to serve the needs of everyday people with everyday budgets. When it comes to home security, you don’t need a high profile to enjoy high quality.

Years ago, the average person’s idea of a home security system probably involved nothing more sophisticated than a sturdy deadbolt and a large dog.

How times have changed.

Today, home security is a billion-dollar industry in which technology sets the pace. Some of the most attention-grabbing exhibits at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show featured high-tech home security products and services.

The popularity of smartphones and the rapidly advancing field of wireless communication have created ripples that reach just about everywhere, including home security.

Noticed by the gadget authority

A recent post on gizmodo.com — the site that identifies itself as “the go-to authority for gadget news and digital culture” — focused on high-tech home security.

The post profiled a list of products that combine home security with home automation:

• ADT Pulse — This feature from ADT, the nation’s largest home security provider, offer remote web and phone access to a homeowner’s ADT alarm system and also allows control of light timers, thermostat and more.
• Iris Safe & Secure Kit — Lowe’s Home Improvement offers a do-it-yourself approach to home security that sends alarm notifications to your smartphone, tablet or computer.
• Schlage Nexia Home Intelligence — The highlights of this home security kit include a six-cylinder deadbolt lock and a light timer, plus smartphone and BlackBerry connectivity.

A broadband-security connection

Results of a recent survey also highlighted technology’s influence on home security.

The research firm Strategy Analytics has determined that 50 percent of consumers with a home broadband connection would be willing to pay for professional security and monitoring services.

Bill Ablondi, director of Smart Home Strategies, offered an explanation: “We believe that growing smartphone and tablet use is accelerating consumers’ desire to be connected to everyone and everything important in their lives, including their family and homes.”

To enhance, not replace

Despite the usefulness of high-tech innovations, technology isn’t necessarily a substitute for common-sense home security measures.

As gizmodo.com blogger Andrew Tarantola pointed out: “With home security, it’s tempting to want to rely on technology for this kind of peace of mind. Our take—and we invite experts in home security to weigh in—is that these feature-filled gadgets probably won’t hurt, and they can even help. But they’re only useful as a way to enhance (and not replace) traditional home security practices.”

Now that the “Bling Ring” saga has left the courtroom, the next stop is a theater near you.

In mid-December, the last defendant in the case pleaded no contest to felony possession of stolen goods. People who followed the story’s twists and turns can now look forward to the film inspired by these real-life events, which will arrive on the silver screen sometime this year. The big names involved in the project include director Sofia Coppola and actress Emma Watson from the “Harry Potter” films.

But before you pay $8 for a ticket (or less to watch later at home), think about the lessons you might learn from the entertainment world’s most infamous larceny case.

Whether it’s a modest suburban home or a sprawling Hollywood mansion, any residence could be vulnerable to break-ins and other security threats.

Lesson 1: Lock Your Doors

The Bling Ring case involved a group of people in their teens and 20s who burglarized the homes of actors and Hollywood personalities. In some of the celebrity break-ins, Bling Ring intruders entered easily through unlocked doors. (According to media reports, the careless-with-their-keys victims included hotel heiress Paris Hilton and reality TV star Audrina Patridge.)

Securely locked doors represent an essential element of home security. To a burglar, an open door or window could mean an open invitation.

Lesson 2: Arm Your Security System

It’s safe to assume that at least some of the burglarized homes featured sophisticated alarms. However, several of the celebrity victims told the authorities that they couldn’t recall whether they had activated their security systems on the days the Bling Ring struck.

Unless it’s armed and operating, even the most expensive alarm system is worth less than a $3 “Beware of Dog” sign. If you have a security system, be sure to activate it.

Lesson 3: Don’t Share Too Much on Social Media

The police investigation revealed that Bling Ring members monitored Facebook and Twitter to determine when some of their victims would be away from their homes.

Granted, the average homeowner doesn’t tweet about attending red carpet premieres. However, police advise against announcing vacation plans or business trips through social media, because you never know who might see the information you post online — or what they might do with it.

Experience is a painful way to learn

Before their crime spree began to unravel, members of the Bling Ring stole millions of dollars in designer clothes, jewelry and other items. The people they targeted also paid a price in regret and anxiety.

Still, having the bubble of wealth and privilege punctured in this way proved to be educational for some of the victims.

“We have always sort of lived a very, I guess, trusting lifestyle and we just didn’t set the alarm,” actress Rachel Bilson said when she testified to a grand jury in the summer of 2010. “I now do, every time I leave the house. Even if it’s for 20 minutes.”