Target Women: Broadview Security

Dear Women,

You are never safe. Seriously. We mean it.

Hugs n' kisses,

Broadview Security

You can check out a new "Target Women" segment every Thursday on "infoMania" at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Current TV and Current.com.

 

Follow Sarah Haskins on Twitter: www.twitter.com/sarah_haskins

Comments

[ChumpChicken]

I find it funny that in these ads the home invader runs when the alarm goes off. Like that actually happens in real life. Any seasoned burglar knows that most alarms that go off are false alarms, which is why it takes the police far longer to respond to those calls versus most other calls they receive. And here is another tip....if you have a pet (dog, cat) then the home invader knows that chances are you won't have the motion detectors activated.

These commercials are solely based on fear.

[Silas Barnaby]

I find it absurd that all the criminals in these adds are White men when all the actual home invaders in the newspapers are certainly not White men.

I wonder what Sarah Haskins thinks of this.

[WebCommoner]

Seriously? That's what you find absurd about the ads?

[CessnaDriver]

Is that because the home invaders in real life are white men with neck tatoos?

[XRaraavis]

It is not politically correct to make reference to the racial breakdown of real crime statistics, especially on this site.

These ads must take place in the same world were Law and Order takes place, where every killer is a rich White guy.

[AnonymousDissenter]

I'm a woman, I live in a high crime area and I spend a lot of time at home alone at night. When I first moved here I was broken into twice. It was teenagers: a guy and a girl couple. So I got an alarm and a dog, but that wasn't really enough because I kept getting "tested" and that was starting to wrack my nerves. So, I got to know my neighbors and started doing community service. Now all the kids know me real well and 1) they tell the thugs not to mess with me or my car, and 2) if something does happen, they return my property to me with an apology for the "mistake". I can't speak to the phantom menace of men lurking around every corner, but the breakins I've had were just young people doing stupid things for money and street cred, and just getting to know the young people put a stop to all that.

[kareemachan]

Excellent! Just common sense and you're probably helping these young people in the long run as well. Would that more people could/would do this.

[XRaraavis]

I am sure all your good work and what an asset you were to your community will be in your obituary. It only takes one crazy even if 95% of the others are really good kids.

My suggestion is to move or buy a gun.

[dadw5boys]

Got Fear ?

[DaDT68]

One thing to keep in mind is that the home security system is a fully subsidized drain on local police departments. According to David Cay Johnston's book , "Free Lunch: How the Wealthiest Americans Enrich Themselves at Government Expense (and StickYou with the Bill)" calls to private security customer alarms are taking up large amount of local police calls and the false alarm rate is 3 out of 4 calls. So if you live in a high (and getting higher) crime rate neighborhood, just think of all the policing that your local police could be doing instead of wasting time providing a taxpayer funded service free of charge to a private corporation. Thanks, broadview security.

[Silas Barnaby]

Your absolutely right. A friend of mine is a Police Officer in a wealthy Nassau County, Long Island community and he spend most of his shift responding to false alarms.

[rainbowrecruiter]

not always....one false alarm cost 150 bucks in Los Angeles

[PeanutButterJellyGirl]

I think the commercials are silly. That being said, I work for 911 and home invasions aren't all that rare. I have taken fewer rape calls than home invasion calls.

[Gover]

You seriously get rape calls?

Like...

You: 911 please state your emergency

Caller: Help! I'm being raped!

You've seriously gotten that call before?

[PeanutButterJellyGirl]

generally past tense ... but we get the calls someone is breaking in ... or there is someone in the house and I'm in the closet.

[chaserblue]

2 words. Fila Brasileiro. 'Nuff said.

[Madbunny]

Three more words: Homeowners Insurance Exemptions.

[looking4wrd]

OK I agree the commercials are ridiculous. But, I have Broadview and I am a single woman living in a high (and getting higher) crime area. I was broken into twice before I got the alarm system. The way mine works is: Door is opened, alarm goes off, code is not entered, Broadview calls, if no answer, they call # 2 contact, if no answer, they send the police. If you are unable to give the correct password they send the police. Where I live, they do not send "security" people. The purpose of the alarm is to scare the intruder off, not prevent intrusion. The intruders are very smart asses, they know if the windows are alarmed as well as the door, They can also research alarm systems and find out how to disable them--like cutting the phone wire at the box, etc. I think the best protection is a good dog. :-) Haven't had a problem since I got her.

[Gover]

Over the course of a dog's life, it's undoubtedly going to cost more and destroy more of your property than you'd lose simply letting people rob you.

[XRaraavis]

True but dogs rarely rape and kill their owners

[Egghead]

Actually, I have one, but I have it so that if someone busts in while I'm at work, the cops will come, and also I have it wired up for fire. The fire alarm is waaay better than the crap alarms that were installed when I bought the place. I'm not particularly afraid of being "attacked."

Incidentally, the cops DO come. I made the mistake of strolling out into the garden while the alarm was activated. I was happily sniffing the roses and didn't realize the phone was ringing. If you DON'T answer it, they assume the worst and the cops are rolling up the drive to find out what's wrong about 9.9 seconds later.

So, whoops, it wasn't all THAT helpful, but the service itself works exactly the way it says it does. It's the ATTACKS that are bullpuckey.

[smchp]

It's the Republican way. All fear....all the time!

[BostonB]

Thats a silly thing to say... isn't it the liberal Judges that let all the bad guys out?

[rini]

no

It's corrupt Judges. It's also corrupt Judges that don't let defendants get a fair trial. Reasonable people know that dangerous criminals need to be locked up but everyone deserves a fair trial. That's not left or right.

[PATina]

Wow... hahahahaha­hahahahaha­ha... even a comedic thread about home security becomes partisan. Is nothing sacred ?????

[legalgirl]

Thanks for the all the fun facts on guns & ammo, but if you've never had to intentionally shoot another human being, you might find it a rather difficult thing to do, after all. And I'm not talking about the hood, law enforcement or the battlefield, either. On the other hand, these ads are just silly. Oh, yes, let me stop to answer the phone during a break-in. Right.

[Egghead]

Yes, actually, that's weird. They send emergency personnel if you DON'T answer the phone.

Word on the guns and ammo stuff. This is why I don't want my students bristling with "concealed carry" weapons in my classroom. Listen, dingbats, if a nut crashes in and wants to shoot up the class, you will be dead. I don't want to get caught in your crossfire.

[XRaraavis]

If a nut crash in with a gun I would rather take my chances in a crossfire than be executed by the psycho.

[Ryoki]

Commercial bad.

[helenwiells]

Those commercials are not only disgusting, they are totally laughable...most break-ins happen when the person is NOT at home. Let's face it...if somebody SEES you go in the house (and waits for you to lock the door and set your alarm) they are 1)after YOU specifically, so an alarm isn't gonna stop them and 2) idiots for waiting. I had an alarm system for years (and paid about $22.00/month), but finally canceled it when the Oakland, CA police department started charging $25.00/year for all people with alarm systems AND told us that they would NOT respond anyway...that we would have to call 911 like anyone else. HUH? Soon after (I suspect a lot of cities did something like this) Brinks sold the company to Broadview Security...good luck, Broadview.

[SpaghettyIrish]

There is a book by David Cay Johns(t?)on with a chapter about home security, about how the vast majority(somewhere over 90%, IIRC) of alarms are false or bogus and how the alarms chew up public safety dollars for no real benefit. Oakland's got the right idea.

[satyriasis]

I was born In Oakland, California. Were you by any chance the doctor/nurse that helped deliver me? :)

[limber]

I love how all the women in the ads run about ten feet to a phone, then STAND THERE. Because obviously the guy's been scared off by noise! Obviously!

Also, well known fact: like Daleks, midday attackers can't climb stairs. That's why you're safe if you can just get to the landing on the first floor.

[brady61995]

i have been knocking those commercials for months. starting next year the new law will require that commercials not be louder then the show that is on. the volume spikes and there is terror in thier eyes, they might as well have bin laden jumping through the screen door.