Think your home is safe? The Security Sensei wants a word

ATLANTA - When it comes to break-ins or home invasions, no one thinks it’s going to happen to them – until it does. That’s the mindset Jordan Frankel hopes to change with “Ask the Security Sensei,” a new podcast created to help homeowners and businesses understand real-world security risks and learn which products and strategies actually deliver results.

“Most people don't take anything seriously, security-wise, until it's too late and something happens to them or a neighbor,” said Frankel, a longtime security expert who founded ShatterGARD in 1995. “And at that point, it's too late and somebody could either be hurt or valuable items are stolen.”

Testing security products in the real world

Part product-testing and part crime-prevention master class, the podcast will bring together law enforcement officers, security professionals and even former home invaders to put security products to the test and explore the tactics criminals use, says Frankel.

“There’s just a ton of products out there that are being sold that only offer peace of mind to the consumer, but don’t really offer any protection,” he said. “We’re going to talk about various products, test the products and have law enforcement test them with former home invaders and criminals. Then we’ll dissect the products and what works and what doesn’t work.”

“Ask the Security Sensei” will kick off with six to eight approximately hour-long episodes. The episodes will be broken into two parts with separate “pull-out” segments on subjects discussed in the podcast to make listening more convenient for users, says Frankel.

Lessons from the front lines

First up on the podcast is a former National Security Agency agent, he says.

“It's almost the highest of security,” he said. “I interview him on the podcast about everything from acts of terrorism and how to prevent them and what products to use to protect a building in case, God forbid, there is a bomb blast, and we talk about security in general.”

Big protection, small budget

One of the biggest myths Frankel hopes to dispel is the idea that effective security is expensive. Frankel has advised consumers ranging from those on very low budgets to celebrities outfitting safe rooms with steel and bullet-resistant materials.

“You don't have to spend a lot of money to have proper and ample security in your house,” he said. “That's the biggest misnomer. There are alarm systems that are very elaborate, but it's not about how much you spend. It's about spending the money properly on the proper products – that's really what it comes down to.  And that's my philosophy.” 

Photo courtesy of Ask the Security Sensei