Residents in Sussex and Surrey have been urged by police to keep their homes secure this summer. As a result, people in the area and around the world have been taking to smart home security devices to add additional layers of security to their homes and put criminals off in the process.

 

These smart home products have been on the rise in recent times as innovation continues to grip society and big brands aim to tap into the market, much like Amazon, which holds the biggest market share in smart devices. According to Investopedia, there are an estimated 175 million smart homes in the world, with 86% of millennials saying they would pay more for a connected home. It’s certainly a growing market that can help fight crime along the way.

 

These types of devices are generally easy to use and fairly straightforward to setup also. They can be controlled remotely by the homeowner using the same smartphones we use to take high-quality images, access recipe apps, conduct online banking enquiries, and play games like the Reactoonz slot at casino.com. The same devices can also be connected to other smart products in the house, which add to the all-around convenience when it comes to making sure you have the ideal arrangement for your home. The setting up process is smooth, and anyone can grasp them.

 

America is still the biggest market when it comes to smart home tech, but Europe is catching up, with 22.5 million smart homes in Europe by the end of 2017, according to CITyFiED. By 2022, though, the market is expected to hit 84 million, with the UK public being one of the leading buyers of smart home security devices.

 

Plenty of options

 

The products on offer in this space can be purchased at most major retail outlets and online. The variety of devices available to buy is quite remarkable, too. There are options such as Panasonic’s KX-HN6012EW Home Monitoring & Control Kit, which monitor your baby while they sleep at night on top of offering the security functionalities that people are after. It comes with a two-way speaker, preloaded lullabies, and a range of useful surveillance tools which help make sure a little one is safe at night.

 

Then there are devices like the Yale Smart Living Home Alarm Kit, which has won numerous awards for its excellent security service. Regarded by many as being the best DIY home security system, this wireless and app-controlled invention feature a smart hub, 94dB siren, dummy siren box, PIR motion detector, a PIR image camera that captures images and sends them straight to your phone, door and window contact, and a keypad which offers all the fixings that are needed. You don’t have any wires, you don’t need batteries, and burglars can’t stand the Yale brand.

 

(Image via https://twitter.com/SecurityKit)

 

On top of this, there are devices like the Samsung SmartThings kit, which look out for any floods or leaks in your home which can potentially lead to an emergency. Thanks to its clever moisture sensor, this nifty smart gadget will ensure nothing is overflowing or leaking in your house.

 

Affordable security

 

Thanks to the comprehensive selection of products to choose from in this space, the cost of them is becoming more affordable in the process. In fact, for as little as £190, people can purchase a basic kit although that doesn’t necessarily mean it will cover your whole house. The motion detectors and security cameras many people opt for are still affordable and provide decent security for all properties. The bigger your house, the more you’ll need though.

Gestures of goodwill are one of the very few positives that have come from the recent Coronavirus lockdown and one Mecca Bingo hall did their bit for their local community over the weekend.

 

Chesterfield Mecca Bingo were one of the latest entities to give back and make good of a bad situation over the weekend, as they opened their kitchens to provide a food service.

 

The initiative saw food donated by the Mecca Bingo food supplier Bitfood, which will then see staff work to produce more than 1,000 free meals from the ingredients that will then be delivered by a local taxi company.

 

The recipients of the free meals are Applewood Homeless Shelter, which is based in Chesterfield, and Chesterfield Royal Hospital, helping to support both NHS workers and those who are currently staying there.

 

General manager of the bingo hall, Martin Webster, said: “We are proud to be able to provide our help and support to the community by offering up our club as a place to prepare and cook meals for those in need during this difficult time.

 

“Our employees are wonderful and they have shown this by coming together and giving up their time to help support important causes. It’s great to see such a strong sense of community.”

 

Toby Perkins, Chesterfield MP, added: “Many thanks for taking such an active role during this crisis and doing what you can to help the most vulnerable. I am so pleased by the reaction from local businesses who have stepped up to ensure people have the support they need.”

BetVictor will no longer be the main sponsor of the Isthmian League and Southern League after the bookmaker made the decision to end their agreement with the football divisions at the end of the 2019/20 season.

Both the Isthmian League and Southern League were included in the FA’s decision to declare all league seasons beneath the National League were null and void with no promotion or relegation taking place either.

BetVictor chose to end their agreement months before the original deal was meant to expire on July 9 and had been the Isthmian league’s main sponsor since Ryman ended their 20-year partnership in 2017.

The bookmaker insists that the decision was not taken as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, with a letter being sent out to all member clubs at why the sponsorship had been pulled.

The letter read: “BetVictor have terminated the sponsorship for a number of reasons but mainly due to the fact that the increasing compliance restrictions and challenges faced in their first seven months outweighed the benefits they were drawing from the sponsorship.

“However, the escalating negativity towards betting in football did not help, nor did – most disappointingly – compliance breaches by clubs in and outside of the Isthmian League.

“Although the search for a new sponsor has begun, the Covid-19 crisis makes it very difficult to engage meaningfully with potential replacements.

“So, as of now, the leagues operating at step three and four have no main sponsor for season 2020/21.”

It is yet another tough pill to swallow for non-league football in England, where there are already serious fears about the futures of clubs that will be missing out on vital matchday revenues for the foreseeable future.

Over 100 teams have written to the FA asking them to reconsider their decision to declare all non-league seasons null and void but they are not expected to reverse that decision.

Isthmian League chairman Nick Robinson added: “We are very disappointed that this decision was made as it means that we are not able to develop the relationship with the sponsor.

“We are actively looking for a new sponsor, but are apprehensive at this time due to the general economic downturn due to Covid-19.

“We believe we have a good and marketable product which has attracted sponsors for nearly 40 years and we hope will continue to do so once we are able to restart the league.”

You can get a great bonus code with BetVictor to play safe at home.