NEWSLETTERS Receive the latest local updates in your inboxAn industrial air conditioner being hoisted by a crane to the top of a midtown building Sunday plummeted nearly 30 stories after a cable snapped, and 10 people were injured by falling debris, authorities said.The AC unit sheared the side of the building on Madison Avenue between East 38th and East 39th Street before landing on the street below at around 10:45 a.m., according to police.Bruce Jenner Makes Public Debut as Caitlyn JennerTwo construction workers and eight pedestrians suffered minor injuries from falling debris, officials said. They were treated at local hospitals."It was like a train car fell off the side of the building," said Meredith Kelly, a tourist from Atlanta who was walking nearby at the time of the accident.De Blasio: "Thank God... Not Too Many People Around"Mayor de Blasio said the city would undertake a full investigation to determine exactly what caused the accident."Thank God this incident occurred at an hour of the day on a weekend when there weren't too many people around," the mayor said.

Muslim Woman Denied Soda on Plane Claims DiscriminationBuildings Department Commissioner Rick Chandler said it was typical for work to be done on weekends when equipment, such as a crane, is being used. He said all the needed permits for the work involving the crane were "in place," and there had been no official complaints about the crane. "We think this device, in this preliminary stage, is in good state and we'll follow up with that," Chandler said.Lion Kills U.S. Woman at South Africa Park Streets in the vicinity were closed to traffic and city buses were being detoured from routes in the area.You might not be aware of how simple it can be for a burglar to break into your home. Some are obvious, but there are also several surprisingly easy entry points burglars can use to gain entrance. Below are six entry points you should check in your home to make sure they’re secure: 1. Doors: As the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) states, burglars often gain entry through unsecured doors, using screwdrivers or crowbars to break through.

Also, some doors, like interior and exterior garage doors, might be unlocked, making it all too easy for burglars to get in. Doors in general can be kicked open, so you might also consider installing kick-resistant doors. Last but not least, remember to lock your doors, and keep in mind that knob locks are easily opened using credit cards, so you should have deadbolt locks.air conditioning units for condos 2. Sliding doors: COPS states that along with unsecured standard doors, unsecured sliding doors are ways thieves gain access to a home. small wall mounted air conditioning unitHeavy rods in sliding glass door tracks prevent these types of doors from opening. wall ac units with heatYou can also have a professional install mechanisms to prevent tampering, as well as screws to keep frames and doors securely in place.

3. Windows: Windows can easily be broken by burglars with rocks or other heavy objects. Some windows, such as basement windows, are often left unlocked, making it even easier for burglars to break in. Make sure to lock your windows, and try to keep your yard free of heavy rocks and bricks. You can also install break-resistant glass or mechanisms to decrease gaps between the window and its track. 4. Large shrubbery: The large, ornamental shrubbery you might have in front of your home could be a place for burglars to hide. The recommended height for shrubbery is no higher than the bottom of your first-floor window sills. You don’t want to inadvertently provide cover for burglars. 5. Dog Doors: According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI), dog doors can be used by burglars to either enter homes or to access to the door lock. NACHI advises not to have a dog door, but if you must have one, it should be as small as possible and installed far enough from the door’s lock.

Consider installing an electric dog door, which only opens when the pet’s collar (equipped with a signaling device) comes near the door. Not only does the door keep burglars out, but it also keeps stray animals out. 6. AC Units: According to the San Francisco Chronicle, window air conditioner units could lead to a burglar entering your home due to the window being open and unsecured. In order to deter burglars, install an air conditioner bracket to the outside of the unit, which supports the unit and attaches the bottom of the unit to the home. This makes the unit harder to remove. A sliding window lock should also be placed on each side of the window frame, which keeps burglars from sliding the window open. Finally, consider installing a window sensor alarm that will help alert you if someone is trying to use the window as an entry point. Take a walk around your home and think about the ways that a burglar might try to get in. Make sure to consider every opening to your home as a potential target for burglars.

Does your home have other unsecured entry points that aren’t on this list?Door Sensor Secrets: What They Are, How They Work & 6 Unexpected Uses Entrances and exits are your home's weakest points—and to a burglar, an unsecured door or window is like a big "WELCOME" sign. That's why door sensors—also known as "entry sensors," "window sensors," or "contact sensors"— are some of the most popular home security devices. The earliest electronic home security system was entirely made up of door sensors—when someone opened a door or window, it triggered a big vibrating bell in a central part of the home. Luckily, technology has improved since then, and homeowners are faced with a wide array of choices. Here's everything you need to know about today's door sensors: how they work, how to use them, and how to design the best setup for your home. HOW DOES A DOOR SENSOR WORK? Almost all door and window sensors use a "reed switch" to determine when a protected area has been breached.

Reed switches were invented in Bell Telephone Laboratories in 1936, and are used in everything from pedal keyboards to laptops (ever wonder how your computer knows to go to sleep when you close the lid? That's a reed switch working!). A reed switch consists of a set of electrical connectors placed slightly apart. When a magnetic field is placed parallel to the electrical connectors, it pulls them together, closing the circuit. Door sensors have one reed switch and one magnet, creating a closed circuit. If someone opens an armed door or window, the magnet is pulled away from the switch, which breaks the circuit and triggers an event. Depending on your setup and what mode your system is in, this could be a discreet text, a chime alert, or a full-blown alarm. HOW ELSE CAN I USE MY DOOR SENSOR? Because the technology involved in an entry sensor is so elegant, it can be used in a lot of creative ways—especially if you can program different responses for alarm events. Some security companies, such as SimpliSafe, allow customers to decide whether a triggered sensor means a full-on alarm response, an alarm response with a detailed event report sent to your email or phone (a Smart Alert), or a private text or email, without a public alarm event (a Secret Alert).

SimpliSafe calls their door sensors "entry sensors" because they can be used in a variety of situations. Here are some ways to take advantage of those features and get the most out of your entry sensors. Doorbell: Your SimpliSafe entry sensor doubles as a doorbell: If your system is off, it will still sound a chime if someone triggers a sensor. Great way to know when your husband has finally brought home dinner—or if your toddler has managed to open a window in his room. "Virtual Bouncer":Entry sensors don't just keep out the outside world — they can warn you about breaches within your home, too. Stick one on the entrance to the game room or the door to the liquor cabinet. Rig it up with a Secret Alert so that it only tells you if the seal is broken — so you can crack down on those rule-breakers. 24/7 Lifeguard: Have curious little kids who always want to open the pool gate or play with the cleaning supplies? Install some entry sensors, and get immediate and detailed Smart Alerts sent straight to your phone whenever you need to come to the rescue.

Spy: Savvy SimpliSafe employee Ryan K. positioned his TV right where he likes it, stuck on an entry sensor, and then set up a Secret Alert. "Now I know if anyone moves it," he says. I wish I'd done something similar with my mini-fridge in college. Party Fails: Want guaranteed entertainment at your next house party? Put an entry sensor on a medicine cabinet in your bathroom and set up a Secret Alert. You'll get a text message every time someone peeks, and you'll finally know which of your friends can't control their curiosity. Protecting Your Outdoor Stuff: Entry sensors are also great for protecting outdoor equipment that you can't keep inside your stronghold—an in-window air conditioner, for example. Stick one half of the sensor on your AC unit and the other on the windowsill, and anyone who tries to nab it will be held accountable. TIP: Although entry sensors are electronics and can't get wet, wrap one in saran wrap or a plastic bag and it will still work just fine. If I crack my window to let in a breeze while I'm away, will my entry sensor go off?

For extra flexibility with door and window positioning, just install a second magnet. That way the entry sensor has two "safe" positions—say, "window closed" or "window open 6 inches"—and if it's moved from either of those it will trigger an alarm. Will my entry sensor work with my unusual door/window? Before deciding what sort of door sensor to buy, it pays to check its technical specifications to make sure it fits where you want to put it. A SimpliSafe Entry Sensor's flexible design ensures that it will work with nearly any type of door or window, including sliding doors, double doors, and swinging windows. Click here for specialized entry sensor installation tips. (For certain situations—such as doors with very deep frames—a motion sensor might provide better protection.) Should I install my entry sensors in a certain direction? SimpliSafe entry sensors work just fine upside down, sideways, diagonally—you name it. As long as the magnet is less than two inches from the sensor, it makes no difference how the sensor is positioned.

Is there anywhere I shouldn't install an entry sensor? Certain metals can, over time, affect the magnets within the sensors. If you are looking to put an entry sensor on a metal object, a thin plastic buffer placed between the metal and the sensor will ensure it remains unaffected. Could an intruder disable my entry sensor with his own magnet? Although technically possible, this scenario is very unlikely. "The burglar would need an expensive, powerful magnet," says SimpliSafe Customer Service Manager Ryan K., "and they'd need to know where the entry sensor is inside of the door. If someone was going to do that, it would be someone who had already been in your home and seen where things are." Even if a burglar tried, he'd likely trip the alarm in the process, because reed switches are very sensitive. As Deves, a professional alarm system servicer and SimpliSafe customer, points out, "it is very easy to disturb the reed switches and cause an alarm when you attempt to use a secondary magnet from outside—it usually disturbs the magnetic field and causes an alarm."