CLARKS GROVE — Peace of mind. It’s something that Scott Truesdell, owner of Total Security of Southern Minnesota, has been providing to customers in one aspect or another since 1979.

In his early days, Truesdell sold personal and car alarms at the flea market during Eddie Cochran weekend in Albert Lea. He then worked for a number of other security companies before deciding to start his own in 2011.

His business focuses on the sales, service and installation of monitored burglar and fire alarms and digitally recorded camera systems.

The field has seen significant changes since Truesdell’s earlier days. The first burglar systems he worked with were sonic systems, which required units in each room to be calibrated to detect the amount of air pressure in the room and recognize changes in that pressure. Opening a door or window would create a detectable shift and the alarm would sound.

According to Truesdell, today’s systems are more advanced and can be set to the customer’s needs. Some customers want a home security system that will protect the home when they are away, while others want a system that will monitor their home continuously.

Due to the nature of the monitoring system, each would warrant a different system, with the one allowing monitoring inside the home when it is occupied being more expensive because of the increased complexity of the system.

Monitored fire alarms, like burglar alarms, can often save customers money with many insurance companies as both can reduce the amount of loss the insured faces.

Digitally recorded camera systems can be economical in other areas. In a business setting, they can help management oversee staff performance and help ensure against employee theft.

Although Truesdell noted video systems are often marketed in a negative light when it comes to employees of business owners that utilize them, there is also a benefit to such systems. They not only are a way to track employees who are doing poorly, but they also can demonstrate how well an employee is doing.

Regardless of the system, Truesdell begins the process of installing the system in a similar way. He’ll come to the residence or business and assess the property with the property owner. When it comes to burglary monitoring systems, he’ll point out areas in which the property is vulnerable, and in cases of video monitoring, he will go over what exactly the customer wants to be able to monitor.

He then goes over the best possible options for the customer and scales things back if necessary, depending on the customer’s wants and budget. He said he does whatever the customer is comfortable with.

Monthly monitoring ensures the system continues to work.

In the case of video monitoring, a customer can even receive email alerts that will show them a live feed of what triggered an alert. Whether they respond to the email or not, the video will still be stored on a hard drive so the recording can be accessed later.

Monitoring systems can be quite advanced, as well, according to Truesdell. From the moment the system is turned on, it can track when doors or windows are open or broken into and the path a person walks once the perimeter of the alarm has been breached.

“They are really sophisticated systems,” Truesdell said.

Total Security of Southern Minnesota can be reached at 507-383-1958.