Affordable Peace of Mind

It’s a sad commentary on our times that we now have speciality stores that focus on products to make our lives safer at home and on the streets. The upbeat side is that some are priced so as not to blow the budget.

Maximum Security Central has several sections of the store devoted to various safety products for use at home or abroad. Most of the merchandise here is discounted from suggested retail prices, but some of the products are not to be found in any other stores, so I can’t come up with comparison prices.

Let’s look at some of the security devices. A portable alarm that you can hang on a doorknob goes off if someone touches it. If you’re in a hotel be sure to hang out the “do not disturb” sign or the maid is in for a surprise. Some catalogs charge $29.95 for this device, but the tag here reads $9.27. Or how about a door-stop alarm that, placed behind the door, will stop the door from opening and also give off a warning sound? A Wireless Home Protection Kit comes with two programmable motion detectors and four window or door alarms. The suggested retail price is $119, but Maximum Security Central’s price is $69.97. Then there’s a two-story steel ladder that folds neatly under a bed or in a closet until it’s needed. It connects onto a window sill, extends up to 15 feet, will hold up to 350 pounds and is priced at $42.95. We have seen these elsewhere at $75.

For the traveler, a complete line of Eagle Creek Hidden Travel Wallets are 50% off the retail prices. Leather money belts, that look like regular belts but with a pouch zippered on the inside to stash your cash from view, are $11.97. If you’re going whitewater rafting, you might consider getting a waterproof pouch that can be worn around the neck or waist and sells for only $4.25.

This is a fascinating store and, after browsing around, you’ll surely realize how helpless most of us are against the unexpected.

Maximum Security Central, 8515 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. (310) 358-1935. Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. All major credit cards.

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Weekend Super Sale: b.b. Boomers, one of the San Fernando Valley’s best children’s resale stores, is having a big sale this weekend with reductions of 10% to 70% off their already half-off retail prices on everything in the store. A Baby Lulu outfit--hat, dress and bloomers--that sells for $120 new is $49.50, a white Simmons crib with mattress that originally was $450 is $229. Check the items with orange and gray tags first; those are 70% off regular prices. Green and pink tags mean 50% off, and the red tags reflect a 40% reduction. There are also some great buys in maternity clothes. The sale is Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 13807 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Major credit cards. (818) 789-0888.