Sonitrol Security

Sonitrol Commercial Security Blog ... by Joe Wilson

 

  

Eliminate False Alarms They Waste Valuable Police Resources

Posted by Joe Wilson

Aug 4, 2015 12:07:00 PM

 

False_Alarms_And_Verified_ResponseIt’s one of the biggest issues facing local municipalities and provincial governments across Canada – the high cost of providing public safety and security through policing.  Policing, whether managed through local forces or outsourced to larger organizations like the RCMP, is expensive and is a big part of public budgets everywhere.

  

This is happening at a time when public security is receiving much more attention; cyber crime, international crime rings, gang crime, smuggling, fraud networks, and terrorism. Police forces are put in the unenviable position of needing to do more work with less funding.

 

The largest draws on police time is answering false alarms. It’s estimated that alarms for break-ins and theft can make up 20% of calls to police services. And here’s the real problem - over 97% of the alarm calls to police are false alarms …  costing major cities over $12 million per year ... what a waste!

 

Police units don’t have the time to respond to false alarms. It’s clearly a waste of vital resources and taxpayers dollars.

 

If all false alarms could be eliminated tomorrow, the police would gain time to work on real issues that are impacting your community. Could the police use a 20% increase in manpower - you bet they could!

 

What Is A False Alarm?

 

The Vancouver Police Department defines false alarms and false dispatch in their bylaws as this.

 

"An alarm incident where there is no evidence that an unauthorized entry or unlawful act has been attempted or made into, on or respecting a building, structure or premises and includes, but is not limited to:

1. the activation of a security alarm system during its testing;

2. a security alarm system activated by mechanical failure, malfunction, or faulty equipment;

3. a security alarm system activated by atmospheric conditions, vibrations, or power failure;

4. a security alarm system activated by user error."

 

A "false dispatch" is defined as "notification of an alarm incident to the law enforcement agency and there is no evidence of a criminal offence or attempted criminal offence."

  

Not All Alarms Are Equal

 

Fines are one thing, but the bigger issue is that not all alarm systems are equal.  Low cost conventional alarm systems are the same as expensive, brand name, conventional alarm systems. Because of their 98% false alarm rate, police have instituted verified only response ordinances which mean police will not respond to conventional alarms.   


So more than 30 cities have adopted Verified Police Response Laws and many more are currently considering it.

 

Policies vary from one locale to another, but a Verified Police Response Law generally states that police will respond to an alarm only if it can first be verified through audio, or video, or by an eyewitness.

 

Starting March 17, 2014, The City of Guelph, Ontario recently implemented an Alarm Verification Strategy. They noted that, “false alarms wasted valuable resources and put others at risk.” Their new verified alarm policy states that monitoring stations will be required to verify alarm calls prior to requesting police response. Verified alarm calls will be dispatched to the first available Guelph Police Service officer for response. Non-verified alarm calls will be processed at a lower level of police response.”

 

The City of Vancouver now requires alarm owners to register alarm systems and levees a fine for false alarms. The City of Calgary had 9,696 alarm offences in 2011, with false alarm penalties ranging from $250 to $500 per incident.

  

The Solution - Verified Security Alarms By Sonitrol

 

Sonitrol is renown for helping law enforcement identify true security events. This ability is increasingly important as more and more communities adopt Verified Police Response Laws ... and our very low 3-percent false alarm rate, coupled with the partnerships Sonitrol has built with local police, are why the men and women in blue hurry to Sonitrol alarms ... and not to others.  Sonitrol Verified Commercial Alarms are the first choice for businesses who want a verified alarm system that the police will respond to.

 

Sonitrol's verified alarm benefits include:

  • The best apprehension rate in the industry (over 170,000 apprehensions to date!).
  • The fewest dispatches for false alarms (Less than 3% vs. a 98% from the rest of the alarm industry).
  • Early detection, full verification and 100% coverage
  • A commitment to service that is backed by our unique guarantee. It's something unverified conventional alarm companies simply cannot guarantee! 

 

Unlike conventional alarms, Sonitrol's unique verified audio and video security solutions enable our operators to hear and see what is happening at the scene before the criminals gain entry - we verify the actual source of the alarm, and we get the police to attend the scene immediately and relay real-time information to the responding officers. If it's a false alarm, we simply reset the system without bothering you or the police.

 

Because of this ability to accurately verify alarms, Sonitrol has the highest apprehension rate and the lowest false alarm rate in the industry.

As more municipalities adopt Verified Response Laws, verified commercial alarm systems like Sonitrol are becoming the best solution to catching thieves, and ensure the police are not wasting their time. It’s the way to go!

If we only cared about making money we too could offer less expensive conventional alarms but we wont do it because it is wrong!  Wastes police resources and does not deter crime or make safer communities.

 

 

Stop False Alarms Now! Free Evaluation

 

About Sonitrol Western Canada:

 

We're so confident in our technology and responsive service, that no one else in the industry can match our guarantee.  Our unique verified audio and video business security solutions enable our operators to hear and see what is happening in your business before the criminals gain entry!!  We verify the actual source of the alarm, and we get the police to attend the scene immediately.  FOR A FREE SECURITY AUDIT, click here, or call 1-866-766-4876.

 

Topics: CCTV Video Surveillance, SonaVision Online Monitoring, Police Response to Sonitrol, Verified Security Alarms, Prevent False Alarms

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Joe Wilson, Owner of Sonitrol Western Canada

We provide our customers with the best commercial security solutions and quality service backed by our unique Guarantee and Commitment to Service. It's something unverified conventional alarm companies simply cannot guarantee!


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