Sonitrol Security

Sonitrol Commercial Security Blog ... by Joe Wilson

 

  

Toronto Police Implement Verified Alarm Policy Starting January 2016

Posted by Joe Wilson

Oct 9, 2015 9:21:37 AM

As I've been saying for a long time ... Police Forces across North America are implementing a verified-only, alarm response policies.  Canada’s largest city has just become a verified-only alarm jurisdiction.   

 

Our moto holds true “if it is not verified its simply guessing”

 

The Toronto Police Service has just completed a review of response to burglar alarm events. 

 

"It has been found that alarm activation is not necessarily an indicator of criminal activity." 

 

On average, the Toronto Police Service has responded to over 23,000 alarm events per year and the review has shown that 98% of these calls for service are identified as false – meaning a police response was not required.

 

This just happens to be the false alarm number I've been stating for many years, so our 98% false alarm rate is validated again by another Police department.

 

Why did the Toronto Police conduct this study?

Read More

Topics: Police Response to Sonitrol, Verified Security Alarms, Prevent False Alarms

What's The Difference Between A Sonitrol Verified Alarm And The 300+ Other Conventional Alarm Companies in Western Canada?

Posted by Joe Wilson

Oct 6, 2015 9:17:51 AM

 

The easiest way for me to highlight the difference between a Sonitrol Verified alarm system and one of the hundreds of conventional burglar alarm companies out there in Western Canada is to walk you through a typical scenario around what happens when an alarm goes off in your business.

 

Let's say you have a conventional alarm installed for your business. It's nothing special but you think you have a system that can adequately protect your business.

 

This is what most likely happens.

 

It's 2:00 am on Friday night and couple of burglars break into your business. It wasn't difficult for them to get in using just a crowbar at the door, or a rock through the window.

 

Read More

Topics: Verified Security Alarms, Prevent False Alarms

How Can I Prevent Vandalism On My Property?

Posted by Joe Wilson

Aug 31, 2015 7:54:00 AM

We often talk about protecting your business from the losses associated with theft and robbery – but what about vandalism?

Vandalism can cause huge losses to your business and almost every industry has the potential to be vandalized.


Over the years I’ve heard many cases of the same school being vandalized repeatedly, and even restaurants, car dealerships and religious organizations are all vulnerable to vandals.  And the persons responsible can be anyone from mischievous kids who decide to break into their rivals school, to gangs defacing your property with graffiti.

“In the USA vandalism costs schools, homeowners, businesses, governments and others more than $15 billion a year.”U.S Department of Justice

 

The cost of vandalism is very high – if you’re lucky enough to have insurance that covers repairs and replacements of vandalized property, you’ll still be facing an interruption of business ... and your premiums will likely go up.  

 

What if you’re business infrastructure is damaged or your entire fleet of vehicles is unusable?  This can take time to repair – reducing your potential revenue for that period.

And depending on the amount of damage or frequency of vandalism, you may be facing lost sales or a loss of trust and credibility. 

 

Read More

Topics: CCTV Video Surveillance, Verified Security Alarms

How Does Verified Audio Intrusion Work?

Posted by Joe Wilson

Aug 21, 2015 11:40:20 AM

A crime is in progress.  It’s your business that has been targeted. The audio sensors have been triggered by the sound of glass breaking and hushed conversations.  But unknown to the would-be thieves, the Police have already been dispatched ... before they find anything to steal.  On average Police will arrive within 3.5 minutes – and capture the thieves.   

This security system process is smooth and very effective.  An audio sensor is triggered, our expert operators verify that the alarm is real and the Police are dispatched immediately.  It seems simple.  But how does it actually work?

Read More

Topics: Monitored Audio Alarms, Verified Security Alarms

Why Does Conventional CCTV Fail to Protect Fenced Compounds?

Posted by Joe Wilson

Aug 14, 2015 6:31:43 AM

Fenced compounds and fences construction sites often contain valuable stock, equipment, building materials or vehicles … making them an appealing target for would-be thieves.  And in the eyes of a criminal, a fenced perimeter is only a small hurdle between them and your valuable items.

There are many cases of break-ins where the criminal has simply hopped the fence or cut through it … and sometimes even smashed through the front gate with their vehicle.  Or worse, maybe one of your employees has purposely left the gate unlocked to allow the thieves to gain entry.

But what if you’ve already implemented security measures to protect your compound from theft and vandalism?  

Read More

Topics: CCTV Video Surveillance, SonaVision Online Monitoring, Security for Fenced Compounds, Verified Security Alarms

Eliminate False Alarms They Waste Valuable Police Resources

Posted by Joe Wilson

Aug 4, 2015 12:07:00 PM

 

It’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!

 

Read More

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

How to Prevent Employee Triggered False Alarms

Posted by Joe Wilson

Jul 24, 2015 8:00:00 AM

You’ve just returned home from a long day at the office only to receive a phone call from your security company alerting you that your alarm system has been activated.  A thousand questions go through your mind – is a burglar attempting to steal or vandalize your property? Are your employees safe? Will the police respond quickly? Maybe you’re wondering if this was simply another false alarm.

Unfortunately, false alarms are common occurrences for business owners and operators who do not use a verified security solution.  And one of the most common false alarm triggers is human error, including employee-triggered false alarms.  

Employees may trigger your alarm simply by forgetting to de-activate your alarm system or by entering an incorrect code.  Or at the end of a shift, an employee may not lock or close the door properly, triggering sensors and detectors that activate your alarm system.  User triggered false alarms account for more than 80% of false alarms.

FACT: According to the RCMP, police departments across Canada respond daily to burglar intrusion alarms. However, more than 98% of the alarms the Police attend are false. 

False alarms can be prevented by implementing some simple preventative measures including managed access control and verified audio/video.

Read More

Topics: Verified Security Alarms, Building Access Control, Prevent False Alarms

What Type Of CCTV Camera Should I Buy?

Posted by Joe Wilson

Jun 18, 2015 8:50:00 AM

A CCTV security system is essential for any type of business or public organization. Therefore it’s vital to select the right CCTV camera for the right location and application.

There are lots of CCTV cameras to choose from on the market today, with many different features and options, resulting in a confusing array of various types, styles, and configurations. But which is best for your intended business security application?

Read More

Topics: CCTV Video Surveillance, Verified Security Alarms

Which CCTV Camera System Is Best To Protect Your Business?

Posted by Joe Wilson

Jun 12, 2015 7:22:18 AM

 

Every second counts when a criminal attempts to gain entry into your business.  It may take only a few minutes for thieves to get away with your precious goods or cause significant damage to your premises. 

 

Using a CCTV security system can help prevent crime. CCTV Video technology has come a long way over the years and can be a powerful deterrent to theft and vandalism, but choosing the right CCTV system may be a challenge, as there are a lot of options available.


Conventional CCTV cameras just record what they see and can help you supervise staff, view customers, ensure WCB rules are being followed, and even help you record the fact that the right products were shipped or received without damage.  

 

But did you know that conventional CCTV cameras are not an effective protection against asset theft or vandalism. Conventional CCTV cameras do not catch criminals for the simple fact that they are often not integrated into a larger alarm system, they're not monitored 24/7 by security professionals, and they are unverified.  

 

The truth is, conventional CCTV cameras are ineffective and downright useless in providing real security monitored protection and stopping crimes-in-progress.

 

If you want to stop a crime-in-progress, and prevent criminals from gaining entry to your site and stealing your inventory, then you need a more sophisticated "Verified CCTV" security system.

 

Read More

Topics: CCTV Video Surveillance, SonaVision Online Monitoring, Verified Security Alarms

Why Are Verified Alarms The Best Business Burglar Alarms?

Posted by Joe Wilson

Apr 30, 2015 6:36:21 AM

When your alarm goes off in the middle of the night, you need the peace of mind knowing that criminals are apprehended before they are able to do any damage to your business.

 

Verified security solutions are the most effective method of securing and protecting your business.  They not only reduce your false alarm rate, but they also ensure fast police response times and criminal apprehensions. 

 

Verified alarms help police catch criminals so they don’t get away with your precious goods, endanger your employees or vandalize your property.

 

What Is A Verified Alarm?

 

Integrated Sonitrol security technology is unique. We use two types of verified security alarmsaudio intrusion detection and live monitored video - CCTV.  When your alarm is tripped, our unique push technology allows our expert operators to monitor your business live via these audio and CCTV security systems from the central monitoring station.

 

Read More

Topics: CCTV Video Surveillance, SonaVision Online Monitoring, Monitored Audio Alarms, Verified Security Alarms

Protect Your Business From Occupational Fraud

Posted by Joe Wilson

Mar 11, 2015 1:51:00 PM

Understanding Occupational Fraud and Its Motivation

 

We’ve all heard stories of executives embezzling client money, employees selling intellectual data, and even management accepting bribes from contractors and vendors.  These are all forms of occupational fraud and they could easily become a very costly problem if you have not taken the necessary steps to protect your business.

Occupational fraud affects businesses around the world and can cause huge losses in revenues.  Small businesses and mid-sized enterprises are particularly vulnerable to occupational fraud, often due to a lack of anti-fraud controls, high employee turnover and ineffective employee monitoring mechanisms.

 

“The majority of Small Businesses and Mid-Sized Enterprises are not prepared to respond to occupational fraud, and more than half do not undertake period assessments of risks of fraud.” – CGA Canada

In honour of Fraud Prevention Month this March, I will be sharing some strategies that will help reduce your risks, beginning with defining occupational fraud, identifying fraud motivations and describing strategies to reduce your risk.

Read More

Topics: Office Workplace Security, Verified Security Alarms, Building Access Control

Protect Your Warehouse From Criminals with Verified Audio Intrusion

Posted by Joe Wilson

Mar 6, 2015 9:35:00 AM

 

Warehouses and Distribution Centres pose a unique challenge for security due to their large size and complex layouts.  

Conventional alarms in a warehouse environment consist of motion sensors that detect movement at popular entry points such as doors, windows and in the aisles of inventory and goods. Unfortunately, this type of conventional, unverified alarm system will not protect your warehouse or distribution centre from criminals.  Why?

Read More

Topics: Monitored Audio Alarms, Verified Security Alarms, Security for Warehouses & Manufacturing

Crime-In-Progress Verification - Which Is Better MIY or Central Monitoring?

Posted by Joe Wilson

Feb 9, 2015 10:58:49 AM

A recent article in SDM Magazine, “Are DIY and MIY Heralding Alarmageddon,” by Rob Baxter, discussed the interesting topic of MIY Home Security Systems and the power of verified alarms.

With "Monitor It Yourself" (MIY) growing as a solution in the home alarm industry, it is likely that it will expand into commercial alarm security. 

But is MIY an effective commercial security solution?

Read More

Topics: SonaVision Online Monitoring, Verified Security Alarms

How to Stop Thieves Before They Enter Your Building

Posted by Joe Wilson

Jan 7, 2015 9:07:00 AM

 

Read More

Topics: CCTV Video Surveillance, SonaVision Online Monitoring, Verified Security Alarms

Protecting Your Business And Catching Criminals Is What We Do

Posted by Joe Wilson

Jan 1, 2015 9:52:00 AM


This past year, we have received an overwhelming amount of thank you letters that highlight the success of our innovative, verified audio and video security technology.

 
Our clients get immediate results and see a reduction in the amount of break-ins following the installation of our technology, since criminals who are familiar with Sonitrol know not to mess with us.  


More importantly, our integrated security technology allows local police to apprehend the criminals who do attempt a break-in, quickly and safely, and in most cases, with little to no damage to your business.  

Read More

Topics: SonaVision Online Monitoring, Verified Security Alarms

The Biggest Mistakes Businesses Make When Choosing Security Systems

Posted by Joe Wilson

Dec 12, 2014 6:45:00 AM

 

Selecting a security system for your business is one of the most important decisions you will make. The problem is that it is often one of the last considerations made when opening a new location or renovating.

Click here to watch "Mistakes Businesses Make in Handling Security."

 

Here are some common myths that may affect your security decision.

Read More

Topics: CCTV Video Surveillance, Verified Security Alarms, Prevent False Alarms

What Type Of Security System Is Best For Restaurants?

Posted by Joe Wilson

Nov 27, 2014 12:49:16 PM

 

 

Most people don't associate a restaurant with the need to have a security system, but it's a fact that crimes of all types can occur in and around restaurants, at all times of the day and night.  And if we were to include fast food restaurants and some types of clubs and bars into this category, then you can see that the risk of crime is indeed real, and customers and employees have to be protected.

 

So how would you rate your restaurant security?  

 

Read More

Topics: Security Tips, Verified Security Alarms, Restaurant Security

10 Office Security Tips to Secure Your Workplace

Posted by Joe Wilson

Nov 7, 2014 6:24:00 AM

 

Many businesses are at risk from employee theft, criminal break-ins and intellectual property theft. As a business owner or professional office manager, what can you do to make sure your office workplace security is working effectively?  

 

10 Workplace Security Tips To Improve Your Office Security

 

Follow these 10 workplace security tips to secure your office from internal and external threats and you could save on huge losses.

 

Read More

Topics: Security Tips, Office Workplace Security, Verified Security Alarms

How To Prevent Small Business Break-Ins With The Best Office Security

Posted by Joe Wilson

Oct 31, 2014 9:50:00 AM

 

  

If you manage a professional office-based business, an accounting practice, law firm, dentist office, or general business operation located in an office building you’re likely to be vulnerable to not only employee theft, but also to break-ins and unauthorized access from criminals looking for client documents, computer equipment, electronics, confidential records, personal belongings, valuables and cash.

 

Read More

Topics: Office Workplace Security, Verified Security Alarms

Why Are Audio Surveillance Detection Alarms Superior To Motion Detection?

Posted by Joe Wilson

Oct 30, 2014 7:59:00 AM

In the 1950s, a man named Robert Baxter started installing microphones in walls to detect termite colonies.

In discussions with a friend, who was a Police Officer frustrated by wasting Police resources responding to false alarm calls, they determined that these microphones could create a verified security system and they patented the technology and founded Sonitrol based on his invention.

Since then, Sonitrol has grown rapidly to become The leading Verified security alarm company in North America.

 

Read More

Topics: CCTV Video Surveillance, Verified Security Alarms

Free Security Plan

joewilsonBLOG


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!


Subscribe to Sonitrol Blog Updates

Posts by Topic

see all

Recent Posts


Why Sonitrol?

 Sonitrol Catches Criminals

FREE GUIDE! 

LEARN WHAT THE COMPETITION ISN'T TELLING YOU! 

CONVENTIONAL ALARMS ARE INEFFECTIVE! 

Here's Why ...

Download this Free Guide -

25 Misconceptions About Conventional Alarm Systems


Download Free Guide!