What is a false alarm?
A false alarm is when law enforcement finds no evidence of a criminal act or evidence of an attempted criminal act when responding to a commercial or residential alarm.
Three main causes of false alarms are:
- User errors
- Poorly installed or maintained equipment
- Failure of equipment
More than 66% of false alarms are caused by user error and 20% of alarm users cause 80% of all false alarms. Check with your local police department, some cities have ordinances regarding false alarms which allow for fines or charges for responding to false alarm calls.
Steps for you to help prevent false alarms:
- Ensure all doors and windows are properly locked Be cautious about where you place seasonal decorations, being mindful of areas monitored by motion detectors
- Make sure you know how to cancel an alarm if you inadvertently trigger the system
- Train everyone who has the legal right to access the property on the proper use of the system, to include activation, deactivation, correct contact numbers for the alarm company and any passwords and procedures involved.
- Rehearse alarm cancellation procedures with all users
- Consult with your installer and/or system designer regarding any pet access in and around your property
- Use quality and trusted equipment
- Upgrade old and outdated equipment with equipment that meets industry standards
- Notify you monitoring station and Alarm Company of any changed phone numbers or users