False alarms a costly – and preventable – problem

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Every month is False Alarm Awareness Month according to the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office. Home burglar alarm installations are estimated to increase by 25%each year. Alarm calls are one of the most frequent types of calls received by deputies.

In Maricopa, there were 211 alarms called in from July through November 2004. An alarming 78% of them (164 calls) were either cancelled or false alarms. Law enforcement officers are spending time on false alarms when they need to be available to protect our growing community.

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What can you do?

  • Make sure that everyone with a key to your home or business (including cleaning staff and visitors) knows how to operate the alarm system. Knowing how to operate it includes knowing the alarm code, a password and the phone number as well as the procedures for canceling an alarm call.
  • Have your security company check your alarm system at least once a year, including an inspection of your backup batteries. A qualified alarm installation company should provide instruction and training on the use of your system.
  • Make certain your alarm contact information is current with both your monitoring company and the city’s permit coordinator. Your system should be able to send a signal to the monitoring facility indicating a power outage at your home or business.
  • Avoid false alarms by not reentering a building whose alarm is still on. Program door alarm sensors with at least a 45 second activation delay. Do not leave balloons floating in the building or residence. Do not allow pets to run loose in areas where they could activate the alarm. Motion sensors should have a second sensor to verify the first one.
  • Panic buttons, used to indicate any life threatening or emergency situation, (fire, medical or a need for law enforcement), should not be accessible to young children who might push them out of curiosity.
  • Cancel all false alarms immediately. Find out what caused the false alarm and take steps to rectify the matter.
  • Attend Alarm School. This is a 45-60 minute class in which homeowners and businessesowners can learn about eliminating false alarms and alarm system operation. Attendance allows a one time, per permit year, false alarm waiver.

“Hopefully by July 1 we’re going to get it going,” Julie Conklin, the alarm coordinator for Pinal County, said. “We hope to hold the class once a month if we can go to different locations in the county. I would be very happy to go out and meet with any businesses about their alarm system operations. Our goal is to educate, not to penalize,” explained Conklin.

Classes will be announced on the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office website.

Conklin will also be Maricopa’s alarm coordinator since the county provides police services in this area. Her office, available by telephone at (520) 866-5173, will handle alarm permits as well as non-compliance notifications.

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Maricopa’s new alarm ordinance goes into effect on March 19, 2005. Residents will be required to file an alarm permit prior to the installation of any alarm system. A new permit must be obtained within 10 days if the alarm user moves to a new location. Current users will have 60 days to comply with this new ordinance. All permits are renewable annually at an anticipated cost of $10.

If you own an alarm system, be a responsible AND knowledgeable user!