Security Articles
Alarm Systems
Effective alarm systems serve as a deterrent to intruders, aid in alerting the police to problems, and provide peace of mind while you are away from your home. Alarm systems and their applications vary. You need to determine if a particular alarm system will provide the expected security that you desire. Before investing in an alarm system, you should ask, "Is my residence vulnerable to intruders?" If your doors and windows are vulnerable to attack, an alarm system is not going to secure the premises. Addressing the physical security of the premises should be your first priority. Proper physical security increases the effectiveness of your alarm system. An alarm system should complement the total security strategy, but not replace it. Prior to the purchase of any alarm system, we encourage alarm users to contact their city's local law enforcement agency to discuss issues such as: police response, phone-line seizure, strategies for residential settings and the false alarm class.
Consider asking the following questions of an alarm representative:
Is the alarm representative selling a police response or neighborhood response?
The average response by a police agency to a residential alarm is anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes. Alarms are very dependent on the type of response they generate. The alarm industry sells a police response; however, neighborhood awareness can be just as effective and more efficient. Neighbors can verify an actual burglary and immediately notify the police. A burglar's greatest fear is being detected and having the police notified. Maximize the burglar's fear with an outside audible and strobe light. The disadvantage to this strategy is if false alarms are frequent, your neighbors will become complacent or upset.
Is the system being purchased or leased?
Some alarm companies require the customer to sign a two or three-year monitoring contract. In some cases, that agreement is a lease and not a purchase. After the monitoring contract has expired, it is important to know if the customer or alarm company owns the system?
Does the system have some type of phone-line protection?
If the alarm company is selling a police response via telephone notification, what precautions have been taken to protect your phone line? Some companies claim that if the phone line is cut, the alarm will activate. This could be true, however, it will not generate a call to the central-monitoring station to summon a police response. Occasionally phone lines are tested or go dead and this could trigger a false alarm. Careful considerations should be given to phone-line protection plans offered by the alarm company.
Has the alarm company addressed your needs or are they selling you the "cookie cutter" package?
An assessment of your specific concerns and needs should be developed before purchasing an alarm system. Are you getting an alarm system for your specific home or a "typical" system? The typical system includes: three contacts, one motion detector, a keypad, and an inside audible. Will the typical system adequately meet your needs and provide the protection you expect? If the purchase of an alarm system is for the protection of family members, we strongly encourage homeowners to contact the police.
Is the alarm company familiar with the local community's alarm ordinance?
Usually, alarm users are required to obtain an alarm permit prior to activating their alarm. Some law enforcement agencies will not respond to an alarm that has not obtained a permit. After two false alarms within a one-year period, the police department can issue fines for each false alarm. Fines can reach as high as $250 per response.
What is the recommended maintenance schedule for the alarm system?
Since alarms are mechanical devices, they will require routine maintenance. Periodic maintenance is necessary to minimize the chances of having a false alarm. Is the periodic maintenance included in the monthly monitoring fee or is there an additional charge? Motion detectors require cleaning, door contacts can become stuck and back-up batteries can become inoperable. It is strongly suggested every alarm user have a yearly inspection of their alarm system.
What amount of delay is built into the alarm system?
The delay is designed to give the alarm user adequate time to turn the system off. However, this time can often used by the burglar to complete their burglary. Some companies have a standard 45-second delay. Ideally, the shorter the delay, the less time the criminal has to commit the crime.