False Alarm Education

What is a False Alarm?

"A false alarm is notification of an alarm to the police department when the responding authority finds no evidence of criminal offense or attempted criminal offense."

Common Causes of False Alarms

  1. Inadequate training of people allowed access to your security system (children, neighbors, cleaning personnel, real estate agents, guests, relatives, babysitters, service and delivery personnel, etc.).
  2. Weak system batteries.
  3. Open, unlocked or loose fitting doors and windows.
  4. Drafts from heaters and air conditioning systems that move plants, curtains, balloons, etc.
  5. Wandering pets.

False Alarms

  • Take police and fire fighters away from real emergencies. This embarrassing situation endangers responding authorities and the whole community by needlessly diverting public safety resources.
  • Desensitizes communities to actual incidents of crime and fire and can lead to neighbors ignoring your alarm when it goes off.
  • Make your security system less reliable and credible.
  • May make your reluctant to arm your system, exposing your home and property to undetected theft or fire.
  • Cost citizens time, personal security and money, as many jurisdictions assess costly fines for excessive false alarms.

Installing and Activating an Alarm System

  • Check with your local jurisdiction to see if you are required to register your alarm system.
  • When purchasing an alarm system you must remember that you are a vital part of the alarm function. You must completely understand how the system works, what it does and does not do, and what you must do to keep it in proper operating condition.
  • Ensure all users of your system are provided adequate and thorough instruction on using and testing the system. Ask your alarm company to provide you with written instructions as well as a physical demonstration.
  • Ensure outside audible alarms are set to sound for no more than 15 minutes before resetting.

How to Prevent False Alarms

1. Before activating your system.

  • Lock all protected doors and windows.
  • Keep pets, balloons, fans, heaters, plants, curtains, seasonal decorations, etc. away from motion sensor areas.
  • Know how to cancel the alarm if the system activates.

2. Educate alarm system users.

  • All users, key holders or any person with legal access to your property must be thoroughly trained in how to operate your system, including knowledge of correct arming codes, pass codes, telephone numbers and procedures for canceling accidental alarm activations.

3. Have your security company check and service your system regularly.

  • Routine maintenance can help prevent many false alarms.

4. Notify your security company if.

  • You think you system isn't working properly.
  • You plan any remodeling, including replacing doors or windows, hanging drywall, sanding floors, installing attic flooring or basement ceiling, changing phone systems. installing intercoms, siding, ceiling fans or skylights, fumigating, installing wiring for cable or other electronics, installing anything near the system control panel or keypads.
  • You hire domestic help, get a new pet, plan to sell your house, or are testing your system.

5. Contact your jurisdiction's Alarm Coordinator if.

  • You have a phone service or name change, or if situations change, such as a disabled person now residing at the residence, etc.

6. Your central monitoring station should not request a police dispatch for power outages, low battery signals or loss of telephone connections.

7. Replace old police department direct-connect monitoring equipment with newer, high security monitoring technology.

8. Upgrade old alarm systems to current equipment confirming to Security Industry Association (SIA) false alarm prevention standards, further reducing false alarms.