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AJC.com > Metro > View from the cop > Archives > 2007 > June > 14 > Entry
Tripped up by false alarms
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
One of the biggest public safety problems in Sandy Springs, aside from keeping an eye on all those turtles, is false alarms. Sandy Springs has approximately two zillion homes, almost all equipped with an alarm system.
In most cases, new owners purchase the home and then begin the task of becoming familiar with everything in the home. This includes the computerized oven, thermostats, sprinkler systems, the 543-inch theatre system screen with Gonzo-Sound System capable of creating a small tsunami in the computerized waterfall system next to the miniature Bellagio replica pool. It’s very cool. (You don’t want to be standing in the middle of the pool when the water show starts.)
In addition, most homes come with an alarm system. If you don’t have one, you’ll soon look for one. The reason is simple: The alarm system will alert you, the police, homeland security, and “24’s” Jack Bauer if there is an intrusion. It provides a very nice level of comfort.
When the alarm system is installed, the technician is very careful to cover all the functions of the alarm, carefully pointing out all of the pitfalls that trigger a false alarm. They don’t like false alarms. It isn’t a good selling tool. Because of that, alarm technicians go to great lengths to familiarize the resident with the system. As soon as the technician leaves, the resident forgets 95 percent of what he or she said.
Last month, not year but month, we had 885 false alarms in Sandy Springs to go along with the 13 that were legit alarm calls. The month before that we had about 875 false alarms. The average time it takes for an officer to respond, handle, and then go back into patrol service is 30 minutes. That is a conservative average meaning that last month we were at least looking at almost 443 officer-hours totally wasted on false alarms.
False alarms, by far, are caused by “subscriber errors.” Subscriber errors are caused by the “Desidiosus-Syndrome.” False alarms can be caused by the weather. When a thunderstorm hits, many alarms go nuts. It’s like our Shi Tzu, who owns our home. She has no fear except for thunder. When it starts she shakes and shakes very convincingly. (We take turns putting her on each other’s back to loosen those end-of-the-day tight muscles.)
False alarms are caused by:
• Dogs and cats going in and out the door
• Children going in and out the door
• Adults going in and out the door
• Wind blowing the door open
• Power problems
• Weather
• Residents setting off the alarm and then not taking the time to properly reset it before they leave
• Assorted other things, and..
• Burglars
It is the last one that we are interested in. The others take away from it. Those 443 hours mentioned above take away from patrol time. Patrol time is visibility time and visibility is important to an area with so many residential communities. It has become a big problem for two reasons. One is the time factor and the second is the danger factor, presented to the officer as well as the resident.
False alarms are like crying wolf. They contribute to the officer-safety risk when the officer is answering alarms. Like other humans, police officers, when repeating the same task over and over, tend to become complacent thus they fall into a dangerous tendency of assuming that each alarms call is just another false alarm. It is very dangerous. If we cannot show, by confirmation by the company or resident, that the alarm is false, the police will send a car to check the call. Officers are constantly reminded that each alarm could be a dangerous call and they should approach it as such; to be on their toes and never assuming.
The best way to reinforce the need for residents to learn and then operate their alarms efficiently is through the wallet. Like many other cities, Sandy Springs will probably look at an ordinance that will authorize the city to fine a resident after, let’s say, three false alarms each year.
As much we humans dislike being fined for something, it does get our attention. If an alarm company has a shoddy system in place and it creates false alarms and the resident is getting hammered on fines, I’m thinking they’ll dump them and look for something better. Honestly though, the vast majority of problems are errors in the home by the humans and animals.
If you think that your older alarm system could use a good looking over, have a technician come out and look for deteriorated contacts or wires or anything else that could cause a false signal. Get your family together and go over your alarm system.
Here’s how you do it:
First, tell them that you are all going to Hawaii and you want to talk about it after dinner. When everyone sits down, tell them you were just kidding but this would be a good time to talk about the alarm. Of course afterwards, you’ll have to make good on the Hawaii trip but you’ll have that level of comfort knowing that everyone knows how to work the system and how not to trip it accidentally. That leaves you more time to figure out how to come up with the twenty-grand for the trip.
Check your systems and if you are prone to false alarms, do something about it.
Learn it and make it a point to significantly reduce your errors that set them off.
Aloha
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Lane Tucker
June 14, 2007 3:15 PM | Link to this
I suggest that Sandy Springs take some of the Revenue officers they have running speed traps on GA 400 and 285 and turn them back into police officers who can respond to alarms
By FunInCobb
June 14, 2007 3:31 PM | Link to this
For a long time we had an issue with our security system at work. After several “false” alarms that generated an after-hours visit by the local constabulary, we started paying attention to which sensors were tripping. When we noticed (after a few more) that the sensor that tripped was ALWAYS the back door. followed by the motion sensor in the room behind the door. We examined the door and the room closely. We noticed that it was possible to unlock the door with a key and open it while it was armed. Once we corrected that flaw (by removing the external key access) the “false” alarms stopped occurring.
What we beleive was happening: The office building security guards were REPEATEDLY opening that door and entering the office, and setting off the alarm.
By Bob
June 14, 2007 3:39 PM | Link to this
Unfortunately, false alarms are the only reason I see police cruisers in my neighborhood. Also unfortunate is that the alarms calls go to Fulton County 911. So, if there is a response it will be long after the security system alerts. So, I just pray that my security system only sends false alarms.
By Van
June 14, 2007 3:42 PM | Link to this
We are guilty of having about 4 false alarms a year. We have pet friendly motion detectors but from time to time the cats manage to trip them some how by getting up some place they shouldn’t be. One night the alarm went off after I left a ladder next to a motion detector in the basement. Our cat that likes ladder climbed up and stuck his face in the sensor. Lesson learned for me.
By Tom T
June 14, 2007 4:11 PM | Link to this
I’m gonna go out on a limb here and guess that Lane Tucker is the recent recipient of one of those “Safe Driving Awards” that Traffic Officers are known to hand out to deserving motorists.
By Cubbie
June 14, 2007 4:59 PM | Link to this
Just another reason not to have cats.
By Decaturite
June 15, 2007 11:56 AM | Link to this
Living in an old house in Decatur, I have found little use for an alarm system, as the house has so many creaks, squeeks, moans and cracks of sound that eminate from every entry point and various floor sections that it would give me ample time to level the aim of my 45-70 in the direction of the intruder.
We are fortunate to have elderly neighbors who keep an eye on the houses of the neighborhhod while people are away. If you find yourself being the only person you know on your street, then try hosting a yard sale, afternoon BBQ or anything that will attratc your neighbors to your home to introduce themselves and create communication amongst other neighbors. I have found that no one tends to look after your house unless they know you well enough to be involved in your property’s well being.
By River Rat
June 15, 2007 12:44 PM | Link to this
Yard sales are an exellantway to get to know your neighbors, I watched one of my neighbors pocket an MP3 player at our yard sale, I didn’t say anything, but if she ever has a yard sale and it’s in it, I’ll steal it back.I was flabergasted ,,,for the lack of a better word, I had hoped it was an accident and she would return it,didn’t happen.
By Michael
June 17, 2007 3:13 PM | Link to this
Your neighbors’ kids are the ones usually busting into your house.
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